In late 2002, Chuck and I went to Yemen to study Arabic. I had by then already been studying it for 2 years, Chuck was almost starting from scratch but for the few remnants of the Egyptian dialect he once knew. We were supposed to go in October 2001, but after September 11, thought it unwise. In retrospect, it might have been better. Bush decided to attack Irak while we were there in 2002, and we had to cut our trip short. The hostility in the streets towards white foreigners was getting unpleasant and the government prohibited us to get out of Sana'a. We should have stayed four months, we left after two. It was still a wonderful adventure and we both hope to be able to return some day. These are the stories I wrote while we were there. If you don't know which to read, try the Wedding, it is my favorite. Pig, monkeys and Donkeys is weird, true but weird, and the last one, Kamaran island sums up Yemen very nicely. I also like the ones from Ma'rib, not your everyday trip.

->Yemen - Ma'rib - a visit to the Queen of Sheba (Nov 2002) Part I - "Into the wild wild east" and "the non-sequitur hotel" Part II - "red tape and snakeskin pants", "post nuclear sand castle" and more.

->Yemen - Trekking the Haraz Moutains (Oct 2002) Part I - Manakha, Hodeib, Kahil and back for lunch Part II - Qat chewing, Hajjara, Hodeib and Hajjara again

->Yemen - The Wedding (Oct 2002) A unique insider look into a Yemeni wedding's party - the female only side.

->Yemen - Assorted letters (Oct & Nov 2002) Part I - Arrisalah aluulah "The first letter" - October 4th Part II - An adventure a minute - October 9th Part III - Yemeni houses and archelogists - October 19th Part IV - Vegetables and feminine products - October 20th Part V - "They are all pigs, donkeys and monkeys" - October 30th Part VI - "Kamaran Island - the no-story story" - November 12th