Photo time
As I’m approaching the end of my stay in Sana’a (but will be exploring the country next), I thought I’d go out with my camera again. But first I did my laundry. I was rewarded with one particularly nice shot once I was out and about the Bab Al Yaman area. An elderly gentleman invited me to take a photo of him standing proud in his traditional garb including his janbiya (dagger).
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- Around Bab Al Yemen.
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- Around Bab Al Yemen.
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- He invited me to take this beautiful photo.
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- Around Bab Al Yemen.
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- They invited me to take this photo.
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- Around Bab Al Yemen.
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- Around Bab Al Yemen.
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- The floral outfit on the women in the background is what I see in vintage photos. The black garb didn’t feature back then.
Allow me to continue with more ramblings about observations of life in Yemen.
Enjoying the day-to-day
It may sound strange but there’s so much to absorb with the day-to-day. Even observing what happens in shops or on the streets.
Today, I walked into a bookshop. There was no one in it except a 10 year old behind the counter … another 10 year old walks in with a stack of magazines for sale. They start talking; the one behind the counter whips out a calculator and does some numbers. Money and goods change hands. I take it the visitor was the wholesaler! Felt like a scene from a children’s movie.
As you well know by now, many people wear the jambiyah (dagger) around town. I can’t believe that people wear daggers into banks and jewellers though (but not the Sailor’s Club). I can’t wait to do my domestic flight here … I wonder if daggers are allowed? You couldn’t feel safer walking around town and dark alleys with so many armed people.
Malaysians Abroad
Walking around the streets here, I can spot other Malaysians a block away (and vice versa). They’re all Malay and Muslim. There’s something that’s common amongst us even if we’re ethnically different … Malay, Chinese or Indian. There’s no way they would think they’re Indonesian and likewise they wouldn’t think I’m China-nese (sic) or Singaporean Chinese.
Few years back, Kim and his parents and I were at the pyramids outside Cairo. I saw a group of youngish people and immediately said to Kim … “That’s our crew for the flight home tomorrow” … and of course I was right.
You can take Malaysians out of Malaysia but you can’t take the Malaysian out of a Malaysian.