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Yemen Travel
Safety:
In March 2009 four South Korean tourists were killed by a suicide bomber in Shibam, while nine tourists were abducted in summer 2009; some of their bodies have been found. We love the country but cannot recommend it for tourism at present.
For
up-to-date terrorist information please
check the excellent Foreign
Office [FO] world travel safety site [Yes, Americans too!].
Why travel to Yemen:
This
is an amazing, nearly medieval arab society, complete with well-armed
men, veiled women, arid landscapes and extraordinary fortified mud
houses. Play the game and the people - like most desert folk - are
friendly and hospitable, but don't tread on their toes...
Downside:
- Single women can have a tough time; wearing full cover clothing
- including headscarf - may help.
- You can't usually photograph women, unless they discreetly suggest
it in exchange for a few riyals.
- There are very limited food and booze options; beer is served
in teapots in the best hotel!
- It's a very dusty environment, so special care is needed for both
cameras and lungs.
- Islamic Fundamentalist anti-tourist sentiment is on the rise, with violence.
Yemen Travel Guide, climate:
Best:
March-May, Sept, Oct
Worst: Nov-Jan [cold & dusty]
Avoid Ramadan, [Muslim fasting month, August 11- September 10, 2010. There's always a lively feast day, Idd al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan]
Length
of stay:
Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights: 5 days for a look at Sana'a
and a taxi/4WD travel around nearish villages.
Recommended: 7-10 days for a more thorough look including a trip
down south to Wadi Hadramaut.
Yemen's main attractions:
*** Sana'a alone is worth a trip, a magical trip back in
time with staggering sights galore, 400 year old tall mud fortified
houses with lovely whitewashed features. Aladdin could be filmed
here without changing anything.
***
Medieval fortified villages like Wadi Dhar [incl. Palace],
Thulla, Shibam, Huth, At-Tawila. Take a taxi.
Longer trips by 4x4 are rough but rewarding, such as Sa'da and
especially Suq al Inan, though recently these areas have seen
a spate of tourist kidnappings.
***
Wadi Hadramaut 'Manhattan in the Desert' [also known as
Shibam] in South Yemen is stunning, a photographic dream, if you
can afford the time to drive or the plane fare.
Aden in South Yemen is a tatty, hideous, ex-Stalin apartment
block mess, don't bother withit, though there are some good beach
apartments.
Ma'rib
[Sheba] is barely worth the trip too, a long way to see a
couple of pillars sticking out of the sand...
Activities:
Trekking: There are lots of walk possibilities but none out
of town will be properly marked. Also bear in mind that it will
be very hot and dusty so you'll have to carry plenty of water.
Some popular routes are Beni Husheich and Wadi Mahdi.
Drugs: Chewing coca-like qat with the
locals will give you an interesting buzz and will encourage rapid,
incomprehensible communication.
Festivals:
Eid al Fitr, at the end of Ramadan is the only good one that we
know!
Money:
The local currency is the riyal and it's best to bring cash to exchange.
Dollars or European currencies are equally good.
ATMs are rare and malfunction anyway, so credit cards and travel
cheques can be difficult to use in Yemen.
Tipping is unnecessary, though do carefully negotiate taxi travel
beforehand, especially if it's a long trip. e.g out of Sana'a.
Visas:
Every nationality needs one. They usually last 1-3 months.
Electricity:
220v; mostly flat 2 pin plugs needed, but occasionally round or
flat 3 pins!
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