Bamiyan Local Customs

Everybody gettig in on the act. Notice the 3rd guy on the right with the moustache. His eyes are crossed. We noticed this phenomenon all around many of the people in the Band-E-Amir area, and suspected it was a genetic thing being passed on to each generation.

Young Afghan kid trying on my glasses. As you can see, many Afghans look caucasian in nature as well as the more distinctive ethnic groups such as the Hazaras. Afghanis are made up of many ethnic groups. Hazara,Uzbek,Tajik and Pathans etc

The bunch of kids who hijacked us on the way to the cliffs. Armed and dangerous, with a mission to get hold of my glasses to try on and be photographed wearing. Notice how his glasses make the rounds between each person. Such a funny meeting.

Many of the current inhabitants of Bamiyan are re-setttled refugees from the sprawling refugee camps in North West Pakistan or from other areas. Some old timers exist in the village. But the Taliban massacred most of the male Hazara population of Bamiyan in the late 1990's in an attempt at ethnic cleansing, leaving the town battered, bruised and bloodied. Hopefully this child will grow up without the sound of gun shots and bombs exploding.

Spike!! Obviously the cult of thrash metal has made it's way to Bamiyan.

Children were clearly the easiest people to photograph in Afghanistan as they are exempt from many of the laws regarding such things (certainly for Women). So here is a rare glimpse of the unique Afghan face before 13, after which most Girls (certainly in rural areas) wear at least a head veil in public.