In a few hours time, I leave Tareem, Hadramawt. After my 9 week plus trip in May-July 2010, I was not planning to travel, and still don’t want to, but did not want to let go of the chance tagging on to this Yemen trip, one that I’ve been wanting for years to make.

Half of the people I meet here, have at one point or the other, came if not slept in my family’s home and would like to return that hospitality. That general gesture probably does not do justice to the remarkable standard of respect and mannerism this place carries.

We drive out of Tareem, a village in the valley of Hadramawt, to Shibam, then Seyoun to fly to Aden. Tomorrow night fly to Sana’a, then Doha to KL. Sometime after, I will begin uploading pictures although out of all trips, this would be most difficult, far-fetching for anyone to experience what I did here.

*Above is a picture taken of four kids who hitch-hiked on our pickup truck briefly while we were driving to the tomb of Prophet Hud. I pick this photo over others as to choose one that depicts the valley best, was tricky. So a moment that on some level describe what fun I had here.

- http://zainhd.com/2010/12/living-the-valley/

I’m trying to remember which year was it, or which trip specifically, that drew me towards kids. Be it observation, pictorial or engagement. Above is a picture with me and four cousins I had never met prior. One on level, children across lands, know little of colour, belief, background, language, but probably appreciate humanity more than their larger counterparts. To quote someone’s comment on this picture:

by the way that pic of you with the kiddos IS SO DAMN CUTE! to quote one website that i randomly read, it’s the sort that makes women’s ovaries hurt. LOL!!!

- http://zainhd.com/2010/12/bahawash-kids/

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I woke up this morning realising that the blackout curtains in my hotel room, was covering a window and a wonderful view. I had it open immediately and thought, now that’s a nice, waking up the fragrance of green grass. As the wind came into effect, I found myself saying,

hang on now. This new scent is..a different kind of grass!

- http://ZainHD.com/2010/06/the-fragrance-thats-greener/

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Today in Congresso, Buenos Aires, I saw a dog walking with two legs. However I think he would call the stunt, as ‘mounting another dog, that won’t keep still, for some sex in the park.’

- http://ZainHD.com/2010/06/city-farm-animal-sex-two-legs-good

This conversation took place when I went to say goodbye to my mom, one shot surprising her with the extended duration of my being away (9 weeks).

Zain balik KL 30th July? Apesal lama sangat?

Pasal takde gepren.

Ya but pergi Amazon buat apa?

Carik gepren aaaaaa.

http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/search/

http://numismondo.com/pm/amz/amz_native.jpg

-ZainHD.com

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There will come a time, I hope, when a karaoke session will not involve anyone singing I Will Survive and Killing Me Softly.

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The breakfast I had that morning at Granja Heidi. Accompanied by Amy Verner's brilliant article, Sins of our youth.

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I hate New Year talk. But this same time last year, I was in Cuzco. Nearby Mama Africa, a man holding a bag of flour bigger than his fist said,’u wang cocaina ma freng?’

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I don’t care what you say, but he’s hilarious.

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