Lion Dance troupe and musicians performing in Wardour Street amongst the crowd outside restaurants during Chinese New Year celebrations in 2006 for the coming Year of The Dog

Lion Dance troupe and musicians performing in Wardour Street amongst the crowd outside restaurants during Chinese New Year celebrations in 2006 for the coming Year of The Dog

Empty niche in cliffs where the famous carved large Budda once stood 180 foot high before being destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

Empty niche in cliffs where the famous carved large Budda once stood 180 foot high before being destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

Empty niche in cliffs where the famous carved large Budda once stood 180 foot high before being destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

View of Bamiyan valley showing cliffs with empty niche where the famous carved Budda once stood destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

View of Bamiyan valley and village showing cliffs with empty niche where the famous carved Budda once stood destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

View of Bamiyan valley and village showing cliffs with empty niche where the famous carved Budda once stood destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

Remains of Buddhist monastery

Top-I-Rustam Remains of 200ft high Buddhist Stupa now an army checkpoint

2km south of the centre of Haibak Buddhist stupa carved out of rock known as Top-I-Rustam Rustams throne an early burial mound that contained relics of the Buddha part of a stupa-monastery complex...

2km south of the centre of Haibak Wooden bridge across chasm leading to Buddhist stupa carved out of rock known as Top-I-Rustam Rustams throne an early burial mound that contained relics of the Bud...