This isn’t about life as an expat, but it’s too damn good not to share. In 1971, Les Braunstein, who was the original singer for the band that became Blue Oyster Cult, crossed through the Khyber pass on horseback — and lived to tell about it, obviously.
It was 1971. I’d been traveling in Asia for several months, and to have an adventure, and to impress a girl, I’d bought a horse named Herat so that I could ride through the Khyber Pass from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Peshawar, Pakistan.This was more complicated than it sounded. I would be passing through tribal regions. I would be taking a horse out of Afghanistan, which was illegal. I’d probably have to bribe my way across the border. Beyond that, I was advised that bandits in the pass would shoot me and take my horse and valuables.I didn’t think they would. Also, I had decided, against advice, not to carry a gun—I wasn’t going to out-gun a Khyber tribesman. Anyway, I was sure I’d be OK. I was a young American fool.
It’s a great story, with a powerful ending. You can read it here, on WorldHum: American Fool in the Khyber Pass.
