"YEMEN - Old and Historical" Yemen by Pakistaniguy

I came to Yemen because of three reasons: 1. My auntie lives here, 2. It is a country where others do not often go ;-) 3. I want to asap complete my 50 countries and i was getting a moderately affordable offer :-)

So, when i bought my ticket for Switzerland from Karachi. I added the trip to Yemen in it. So, my route is following Karachi - Dubai (U.A.E) - Sana'a (Yemen) - Dubai - Zürich (Switzerland) on Emirates Airline. This one way ticke to Zürich was 38,000 Rs. Inclusive of all taxes.

What ? Where ? How ?

Yemen: A Country of strong civilisation and old islamic culture. With democracy in power, the people still live as if they have a kingdom. They praise their Prime Miniter as their King , elected by them for a few years :-) Surprisingly the current Prime Minister is ruling from more than last 20 years as if he is the only politician in the country :-) hehehe...

On the other hand, they have some stunning Masjids with tall and beautiful Minarets. I am planning to go on the top of one of them :-) Have a look at the picture beside. It is one of the masjid's in old walled city of Sana'a.

Culture, Climate and People

Culture is dominated by old ways of doing things. Women usually cover their Whole Self excluding only few cms for the eye balls. I also saw some women even covering the eyes bye a small cloth :-) Western tourist were not like this but just wearing normal fully coverd clothes such as jeans and shirt.

Sana'a, The Capital of Yemen, is surrounded by the barren mountains. It is having a little higher altitude than other cities in the country. It is very much similar to Peshawer or Quetta in Pakistan. Most of the buildings are made by mud bricks and are mostly in brown colour with white border. Nowdays its suppose to be the winter time here. There are very less tourists here which is such a pitty.

The weather in the day gets really too sunny and hot. You :-( but at night, due to desert and less polution as it is present in Indian Subcontinent.

People are very kind, generous and friendly. you should spend some time in their company and then ur'll know.

I hope u liked this travelogue of mine.

Best Regards,
Umer.

From Sanjay <SanJ20@VTmail.com>
Received 2004-10-08 15:50:15.0

Hi,

I would thankyou for the excellent travel tips you have given on your
website. Cheers for that.

Mate, I am travelling to Mumbai in the Dec. but my wife leaves in
November to Mumbai. Both have booked the tickets through Yemenia. I have become very skeptical about the airline. I think I have made a big mistake booking the Tickets for Yemenia. My wife leaves alone from Heathrow to Sanaa and then Sanaa to Mumbai. I need your expert view on this as I am not sure about the Airlines and am very apprehensive about the Airport. I have read many review of the Airline and the Airport and the Airport staff and would like to know a few more details. If you can write to me, I will really feel grateful to you.

I read many review on the Internet of people travelling through Yemenia and thats the reason how I am writing to you. I would like to know how the Planes seatings are as it seems from the reviews that its just a very uncomfortable journey. Can you shed some light on this. Also, I have also heard that the staff don't understand English, do they make the annoucements in Arabic and English ? How is the Airport seating and arrangements, is it safe as she will be there for 5 hours and is reaching at around 6 am.

You must have guessed it by now that I am desperately trying to get the exact details so that her trip (if after you answer I find it safe and
fine) is OK.

Please please do reply back.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Sanjay

Hi Sanjay !

Thanks for writing... In my opinion it should be just O.K !

Let me tell you that i have never flown with Yemenia so i am sorry that i won´t be of any help regarding the quality of the airline but i can definitely tell you baout Sana airport and things regarding it.

Airport is really small and there is hardly any possibility of getting lost but only to get bored ! Ask her to bring some stuff to read so that she can kill her time. There is a small duty free area which she would see in 30 mins Max ! and then there is nothing to do except waiting on plastic small chairs in the
waiting lounge. Mostly the flights to India start from Sana so i do not think so that there is a possibility of the flight leaving late because the planes are already there. So that possiblitiy is really low.

People at immigration are dumm, they speak just as much English may be as much required. If she has got a confirmed onward ticket of Yemenia so i do not think
so that she should have any problem. They will give her a transit visa but CALL THE AIRLINE AND ASK IF THEY WILL GIVE HER TRANSIT VISA on the airport to get the connecting flight.

The general Public in Yemen are conservative so ask her not to wear foreign dress like jeans, skirt, short or no sleeves stuff. Be modestly dressed and i do not think so that there should be any problem !!! The men respect women a lot there !!!

1. It sounds that the airport is safe but my wife will be getting at Sanaa at 5.30 am, so I need ur second opinion on the same.

Ask her to bring a jacket / coat / sweater with her. Sanaa is a bit in moutainous region and it can get really chilly in morning. 5.30 am does not matter much. Firstly the plan would be atleast 30 mins delayed - i guess which is better in your case ;-) Moreover the Yemenis wake up at dawn so its not a problem.

2. I hope the seatings at the Airport is not as bad as you have mentioned it consist of a few stools. Does it have any proper seating arrangements ?

Stools.... i would not say stools but small plastic chairs arranged in the group of 5-6 people's set. Are u getting my point ? They come up to your half back which means that you can sleep while sitting. But there is a little room which is for mosque. If she wants, she can cover her head, take off her shoes and sit on the carpet of mosque room against the wall. I am not ofcourse nobody will ask her about her religion until and unless its very prominent from her appearence or some jewelry which she might be wearing. It is an idea. But tell her not to point her feet towards anything (such as holy books or stuff....)

3. You mentioned that a TRANSIT VISA is required. I am sorry but I do not understand why she needs one as she will always stay inside the Airport. Yes its a connecting flight from Sanaa to Mumbai, but when we fly from Leeds to Bombay via Amsterdam we never asked for one. Can you please explain.

you are right absolutely right. In every airport there are passages for the passengers to go without going OUT-OF-THE-AIRPORT to the waiting lounge and wait for boarding their next flight. Getting my point ? but in this airport - I am not sure if there is such a thing. because when my flight landed and all of us came out we were transported by bus from the plane to a hall where there was nothing except three counters with immigration officers. No mentioning of transit passengers or something but there were few ladies standing from Yemenia as well may be they were waiting for the transit passengers and if u tell them after landing that u have a connecting flight then they will escort u ! but i didn't saw any signs or pointers for Transit passengers which means that your wife might have to go through immigration and ask for a transit Visa. Please check with the airline.

Take Care and have a safe trip !
Umer.