YEMEN
Location :
On the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula across the horn of Africa
Culture & Language :
Arabic and ancient Arabian culture
Population :
20 million
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| Jambiya | Dancing | Henna | Qat |
The Jambiya
One of the first things your eye will catch is the dagger which most of the men wear like a belt. Don't be afraid...it is not a weapon. It is just a decoration. Some people call it the tie of the yemeni men. At the old market you will be able to buy one as a souvenir. The price varies from 10$ to 100$ depending on the material it is made from. The one's apparently made from Rhino horn will cost you up to 1 million dollars.
One of the first things your eye will catch is the dagger which most of the men wear like a belt. Don't be afraid...it is not a weapon. It is just a decoration. Some people call it the tie of the yemeni men. At the old market you will be able to buy one as a souvenir. The price varies from 10$ to 100$ depending on the material it is made from. The one's apparently made from Rhino horn will cost you up to 1 million dollars.
Yemeni dancing
At the villages north of Sana'a you will go deeper into the yemeni culture and see traditional dancing. The Yemeni's will show all the different styles of dancing from each surrounding village. They will also invite you for a dance. This is a unique experience that will stay with you forever!!!!
At the villages north of Sana'a you will go deeper into the yemeni culture and see traditional dancing. The Yemeni's will show all the different styles of dancing from each surrounding village. They will also invite you for a dance. This is a unique experience that will stay with you forever!!!!
Henna
As a woman you will be invited to have your hands "naqshed"-meaning to have your hands decorated with henna. The yemeni women always have their hands decorated with henna during weddings. It is a sign of happiness and that a special occasion has just happened or is still coming. Don't worry...it is not permanent. it will fade away after two weeks.
As a woman you will be invited to have your hands "naqshed"-meaning to have your hands decorated with henna. The yemeni women always have their hands decorated with henna during weddings. It is a sign of happiness and that a special occasion has just happened or is still coming. Don't worry...it is not permanent. it will fade away after two weeks.
Qat
In the afternoons you will see and feel like something has happened or changed...everything has come to a complete standstill. Why? It is al because of the Qat-leave. The qat-leave comes from the Qat tree which you will as you travel throughout Yemen in the mountaneous areas. In the afternoons the men close their shops and go to the Qat market to buy their qat for the day. They wil thenl go to one of their friends and will chew the qat for the whole afternoon in a livingroom setting and discuss important matters. As a tourist you may try the qat...it has a very bitter taste but the reason the yemenis chew it, is the energy they get from it. Qat is a very strong stimulent. Chewing it for 3 hours is like having had 10-20 cups of coffee which will make stay up all night long.
In the afternoons you will see and feel like something has happened or changed...everything has come to a complete standstill. Why? It is al because of the Qat-leave. The qat-leave comes from the Qat tree which you will as you travel throughout Yemen in the mountaneous areas. In the afternoons the men close their shops and go to the Qat market to buy their qat for the day. They wil thenl go to one of their friends and will chew the qat for the whole afternoon in a livingroom setting and discuss important matters. As a tourist you may try the qat...it has a very bitter taste but the reason the yemenis chew it, is the energy they get from it. Qat is a very strong stimulent. Chewing it for 3 hours is like having had 10-20 cups of coffee which will make stay up all night long.
