Oasis!

Look - we found something green! Today we went on a picnic with some friends to a huge and beautiful oasis just thirty minutes from our dusty desert home.


Most oases in this part of the world are home to some palm trees and a few other plants - this one is full of papaya, mango, and banana plants, along with many others that we couldn't identify. Fruit was falling from the canopy onto our blanket while we were eating - we didn't know what all of it was, but it all tasted great!




Sitting in the shade near the brooks and ponds was absolutely delightful; such a wonderful relief from the heat. This is starting to become a very popular spot for local family outings now that the hot season is getting closer......but let's not think about such things yet, eh?















































Pleasant though it was, we couldn't stay in the lush vegetation too long; we were tempted back into the searing sunlight by the sight of a cliffside ghost village up the valley a little ways - a ruined town begging to be explored. The buildings are made entirely of stones, mud and sticks (which leads us to an important anthropological conclusion: the builders were real stick-in-the-mud kinds of guys). Given the materials, the sheer existence of these places - ruined or not - is phenomenal.

















I feel I should mention something about that thing I'm wearing; it's not a skirt, or a towel. It's a futa - casual clothing of choice in Yemen (yes, for men:) Being casual, it's against the university's dress code, so I usually only wear the thing on weekends. We're not supposed to let our students wear them, either, but sometimes it's best to choose your battles.
























This ghost town was one of the best adventures we've had in a while. So many buildings to explore, and not nearly enough time! We'd love to make it back there again soon.

Until next time, this is Yemeni Cricket, signing off.