Afghanistan 1970 – 1975 Images from an Era of Peace
January 19, 2016 5:05 PM   Subscribe

A Collection of Vintage Photographs from The Heart of Central Asia - By Joseph Hoyt. His Tales and Travelogues with a very good map.

Photographing in Afghanistan: In 1970 Afghanistan was about as remote a place as any on earth. Tucked away in the north east corner of Central Asia, it was however on the “Silk Road” of the time. This was the track that Hippies followed to get to India, Nepal and beyond. I had known little about Afghanistan until one night around a camp-fire on the beach near the town of Vai, at the very eastern tip of Crete. There I met a young woman from New Zealand who had just crossed Asia by bus. She had the most remarkable tales to tell about the mountainous desert kingdom: sleeping in the chai-khana, the tea houses, riding on the tops of reeling rickety buses through perilous gorges, 150 foot Buddhas carved into cliffs, exploring ancient caravansaray. I knew I had to go.

More Images of Afghanistan
posted by nickyskye (12 comments total) 27 users marked this as a favorite
 
This was a time when the economy was thriving, people were working and there was a burgeoning tourist trade. Libraries, schools and universities were open to most. Food was plentiful. Gardens and orchards were lovingly tended, and the ancient irrigation systems functioned as they had for centuries. The most beautiful fruits and vegetables in all of Central Asia could be had in the local markets. The bazaars were brimming with antique carpets, jewelry, beadwork and textiles. Foreign aid had built fine highways and the modern airports at Kabul and Kandahar were served by airlines from Europe, Russia, India and beyond.

This makes me sad to read what is almost certainly lost forever.
posted by unliteral at 5:24 PM on January 19, 2016 [4 favorites]


This documentary, which was made in the late 80's by Richard Stanley, also features daily life, as well as scenes of combat, in the tribal areas of Afghanistan. I enjoyed it a good deal, even with the voice over, which was not present when the film was originally release. I hope this post adds to, rather than derails the fpp.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 5:35 PM on January 19, 2016 [4 favorites]


The photographs are beautiful and so haunting when you think about how things have changed.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:44 PM on January 19, 2016 [1 favorite]


For Afghanistan in the 1960s, see previous post and previouslier post.
posted by Kabanos at 5:52 PM on January 19, 2016


Nice, these photos are awesome. I was just watching Bitter Lake by Adam Curtis and this fits in. Tragic to think what went wrong with this beautiful place.
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:55 PM on January 19, 2016 [1 favorite]


Beautiful and sad for me as well, although I admit I am puzzled, not saddened, by "Afghan Float Device."
posted by Wolfdog at 6:16 PM on January 19, 2016


Wolfdog, Many people in Afghanistan did not learn how to swim, nor did they usually have boats. What was used to get across water was the inflated skin of a goat, sheep or cow. The skin was stitched up, oiled to make it waterproof, then air blown into it. Several of these inflated skins might be bound together, as in the photograph. It was then used like a raft to cross the stream, river or lake.
posted by nickyskye at 6:31 PM on January 19, 2016 [3 favorites]


Aha, thank you.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:04 PM on January 19, 2016


Many people in Afghanistan did not learn how to swim
This is a little bit puzzling. They have a shit load of rivers to cross. They had animals that crossed. They did as you have explained, create rafts. That doesn't explain to me how they never became awesome river swimmers, crossers. Somethings missing.
posted by unliteral at 4:26 AM on January 20, 2016


My parents met in Afghanistan in 1973. They have so many amazing stories about Afghan hospitality, but also about the communist coup overthrowing King Zahir. My mom has a great tale about a ride from Jalalabad to Peshawar that would be impossible for an American woman to make today.
posted by Roger_Mexico at 3:18 PM on January 20, 2016 [3 favorites]


Very nice post, nickyskye. Thanks!
posted by homunculus at 10:55 AM on January 28, 2016


I am watching Werner Herzog's Queen of the Desert right now. 19 minutes in they talk about how shepherds use inflated goatskins to cross rivers. I probably would have just glossed over this dialogue without this thread. I love how MetaFilter enriches and informs my view of life.
posted by unliteral at 12:13 AM on January 30, 2016


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