Just Touring In The South

The drive to Al-Hudayda through the Haraz Mountains is pretty dramatic with villages and towns perched on top of cliffs or hugging the sides below. The winding road follows around deep ravines and dry river beds, or through narrow passages between rock faces. The semi-arid landscape is beautiful and marked by occasional terraced farm land or half ruined stone buildings.

Outside the cities, tribal loyalties or clan ties is still the most important aspect of people's lives. They will fight against other tribes or the government should their tribe be threatened. I don't know if the statistic of three guns for every man, women and child in Yemen is correct but I have only seen a few people carry their AK-47 rifles around. Ironically, this country feels very safe and the crime rate is very low.

Al-Hudayda was hot and humid, and the city is quite spread out and waterfront area run down. The city does have one great fish market. In the morning, colourful dhow boats are tied next to the pier and the day's catch are hauled on shore and wheel barrows move back and forth to the waiting customers. There is a frenetic energy to the market as sharks with gaping jaws are laid on the floor, hundreds of fishes piled high, and the voices of the fish mongers and bargaining is loud and animated.

After Al-Hudayda, I stopped over the small town of Zibid and walked around the hot, dusty town full of ancient buildings in disrepair. The locals are friendly and I spent a relaxing afternoon sitting in a living room sipping chai as the owner and his male friends chewed qat and watched T.V. as part of their usual afternoon routine.

I am have spent the last two days in the city of Ta'izz which has a good old town, souq and a fort offering a nice view of the city, especially at sunset. Once again, even the cheapest rooms have TVs and I'm getting my fix of English movies!!! Off to Aden tomorrow and more seafood...