After a few days back at Qalaa house, went out again via Global from Kia, short stops in Bagram and Jalalabad, and then off at Marmal. This is another very big base, run by Germans this time. Below is the pax terminal, where we met the nicest person so far of this trip, Sergeant Fish. Turns out he is basically just a good samaritan, helps out people traveling that seem lost at Marmal, mainly in the pax terminal. He got us in our lodging, drove us around, and arranged some of the coolest transport to and from Camp Spann we have had so far. Below is the pax terminal, pretty nice. Germans sell drinks and snacks, payable with euros only.
Unfortunately the corp office at Marmal is operating out of temporary buildings while their permanent stuff is under construction. This means that they have no office space for us, and no billeting. We ended up in the transient tents used by soldiers. Mine had hundreds and hundreds of soldiers from various different countries, rows and rows of bunk beds. Most of them seemed to need very little sleep, leading to a lousy nights rest for me.
Marmal is located in some pretty country, way up in northern Afghanistan. The whole time I was there it was very, very windy and cold .
This magnificent structure is the temporary Corp office, 7 employees and 4 local nationals work in there.
The germans seem to have a certain flair. This is the base chapel, not your standard military construction.
Flags of the NATO nations at a memorial to the fallen soldiers of Marmal. The first day we were there they were at half mast. Seems that a couple days before we got there, a taliban guy infiltrated the Afghan National Army ranks and opened up on some German soldiers, killing three and wounding a bunch.
Due to the lack of decent accomodations here, we decided to get out of dodge as quickly as possible (we made it out in one day). Also as it turned out the server I was supposed to install came in on a jingle truck (that's not supposed to happen) and the box was soaked with water. It ruined the server and I had to go in search of a replacement. I found it at Masar-e Sharif AO (Camp Spann), and installed it here in a day trip from Spann.
Unfortunately the corp office at Marmal is operating out of temporary buildings while their permanent stuff is under construction. This means that they have no office space for us, and no billeting. We ended up in the transient tents used by soldiers. Mine had hundreds and hundreds of soldiers from various different countries, rows and rows of bunk beds. Most of them seemed to need very little sleep, leading to a lousy nights rest for me.
Marmal is located in some pretty country, way up in northern Afghanistan. The whole time I was there it was very, very windy and cold .
This magnificent structure is the temporary Corp office, 7 employees and 4 local nationals work in there.
The germans seem to have a certain flair. This is the base chapel, not your standard military construction.
Flags of the NATO nations at a memorial to the fallen soldiers of Marmal. The first day we were there they were at half mast. Seems that a couple days before we got there, a taliban guy infiltrated the Afghan National Army ranks and opened up on some German soldiers, killing three and wounding a bunch.
Due to the lack of decent accomodations here, we decided to get out of dodge as quickly as possible (we made it out in one day). Also as it turned out the server I was supposed to install came in on a jingle truck (that's not supposed to happen) and the box was soaked with water. It ruined the server and I had to go in search of a replacement. I found it at Masar-e Sharif AO (Camp Spann), and installed it here in a day trip from Spann.
Brian,
ReplyDeleteSounds as though you guys are working really hard. Hope you had some euros for the market.
I had some euros, but the German PX was truly pitiful, no good chocolate even.
ReplyDelete