I am honored to have a featured guest post on Laura’s Books and Blogs this week—an excerpt from Geckos & Guns, Chapter 7 – A Trip Back in Time.
We had only been living in Pakistan for a scant few months when I accompanied Wayne on an official trip to the Swat Valley and Dir District in the remote mountains of what was then known as the North-West Frontier Province. I donned my brand new shalwar kameez, threw a dupatta over my head, and stuffed a few more of these outfits into a suitcase in preparation for heading deep into poppy-growing country.
This turned out to be a gripping, eye-opening and, at times, heart-stopping adventure. For me, the highlight of the trip was a spur-of-the-moment visit to a remote mountain village where I met Fatima, a bashful Pashtun woman with striking green eyes. It was 1991 but it felt like I had time-traveled back to AD 25. Fatima and I connected for a brief moment in time. The memories of that day still live in my heart.
To read more about all the amazing discoveries and perils of our trip into opium country go to:
The Bazant Blog 