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Dubai Shock

Monday, March 31st, 2008

I must have been settling into Yemen because I was shocked coming back to Dubai by two things.  Yemen is a very interesting country because it contains a unique and interesting culture and heritage.  Dubai’s heritage and cultural uniqueness are minimal.  Dubai is basically Las Vegas at the Beach… minus the casinos, plus more shopping.  It is pristine except for the building going on.  Yemen is anything but pristine.  I can see women’s faces in Dubai and they actually are prevalent, out at night and they work outside the home.  In Yemen, women are in full burqas – many with full veils, gloves and socks – and they’re not real common in public.  Along with many other differences, I’m not sure you can find two more different cultures and lands especially so close to each other. [read on]

Yemen Update

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

Tomorrow I leave Yemen for Dubai where I will leave the following day for Oman.  Yemen has been fantastic except for having a bit of a chest cold which I believe was caused by all of the particles I sucked in driving across the desert.  I should have some time in the air to write some stories from my notes so I’ll let you know why Yemen qualifies as an excellent part of my trip by Monday.  I’ve had some difficulties getting used to being on my own again after over two months of being with a group or Pamela.  Yemen is an odd place and it could have used someone else along to discuss all of the oddities.  Oman should be an easy country for travel compared to Yemen and I am looking for some sea time.  Although I have enjoyed Yemen’s beautiful scenery (when I can see it!), I have missed wildlife in general so seeing some dolphins and reefs in Oman should be a good remedy.  Missing Socotra was an issue in this area, but I was able to see places I would have missed and if Oman does not make up for it then I am planning to go to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt (Rick… with all of your complaints about Egyptians, why on earth would you go back six months later!!!!!!!!!!) where the best diving and hopefully snorkeling may exist.  I try to stay fluid on this adventure with plans and recently enough hiccups have come up to keep me on my toes and keep my backup list actively fed.  For instance, I have unfortunately given up for now on Iran (yes, Mom, I know this makes you happy!).  The problem comes down to their government needing forty days to issue my visa and they want proof of employment and, no, my free-lancing as a World Traveler does not seem to qualify.  I think the second issue can be dealt with by showing bank records, but the forty days puts things too far out and I can spend the time in other places.  I now have the right contact for the trip I want to do in Iran so I will try again in a year (maybe) assuming we still have not blown them to pieces or they are not invading Iraq to help us quell the unrest… now that would be a SURGE!  After some easy travel in Oman, I am looking at the other axis of evil nation to the west a little… also assuming we have not blown them to pieces and they are not joining in on the surge.

My favorite line in Yemen repeated to me MANY, MANY times… “America… good, George Bush… bad!!!!”  Preaching to the choir, Yemenis!  There is no translation for “preaching to the choir” so I just smile.  OK, so now I have visited two Middle Eastern countries and we have a score:  Love Americans 2, Hate Americans 0.  When I rap this tour up and it is a perfect score where I find the Muslim world likes Americans and treats me with upmost respect (yes, that is the prediction being tested), I hope you, too, will start questioning everything being dribbled into your brains on TV “news” and from USA government (just check out the State Dept warnings… yikes!) and consider turning it all OFF.  And as far as telling people that I am Canadian (oh, that seems so silly to me nowadays), I am sure the normal reply would be “is that STATE on the East or West coast of America?”  hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I Thought…

Friday, March 21st, 2008
I was flying to Socotra, but some weirdness happened and I was not on the plane.  I had to buy first class tickets because the flight was so full or so they told me in Dubai.  So, after checking in ... [Continue reading this entry]

Welcome to Yemen

Thursday, March 20th, 2008
Just a quick update to say that I am flying to Socotra Island (you've never heard of it so look it up!) from Sanaa this morning.  Yemen is fantastic because the Yemeni are so warm, friendly and hospitable.  I'll write ... [Continue reading this entry]

Shop Til You Drop in Dubai

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
I have not been to another place which displays the excesses of Capitalism as much as Dubai.  Lucky for me I had spent a week in Nairobi and not in Bushville, Africa so the shock was not ... [Continue reading this entry]