The military aren’t the only ones in Afghanistan fighting the fugly here at Bagram Air Field.  Giving the military painters a run for their money are the incredible artists who create the spectacular rolling eye-candy extravaganzas called “jingle trucks”:

I don’t get to see many of these around the base, and when I do they’re usually on the move.  The dust and mud here coat everything, but even with the grime these beauties are something to behold!  The colors, intricacy, and richness are truly labors of love:

Some artists take a monochromatic approach, which really highlights the craftsmanship of the fretwork:

My photos don’t really capture how over-the-top magnificent these trucks can be, so I grabbed a few pictures off the internet:

photo: flickr.com

Check out all the dangling chains and doo-dads; that’s why they’re called “jingle trucks”:

photo:  usnavyjeep.blogspot.com

photo: afghanforums.com

Supposedly, eyes keep away evil spirits:

photo:  flickr.com

It’s hard to believe it, but these fancy vehicles are real working rigs, so they have to be searched upon entry to the base to ensure they’re not bringing dangerous cargo, contraband, or other disallowed items:

photo: longwarjournal.org

Try as I might to imagine these hauling lumber or tires or gravel, it seems like they’d be better suited to carrying ladies in fancy dresses and tiaras in a parade:

photo:   kmtl.co

My office-mate Dave and I are still living with plain white walls.  We need to find somebody who makes jingle trucks to come in and decorate our office!

MM