Kabul: There's nothing new about five star luxury except when it's in Afghanistan.
This is the Hotel Serena in Kabul - a jewel in a rather tarnished capital
city. The hotel is the first major private investment - it's been funded by a wealthy foreign prince.
The country's President hopes the rest of Kabul will now rise from the ashes in similar Phoenix-style.
"Now it is the job of Afghans to beautify Kabul's surroundings, to
reduce the traffic, to have flowers and to turn it into a nice well regarded place," said Karzai.
Some locals believe there are better ways to spend money but others are
optimistic.
Shaker Ahmad, a university student, says: "A lot of Afghans will be able to get jobs in this hotel and if a
lot of tourists come to stay it'll be good for the country."
At $250 a night few Afghans can afford to stay in the hotel.
Average earnings here are 20 cents a day - that's three month's work just
to buy a drink in the bar.
Comments
0 comment