“Photos from Afghanistan” by Bonnie Thie Cowart
I don't know how I missed this posting. The landscape photography is stunning, and the people photos are deep and…
Picture the way it was —
Bonnie Thie Cowart – 9/2023 at the Denver PC /Afghanistan reunion.
My husband, Randy Cowart, and I taught English in Faizabad, Badakshan province for two years, 1972–1973. In 1974, we extended for a third year to teach English to employees of Ariana Afghan Airlines in Kabul.
It was difficult to select only 8 photos, but we wanted to share the special beauty of Faizabad and the surrounding area, as well as hint at a few adventures.
Main town of Faizabad seen from the bridge across the Kokcha River.
Kokcha River with poppies.
Randy sitting on the front doorstep of our first house.
Our students taking final exams at Shah Mahmud Ghazi Lycee
Bonnie with friends and their extended families.
Randy frying brown trout we caught up river near Bahrak. The Germans had introduced the trout as a tourism development project in the 1930s. While tourists did not come, several of our friends did.
Distinguished khan proudly holding a harbouza, the best melon in the world.
After having an amazing fall trip with Dick King from Kabul to Herat by paved road on a comfortable bus — we then went from Herat to Maimana to Akcha to Shibergan on a dirt road, riding on open trucks hauling logs and people. Here we were pleased to be sitting on the front seat of a bus with our fine melon, after just having spent an exhilarating bazaar day in Akcha watching men sell carpets woven by their wives and daughters.
Fabulous photos—what a fabulous experience to have served in remote Afghanistan —‘going where angels fear to tread”!!!
Send those photos to:
a) your Members of Congress
b) Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn
c) Dan Baker at theNaional Peace Corps Association
d) Glen Blumhorst at the peace Corps Memorial Park project/muieum
I too have partaken of those German trout! I think both Toby Marion and I. One night sharing a camp with some Germans we learned that you can eat just the jaw muscle of your trout if you are not at all hungry after eating ten trout.
What wonderful pictures Bonnie (and Randy). They are both beautiful and artistic, and they tell a story. Let us hope for a return to peace and progress in Afghanistan as the years pass. As you know, I was there at the same time as you were, and enjoyed the peacefulness and hospitality of the country and its peoples!
Dear Bonnie,
Thanks for your great pictures of Faizabad in 1972-1973! I visited in summer, 1972 and stayed in the little inn/hotel situated on a rock in the middle of the Kokcha River. I am writing a book on my travels around Asia that year, but did not have a camera until later so I have no pictures from Afghanistan. If my book is published, I would like to use your photo of the place where I stayed, long ago, surrounded by the roaring of the Kokcha River. Could you please give me permission to reproduce the photo (with full credit to you, Bonnie Thie Cowart)?
Best wishes,
Chris
I don’t know how I missed this posting. The landscape photography is stunning, and the people photos are deep and revealing. Thanks for sharing these, Bonnie.