Blogs from Sana'a, Yemen, Middle East - page 3

Here are the photos from the first days of this trip. Finally I have figured out how to upload them in spite of the slow Internet access. ... read more

You go all the way to Yemen and you don't even get kidnapped - we didn't get a sniff - talk about being short-changed, could have dined out on that tale for decades...... Supposedly the tribal perpetrators treat their 'guests' hospitably - it's a protest against the government rather than anything personal - but Jom wasn't too keen on going without a macchiato for a fortnight..... It was funny to watch the reaction of fellow travellers and locals from throughout the Middle East when we told them we were heading to the home of the Queen of Sheba, Frankinscence and to where Noah supposedly launched his Ark - a mixture of awe and foreboding. Our Foreign and Commonwealth Office certainly isn't a big fan: "There is a high threat from terrorism and evidence that terrorists may ... read more

My French friends are back from Thilla and we had a good chat last night (see photo). All this travelling rough in dodgy countries finally caught up with me this morning, I was attempting to get to Manakah a couple of hours east of Sana a and being a cheapscate and not wanting to pay for a tour I was in a share taxi with 9 others. My taxi proceeded to have a head on with another car I am in a bit of shock and feeling a little sick and sore but I am ok. I wont be catching anymore taxi's except to the airport now. Not sure what I am going to do with myself for the next few days, I am eager to get out of Yemen. I feel much more positive today ... read more

Ear plugs work a charm slept like a log last night had a big breaky and wandered into the old town, taking alleyways randomly and just checking out the lives of the inhabitants. After a while I blundered into the Souk but this wasnt like the other day the shops spiralled out in every direction it was also market day so the streets were a buzz with people. Unlike the Khan al-Kalili in Cairo and the Covered Souk in Istanbul the number of tourists I encountered could be counted on one hand. Also there were no caps or tee-shirts on sale anywhere. I wandered for about 2 or 3 hours around the souk and the streets surrounding it finally wandering into a square that had a famous Hamman or Turkish Bathhouse, one of the locals invited ... read more

Man is the atmosphere of the Souk worth the noise? Not when you have to be up at 4am. I even dragged myself out of bed before the Muezzin after a restless night of constantly interupted sleep. My flight for Yemen leaves at 6.55am so I am showered, eaten, packed an in a cab by 5, the streets were quiet and the trip quick. Check in took forever, but then it was through customs and off for the long long walk to the departure gate. They have an Irish pub in the airport so I am going to have to pop in the next time through for a Guinness. The plane was late in taking off and only about half full, I had a great seat with a shit load of leg room and thought all ... read more