Welcome to My Home, a photo from Badakhshan, East

Photographer's Note

On the way back from Sarhad to Eshkashim we stopped for lunch in a guesthouse adjacent to this house. I had enough time to capture a few more photos of Wakhan life.

It was in this house (I have written about this before so apologies to those who remember for repeating myself) where I got asked if I had any pills for “bad stomach” as one of the ladies in the village was not well. I shared my remaining Loperamide 50-50, keeping two tablets for myself, leaving two for the unfortunate local woman. I was going back to Tajikistan two days later so I didn’t desperately need it. People in Wakhan have very little access to medical help. According to Wikipedia, in 2006 60% of the population of Afghanistan lived within a 2-hour walk of the nearest health facility. Unfortunately, the reality in Wakhan is much less rosy. I suggested that, if the medication did not bring the desired relief within a couple of days the lady in question should obtain medical advice…

“It’s not possible”, said my guide Azim. “The nearest doctor is in Eshkashim, 2 days’ drive from here.”
“Well”, insisted I, a naïve European. “If the symptoms persist she will have to go, otherwise her condition may turn out to be life-threatening.”
“It’s not possible”, repeated Azim with his usual patience while explaining the realities of everyday life in Afghanistan to me. “Women cannot travel on their own, she would have to be accompanied by her husband. And her husband is busy ploughing the field and looking after the animals”.

I, myself, had been experiencing symptoms of acute food poisoning for over 24 hours and the very thought of food felt painful. I still ate a bit of the meal offered to me in Qazideh, just enough not to offend my hosts. The following evening we reached Eshkashim where I enjoyed the luxury of being served food in my room (as I was the only guest so it was not worth opening the dining room just for me). I rearranged the food on the tray and didn’t eat any of it. Later on, I fainted on the way to the bathroom, came round when falling, limped back to my room. I was glad nobody noticed. I wasn’t sure I would like to be examined by that local doctor. In the morning I didn’t eat any of the breakfast and left for Tajikistan. As I reached Dushanbe, after 36 hours of tea-only diet, I started feeling better.

So this is the story of my last couple of days in Afghanistan. I would like to be able to tell you the story of the lady from Qazideh who was also feeling unwell at the time. But I’m afraid “it’s not possible”.

This is my last post from Afghanistan. I will upload 2 more photos in WS.

jhm, worldcitizen, holmertz, Fis2, mamcg, jimmyjimmy, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, everlasting, Royaldevon, ktanska, clic, ChrisJ, alvaraalto, Ilonka1974, PaulVDV has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (211736) 2021-01-18 11:29

Hello Kasia,

A lovely portrait of this shamed girl
Wonderful eyes but had a little bit afraid of the photographer
You show us a nice image
Very well done. TFS.

Best regards,
John

worldcitizen (16072) 2021-01-18 12:02

Hello Kasia,
This child is so serious, and her big, brown eyes pierce through the camera. Her red scarf also stands out amid the very stark surroundings. Do you worry at all, while traveling through areas such as this one, about the lack of medical facilities? We never expect something bad to happen, but we never really know... Thankfully your food poisoning resolved itself, and you didn't hit the floor when you fainted! It's sad to know that members of this village could die from something easily treatable if they just had access to care...

Silvio1953 (221659) 2021-01-18 12:07

Ciao Kasia, sad but interesting history abaut life in Afghanistan, thanks for beautiful WS, grae portrait of cute young girl, intense expression in beautiful eyes, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

holmertz (102732) 2021-01-18 12:12

Hello Kasia,
Another little Afghan girl looking sad. She has such a pretty face, and she is so beautiful in those bright clothes, but it makes me sad too to see that life in this part of the world is not a happy one. I love the WS too. Maybe my favourite is the one from the courtyard with the man and the donkey, and where we see more of their house. Technically all photos are as good as always.
So next time maybe back to Sweden? Or maybe India, Bangladesh, Palestine? ;-)
Kind regards,
Gert

Fis2 (170807) 2021-01-18 12:33

Czesc Kasiu!
Znakomite zdjecie, dziewczynka jest sympatyczna, jej piekne oczy spojrzaly w obiektyw.
Ciekawe miejsce i stroj dziewczynki.
Dobry POV, kolory i swiatlo.
Milego nowego tygodnia.
Krzysztof

lousat (139298) 2021-01-18 14:08

Ciao Kasia,the photos are beautiful, the child does not seem to be so happy to let you visit the house, but she was certainly shy and this was an unusual situation for her. Your notes are very interesting as ever, a really bad story about accessing medical services for these people. But even for you, a trip with intestinal problems is a real tragedy, it also happened to me in Madagscar 2 years ago, but luckily I was in a tourist village and I was well stocked with medicines, but I never managed to understand what I ate wrong after the dozens of food hygiene courses I did for my job as a bartender. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano.

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-01-18 18:26

Hi Kasia
Love your camera angle almost level to her eye capturing a very cute little girl who had a perplexed look on her face as if she had found something new that she had never seen before! Adore this kind of shot, very sharp, great expression and that zingy contrasty colour against the environment. As always enjoy reading your experience there and tx to your in depth narratives. Congrats
Best regards

jimmyjimmy (6164) 2021-01-18 20:17

Hello kasia

Life on this planet can be pretty arduous I agree. Still the wee one has a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Too young to feel the struggles of life yet. Nice series of images to show that struggle. Keep them coming.

Jimmy

ifege (48135) 2021-01-18 20:32

Hi Kasia
I must say that I enjoy your notes about Afghanistan as much as your great photos. This one is another good portrait of the girl with a slightly unsure look on her face and in her stance.
Thanks for all the comments of my Wagga photos.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (116542) 2021-01-18 23:02

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
so sweet,so delicate
but the expression of the face???
I see a sadness...
isnt it true????
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147184) 2021-01-18 23:10

Hi Kasia,
Well photographed this little girl, a good portrait and an expressive face and look, nice red colors and interesting note with your experience, tfs.

everlasting (19680) 2021-01-19 0:22

the story is fascinating ,the portrait of the young girl mesmerising. I do not know why you were in Afghanistan but I am going to read through your earlier post to learn more.

marine-coeur (1072) 2021-01-19 1:41

Hello Kasia
A lovely and innocent child....
A very sad story from this part of our home (planet)
we wish all the best for all every where....
your picture-message and note is great well done
KASIA NOWAK

Royaldevon (85932) 2021-01-19 3:25

Hello Kasia,

So, this is the end of your absorbing travels through Pakistan. I have enjoyed sharing it with you and learning so much about the everyday life of the people who live there, facts which are from real experiences and not something gained from a travel guide.
You have also explained the ominous note, written early on in your documentation, about being ill. (So glad you recovered without any serious after effects.)

The three photographs are all delightful. They show the people, their clothing and their environment with excellent clarity and honesty.

Keep safe,
Bev :-)

GyurMaster (24838) 2021-01-19 3:29

Hello Kasia,

All three photos are nice, but clearly this one is the best with the child's vivid clothes against the otherwise dull environment.

Regarding bad stomach: an acquaintance of mine always swears that a daily shot of Hungarian pálinka (50-60%) protects you from any disease you may get in countries like this. So far he never had any problems... :)

Best Wishes,
Gy.

emka (158198) 2021-01-19 8:05

Witaj Kasiu, Szkoda, że to ostatnie Twoje zdjęcia z Afganistanu. Fantastyczna seria portretów. Ciekawe, że dzieci mają tam zawsze takie smutne oczy. Widziałam dzieci w wielu biednych krajach, Indiach, Birmie, Laosie, czy ostatnio na Zanzibarze, ale dzieci zwykle bawią się i śmieją niezależnie od sytuacji. Ta dziewczynka tez jest smutna i pozuje w dość dziwnej sztywnej pozie.
Zakończenie Twojej podróży dość dramatyczne. Podróżowanie samotne jest obarczone ryzykiem. Obawiam sie, że może być dość błaha przyczyna, a będzie to problemem kiedy nie ma sie nikogo wokół siebie, kto mógłby pomóc. Na szczęście, jeszcze żadna choroba mi się nie przytrafiła (pomijając chorobe wysokościową w Peru i cięzkie przeziębienie na Islandii).

Teoretycznie jestem na kwarantannie, wypełniłam jakiś formularz w pociagu w Chałupkach, ale wątpię, czy ktokolwiek bedzie sprawdzał. Mój wyjazd na Zanzibar był bajeczny. Ryzykowałam kupno biletu, ale warto było.

Pozdrawiam serdecznie
MAłgorzata

mkamionka (74481) 2021-01-19 8:20

Czesc Kasiu,
w weekend ogladalem z rodzina film Powrot do Przyszlosci. Bardzo ciekawe jak w latak 80tych ludzie wyobrazali sobie przyszlosc... A potem przeniesli sie w czasy dzikiego zachodu i poczestowali chlopaka z przyszlosci kolacja. Poprosil o wode do picia i wtedy nalali mu do szklanki cos brazowego...

Zabawna sprawda ale na nowe jedzenie ja i moja zona reagujemy dokladnie odwrotnie, tak wiec zwykle zabieram przerozne rodzaje tabletek na zoladek. Gdby mnie ktos zapytal o lekarstwo nie bylbym pewien jakie podac... dopoki nie wytlumaczyliby mi dokladnue tego co sie dzieje, ha ha

Uroczy portret dzieczynki, a w workshop-ie jeszcze wiecej,
Ta dziewczynka ma czerwone kolory unioru co na pewno dodaja jej fotogenicznosci.
Patrzy na ciebie badawczym wzrokiem.
W tle indyk.
Bardzo ciekawy reportaz i historia.

Zaciekawilo mnie to co napisalas kiedys o zyczeniach ze chcialabyc mieszkac w Afganistanie... Co chcialabys tam robic? Praca z dziecmi?
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M

ktanska (44788) 2021-01-19 10:17

Hi Kasia,
She looks so shy, hands tight next to her hips. Red clothes make a good contrast with earth tone interior. That turkey is a surprise. Rough place for stomachs!
Kari

clic (76) 2021-01-19 13:11

Hello Kasia
Well that's a touching story you wrote about in the note, down below!
In the news, we were used to see armed soldiers conducting searches in such Asian bleds.
Yet in your capture, a shy-looking young girl poses to give life to those concrete walls for a touching portrait in her natural environment.
Thanks for this moving tribute to simplicity.
Cheers

ChrisJ (171852) 2021-01-19 20:29

Hello Kasia,

The bg turkey seeking any tasty morsel it could find adds a secondary focal point behind the fg girl with the red headscarf. Good sharpness and lighting. Tfs!

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-01-20 2:30

Hello Kasia,
Three beautiful pictures accompanying the fascinating description of your last days in Afghanistan.
The expression on the girl's face speaks clearly and is an excellent illustration of your story and everything else we know about this poor country and the position of women.
Excellent work
Have a nice day, groet Rob

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2021-01-20 9:38

Czesc Kasiu,
Spojrzenie dziewczynki wydaje się nieco zawstydzone.
Ale to jest piekne ujęcie i wspanialy portret.
Pozdrawiam derdecznie,
Janusz

PaulVDV (62944) 2021-01-29 12:09

Hello Kasia,
I missed these pictures here.
The photos are very beautiful, give us an idea of village life, the houses and the people. Your main photo shows a very beautiful girl but she looks sad.
Your story is heartbreaking. It is painful when poor people ask you for medication while you only have enough for personal use. On the other hand, it is difficult to estimate the correct facts and a doctor's visit remains the best advice ... But this is not possible for the wrong reasons. Hard situations ...
The food in Afghanistan apparently poses health problems for Westerners. Have you ever had food poisoning in another country?
Best regards, Paul

jmdias (115208) 2021-06-02 12:41

k

if a devil had created a hell only for women to live I guess it would be similar with some these societies. the girl looks prepared to the war, posing hard, waiting for a hard life. excellent portrait...and western women fighting for liberation of patriarchate, here they would know what this mean really...

take care

jorge