If only you knew how insane it was that I was able to tap into internet here at Islamabad’s airport! We were in Dubai before this. (Here’s a YouTube video of us in the airport–exhausted)Ok, Let’s give you a brief synopsis of our travels here. First, I get on the Emirates flight and the guy next to me tells me the woman next to him is uncomfortable sitting next to a man, so could I be so kind as to give him my aisle seat and squish in between three women so as to appease their sensibilities when it comes to being in the proximity of men. I came up with a better solution—I found another aisle seat so he could move over and be away from the women. (I love my aisle seat).

Then, we arrive in Pakistan. First, we were told we took off late because the airport doesn’t open until 5am and we would have nowhere to go if we arrived on time. Then, when we did arrive a bus took us to the baggage claim.. where NOBODY knew where we should go and our only option was to check in through the un-escorted women line and wait for our baggage which was not supposed to show up since it was scheduled to arrive in Kabul. However, since we have 7 hours to kill here we decided to check out the one and only baggage carousel just to make sure. Lo and behold, our baggage was there (after 1 hour of waiting) and we discovered that we must load it up, go outside, stay close to the wall (???) and then re-enter international departures. We walked outside to a huge hoard of men dressed in white and taxi drivers trying to accost us.

Finally, we found our way to ‘international’ departures (aka–5 little desks for 2 airlines). Once there, we were told they could not check us in because the computer wouldn’t allow them to download our flight since it was so early. Finally, after many smiles on my part and haggard looks, they found a way to check us in and once again take our luggage to who knows where. They also reminded me to recheck our return flight since weather could delay it and there are only three flights out of Kabul a week.

Then, we go through security for the THIRD time since arriving at this airport with one gate…and, of course I have to go through the women’s side where they make me enter a curtained room with three women inside…who take a great length of time patting me down and asking all types of questions about my life. After this little tea party, I’m finally let out and we go upstairs to the waiting area which consists of ONE gate, five tiny shops and 2 waiters who have asked us four times already if we want tea, green tea, coffee, coke or cigarettes. Our flight for kabul leaves in 5 hours.

By the way, all the people we’ve spoken with in Pakistan think we’re crazy for going into Afghanistan because of the danger.

We shall see.