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3/1001 - Yemen #1 - Mainland Hadhramaut

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Mainland Yemen - Hadhramaut - حضرموت My dream came true!! After 8 years of waiting, I finally made it to Yemen! Yemen was number one of my travel bucket list since 8 years and finally it became reality!! I felt like a little child just before Christmas, full of anticipation and joy when I was finally sitting in the plane on the way to Aden!  During my studies in Oman in 2015 I heard so many incredible stories about Yemen, that it entered and never left my heart since then and it was so surreal making my first steps in Yemeni ground!  I'm so delighted to share this unique and very special experience with you! I know, when you follow the media, you will exclusively hear about war and famine. If you read a bit more, you will come across the names of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran as important actors on the battlefield. If you put a bit more effort into research, then you will read about UNESCO world heritage sites, about old kingdoms, rich trading routes, green valley...
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4/1001 - Yemen #2 - Socotra Island

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SOCOTRA Island سقطرى  Socotra is based in the south of Yemen, right in front of the coast of Somalia.  Since it is so detached from mainland Yemen, you  can mostly forget about the security measures that I described before, which are mainly applicable to mainland Yemen. On Socotra, there is no need for Abbayas or veils, you can even swim in Bikini! No military check points, no armed forces, no security permits, no weapons. You'll even be able to find some local self-made liquors and enjoy them at a spectacular sunset at the beach! The island is mainly known for its breathtaking unique landscape and rare flora and fauna. Tourism just started a few years ago and hence there is almost no infrastructure! A few paved roads and one or two hotels in the capital (I heard you wouldn't want to stay there!!!). Hence, it's all about camping and eco tourism! Although the accommodation conditions are basic, the location and landscape is certainly a 5-star luxury experience! Sleeping **...
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