Night Out in Kabul

Last night, most of the Kabul based MC staff hit the town - Kabul style I'm assuming. Because the agreed upon break fast time is 6:15p - 7:30p for the drivers, we decided that would be our "happy hour" pre-dinner. One of our guesthouses is known as the frat house, namely because they have a pool table and a roof-top bar, and also because it's usually where many of the single male staff live. It is located down the street from my guesthouse so I asked a guard to escort me down the street. When you are NEVER on the street it is a strange feeling to suddenly be so out in the open.

I was the first to arrive so I proceeded to do what any guest would do, give myself a tour. What I found was not only the infamous and lovely third-floor terrace but a spiral staircase leading up to the actual fourth-floor rooftop. Up there, even more exposed to the world, I was greeted by the most stunning view. I hadn't realized that Kabul is surrounded by rather majestic mountains - or at least silhouetted at dusk, they seemed that way. Regardless it was impressive to look out over the entire city for a moment, and start to get a sense of the mystic of the place, before I decided to take my conspicuous foreign self back downstairs.

The rest of my colleagues appeared and we began the evening. After visiting over happy hour, we called for a couple cars and went out to the Lebanese restaurant. At the restaurant, we passed through what my boss has told me is called the "kill cage" - two sets of metal, locked doors manned by armed guards, where one door closes before the second opens. It is really surreal to go from the dusty Kabul street, through that room and into a totally normal and familiar western restaurant environment.

It was a great evening, eating some of the best food I've ever had, enjoying good conversation with my new colleagues and further acclimating to this new world.