Type Afghanistan into Google and see what you find.
Bombings.
The explosion ripped through a wedding in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing dozens of people in.
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War.
Crisis.
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These are normally the pictures that come to mind when you hear the name Afghanistan.
But are these tragic events really that common? Yes.
Tragedy strikes Afghanistan on a daily basis.
A country at war for 40 years.
But is there another side to Afghanistan that is rarely covered? Let's find out.
The world'sdeadliest conflict.
The war should endin Afghanistan.
Hi, how are you? We will smile towards lifebecause life is worth smiling, Not a day withoutviolence.
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We were sure that's resilience.
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We will not allow people to knowthat we have weakened.
Our families shed bloodfor this country.
♪♪♪ Indigo TravelerInside Afghanistan Episode 1 That is not Afghanistan, that is Dubai.
I'm in an airport hotel right now, I'm about to head to the terminal.
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Get a flight to Kabul, Afghanistan, the capital.
Gonna be exploring Kabulfor a day in a bit, and then exploring differentareas of Afghanistan.
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But I'll explain morewhen we get there.
we're gonna be seeing some pretty heavy scenesalong with, hopefully, some good scenes.
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Let's get on that planeand then fly to Kabul.
I'm excited and.
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You know, equally nervous.
♪♪♪ You can see a lot of the cooking's downon the wood and open stoves and so to eat.
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So we've arrived in Kabul, this is my house here.
I'm actually in the side ofthe United Nations compound here.
Why am I inthe United Nations compound? If you followed my Venezuela series, we did a bitof fundraising there, UNICEF saw that, and they wanted to knowif I wanted to work with them.
Many months later of planninglogistics, and here we are.
Been given a bulletproof vests, the vehiclethat we came in the airport from was an armored vehicle with bulletproof glass, security is quite tight here.
So tomorrow morningwe're gonna go to the markets, then we're going to seesome other things around Kabul.
That's going to be in this video so I'll see you in.
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3, 2, 1.
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That's a bulletproofvest and helmets, personal protectiveequipment, and we jump in the car, hit to the market.
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Hopefully see some locals.
Extremely tight security here.
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It's intense.
♪♪♪ So we've cometo the bazaar, you can see some very interestingsights on the way here.
Extremely heavy military presenceis what I've seen but we come to try and meet some local, we come to this meat shop here, so I'm gonna go inand ask some questions.
So this is Iriam, and he's goingto be kinda of translating and showing me around whileI'm here in Afghanistan.
Hello guys! And so what do we up to now?Where are we exactly? So we are at the street where we havemostly the Shamwari kebab.
In Karai these are mostly made from lamb, very famous and very frequented by a ones here.
Salaam alaikum.
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That's the cooler.
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-He is going to prepare.
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-Salaam alaikum.
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You order any pieces that you want, if you wanttwo, three, four, whatever.
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That's up to you! Okey.
And thenthey chopped it out.
-So, my name is Mohammed Youssef.
-Nice to meet you, I'm Nick.
-Nick?-Yeah.
So, we made a lotof things from meat.
We have a knife, and another kind of knifewhich is just only for cutting the bones.
And this is only fora simple meat, soft meat.
Did you study? Where did youlearn such good English? Actually, I'm about to finishing the BCSComputer Science in the Kardan University.
So you think that, maybe later in life, you work in a university or.
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? Yes, of course.
-Right!-Actually.
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I'm a student of the university, I am finishing BCS from the University of Kardan We have a problem so for this reasonI starting this business but this businessis a very popular business, and here a lot of people of Afghanistanare eating these kind of foods, and are very popular because they are soft, they are clean and they are fresh.
Do you like livingin Afghanistan? Yeah, of course! It's our own.
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How do you say? It's our own countryso we must be here because if you go other countries you just be treated as a refugee.
-Do you feel safe living here?-Yeah, of course! But every country havea lot of dangers, but actually these countries aresuffering almost 35 years fighting.
Yeah, of course!It's very dangerous.
But we will hopethat it will be solved, and it will take almost.
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Maybe take a time but we hope that it will be solvein five, four or three years.
-So things are improving, do you think?-Yeah, of course! Yeah! Before if you, just imagine, 20 years back if you came here there wasno college, no university, no schools, no people here, every fighting.
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A lot of fighting here.
So maybe, nowadays after 18 years we have a schools, colleges, universitys, a lot of people.
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We have a problembut it will be solved maybe in the future.
Ok.
Well, I hope that's the case.
Good luck! And thanks Mohammad.
-Thank you!-Take care.
♪♪♪ -So is this like a roadside mechanic?-The roadside mechanic.
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And this guy, he fixes the motorbikes, changes their fuel or oil.
//Speaking native language// -Samira is 20 years old.
-Okay.
He's a mechanic of motorbikes, and he has open his shop on the roadside because he doesn't haveto pay any rent.
-Right!-And because he shop here, in this locality, charges up to 500 to700 Afgani per month for rent.
So the government doesn'tcare that he does this? At times they bother himto pick up his things and leave, but most of the time he can work here, and he used to provide bread for eight members family.
-Eight family members?-Eight family members.
So, on a good day he makes 500 Afganiwith one motorbike when he looks at the engine, he changes the fuel, he changesthe motor oil, so he makes 400, 500 Afgani which is about$ 10.
And did he have the prior training or did he justlearn by playing around with motorbikes? //Speaking in native language// He worked as a apprentice herefor almost 12 years, and that shop there.
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But then the ownershipshifted this place, but because he knewsome of the people here, he stayed here and now those peoplecoming to him too, so he had a 12 years of beinga student at that workshop.
And how long has he beenrunning his own business for? //Speaking in native language// Five years sincehe started by his own.
And does he enjoy it? //Speaking in native language// Yes, I'm happy because it's up to meto come to work or not.
-Okay.
-That's the luxury of it.
One last question, does he enjoy living in Afghanistan? And does he feel secure? //Speaking in native language// It's not just my story, it's the story of the rest of Afghans, you come out early in the morning, you don't know if you go home back.
You don't know if you go back home becauseof the uncertainty about security situation and the blasts and everything.
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But yes, I'm happy in Afghanistan.
I know people here, this is my place, I've grown up, all the surrounding is so I'm reallyquaint with.
So yes, I'm happy here.
Okay! //Speaking in native language// -So, this is a public park?-This is a public part.
The oldest parkin Kabul.
And has there been turbulent events herein the past or is reasonably safe? So this is.
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No, inside this parkwe haven't had any security incidents.
Here people play chess, we would goto the other side where people playing cricket.
♪♪♪ They spend the day hereand by the evening they go back home, because most of themare unemployed.
Okay! And so they just come here rather, spend some good time with friends chat a bit, go around, sit in the shade of the trees, watch other people play basketball, volleyball, cricket, these games, and thengo back home.
You can see that the market is quiteshrinking in terms of job.
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-Opportunity?-Job opportunities.
People don't get them.
Most people.
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That guy isnow cooking there.
He's a universitygraduate but he has no other optionbut to come here and make barbecue.
-Did you speak English?-Yeah.
Of course.
-Did you study?-Yeah.
-What do you study?-In Kardan.
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It's here.
And what'syour profession? -I'm a commander-Commander.
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Yeah! He's working inthe army.
-Yeah! The army.
-The army? Okay! So, this gentleman thatwe're approaching.
What's he selling? It's a vendor.
He sells pomegranatesand also grapes.
Okay.
//Speaking in native language// He has 57 years old.
For 23 years he's been on this spot, in this spot selling.
Has he seen a lot of differentchanges in Kabul in that time? ♪♪♪ Everything changes, you see these tall buildings, you see people now travelingby armored vehicles, but I don't seea difference in my own life.
For generations we have servedthe government of Afghanistan.
We have been inthe army for generations.
I've lost seventeen membersof my family serving Afghanistan Myself, I have huge woundsin my abdomen, in my foot.
Must been 23 years that I'm just here in every day's getting tougher to feed my family.
It's getting tougher tofeed my family.
And most reasonwhy it's getting tougher? //Speaking native language// Depends on ourleaders.
Our leaders are notshowing us the right path, if they lead us to the right pathnone of us would be.
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With the money that is coming in, with the life of the involvement of other countries, we should not be in this state anymore, but it's lower leaders.
Really change it.
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You're never ableto hit straight.
-I have tried so many times-It's on an angle.
Yeah! -So you pay money and they let you.
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-Yeah! Yeah! You keep shooting, you cannot hit itbut if you hit you're not pay, so you cannever hit.
Is it not dangerous that youmight miss and fire? Is small, small.
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//Speaking native language// You got you just tried to give hima little bit of money and he just find it? Just to help them.
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Yeah! But he say: “No, you guess it”.
-So the Afghan culture is really built on.
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-Hospitality.
Hospitality and welcoming foreigners andguests from other places, right? It's quite beautiful, isn't it? Yeah! That'sthe beautiful part.
They're friendly, they want to know you.
I mean, I've been only walkingaround the streets for a little while and I've noticedhow hospitable the people are.
-It's amaizing!-Exacly! When you go to Mazaryou'd be amazed.
People are just waiting for youand accommodate you.
And that's tomorrowwe're heading to Mazar, so I will see.
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Yeah! You will havea good time.
Cool! Nice singing! ♪♪♪ Those doors are so heavywith that reinforced steel.
So we just got a report about20 caves away from here, there was a ID bombthat blew up a police trucks.
So it is very realthe danger here.
We've just come toa hospital here, we're going to seewhat they do with malnutrition and get a feel forthe scene.
Yeah! So this hospital is actually callIndra Gandhi Hospital, was founded by India.
India and Afghanistanhave reasonably strong ties, so we're gonna have a bit ofa walk to explore and hopefully meetsome people, learn a bit more about the malnutritionand the situation here in Afghanistan.
Okay, so we just had a lookaround the hospital.
This is Sally from UNICEF.
She's a New Zealand as well.
And can you just explain a bit aboutmalnutrition in Afghanistan? It's pretty diedfor so many kids here, and 1 in 18 children died beforetheir first visiting.
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And it's so hard to see! We saw a mom today with twinsand they were so fail, but UNICEF we're ableto supply therapeutic milk.
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-Sorry.
Therapeutic milk.
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-For these little babies.
And bring them back tothe life essentially.
If we didn't have that, then they won't be here.
So we just filmed alittle interview with one of the mothers and her malnourishedchildren.
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So I'll show you that now.
//Speaking native language// Constant turmoil, mentally and physically, because I don't knowwhat's wrong with my children.
It's my milk that I'm giving them, is something wrong with that.
My husband is a truck driver, he transports catchers here and there, he doesn't know, I don't know, and that has put me ina very difficult state because I look at these childrenand my heart shivers, but there's nothingI can do.
I felt very weak.
I felt like a shadow in my body, I felt like I've been shaking, and I haven't felt good myself since some months.
There are 60 peoplein her house, and the doctors have told her to eat meat, and to have fruit and other things, but I don't think that I would be able todo that because it's a huge house.
I cannot be treated differently than the restof the females, the rest of the mothers there.
I want to.
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For these two girls, Safari and Marwa, I'm dreaming of educating themand to learn about life, and howthey can survive.
If you put them among any babiesI'll be able to tell that these are my babies, so I can tell their facesthey're different to me, to others maybe they're twins, but to me they're different.
but my love forthem is equal.
I hope wars andfighting disappears.
I hope that we do not hearof any fighting anymore.
What I would be proudis of the happiness of ones, that would be the idea that I'll be veryproud to see, everyone happy.
♪♪♪ So, as you can see, the situation's.
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I don't really need to say.
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Super intense!It is a severe situation here I am trying to show the good and the bad, but it's important to see this, and I'm gonna be leaving a link belowif you want to donate.
money goes to help mothers like thisall over the country, so feel freeto check that out.
♪♪♪ So we just come upto this lookout point, you can see the huge flagbehind me.
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It's gigantic! I just want to pointat these things up here they look like kindaa big balloon thing.
It's basically a big brother, so that's surveillance of the the city, they've got cameras up therelooking over the city just to.
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You know, police, the terrorism, etc.
Yeah! It's a beautifullookout point.
I think we're gonna head over soonto another mountaintop.
When we're in that hospital before, you can see a helicopter there, when we'rein that hospital before, there was helicopters landing, dropping off war victims.
I mean, the country's stillrife with war, so.
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♪♪♪ We just arrived at this kindof abandoned plot here, and there's some kidsplaying cricket.
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So we might goand chat to them.
It's a really interestinglooking building over here.
Cricket is huge in Afghanistan, it's like the main sport, and they're really good at it.
-How are you?-I'm Nick.
Nice to meet you! You guys playcricket well? Yeah! Are you working, or studying, or.
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? //Speaking native language// He is working in Changsha television, he's working in dubbing, dubbing department, Where they dubbed seriesand soap operas.
How do you feel livingin Afghanistan? //Speaking native language// It's very difficult, it's like.
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80% it's the death lingering over your head always, it's 20% hug, 20% happiness, 20% cricket and football, and other things that we get into.
And even we don't have ground, so we normally would come here play and then the army would ask us to leave so.
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It's always that but.
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But we are living this our country, we have to live here, no matter whatthe circumstances.
Sorry to interrupt your cricket.
Have a good day.
♪♪♪ We were then kicked out of the cricket pitch by Afghan Security Forces.
So we just come up to this viewpointlooking over the hill of Kabul, another viewpoint on the other sideof the hill, and it's.
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Crazy views! We've been told to stay on the roadsbecause of land mines and things, but there's some locals up herepartying and stuff.
Check this out! ♪♪♪ So I'm backat the UN compound.
Incredible first full dayin Afghanistan.
Overwhelming a bit, in the hospital, to see the kids in such a state some seven months old, and their legs were very skinny.
So lots of helpneeded in this country.
I'll mention again, if you want to send a dollaror two, or whatever you want I'll leave the link down belowto the UNICEF page.
I'm not getting paid at all by UNICEF for this trip, they are covering the costs, just to be transparent with you, guys.
But it's a win-win situation.
You know, we get to raisesome money for people in need.
It's a big honor for me to be working withUnited Nations and UNICEF.
Without UNICEF being here it would be quite tricky traveling around, is possible, but just having the resourcesof the UN and the security.
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Today we were driving aroundthere was a car bomb in the streets.
These things are lurking around every corner, and they're not rare, they're very common.
But you did seethe people are very nice.
It's just a country in a terriblenever-ending situation.
It seems like.
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I mean, you know, 40 years of war.
What that does toour places? Intense! In the next video, getting upsuper early, heading to the airport.
We're getting a flight to the northof Afghanistan to see some more areas.
I haven't got my passport back here, they took it at the airport, and we haven't beengiven our passports back, so.
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Hopefully in the next videowe can get our passports back, because being in Afghanistan without a passportit's not the best feeling in the world.
Anyway! In caseI don't see you.
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Good afternoon, good evening and good night.
See youin the next video! ♪♪♪.