Day Hiking Around Al-Mahwit and Qat/Khat in Yemen

The group spent the day hiking down and through the mountain terraces. There were peaks and cliffs dotted with small villages along the entire route. Unfortunately, the hike also took us through piles of pink plastic bags and trash. Pink plastic bags could be Yemen’s logo because I’ve never seen so many bags (or so much littering) in my life. Yemen must be where pink plastic bags go to die. We’d walk through a beautiful field of Sorghum or Millet and then have to navigate through and around gigantic piles of trash at the other end. Here we were trying to be ecologically sensitive and we’d see the Yemenis tossing garbage, trash, anything out of windows, and along the roads.

However, the trash display was more than made up for by the friendliness of the Yemenis. Everywhere we went, smiles and words of English followed us. …View image…They couldn’t have been nicer and even ex-Marine was starting to relax with thoughts of kidnapping fading out of his mind.

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Clik here to view.shy children in Yemen

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Clik here to view.hiking around Al-Mahwit, Yemen 

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Clik here to view.through sorghum fields in Yemen
Sorghum is raised for grain in hot areas around the world and extensively in Yemen. It can also used as molasses, fodder and in the production of alcoholic beverages but definitely couldn’t be used for that here in this “dry” country.

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Clik here to view.streets of Al-Mahwit, Yemen
You’ve absolutely got to hear about the Qat situation. From the first day in Yemen, we kept noticing that most men had a big wad of something in one cheek. What was it? Qat. Qat is a green, leafy narcotic, a mild stimulant (so they say) that when chewed gives feelings of euphoria and stimulation. Bunches of leaves are sold in markets and off trucks. Our drivers were always chawing away, especially in the afternoon where they’d gather and have a big old Qat party, mellowing out. It is supposed to be non-addictive but (I love this) long-time use can give chronic constipation!

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Clik here to view.buying a new stash of Qat in Yemen
We were certainly not going to try this even though it was freely offered. Can you imagine developing a real taste for Qat and having truckloads shipped across the ocean from Yemen via Fed Ex or UPS? I don’t think that is going to happen.

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Clik here to view.bottles of water, piles of Qat ready for chawing, Yemen 

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Clik here to view.enjoying the afternoon Qat party in Yemen