Out!

Peter & I along with some of CBC/CTV friends landed in Dubai about 1 pm.

Thanks to all who checked in over the last month and a half. If you left a comment thanks! I can't respond to emails through the blog, but you're welcome to email me directly at bacton@sonetis.com.

To all who still have friends and family there. Military and Media they be safe. No to worry and they are doing good work but need your support. Keep it up.

Take care and talk to you all soon.

Barry

Just about done!

Me at work.

Just want to thank everyone who has stopped by, if you left a comment, thanks again!

I can't respond to emails from the comments unless you leave me your email. Sorry about that, it's part of the system.

If you want to email me @ bacton@sonetis.com, feel free!

Network Time Killers

How we kill time on rainy nights in Kandahar. Scrabble.
The guy standing is CBC's Jim Hoffeman, CBC's Tom Peary on the right and Peter Harris on the left.

The other two are Paul Workman and Jim MacDonald both with CTV.

Driving shots

While heading back from Spin, I grab a couple of quick snaps as Noorkhan was speeding along at about 140km/h.

The little white rocks are a mine field. Tough to see at 140 but thought you might like to see a bit of the landscape.

Osama's Afghan home

This is an area known as Tarnak Farms. It is Osama's last mailinig address before being bombed off to the desert or Pakistan or where ever he is now.

A lovely little left over from the previous Russian attempts at ruling this country.

Spin Buldak drive thru

After our little adventure at the border town of Spin Buldak, our fixer Noorkhan took us for a little late lunch. You can't make out much through the dirty window, but it was a lovely little dinning cart. Nice view of the side street as well.

Although I'm not one for a lot of local roadside cuisine, it was spicy, and gave no lasting effects.

The border

If you follow along. The first picture is a guy getting slapped by a Pakistan border guard.

The big gate is called the friendship gate.

The third is said border guard tell me to get lost.

Fourth is a shot of a Pakistan Military man caught crossing the border illegally.

This kid was just a kid crossing

Run for the border

Peter and I heading to the border with Pakistan. The town of Spin Buldak. How do you like the chin whiskers?

Camels

Snapped this on the way into town with our fixer. A small camel train.

IEDs

I was asked what is an IED. It stand for Improvised Explosive Device. Luckey I don't have a photo of one, nor do I want to find one. Basically they take what ever will blow up and injure the most people, plant it in the ground or in a car and try to blow up a convoy or what ever they think is worth dying for. They can be pressure released, time released or set off with a cell phone. Fun fun fun.

Suicide Ally

This is the gate to Kandahar City. We were on the way back to camp, so this is the end of Suicide Ally. They found 3 different IED's right at the arches about 2 days ago.

Same trip as below, met the brother of the President, Ahmad Wali Khan Karza.
Thats him just to the right of the guy holding the AK-47.

The other shot is of one of many meat shops in the city. Hungry?

Adopt a dog?

Peter and I were in to the UN office the other day. Found these puppies just outside the door. The parents were around, so I hope the're well looked after.