See & Be Seen: Market Day in Gardez

Kelley delivered a trove of photographs from her day off the FOB Monday and into Gardez proper to visit the local market. The PRT has not been to the market in quite a while, she writes. Part of the mission involved in going there is to see and be seen by the locals. Her party was armed, of course, and she recounts seeing some folks she assumes were "bad guys," but the trip went without incident.

That's here along with her boss, Lt. Col. Douglass in the back and another member of the team on her right. This photo was taken by Dan Shakal, a freelance photographer embedded with PRT Paktya.

Kelley took photos of her own, including this one of a group of kids on the street. Notice the lad on the right wearing mascara again. She writes that the practice, which I mentioned in an earlier post, is meant to deter insects, something she learned since photographing a bunch of tribal kids in an earlier trip to the country.

Here are a group of young Afghan guys who have apparently never seen a blue-eyed, blond woman, namely the Air Force airman from Wisconsin, who accompanied the group to the market that day. American women in uniform are apparently still a novelty to the local population. Third guy from the left apparently doesn't get out much.

This photo was taken by Dan Shakal, as well. Notice the close adherence to hygienic practice by this local butcher.

Here's a merchant who deals in arms and accouterments. No doubt the three-day waiting period is not observed in this country.


Kelley took that photograph, and this one, of a blacksmith.

Here's a shot down a side street taken by Kelley, as well.







Here's a final photo.