I took these photos when I was working in Yemen in 2007. The top one is of the fortified town of Hababah in the Haraz Mountains. It is built around a huge cistern, which not only supplies the town's water, but also serves as an impromptu public swimming pool at weekends. Here you will see youths with rifles slung over their backs watching scores of children swimming with the town's pet duck, which I felt sorry for as it wanted to get out of the water, but they wouldn't let it. The second photo is of an old man on his way to buy qat in the souq of the old city of Sanaa. Most of agricultural land is given over to qat production and Yemeni women told me that they are not happy about it.
Two things you see everywhere in Yemen are guns and qat. I got asked to try both. The effect of qat is like a combination of marijuana and alcohol. You chew the leaves and then after a while, you get a high, find that you are getting giggly and talking much faster than usual. Then you enter a sleepy, mellow phase. Finally, you get a sore throat, red eyes and a hangover.
Nice Photos!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever want to try Thailand, let me know. I have an expat blog and ebook guide site at http://expatwomeninthailand.com
Amy P.
Thanks, I have tried Thailand a couple of times, but you never know, I might just try it again!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. It is so interesting to see photos like this.
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment
ReplyDeletei look forward to looking through your blog & seeing where you've traveled
i don't think i'm close to "settling down" yet :)
Your photos are crisp and show quality of life I have yet to experience in person, very nice.
ReplyDeletei love the picture of the old man.
ReplyDeletethis is one of those 'a picture is worth a thousand words' ... too good!
Wonderful photos and I love hearing how other people live. I have not traveld much in my life, but want to and reading about the travels of others carries me away :-). Thank you.
ReplyDeletewow very nice pictures and so cultural! glad you get to see the world.
ReplyDeleteCoool.C my blog 2.Pls do c it.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to hear your experiences about chewing qat. I remember reading somewhere it is a bit of a problem out there, and stops people working. Great pictures I really like the texture of the buildings - it is as though they have been formed from sand.
ReplyDeleteVamos conhecer um pouco do Brasil? Passe lá no Blog do Clausewitz. Abração
ReplyDeleteNice pictures and nice story. I did not see any picture of Thailand. Have you ever been to Thailand? I am in Phuket, located in the south of Thailand.
ReplyDeleteI work as a web correspondent for Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
These are great!- and the descriptions even better! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are amazing--and I love how you bring them to life.
ReplyDelete