Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, ANP, askar, bamiyan, bamyan, blood, buddha, buddhas, buddhas of bamiyan, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, mullah, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, yadkawlang, zan azlee
This week is part 10 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 10 here:
Living by the feet of Buddha
By Zan Azlee
FEB 13 — After the days I spent on patrol with Malaysia’s MALCON ISAF 2 in the rural areas of Bamiyan building water filters, educating health officials and saving lives, I was glad to be back in the safety of Kiwi Base in the city of Bamiyan.
Bamiyan is actually one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan and this is due to its population of predominantly Hazarat people who fiercely reject the Taliban. They are Shiites and were terribly oppressed, hurt and killed during the rule of the Taliban. So walking the streets of Bamiyan city is really like a walk in the park compared to in Kabul.
Now that I was feeling a bit secure and safe, I wanted to do something that I had dreamed of since I was 15 years old. That’s right! I wanted to go and see for myself, with my own two eyes, the great Buddhas of Bamiyan.
I was apparently still under the responsibility of the Malaysian Armed Forces, and the commander, Lt Col Rusman Sanip, did not want to allow me to roam outside of the army base on my own (although I had spent all my time in Kabul alone before meeting up with them in Bamiyan!). He was kind enough to escort me together with a couple of security team members. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 10 of 10
‘Living by the feet of Buddha’
Zan fulfills his 19 year dream of seeing the Buddhas of Bamiyan! And he discovers the ultra poor Hazarats living at his feet… literally.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 10).
-
- The cave village next to the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
-
- The cavity of one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan that was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
-
- The Buddhas of Bamiyan has been declared a UNESCO heritage site.
-
- Visiting the Buddhas of Bamiyan. Right to left: Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip, Rjr Suhaili Saleh, Cop. Muhamad Nahar Yaacob, the writer (me!), fixer/interpreter Ahmad Bilal Raghbat and the site’s caretaker.
-
- The writer (me!) at the site of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
-
- The writer (me!) sitting on Buddha’s foot.
-
- A little village girl in Bamiyan.
-
- MALCON ISAF 2 Commander, Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip with Mohammad Musa.
-
- Mohammad Musa in his cave-house.
-
- Mohammad Musa and his family outside his cave-house.
-
- The view of Bamiyan city from the cave village.
-
- The cave village next to the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
-
- Cave drawings discovered at the site of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
-
- UNESCO has started restoration efforts on the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
-
- The cavity of one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan that was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, ANP, askar, bamiyan, bamyan, blood, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, mullah, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, yadkawlang, zan azlee
This week is part 9 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 9 here:
A Taliban ambush
By Zan Azlee
FEB 6 — The next day, we all had to wake up early because our vehicles were supposed to start rolling right at dawn. We were in for another challenging journey and heading deeper into the heartland of Afghanistan. I decided to forego another shower since the temperature in the mountains of Bamiyan were in the single digit in the early mornings.
Before we headed out, we had a security briefing. This is a must since it is when everyone gets information on the journey and also to talk about any emergency plans should there be an attack by the Taliban. After the briefing, we had the mandatory prayers for a safe journey and then we headed out.
This time, the journey was almost twice as difficult. The mountain area we had to go through was higher and rougher. Security was another concern since we were moving further away from central Bamiyan and heading nearer to the border with Daykhundi province, which had a stronger Taliban presence. This time it was serious and I made sure my bulletproof vest was strapped on tighter than ever. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 9 of 10
‘A Taliban ambush’
While embedded with the Malaysian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Zan and the soldiers encounter a Taliban ambush.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 9).
-
- Panjab base.
-
- The men having a meal together in Panjab base.
-
- Dr Borhan Rahmani, an officer from the Afghan Ministry of Health, along with Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip and Major Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen briefing the local officers.
-
- The main street in Panjab town.
-
- Locals in the small town of Panjab.
-
- Students of Panjab High School.
-
- Students of Panjab High School listening to the briefing done by MALCON ISAF 2.
-
- Students of Panjab High School.
-
- The students of Panjab High School playing volleyball with the men of MALCON ISAF 2.
-
- Major Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen & Corp Mohd Saiful Karim helping the injured Afghan National Police (ANP).
-
- Major Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen & Corp Mohd Saiful Karim helping the injured Afghan National Police (ANP).
-
- MALCON ISAF 2 assessing the situation of the Afghan National Police (ANP) who were ambushed by the Taliban.
-
- A stunned Afghan National Police (ANP) after being ambushed by the Taliban.
-
- The entire Malaysian Contingent ISAF 2 (MALCON 2).
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, askar, bamiyan, bamyan, blood, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, mullah, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, yadkawlang, zan azlee
This week is part 8 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 8 here:
Lending the Afghans a hand
By Zan Azlee
JAN 30 — We arrived in Yadkawlang in the evening after travelling for several hours. Yadkawlang is a small village in Bamiyan province. The Malaysian troops (MALCON ISAF 2) were due to conduct a blood donation drive and also to fit a water filtering system at the village well. When we arrived at the location, which was a school, another group from MALCON ISAF 2 was already there and had set up tents for the day’s event. They had arrived several days earlier and had been staying at the Yadkawlang base.
A group of villagers had already gathered and the commander was informed that the local mullah, Ali Muhammadi, had also arrived. One of the mullah’s men rushed inside the school block to call him. When the mullah came out, the commander greeted him and they proceeded to brief the crowd that had gathered. The main reason the mullah was involved is to convince the villagers that what the Malaysians came here to do is for the benefit of the village.
The local Afghans are actually very apprehensive about foreigners and I can only guess that it must be due to the decades of oppression they have faced from the foreigners that have invaded their country; from the British to the Russians and now the Americans. So it was important that MALCON ISAF 2 implement the proper strategy if they wanted to penetrate and help the local community. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 8 of 10
‘Lending the Afghans a hand’
Zan is embedded with the Malaysian Armed Forces as they patrol the mountains of Afghanistan.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 8).
-
- Mullah Ali Muhammadi and MALCON ISAF 2 Commander, Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip.
-
- The security detail making sure the site is secure.
-
- Capt. Dr Juhanis Safira Johari playing with a local Afghan baby.
-
- The men of MALCON ISAF 2 installing the water filter system.
-
- A local Afghan donating blood.
-
- Mullah Ali Muhammadi checking out the filtered water.
-
- Major Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen demonstrating how the water filter system works.
-
- Capt. Mohd Faddillah Ahmad and the men resting at Yadkawlang Base.
-
- On the road.
-
- The Bamiyan landscape.
-
- Capt. Dr Juhanis Safira Johari (second from right) listening to the daily security briefing.
-
- Major Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen leading the team in prayers before heading out.
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
Filed under: Afghanistan, directing, documentary, film, GUIDE TO AFGHANISTAN: The Adventures of a KL-ite, internet, journalism, new media, photo essay, The Malaysian Insider, video blog, writing | Tags: afghanistan, askar, bamiyan, conflict, culture, defence, documentary, fat bidin, film, history, insurgency, interview, isaf, islam, journalism, kabul, kementerian, kuala lumpur, magazine, malaysia, malaysian armed forces, malcon, media, middle east, military, mindef, ministry, museum, muslim, new media, news, pertahanan, september 11, solo journalism, taliban, tentera malaysia, terrorism, torah, video journalism, war, web video, zan azlee
This week is part 7 of my multimedia documentary, Guide To Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite, which includes video, still photos an text. As you would know, this is concurrent with the 10-part feature on The Malaysian Insider website, of which you can view part 7 here:
Malaysia at war!
By Zan Azlee
JAN 23 — Being a journalist, one of my dreams has always been to be embedded with the military in a conflict zone. I had been to and reported on conflict zones before, but always as an external journalist and never embedded, and when I was given the chance to do so, I jumped at the opportunity.
It wasn’t so much of an opportunity that cropped up rather than one that I had to persistently pursue and create for myself for more than a year. I had been writing multiple e-mails and making phone calls to the Ministry of Defence ever since I learnt that Malaysia had started deploying troops to Afghanistan.
But my attempts were never fruitful and I finally decided I would just head to Afghanistan on my own without being embedded in the military, just like the times I’ve been to Beirut in Lebanon, and Patani in Southern Thailand to produce my wartime documentaries and news reports.
I had been in Kabul for almost a week shooting and filing news stories for the TV station that was commissioning me as a correspondent when I thought I would just send a text message to Lt. Col. Salawati Yahaya, the army’s Media Operations Director, in Kuala Lumpur to say that I was in Afghanistan.
Her reply caught me by surprise. Probably impressed (or shocked!) at my ballsy move to just head to Afghanistan on my own, she managed to get clearance from her bosses to actually allow me to be embedded with MALCON ISAF 2, the Malaysian contingent that was currently serving in Bamiyan. [Click to read the full article at The Malaysian Insider]
Guide to Afghanistan: The Adventures of a KL-ite
Part 7 of 10
‘Malaysia at war!’
Zan arrives at the military base in Bamiyan to be embedded with the Malaysian Armed forces in the war in Afghanistan.
Full Synopsis:
Zan Azlee, a Malaysian KL-ite journalist who has lived all his life in non-conflict zones, travels to Afghanistan to see if he can come up with the best travel guide for the country. With no idea what he is getting himself into, he dodges suicide bombers and IEDs, and even gets embedded with the army, to plan out the best tourist route in Afghanistan. This is a multimedia documentary produced by Fat Bidin Media and directed by solo-journalist Zan Azlee.
To view all the episodes, head to FATBIDIN.COM/AFGHANISTAN.
Click the thumbnails below to launch the photo essay (Part 7).
-
- Ariel view of Kabul city.
-
- Security personnel on the USAID helicopter flight to Bamiyan.
-
- Ariel view of Afghanistan’s landscape.
-
- Ariel view of Afghanistan’s landscape.
-
- Major Dr Mohamad Arshil Moideen, of MALCON ISAF 2
-
- Capt. Mohd Faddillah Ahmad leading the mandatory security briefing before heading out on patrol.
-
- Saying prayers before heading out on patrol.
-
- The view from Kiwi Base in Bamiyan city.
-
- The men of MALCON ISAF 2 taking a cigarette break while on patrol.
-
- MALCON ISAF 2 commander, Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip, speaking to the local Afghans during a stop for provisions.
-
- The writer sharing a laugh with MALCON ISAF 2 commander, Lt. Col. Rusman Sanip.
-
- Security personnel, Corp. Mohd Saiful Karim.
-
- A routine vehicle check while on the road.
-
- Sergeant Azizan Hashim making sure the coast is clear for the rest of the team.
-
- The Malaysian flag flying high in the mountains of Afghanistan.
-
- Hanging out with a Hazarat boy in Bamiyan city.
Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available… just give me a buzz if you are interested and we can talk! If you would like to own original FAT BIDIN MEDIA documentary films and books to enhance your coolness factor, visit the FAT BIDIN e-STORE!
