The incredible adobe mud skyscrapers cities of Wadi Hadramawt, Yemen

[phil marion]

Originally Posted by Ex-Ithacan

Such an amazing tour. Are the larger buildings in Shibam used by extended families? Or are they more like apartment buildings? Unbelievable structures.

Thanks for sharing your pics and experiences with us.

Sorry i don't know the answer to that.

[phil marion]

shrine and mud skyscrapers of Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


The Sultan Al Kathiri Palace- Seiyun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


resident of Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


Yemeni biker by Phil Marion, on Flickr


mud house doorway - Tarim, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


Sweyd motorbike by Phil Marion, on Flickr


adobe mud village in Wadi Hadramawt, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


adobe mud skyscrapers of Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


child of Seiyun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


mud adobe village- Wadi Dhar, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

[Surrealplaces]

Amazing photo tour!

Interesting that you found the people very friendly in some of those countries. My own experience has been the opposite, I haven't been to Yemen, but have been to other gulf states: Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, also Egypt and Turkey, as well as Malaysia. I have found those countries to be generally less friendly than other countries I've traveled to, especially the gulf states.....they seemed almost devoid of friendliness.

Turkey was an exception, it was one of the more friendlier places I've been to. Malaysia was pretty good.

Originally Posted by phil marion

Firstly I can only tell you what the men of Yemen were like since all women are covered head to toe and would not dare speak publicly to a man outside their family. Nor would a Yemeni male approach a Yemeni woman outside of his family. So my interactions were only with men. My experiences is that people are friendliest in Islamic countries. The Koran states one should treat visitors with kindness. The few people that spoke English would go out of their way to welcome me. This included shop owners who proudly displayed pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. Although many people hold negative opinions about American/Western governments that does not extend to the citizens of those countries whom they believe are being lied to about Islam. Most people don't typically blame travelers for the policies of their country's government. They are happy to encounter tourists who have seen their country as a place worthy of a visit. Generally, Yemenis are very welcoming and respectful to others and this extends to travelers.
That said, there are a lunatic fringe that want their totalitarian government overthrown and despise what they feel are the western foreign powers that support the dictatorship. So they will be happy to strike at any symbol of those powers be it a moored naval ship or an easier target like a helpless tourist. The government is fighting an insurrection and cannot guarantee the safety of tourists. Tourists need travel permits for anywhere in Yemen. At the moment (and for some time) the police are not issuing permits for many parts of the country. Like Cambodia under the Khmer rouge this isn't a place to visit right now.

[phil marion]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Amazing photo tour!

Interesting that you found the people very friendly in some of those countries. My own experience has been the opposite, I haven't been to Yemen, but have been to other gulf states: Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, also Egypt and Turkey, as well as Malaysia. I have found those countries to be generally less friendly than other countries I've traveled to, especially the gulf states.....they seemed almost devoid of friendliness.

Turkey was an exception, it was one of the more friendlier places I've been to. Malaysia was pretty good.

Then you need to travel to Indonesia, Mali as well as Morocco. The Gulf States you mention other than Oman are rather urbanised and well to do. People in large urban areas tend to be less friendly or curious about foreigners who may be mistaken for ex-pats.
In Morocco I was often invited to peoples' houses for dinner. I speak French so it is easy for me to talk to Malians and Moroccans.

[phil marion]

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version



mosque minaret - Seiyun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


kids and livestock share the commonspace in Shibam by Phil Marion, on Flickr


windows - wadi dawan, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version



mosque minaret of Tarim, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


thirsty no more by Phil Marion, on Flickr


Frankentruck made of cannibalized parts of various trucks - Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


shopping & veiled in Sayun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version



young girls - Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


mosque in Wadi Hadramawt, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


young boy and his toys - Sayun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version


I will post more but if you are curious here is a link to more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsiWqq8eM

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by phil marion

Then you need to travel to Indonesia, Mali as well as Morocco. The Gulf States you mention other than Oman are rather urbanised and well to do. People in large urban areas tend to be less friendly or curious about foreigners who may be mistaken for ex-pats.
In Morocco I was often invited to peoples' houses for dinner. I speak French so it is easy for me to talk to Malians and Moroccans.

I forgot to mention that I have been to Indonesia, but have never been to Morocco or Mali.
I just haven't found Islamic countries to be any friendlier than non Islamic countries as a general rule. I tend to agree that people in the non urbanized areas usually are friendlier, even in well to do western nations. The friendliest people I've come across have been in Turkey, Greece and Portugal, I have been invited into people's home in those countries, even in Spain, but I found as a whole not as friendly as say.. Portugal.
If people in Morocco are among the friendliest you've met, maybe it's a Mediterranean thing

[Metro-One]

Fantastic pictures and a very interesting place for sure.

I dont doubt the friendliness of the people, as individualy I have found people to be friendly all over the globe in my travels (NA, Europe, Africa, Asia).

That being said I always enjoy people trying to flower up and romanticise deeply religious cultures that are extremely sexist and secular. (not to mention their views on homosexuality and other such issues).

What people are all gushing about on here I vew as hell on earth. A deeply segregated (between men and woman and other religions) culture with little to no open media or ability to question authority (political or religious). I find such an existance to be increadibly sad...

If people think that the Catholic Church operates behind closed doors (and we have seen glimpses of the madness and abuse that happens there) just imagine what happens in Isalm, where even the idea of questioning its rule can have terrible punishments (in many countries).

[peanut gallery]

Fascinating place and excellent photography. Thanks for posting!

[James Bond Agent 007]

Beautiful photos. Reminds me of Tatooine.

[MolsonExport]

keep the nice photos coming. Super interesting.

[phil marion]

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version



selling shoes - Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


market legumes - Seiyun, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


mosque minaret -Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version



women returning home with cooking firewood harvest - Wadi Hawdramawt by Phil Marion, on Flickr


young cutie - Tarim, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr


goat resting in streets of mud city of Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Wadi Dawan region, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr

Click on a photo if you wish to see a larger version

[SignalHillHiker]

A girl from here is teaching in Yemen right now.

Thought of this thread looking through the pictures.


FB - Maria and one of her students

[phil marion]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

A girl from here is teaching in Yemen right now.

Thought of this thread looking through the pictures.


FB - Maria and one of her students

A wonderful experience for her...hope the Wadi is safe of the strife of Sana'a

[SHiRO]

Truly awesome pictures!

[gatt]

amazing photos!

[phil marion]

I will post more but if you are curious here is a link to more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsiWqq8eM
mud skyscrapers of Shibam, Yemen by Phil Marion, on Flickr
I will post more but if you are curious here is a link to more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsiWqq8eM

[pip]

Wow! Another place I would love to check out. Great pics