Despite all the news stories and saber rattling in the Middle East, ViewZone managed to explore Yemen, home of the ancient frankincense routes and of Arab culture itself, without a single problem. In fact, there was a great relief in finding out that the travel warnings regarding Yemen were mostly just hype. We had been lead to believe that traveling through this Arab country was somehow more dangerous than taking the stroll across New York's Brooklyn Bridge at night.
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ViewZone's Sky Sutton reports that most of the information concerning violence in Yemen is, "La! La! Afwan! Moomtaz!" ("No ! No! It's fine! It's fantastic!"). Already Yemen is well known to European and Asian tourists, who travel in small groups and sometimes even solo. The hospitality and stunning beauty of this undiscovered vacation and adventure destination has remained unknown to most Americans. Until now. Over the next several issues of ViewZone, Sky Sutton will take you along on her journey. From the capitol city of Sana'a, renown for its founding by Shem, one of Noah's sons, through the remote desert in Marib, home of the legendary Queen of Sheba, over mountain tops and down to sea ports, including Yemen's chief port: Aden. You will share the experience of Expedition 2001 along over 5000 kilometers of amazing sights, sounds, tastes, textures and flavors (Ever eaten camel?) How do you dress in a Moslem country? Is it really safe to travel alone? What is the food like and how would you order a "shai?" If you believe what you read then you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that most all of the recent paranoia over Yemen is the result of misinformation. Time and again, Yemen proved to be anything but a threatening enviorment. Yemen is a country of proud and deeply religious people. It is also a rugged and primal environment where almost everything is made from anything recyclable in any way possible or very raw materials... such as stone. Survival is not easy in this vast land of extremes. Temperatures can range from 10 to 145 F degrees. The atmosphere can change from an oppressive humidity at sea level to light-headedness of almost 9000 feet in altitude. Yemeni culture has been carved by this challenging environment and polished with the meticulous detail and beauty of Islamic traditions.
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Chief among these cultural traditions is hospitality, one of the five pillars of Islam. Yemeni people are quick to show kindness to strangers and they are often eager to engage English speaking visitors. From wise faces of the elderly gentlemen to wide eyed children, there is none of the predicted violence or political tension that has come to be associated with the Middle East. The people are smiling and the pace of life is deliberate but slow. Crime is confined to either car theft or family related skirmishes. In short: you are safe in Yemen.
Shed your expectations and open your dreams to the Rooftop of Arabia. Yemen is absolutely beautiful! As an American tourist you will find almost everything new and curious. This will be a magic carpet ride through the land of frankincense and myrrh, to a place we thought existed only in fairy tales... Uploaded photographs and historical background will enhance your preview of this ultimate land of adventure. |