Horn of Africa: trip to Yemen, Socotra, Somaliland, and more
#46
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YUL
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Wow what a fantastic TR, the best of the year so far with a wonderful combination of narrative and wonderful photos. I too would love to go to Yemen and Somaliland. The one drawback i find in visiting muslim countries is the obvious lack of alcohol. I love a good drink especially travelling and there are only so many coffees one can have during the day. I remember when travelling through Morocco and Tunisia there were many instances that i just wanted to have a drink on a terrace by the street and watch the world go by. But enough of the negatives. Again a wonderful TR, had a great sense of travelling those roads with you, thanks for sharing.
#47
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
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What a great report, thank you. I always love a good dose of hauteboy exotica, and this does not disappoint. Yemen has been on my to do list for a little while now, and this reinforces that ambition. Looking forward to more instalments...
What made Eritrea such a gem, pycut? It's not somewhere one ever hears about in a travel context. Even makes Yemen look on the beaten track...
I did an extremely similar trip in January of this year. In Yemen I also stayed in the Arabia Felix Hotel; in Harar I was in the Belayneh; and in Hargeisa I was also in the Oriental.
On the same trip I also went to Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan. Eritrea was an absolute gem. What a pity that it's so hard to reach.
On the same trip I also went to Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan. Eritrea was an absolute gem. What a pity that it's so hard to reach.
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
What a great report, thank you. I always love a good dose of hauteboy exotica, and this does not disappoint. Yemen has been on my to do list for a little while now, and this reinforces that ambition. Looking forward to more instalments...
What made Eritrea such a gem, pycut? It's not somewhere one ever hears about in a travel context. Even makes Yemen look on the beaten track...
What made Eritrea such a gem, pycut? It's not somewhere one ever hears about in a travel context. Even makes Yemen look on the beaten track...
I'm interested in Eritrea as well.. getting the visa there is supposedly difficult. As it happens my passport is at the Eritrean embassy in DC right now... it's supposed to take 5 days with expedited service but so far it's been over 5 days and no word yet...
#49
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK
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Posts: 91
Thanks, I really enjoyed your trip report. Socotra was always somewhere which looked really interesting to visit and its great to see a report from there.
On the subject of Eritrea I was lucky enough to visit there before the clamp down on visas etc and it was indeed an absolute gem, especially Asmara and Nakfa. Here is a link to a TR which I wrote about it if anyone is interested.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ip-report.html
On the subject of Eritrea I was lucky enough to visit there before the clamp down on visas etc and it was indeed an absolute gem, especially Asmara and Nakfa. Here is a link to a TR which I wrote about it if anyone is interested.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ip-report.html
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
Thanks, I really enjoyed your trip report. Socotra was always somewhere which looked really interesting to visit and its great to see a report from there.
On the subject of Eritrea I was lucky enough to visit there before the clamp down on visas etc and it was indeed an absolute gem, especially Asmara and Nakfa. Here is a link to a TR which I wrote about it if anyone is interested.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ip-report.html
On the subject of Eritrea I was lucky enough to visit there before the clamp down on visas etc and it was indeed an absolute gem, especially Asmara and Nakfa. Here is a link to a TR which I wrote about it if anyone is interested.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ip-report.html
#51
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Yes you do! I crossed from Kyrgyzstan into Kazakhstan today and hit #135....getting there slowly!
#52
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Great! Krgyz was my favorite of the -stans. Just picked up my Saudi transit visa! Eritrea/Saudi will be #147/148. I'll probably get to 150 this year but not sure what is next.
#53
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Oh, and loved Kyrgyz, there was just something super cool...I'm not so keen in Kazakhstan so far, but looking very forward to Uzbekistan!
#55
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Who volunteers to help organize? I think we'd have a fascinating time....problem is finding a strange enough place we all haven't been to!
#56
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
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I say south Pacific... Tuvalu, etc. Problem is flights are only Tu/Th from Suva (Fiji). And I won't be able to travel until next year most likely.
#57
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Probably a good use of QF miles for hopping around some of the islands. Air Pacific used to have an airpass but can't find any recent info.
#58
Join Date: Mar 2003
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I say south Pacific... Tuvalu, etc. Problem is flights are only Tu/Th from Suva (Fiji). And I won't be able to travel until next year most likely.
Probably a good use of QF miles for hopping around some of the islands. Air Pacific used to have an airpass but can't find any recent info.
Probably a good use of QF miles for hopping around some of the islands. Air Pacific used to have an airpass but can't find any recent info.
Anyone who's interested, PM me...I'll organize a list and we can either do via e-mail or something else.
#60
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Did you have any problems upon returning to the U.S. following your visit to Yemen? I am thinking about going there as well, but don't want to be "marked" for extra security on every entry into the U.S. following my visit. Any thoughts on what you experienced post-trip?