Afghanistan diary: Kabul Day One

By Andy Brownstone
Newsbeat reporter in Afghanistan

Newsbeat's Tulip Mazumdar on life in the Afghan capital Kabul

This is Newsbeat's second trip to Afghanistan in six months, and getting there hasn't become any easier.

Last time we flew to the capital Kabul via Delhi in India, which was painful to say the least.

This time looked like a much better option, with a stay over in Dubai.

I had visions of an afternoon on the beach, maybe some windsurfing, or shopping for gold.

But it was probably one of the shortest stopovers in the history of flying.

In Kabul there are lots of interesting sights to behold

We checked into our hotel at 11.45pm and checked out again at 4.45am. Not even time to raid the mini bar.

The taxi system at Dubai airport was something to behold.

The Man With The Radio organises everyone into five separate queues, and directs the cabs to park up.

Then, when he gives The Signal, everyone rushes towards a cab, pushing their trolleys.

It's the same basic principal as when you try to get onto the dodgems at the funfair.

Once all the cabs are full, the unlucky people are directed back into the queues by The Man With The Radio.

Then, The Man With The Whistle signals for the taxis to all drive off.

It's 35C (95F) at 11pm and within seconds I'm soaked in sweat.

Barren country

The next day, after a horrendously early check-in, there is relative comfort on the flight to Afghanistan.

There were so few passengers wanting to swap Dubai for Kabul that we all had a row of seats each.

Afghanistan's capital Kabul is surrounded by mountains

The steward made an announcement that I'd never come across before on a flight.

It said: "Would everyone who is on board, please stay on board."

I hadn't realised there was a choice...

As we flew into Kabul, I was struck again at how barren Afghanistan is.

Everything seems to be a sandy grey colour apart from a few fields that must be supplied by wells or small streams.

As usual the city is busy, dusty and chaotic.

They've changed the rules for foreigners coming into the country, so we have to go off to a passport photo shop (which also seemed to do dry cleaning) and then to some official government building where we are issued with temporary identity cards.

On the way to the BBC office we pass beggars, a large number of motorcycle repair shops, kids going to school and men on donkeys.

There seems to be a lot of produce in the food shops, although there is still rubble everywhere you look.

There's also evidence of new "luxury" apartment blocks being built.

Disappointingly, the swimming pool in the back garden of the BBC office still has no water in it.