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/

- http://zainhd.com/2010/12/you-park-like-an-asshole/

D-Lux 4. Get this camera babe. Even if you suck at photography, your pics will turn out great.

- Vini Balan

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The above, on Cedar Street between Greenwich and Trinity. Below are two from Boston. This comes after LA, SF, Detroit, Chicago and Toronto.

Photography: Highsnobiety.com.

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- http://ZainHD.com/2010/05/banksy-north-american-tour/

Isn't he?

 - http://ZainHD.com/

Kampala, Uganda.

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http://ZainHD.com/

Brief friendly encounter with the police. They were nice. Really. :)

To see pics, go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=373638&id=904610144&l=032bb8f27b

Video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=432564435144&ref=mf

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/10/nation/5445027&sec=nation (FYI, contrary to the news report quoting me, I’m not 28 and I didn’t say that but something else.)

http://thestaronline.tv/v/4965

I think the link works even if you’re not registered on Facebook.

http://ZainHD.com/

Of the 998 pics I just saw, this strikes me the most.

September 2007. Kampung Sungai Sireh. Tanjung Karang. *Pic by Nor Atikah

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I looked down and I saw this. I was told, apparently, if you look past the immediate object, by gradually increasing the distance with your eyes, you will see the the image. It.

But for this particular one, I only saw my toes and realise I’m the only one standing still gazing at  the floor, within this vicinity of constant human traffic. Yanyways I’m going mental.