| AFGHANISTAN | | | | while a small population of almost 8,000 practice |
| Population: 26 million (UN, 2005) | | | | Christianity in secrecy. There are two official |
| Capital: Kabul | | | | languages that are most commonly spoken: DARI, |
| Area: 652,225 sq km (251,773 sq miles) | | | | an Afghan dialect of Persian with almost 17 million |
| Major language: Pashto, Dari (Persian) | | | | speakers, 50%, and PASHTO spoken by 35% of |
| Major religion: Islam | | | | the populace. Turkic languages such as Uzbek and |
| Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 46 years | | | | Turkmen are spoken by a significant 11% while |
| (women) (UN) | | | | the rest are some 30 minor languages. Dari is the |
| Monetary unit: 1 Afghani = 100 puls | | | | language of the capital Kabul, and is used generally |
| Afghanistan has a worldwide media-created | | | | for cultural expression, business, and politics. |
| perception that the whole country is a "war zone" | | | | ENGLISH, the language of opportunity, is the |
| with men on jeeps with AK 47's and RPG's. Not a | | | | primary foreign language taught in the country. An |
| lot dares to go behind that mask of war and | | | | explosion of English studies began upon the fall of |
| religious extremism to discover it for what it truly | | | | the Taliban in 2001 and also as a result of |
| is. The truth behind the sensationalism and the | | | | preference for a handful of employment |
| headlines, 99.95% of Afghans are actually not in | | | | opportunities. |
| the Taliban. That information probably is in itself | | | | FOOD & ATTRACTION |
| surprising, but that the Afghans are a pure and | | | | Tourism may seem like frivolous activity in these |
| genuine people renowned for their hospitality as | | | | parts but be assured that there are places that |
| they are known for their ability to repel foreign | | | | are safe to visit. The amazing part of this is that |
| armies, even more so. | | | | Afghanistan will never be a mainstream tourist |
| GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE | | | | destination but it is gradually stepping up to the |
| Afghanistan (33 00 N, 65 00 E) has a dramatic | | | | plate as a major destination for world frontier, |
| mountain scenery like the Hindu Kush Mountains | | | | with great trekking sites from all angles: the |
| with ongoing plains in the north and the | | | | mountains, the community, and the people. |
| southwest, and a desert in the south of Kandahar. | | | | Bamiyan, which is 8 hours from Kabul, is endowed |
| The highest point is Nowshak elevated 7,485 | | | | with blue sapphire lakes, golden cliffs, and fingers |
| metres above sea level found in the tall peaks of | | | | of cascading waters. The Bamiyan Valley is home |
| the northern Wakhan Corridor. The lowest point is | | | | to the country's first commemorated national |
| the Amu Darya at 258 metres. | | | | park, the Band-e Amir and is also where |
| Afghanistan's total area of 647,456 km2 located | | | | mountaineers trudge to visit the 1,500-year-old |
| its particular spot in Southern Asia very distant | | | | giant Buddha statues. The backpacker will also |
| from the moderating effects of the oceans | | | | surely appreciate coming across the local fauna |
| influences its continental climate. Continental | | | | such as the ibex, urial, wolves, foxes, fish, and |
| climate indicates bitter-cold winters below freezing | | | | various mammal and bird species such as the |
| temperatures and extremely hot summers which | | | | Afghan snow finch. Other places of interest are |
| can be terribly unbearable for lower elevations | | | | Farah and Jalalabad, Faiizabad and Khash, Maimana, |
| where the heat can exceed 50°C/120°F. In | | | | Mazar-e Sharif, and Ghizna. For certain, a visit to |
| higher terrains, such as Kabul, the national capital, | | | | the country will not only render a fantastic |
| summers are hot at 30°C or 90°F, whereas | | | | experience but a means to help the locals build a |
| winters are around 0°C or 30°F. Therefore, | | | | better future. |
| the best months to be here in Afghanistan are in | | | | Afghan cuisine is unchartered territory to the rest |
| the months of April, May, and September when | | | | of the world, but Afghan food is similar to cuisines |
| it's neither too hot nor cold. Just as security will be | | | | in Central Asia and the Middle East. The philosophy |
| a concern, the traveller must also be weary of | | | | behind the food is basic, "do with what is readily |
| natural hazards in the region such as damaging | | | | available," which means simply that the cuisine is |
| earthquakes (in the Hindu Kush), floods from | | | | based upon the nation's chief crops or vegetation. |
| deforestation, and droughts resulting to limited | | | | Rice, food for the royalty, is a celebrated staple |
| water resources, desertification. Air and water | | | | that the wealthy Afghan families would delightfully |
| pollution also cause substantial trouble to the | | | | consume once a day. Palao, the national dish, is |
| country. | | | | rice with meat, stock, and vibrantly topped with |
| PEOPLE & CULTURE | | | | fried raisins, slivered carrots, and pistachios |
| With the geographical composition of mountains | | | | (cashews or almonds), coriander and spices. |
| that act as dividers to the region, Afghanistan as | | | | Khameerbob is similar to Chinese dumplings |
| a result is an ethnically diverse country where the | | | | topped with a yogurt or goat cheese sauce, but |
| largest groups are the Pashtuns (42%), Tajiks or | | | | is a ravioli doppelganger when topped with a |
| Persians (27%), Hazaras (9%), and Uzbeks (9%). | | | | tomato-based sauce. Afghan kebab is a standard |
| Behind the headlines of violence and tribal politics, | | | | restaurant dish as well as a famous street meal, |
| the population of 33,609,937 Afghans are, in truth, | | | | where lamb is commonly used. Kebab is normally |
| a traditionally honest and caring race of people | | | | eaten with naan, the Afghan round white bread. |
| who are peacefully struggling to get on with their | | | | Naan can also be eaten with meat, pickled fruits |
| own difficult lives. | | | | and vegetables, or pepper sauces, chatney. |
| However, religion is more homogenous than | | | | For more valuable travel information on |
| diverse with 99% of Afghans practicing | | | | backpacking and various destinations throughout |
| Islam-Sunni, 80% and Shi'a, 19%. Other religions | | | | the world please visit our website Backpacking |
| are Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hindus and Sikhs, | | | | Addictz. |