Aaron and Anne-Sophie

(Click here to see our Hadramawt Photo Album)

Apart from the over-cast weather in Socotra, which didn’t affect the beauty of the island, but really only the quality of our photos, and spending a little too much (but necessary) money there, we were really satisfied with our three days on the island. We got to the airport in plenty of time and ironically it was a crystal clear day. We even ran into the French Ambassador again, who surprisingly sat with us in economy class. The flight took us to Al-Mukalla, a port city in the south east of Yemen. (more…)

We’re back home in Sanaa, and here is the tale of the first part of our trip (click here to see photos).

Too often travel advertising for off the beaten track places rely on comparisons to famous destinations: how many “Paris of the East”, “Venice of the sand”, or “Manhattan of the desert”, try to attract visitors by the promise of some familiar sights.
It is tempting to do the same for Suqutra, to transform it into “Yemeni Galapagos” because its isolation has ensured it a unique wildlife and vegetation, making it a paradise for botanists and zoologists. Or to call it an African version of Hawaii for the breathtaking beauty of its landscapes. (more…)

We haven’t had internet access for a while and because of the Eyd holiday things are closed. We’re now in Sayun and hopefully will be going back to Sanaa this Saturday. Socotra was great! You’ll hear more about it later.

Happy new year to all of you!

After a pretty chill celebration of New Year’s Eve at Lutvi’s cafeteria, we are ready to head out of town for our biggest tourist trip in Yemen yet. We’re taking the plane tomorrow morning to Suqutra, a very isolated island that is home to some very unique animals and plants. Then we’ll explore the Hadramawt valley. It’s an exciting journey ahead, and we’re not sure what to expect as few tourists go to those places, but we’ll make sure to take lots of pictures to let you know about it.

Aid Said!