Articles from this Category
17 December 2007
Marie went to our teacher’s house today. “Excuse moi” she cried “… there’s a goat in the bathroom”. The answer as we found out is because tomorrow is Eid (al Udha) … or Hari Raya Haji in Malaysia-Singapore. It commemorates Abraham’s (pbuh) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael for God. Muslims sacrifice a goat, sheep etc […]
14 December 2007
We took breakfast around 0730 and drove to Al Hajjarah. It was my second time at this stunning village set on top of a rock. From here, we walked to the next village and back. That took around 0900-1230. Fortunately there wasn’t much of a downhill hike which seemed to upset my left knee. Assam didn’t […]
13 December 2007
Even though I only landed yesterday, I was happy to agree to a weekend away today. It was a foursome, with Marie and I, plus another student (Jewish American studying at Harvard) and the driver Assam. It was a leisurely departure at 0930 meeting at my regular quarter-chicken place for the 2+ hour ride through […]
12 December 2007
Arrival My Emirates flight departed Hong Kong at 0035 after my full day of travel from Kuching and time in Hong Kong. The 1h30 connecting time in Dubai was sufficient for my continuing flight to Sana’a. Actually more than sufficient as I managed to even go to duty free to get a bottle of bubbly […]
22 March 2007
Leaving Yemen Today I fly to Dubai for a nightstop before continuing to Morocco tomorrow. Mohammad, the school driver knocked on my door at 0650 rather than the agreed 0730. I hadn’t been awake very long and hurriedly prepared myself. We left at 0700 and was at the airport some twenty minutes later for check-in. […]
21 March 2007
It’s my last full day in Sana’a. It’s sad to say goodbye to Yemen again. It was a social day with some teachers taking students out for lunch at the fish souq. There was Fabian, and then Omar from Kuala Lumpur. Talking to Omar, I think he might have been a bit naughty for his […]
19 March 2007
Above: At my local baker which makes Kudam (Kidem, Kidim, Kedem, كدم), a delicious crusty bread when fresh. In fact, I often slice my tomatoes before running down to the bakery to get it fresh. If left for half a day, they’re like rock. Some of you will remember my first impressions of the Arabic […]
18 March 2007
I came across this hilarious cartoon … here are the words but a couple of them are beyond me. Heaven is: A Syrian wife Lebanese food Emirati citizenship Jordanian security Egyptian tourism A Palestinian neighbour Saudi taxes Qatari salary Hell is: An Egyptian wife Emirati food Lebanese citizenship Palestinian security Qatari tourism A Saudi neighbour […]
16 March 2007
Being the weekend, Kristina and I took a short trip to Bayt Baws, also spelled Bait Baus (and numerous other ways I guess). We took a dabab (van) to Hadda and change to another to Bayt Baws and then another uphill to the old town. Once we were in the old town, it felt like […]
15 March 2007
Above: In the school hostel hallway illuminated by light through the stained glass windows. Despite the title, this page is more about Arabic names that Malaysians (usually Malays) have. I now know their meanings! Here are the names of friends, bank tellers, flight attendants etc that I’ve met through the years. Some are rather beautiful […]