Off to the beach

Marie had this idea that we could go to the beach near Zabid. It isn’t the most common thing to do in Zabid but what the heck! We’ve both been here before so why not do something different.

I checked with the guesthouse whether it would be OK for Marie (being female) to swim at the suggested beach. The man said “No problem, it is a tourist beach”.

Text continues after this gallery.

: At our accommodation in Zabid.

: The common area of our accommodation in Zabid.

: Our room in Zabid.

So we hired two motorbikes to take us to the beach. Both the drivers were nice and friendly.

Text continues after this gallery.

: On the way to the beach.

: Petrol is USD0.30 per litre!

: On the way to the beach.

: Scenery along the way; mosque.

: Scenery along the way.

: Scenery along the way.

: Scenery along the way; unusually green for Yemen.

: Scenery along the way; unusually green for Yemen.

: Scenery along the way; date palms.

: Inscription for a registration plate.

: Friendly local.

: Friendly local decides to show off.

: On the way to the beach.

When we got there it felt more like a fishing village with the obligatory staring squad to welcome us. We call them “shoofis” (a word made up by foreigners using the Arabic word for “look” and the mystic “sufi” group).

Fortunately the shoofis dispersed and we more or less had the beach to ourselves. Despite that, it didn’t feel right to swim.

Text continues after this gallery.

: Arriving at the beach.

: Shoofis or staring squad.

: At the beach.

: Our drivers walking away.

: At the beach.

: At the beach.

: I’m so big compared to our drivers.

: Our trusty motorcycles.

: Our drivers getting the bikes off the sand.

We enjoyed the ride back to the hotel as much as the outbound ride because of the scenery and the traffic on the road, eg. camels, women in abaya on motorcycle.

Text continues after this gallery.

: Scenery on the ride back.

: Scenery on the ride back.

: Scenery on the ride back.

: Scenery on the ride back.

: Scenery on the ride back.

We spent the late afternoon (when cooler) walking around the old town of Zabid … actually Zabid is one of the oldest towns in Yemen, dating back to 819 AD.