Out of Afghanistan

Having passed through at least 4 body searches, 3 xray machines, 4 hand checks of my baggage, 3 passport checks and 2 visa checks, I have successfully shuffled and bumped my way to the Kabul Airport waiting area. Being a more civilized country than most my Diet Pepsi made it all the way through, meaning that at 4 pm my first meal of the day consists of a DP and a can of Pringles that was apparently trampled by camels and run over by a Humvee convoy, resulting in nice bite sized pieces-if you are an ant.

My peaceful respite has been interrupted by the lack of a boarding announcement. But everyone is getting on the bus so I guess I will follow. Of course this means more passport and ticket checks and a frisking or 2.

This is mostly make work as a few security holes remain that are pretty blatant. But all in all it somehow works-Insha'Allah.
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Waiting in line to board. One last passport/check. This isn't the US where it is easy to leave. As befitting their culture of being gracious hosts it appears they really don't want you to leave. I think I will suggest they serve tea while we wait.

You have to ID your bag on the tarmac before you board. I think this is kind of old-school when the assumption was that people--wait, 1 last frisk--wanted to blow up other guys but not themselves. Seems kind of quaint somehow. But one bonus is that I know my bag is on the plane, which is more than I can say when United loads it.
-Hey. 1 last surprise frisk at the top of the stairs. My bag seems invisible. Seems odd.

Have empty seat next to me. Sweet. Now all we have to do is clear the mountains and I will be off to Dubai.

That was easy enough...and no extra charge for the body massages.
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