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We arrive at in the courtyard of a rural family north of the city of Sa'ada. As we wait in the courtyard for the adults to appear we notice the amazing mud construction of the buildings. The house is built in layers of mud. Each layer is allowed to dry, some times for several months before another layer is added on. When the adults appear we are invited in and shown around the buildings. This is the home of an extended family, with all of the uncles and their descendants living together in one large compound with various buildings. |
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Here we visit the vineyard. This is an example of how the ancients grew grapes. First they would "Dig the vineyard." This meant that they would dig ditches six to eight feet deep and plant the vines at the bottom. They would then grow up to the surface where they would be supported by poles placed across the ditch. Notice the poles on the right at our feet. Behind us is one of the ditches. The mud house is in the background. The men of the family would occupy the tower and the women would live in the surrounding buildings with the children and animals. |
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The men gather in the men's section, a room at the top of the tower, where they discuss the latest news, smoke their water pipes and chew Qat. |
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The windows in these houses are made out of opaque alabaster rock. It is cracked until it is very thin and then mounted into the walls so that the sun shines through. |
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Qat is a mild narcotic leaf that is grown in the hills of Yemen. It can be purchased openly in the market (Left) and it is then chewed. A large ball of the leaf is kept in one's mouth in order to suck on it and get the desired effect. |
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The shop keeper on the left is busy chewing Qat rather than selling his goods. The young man on the right proudly bears arms, and is part of the "men of the tribe." It is not uncommon for young men in rural setting such as this to be married. |
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Guns are a common site in Yemen and everyone is either a crack shot or claims to be. |
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In the kitchen, children wait for the food to be cooked. The stove in the background is used to cook large meals. But then, when all the uncles live together with their large families, large meals are in order. |
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Clothing styles in rural Yemen are very unique. |
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These women are bringing gifts to a wedding. They are part of the dowry that the man's family is paying. |
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Quranic school under a tree in the great open. |
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This man is plowing his field. Many of the fields are at very high altitude in the mountains, and sometimes the crops are literally growing in the clouds. |
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Not everyone lives in a city or a nice village. Shanty towns are a reminder that there are very poor people here, as in many developing countries. |
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People love to dress in their best clothes to get their pictures taken! |
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Left: These men are constructing a mud house. The men on the right are mixing the mud with their feet. It is then passed to the man building the wall. He will place another layer of mud along the wall, shape it, and then let it dry for several weeks. (sometimes years). In this way, the houses grow slowly, but impressively. To see pictures of these mud houses visit the Nabataea.net page on Sa'ada. Right: These women are grinding grain on an old stone mill. |
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