Day 6 of 8 started with a bus journey to Ghazni to stay in another homestay and this little homestay was in Khawaja Omari district, It was coming to the end off this amazing trip and time was starting to go very quickly on these bus journeys. After a longish drive and some questionable topics we had arrived into our little village where it felt like everyone was out to see the tourists who are staying for the the night. For the next couple of hours we got a small tour around the area and while they do not have much there is certainly more appreciation for the small things in life, kids on bikes with no brakes or wearing sandals with broken straps it was a unique thing to notice when you know there is kids at home who cry cause their Ipad is not charged.
While having dinner it was mentioned that the local leaders had come to visit and they had some important people with them who wanted to meet the men only in the group and have a chat about how we have found Afghanistan & other issues. After dinner it was time to pile into a room with what felt like the entire male population in the village, one of the situations I never thought I would be in would be sitting in a room in the arse end of Afghan with leaders of Anti Corruption, Anti Drugs plus others from the Taliban. After a lot of interesting questions as to why we are here and asking us to help them with lifting sanctions from our Government it was time to say goodnight and get to bed for another long day of travel
An early start was required if we wanted to get into Kandahar for that evening so to see all that was needed, 5am alarm was set. On the list was a visit to the Ghazni Citadel Walk which was once the heart of the Ghaznavid Empire, the Citadel stands as a testament to Afghanistan's storied past. Minarets which are the last vestiges of the great Ghaznavid Empire, which ruled an area from the Caspian Sea to the Ganges Delta during the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D then onto the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni who was the Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, ruling from 998 to 1030. During his reign and in medieval sources, he is usually known by his honorific title Yamin al-Dawla. Once all completed and amazed by the sheer size of this place it was time for the 6 hour journey to Kandahar, or so we thought as we all learned that the roads in Afghan are merely replaced in the most random places so we could be on a nice bit of road for 5 mins then it was a sandpit for about 20-30 mins with trucks & buses speeding past like they they didn't realise the cargo they had could be killed anytime with the amount  of undetected landmines laying around. After a 13 hour journey through roads and areas that no westerners would be going we finally arrived into Kandahar around 11ish.
Our last day was another packed itinerary but as usual when we got to new places it was time to visit the local leader who had to approve our stay. Once completed it was time to do some small hikes and visit a bat cave which unsurprisingly smelt like shit. During our drive it was noticeable how much this place felt more relaxed to the other locations we had visited. One of the last places we visited was the Ruins of old Kandahar, Zorr Shar, founded by Alexander the Great which was a weird but amazing feeling known I had seen so much history on this trip. Our final hike and view of this amazing trip was to Chil Zena which is unique in the fact that no outsiders are allowed visit as the locals have being known to attack those who try visit, With the Taliban escorting us we felt ok and seen the Taliban slap and whip people out the way it was certainly one way of making way. Catching Sunset with the gang will live long with me along with many memories. It was then time for dinner, bed and an early start for our flight out of Afghan to Dubai.
For those who think "Why Afghan" Go and explore these places and you will realise that life is for living and when your older you will rather have stories of seen these places than thinking "What If"
Afghan it was pleasure, time now for another adventure!!
Iraq, See you soon
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