It was actually horrific. It was around 1988, just about the time when Russia were leaving Afghanistan … we were in of all planes Aeroflot…. The run way still had shot down planes and if I remember some were still smouldering. We got escorted off the plane with guns pointed at us, but once at the airport, It was quite relaxed as we were the only passengers there. We were held there for half a day while they were trying to figure out what to do with us.
I remember the toilets had not been cleaned for a very long time and as soon as the door opened you were met by the loudest sound from swarms of flies … the stench was unbearable. But needs must.
Anyway they eventually took us in the cover of night in a coach to a central hotel in kabul. We were forced to sit head between our legs with the curtains drawn.
The hotel staff were very sympathetic and hospitable even though they could not offer much in terms of food. It was rice, naan and vegetable soup. They did get the occasional crisp packet for the kids. I remember the security constantly being on edge and arguing amongst themselves. We were sent to our rooms at 6 every night and the electricity would be cut and were ordered to draw the curtains.
Essentially the plane needed a part from all places Russia … it took around 5 days to arrive and 2 days to fix as they didn’t know when an engineer would be available. I just remember everyone cheering when they said that the plane was fixed and we would be boarding in the next hour or so. The wait seemed as if time was going backwards.
The general folk in and around the hotel were kind and were intrigued about India. I remember one chap asked my dad if we wanted to go to his house for dinner, but that idea was shot down.
All in all an unforgettable journey. I don’t know if there were eating pine nuts but many blokes were eating some sort of seeds
