| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Yemen attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Yemen Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 23 |  |
 by DanielF
How they manage to survive and even to raise cattle in a place where tehre only seems to be sand is something difficult to understand. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
Because of the lush foliage that grows in most wadis, they are good places to observe wildlife, such as mammals and birds. On my trip, we spent a lot of time in wadis, such as Wadi Sar'a, pictured here, looking for some of the birds that are unique to Southwest Arabia and Yemen. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
Mahweet is a popular destination for tourists because of its panoramic vistas, fascinating architecture, and mild climate. The buildings of Mahweet are clustered on a sharp ridge of al-Masna'a Mountain, 6,726 feet (2,050 meters) in elevation. The village has its own distinct style of architecture, and is still surrounded by a medieval wall and protective towers.
In contrast to most of Yemen, the climate in Mahweet is generally crisp and cool, especially at night. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
Socotra is about 1,400 square miles (3,625 square kilometers) in size, and is 80 miles (130 kilometers) from east to west, and 18 to 22 miles (30 to 35 kilometers) from north to south. Geologically, the island consists of a coastal plain, a central limestone plateau, and the Haghier Mountains. It is one of the world's most isolated islands of continental origin, rather than of volcanic origin. It detached from the ancient continent of Gondwana about 6,000,000 years ago, and has been slowly drifting eastward away from the African continent since then.
Socotra is inhabited by about 45,000 people who have their own distinct language and culture, although they also speak Arabic, the official language of Yemen. Socotra has closer ties to Africa than to Arabia, and many people appear more African than Arabic.
Socotra has been called a "mini Madagascar" due to its large number of endangered animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world. Botanists have discovered more than 850 species of plants (of which about 270 are endemic to the island), and anticipate the discovery of many more. About 80 percent of the island's reptiles, and many of the insects are also endemic. And the reason I went to Socotra was to see the six or 11 (depending on taxonomy) endemic species of birds. (All of which I saw).
Socotra has long been closed to the outside world, but tourists are starting to discover the natural attractions of the island. Many people go for the sun and beaches, but most go for the world-class diving and various eco-tourism activities. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
The dragon's blood tree gets its name from the red resin obtained from small cuts in its trunk and branches. The resin was harvested in ancient times, as it was believed to have medicinal properties, and was used to make red dye. The resin was traded to the Arabs and ancient Mediterranean civilizations via the Incense Road, along with frankincense and myrrh.
The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Arabs used the dragon's blood resin as a cure-all for such ailments as diarrhea, fever, dysentery, respiratory and stomach viruses, and ulcers of the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines.
The resin was also used to make a deep red dye, as well as varnish by eighteenth-century violin makers. An eighteenth-century recipe for toothpaste even called for dragon's blood resin. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
My group went to Qalansiyah not only to see the cliffs, but primarily to look for sea birds that cannot be seen from shore. We were successful, and saw some birds that are very difficult to see in other parts of the world. Early in the morning the sea was calm, but as happens most afternoons, the wind picked up and the water became very choppy. That made for a rough, wet trip back to the village from the cliffs. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
The way of life of Yemen's traditional fisherman is in jeopardy. Large fishing vessels from foreign countries are increasingly beginning to fish off the coast of Yemen. Occasionally foreign vessels are seized by Yemeni officials for fishing within Yemen's waters. These ships tend to use large nets to sweep the waters, many in violation of international standards. Such fishing practices are starting to deplete the supply of fish close to shore. And as the numbers of fish are decreasing, Yemeni fishermen must venture farther out into international waters, where they are sometimes seized by foreign powers, especially Eritrea, for supposedly violating those countries' territorial waters. When this happens, the fishermen's boats, catches, and fuel are confiscated, requiring huge fines for their return that the fishermen cannot afford. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
Until recently, the Dixem Plateau was relatively inaccessible, but a new cross-island paved road has made access to the interior easy. The views from the edge of the plateau over the coastal plain toward the sea are spectacular. And the Haghier Mountains can be seen from most of the Dixem Plateau, and form a backdrop that provides ample photographic opportunities.
The soil on top of the plateau is alkaline, so few plants can grow there. Most of the vegetation consists of rough grasses and the unique dragon's blood tree that thrives in such soil, and which grows nowhere else in the world. The climate and high altitude provide an ideal environment for lichens, many of which are white and cover the rocks, making them look as if they are covered with snow. Leave a Comment
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 by Dick_Loudon
We traveled by private car down to Hodeida, a major port on the coast. Met many interesting and extremely friendly fishermen and boat builders. Great contrast to Sana'a.
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 a man on an unbeaten path ;) by JohnniOmaniLeave a Comment
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