After resting and trying the local Qat (leaves that are chewed and stored in the cheek) we headed back to the car and drove to Manakha.
The winding roads up the mountains were sometimes treacherous, but always breathtakingly beautiful.
Kais had organised for me to stay in a small hotel overlooking the town of Al Hajjarah and in the centre of Manakha town.
I walked around the town before dinner and music was provided, compliments of the hotel’s owners. Alongside local music I was treated to traditional dances and yet more traditional food.
Sunday morning was filled with a visit to Al Hajjarah — a truly incredible town built on top of the mountains and continuously inhabited for the last 1200 years, and then a walk through the weekly market in Manakha where everything from sheep to kitchenware were for sale.
The drive back to the airport was as scenic as the previous day and, after stopping at Ahmed’s house to meet his family and share some tea, I was taken to the airport for my Jazeera flight back to Dubai.
Although only two and a half hours away on a flight, a weekend in Yemen is like taking a 1000 year leap back in time.
Whether it’s the basics of a hotel room that was built 500 years ago, marveling at the Rock Palace built for the Imam 800 years ago, the awe inspiring views of the town of Al Hajjarah or just mingling with the locals in markets that could easily be a set from The Life of Brian, Yemen will surpass everything that you could ever expect.
For a truly breathtaking experience a lifetime away (or perhaps a thousand lifetimes away) from Dubai, you’ll never regret or forget a trip to Sana’a.
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May 20, 2009 , United Arab Emirates
I liked your article about Yemen and the unforgetable experience which I am sure it was! I would have loved to see some pictures as well (so to speak). Thanks for the positive and encouraging words about Yemen and wish you more enjoyable trips to the "Felix Of Arabia" rgds