 2006-10-09 09:28:34
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I've been here just over a week now. 2 rocket attacks and 4 of our lads sent home in boxes. 
The powers that be (politicians and top level military personnel) keep saying they need more troops here to get control of the situation, and the situation keeps getting worse.
Today is the 5th anniversary of the initial invasion that took out the Taliban government and scattered the Al Queda SOBs into the mountains. 5 years and not a lot to show for it. There is now the fear that if things don't improve drastically over the winter (as far as the local economies are concerned), a lot of the locals could start supporting the Taliban again.
In the mean time, it's business as usual here. Get up early, work through the heat of the day, finish late, have supper, a shower and often right off to bed.
Not a lot of social activities here. A few places to hang around have a coffee or pop and chat with friends over the roar of the helicopters/jets. A couple of places where you can watch what ever movie happens to be showing (if you can find a seat). Easier just to watch movies on the laptop.
A lot of people put in extra hours at work just for something to do.
Once I get a little better organized I can start working on my Thai language lessons again. Then when I get back I can confuse the hel_l out of my friends with my garbled attempts to speak the language !
The powers that be (politicians and top level military personnel) keep saying they need more troops here to get control of the situation, and the situation keeps getting worse.
Today is the 5th anniversary of the initial invasion that took out the Taliban government and scattered the Al Queda SOBs into the mountains. 5 years and not a lot to show for it. There is now the fear that if things don't improve drastically over the winter (as far as the local economies are concerned), a lot of the locals could start supporting the Taliban again.
In the mean time, it's business as usual here. Get up early, work through the heat of the day, finish late, have supper, a shower and often right off to bed.
Not a lot of social activities here. A few places to hang around have a coffee or pop and chat with friends over the roar of the helicopters/jets. A couple of places where you can watch what ever movie happens to be showing (if you can find a seat). Easier just to watch movies on the laptop.
A lot of people put in extra hours at work just for something to do.
Once I get a little better organized I can start working on my Thai language lessons again. Then when I get back I can confuse the hel_l out of my friends with my garbled attempts to speak the language !
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2006-09-28 20:23:38
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Next leg completed. I made it in to Dubai late last night, arriving around 10:30 pm local time. It's Ramadan now, so things are a little more restricted than normal.
Checked in to the hotel (quite a nice, and expensive, place near the airport). After a quick shower I grabbed a cab and found a bar that was still open. 2 drinks later and it was time to go back to the hotel and get some sleep.
Being Ramadan, many places are closed during the day. Apparently even the gold souk is closed until this evening.
Haven't had the desire to get out and about. Got to get an early night's sleep tonight.
Not much to report from here. Looks like I'll just be hanging around here until it's time to go. Never had much desire to do anything in Dubai during any of the other times I've passed through. Same this time.
Next entry should be a little more detailed, when ever that is.
Checked in to the hotel (quite a nice, and expensive, place near the airport). After a quick shower I grabbed a cab and found a bar that was still open. 2 drinks later and it was time to go back to the hotel and get some sleep.
Being Ramadan, many places are closed during the day. Apparently even the gold souk is closed until this evening.
Haven't had the desire to get out and about. Got to get an early night's sleep tonight.
Not much to report from here. Looks like I'll just be hanging around here until it's time to go. Never had much desire to do anything in Dubai during any of the other times I've passed through. Same this time.
Next entry should be a little more detailed, when ever that is.
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2006-09-24 10:50:33
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Well, I'm still in Canada for a few more days. Almost finished my prep training, bags are packed and ready to go. Can't give out exact dates and times of course, for obvious reasons.
Left Thailand over a month ago and have been going steady since then. It will be nice to finally get to Kandahar and start working.
It was quite the culture shock, returning to Canada after being away for almost 3 years. The weather was cooler, the prices higher, they drive on the other side of the road and barely a moto in site anywhere ! (only one "strip" club in this city and it wouldn't last a week in Pattaya).
Won't be getting back to Thailand until my first holiday sometime early in the new year.
Having this site will let me keep in touch with events in LOS, so I won't feel totally out in the cold.
Not sure how this blog will turn out. A lot will depend on how much online time I'll have once I'm in the camp. Then there's the whole security issue to be aware of. There's going to be a lot that I won't be able to discuss for various reasons. Then there will be the times when there simply isn't anything worth mentioning.
I'll try and post what I can, when I can. Just to note, we (my fellow civilian workers and myself) won't be allowed off camp for safety and insurance reasons, so we aren't going to see much of the country or interact too much with the locals.
There will be a local bazaar every week where some select locals will be able to sell some types of locally produced handicrafts, mostly the same stuff as they had in Kabul during my time there (in other words, nothing special).
In any event, a few more days and I'm on my way !
Talk to you later (if anyone is out there and soooo bored they are actually reading this) !!
Left Thailand over a month ago and have been going steady since then. It will be nice to finally get to Kandahar and start working.
It was quite the culture shock, returning to Canada after being away for almost 3 years. The weather was cooler, the prices higher, they drive on the other side of the road and barely a moto in site anywhere !
(only one "strip" club in this city and it wouldn't last a week in Pattaya).Won't be getting back to Thailand until my first holiday sometime early in the new year.
Having this site will let me keep in touch with events in LOS, so I won't feel totally out in the cold.
Not sure how this blog will turn out. A lot will depend on how much online time I'll have once I'm in the camp. Then there's the whole security issue to be aware of. There's going to be a lot that I won't be able to discuss for various reasons. Then there will be the times when there simply isn't anything worth mentioning.
I'll try and post what I can, when I can. Just to note, we (my fellow civilian workers and myself) won't be allowed off camp for safety and insurance reasons, so we aren't going to see much of the country or interact too much with the locals.
There will be a local bazaar every week where some select locals will be able to sell some types of locally produced handicrafts, mostly the same stuff as they had in Kabul during my time there (in other words, nothing special).
In any event, a few more days and I'm on my way !
Talk to you later (if anyone is out there and soooo bored they are actually reading this) !!
on Still In Canada