Yemen is an ancient Arab country situated in the lower part of the Arabian peninsula. The bigger part of the country is covered with mountains, but there are also large desert parts.
Al-Saleh Mosque is the major mosque in the capital of Yemen - Sanaa. It has been built recently for the money of the Yemen president - about $60 000 000. No wonder it was named after the first man of the country. Its whole area comprises about 28 000 square meters.
This is the only mosque that can welcome people of other religions.
President himself also prays here.
Mosque decorations strike with rich and luxurious entourage.
Deserted Jewish village Beit Baws. Local citizens adore getting on high spots and admire the landscapes slowly chewing kat.
Sanaa outskirts view.
The very Jewish village, like many other objects in the country, is built on top of a hill for protective purposes.
The lower part of the rock, on which the village is built, is unusually green.
Village entrance.
Nowadays it is an interesting place for children to play.
Kids carry water home in such tanks.
Not only Jews, but also Arabs once lived here. Today the village is deserted, many buildings are destroyed.
Many Jews left Yemen after the Second World War when Israel was formed.
And these houses at the foot of the hill are inhabited.
People at the streets of Sanaa are cheerful and hospitable.
Imam's palace Dar Al-Hajar. The date of its construction is unknown, but it is considered to be built in pre-Islamic times.
Such five keeps surround the palace.
Today all these towers are half-destroyed.
The palace is built on a high hill.
Tourists attract children's attention a lot.
Despite half-destroyed condition all the village houses are inhabited.
The Turkish invasion completely destroyed the palace, only in 1786 it was rebuilt and in 1930 became Imam's residence.
Menacing guard.
One can observe village houses from the palace's roof.
The palace has got 7 floors, 35 rooms and is a museum today.
It's a fridge. Wind constantly blows through the holes and keeps the cold.
Let's move form Sanaa to the open spaces of Yemen.
One can come across such constructions along the road. Travellers used to take rest here, it was like an analogue of modern Motels.
In remote villages the most popular transport is donkey.
Broken glass is used for protection.
Unfortunately people don't care much about ecology, garbage is scattered everywhere.
People are very hospitable. This man gladly demonstrates domestic camels.
Boy, wearing national clothes, with a jambia (curved dagger) in his belt.
Mountain village Hababa.
This stone pool is a rainwater depository.
People have been using it for already several hundred years.
The village impresses with its medieval atmosphere.
Serious warrior.
People are very sociable.
Mountain village Thula.
Like many other Yemen villages this one also used to be a stronghold surrounded by the stone wall.
This village also has its rain water storage.
Traditional Yemen architecture.
Thin road threads that wind among the mountains.
Yemen cafe.
People still use ancient technology of extracting sesame oil. This camel goes round the mechanism where the very oil is extracted.
Another oil pressing device is going to be built here.
Picturesque canyon with a village in the middle.
It looks like some magic village from a fairy tale.
This valley is one of the most fertile places in Yemen. It has been the agricultural center since the 8th century.
Such contrasting colorful houses are valley hotels.
The most eco-friendly means of transport.
Goat shepherds wear strange hats reminding of fairytale wizards.
Beautiful ancient mountain village.
In these places tourists are not allowed to travel without armed escort.
Seiyun is one of the biggest cities in Yemen. Its main place of interest is Sultan's palace.
Street market.
Some mountain stronghold.
City of Tarim is famous with one of the highest mosques on the peninsula. Its minarets are 65 meters high.
In front of the mosque boys play football.
Colorful palaces.
Judging from the kids' reaction one may say that tourists are still rare here.
Famous Shibam - the city of clay skyscrapers.
Market square.
There is no asphalt on the long streets of Shibam, only sand.
Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago.
From the peninsula one can get to the Socotra island by plane. The first place is Dihamri camping.
Camping beach.
One immediately notices goats. They are really everywhere all around the country.
Goats are very impudent, thay can easily come up to the stranger and take something from his bag.
Toilet and shower.
Fishermen's house.
Boats are waiting their time to go fishing.
Such birds are also very common in these places.
As well as lizards.
One can find a lot of marvellous seashells here. However it is against the law to take them from Socotra.
Bottle trees.
They grow from the very stones.
Archer beach.
Large cave entrances.
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