Sanaa What to Pack

Miscellaneous: I like the muezzin's call to prayer. Even though I am devoutly agnostic, I find it spiritually uplifting. However, in Sana'a it's a bit different. Because the first call wakes all the feral dogs, who bark for forty minutes and, just as you are drifting back to sleep, you are roused by the actual call to prayer. Which sets off the dogs again. Actually I can't sleep with earplugs in. What I wanted was a long-barrelled Lee-Enfield. Much more accurate than a Kalashnikov.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Sanaa (and Yemen) is a conservative society - so do cover up. In the old town there is virtually no local woman showing her face or hair. So t-shirts and shorts (for men and women), no skirts unless they are ankle lenght, no plunging necklines. If you are a woman it is much easier to buy an abaya and wear it, with its headscarf - then trying to find something suitable in your wardrobe. people will rave about you, if you wear one - and it is very comfortable to wear. It did feel like I was wearing en evening dress - so instead of feeling "caged" or "trapped", as one would imagine, I felt very elegant and feminine. There's manny abayas to chosse from, and they need not be plain and boring: some have colourful decorations, others ornate embroideries and little glittering stones.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Wet-tissues: handy to wash your hands, to freshen-up your face, and as emergency toilet paper where there is none.

Miscellaneous: Plugs: UK-style plugs are used all over.

Luggage and bags: A big lagguage for the many kind of clothes and for the crafts you are going to buy.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Here comes the problem, infact I don't usually write packing tips, but Sanaa is really a mess for dressing as, it passes from the cold of early morning to the very hot of the middle of the day to the cold again after the sun setting. So t-shirt, shirts, jaket, long trousers.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: At the airport they will take your shave cream if there is the fire sign outside, so try to take a not inflammable one.