tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90192082944390715152012-02-26T16:28:11.120+03:00All about life in Yemen...alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.comBlogger2301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-66782355778454408632012-02-26T16:24:00.000+03:002012-02-26T16:24:01.024+03:00

Well then, Abdu-Rabo Mansour Hadi is finally the new president! He got over 6,600,000 votes, which is approximately 50% of the people who were eligible to vote. THat's not a bad score. But it's still only half the people, so I'm not sure what that means... Hadi has two years to prove himself. Let's see if he'll be able to solve all the problems in the country. Funny note: a day before the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-47537330524911460022012-02-20T08:49:00.000+03:002012-02-20T08:49:05.629+03:00

No official polls have been held about tomorrow's elections here - perhaps not to enrage any of pro or contra groups. But in my own environment, I see that most people won't vote. Only a few older men, who really believe that voting is their duty, will go, and of course the GPC and Islah members. I haven't met a single woman, young or old, who said she was going to vote. And the youth that is not

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-65046130023006379492012-02-18T11:09:00.000+03:002012-02-18T11:09:26.528+03:00

It's a habit in Yemen, like in so many other countries, to eat some fruit after lunch. That this is not good for the body, I read again in a forwarded message I recently got, which said: We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting them and just popping them into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat. It means not eating fruits

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-7795051798964942712012-02-16T10:14:00.001+03:002012-02-16T10:15:30.544+03:00

“President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered all authorities and institutions” public and private, across the country, “to take down his pictures from public squares, streets, buildings and offices and raise those of Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi,” Saba News agency reported. But, honestly, that will take some getting used to, and I think it'll take some time!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-28625539670493104342012-02-06T11:07:00.001+03:002012-02-06T11:24:00.889+03:00

A couple of days ago, the Thawra newspaper went out without the daily picture of Ali Abdullah Saleh. This enraged some of his supporters. Today, I read the following article (AP): Gunmen publish Yemen president's photo Updated: 14:18, Monday February 6, 2012 A state-run Yemeni newspaper's office is being occupied by armed men who kicked out the paper's editors and journalists in order to

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-12767685169332366702012-02-04T11:44:00.000+03:002012-02-04T11:44:42.758+03:00

Strange dust clouds have gathered over Sana'a and some other governorates, too, like Dhamar and Marib, according to the radio. It doesn't look any different from a foggy day, but the dust may affect you, especially people who have asthma. These people are advised to stay indoors. It seems that many people thankfully accept this advice because schools were closed and streets were less crowded

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-84815447547902804072012-02-03T16:57:00.003+03:002012-02-03T16:57:47.716+03:00

The capital's traffic police announces discounts: any traffic ticket for only 1000 RY for the duration of one month. A joke? No, really!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-35720419865266328792012-02-01T16:36:00.000+03:002012-02-01T16:36:28.845+03:00

They have decided to postpone the new Fri/Sat. weekend, which was supposed to be introduced in February. The reason is not clear. Some say that the effects of the change have to be studied first, while others say institutions have to 'get ready'. Likely is that there is some opposition to the change. It is interesting to note that mainly banks are mentioned to profit from the new weekend, but

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-46625619751317592492012-01-27T16:05:00.002+03:002012-01-27T16:05:44.946+03:00

So President Ali Abdullah Saleh has traveled to the U.S. Officially for 'medical reasons'. However, some time ago he assured a group of reporters that he was fine. Therefore, it seems more logical that the real reason is to be out of sight for the coming presidential elections, on February 21. Saleh has announced that he'll be back as the head of his political party, the GPC. Stories that he or

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-7824452336746414402012-01-19T16:44:00.000+03:002012-01-19T16:44:39.645+03:00

Eigenlijk zijn scholen een vreemde instelling. Vreemd, omdat ze universeel geaccepteerd zijn tot een extent dat je in sommige landen zelfs als crimineel bestempeld wordt als je je eraan onttrekt, en in het gevang kan belanden! Toegegeven, er zijn nuttige kanten aan de eerste schooljaren. Het kind leert lezen, schrijven, en rekenen. Inderdaad vaardigheden die onontbeerlijk zijn voor eenieder.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-25252431440478939792012-01-15T16:19:00.000+03:002012-01-15T16:19:19.581+03:00

Qat is on its way to being prohibited in the Netherlands, I heard, 'because 10% of the chewers displays signs of addiction'. This could well be true, but I think that the real reason is that qat is strange for westerners. Because, let's be honest, alcolhol, cigarettes, and hash - all legal drugs in Holland - have a much higher addiction rate. So now they're going to implement a law for a very

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-73413256780437599972012-01-14T17:36:00.000+03:002012-01-14T17:36:35.352+03:00

Ik vernam dat qat verboden gaat worden in NL omdat '10% van de gebruikers verschijnselen van verslaving vertoont'. Welnu, dat kan best waar zijn. Maar ik denk dat de echte reden eerder ligt in het feit dat qat 'vreemd' is voor de westerling. Want wees eerlijk, alcohol, cigaretten, en hasj, allemaal legale drugs in NL, hebben een veel hoger verslavings-percentage. Dus nu een wet die gericht is op

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-6176403156489588832012-01-09T13:00:00.000+03:002012-01-09T13:00:59.162+03:00

I heard that starting from Februari the weekend will be moved from Thu and Fri to Fri and Sat. This, to 'keep up with the rest of the world'. If this is true, this is a real pity. Saturday is not an Islamic holiday, after all. And 'the rest of the world' doesn't bother keeping up with us either. But if it's so important to work on Thursdays, then why not go back to the 6-day workweek, as we

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-53289123645635960182011-12-31T10:22:00.000+03:002011-12-31T10:22:18.959+03:00

Well, what's new... The petrol azmeh seems quite serious this time, with hardly any petrol available around the city. A military committee is still trying to remove the barricades, sacks filled with sand that are all over the place, checkpoints, and army vehicles from the public streets, but it's not quite clear whether or not this is really working. Protesters seem to have decided to continue

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-18947401606991045722011-12-28T11:53:00.000+03:002011-12-28T11:53:47.370+03:00

I just read the following in a Reuters article and thought it was an interesting remark of the American Embassador in Yemen: Al Masdar Online, one of the publications which attended a briefing with Feierstein, cited him as saying, in Arabic translation: "Being peaceful isn't just about not carrying weapons. If 2,000 people decided to march on the White House, we wouldn't consider it peaceful and

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-62419113509508424402011-12-25T10:47:00.000+03:002011-12-25T10:47:11.517+03:00

Could it be that the garbage collectors are protesting, too? Or is it just the lack of fuel that Sanaa is suffering from again?

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-38647934523030469442011-12-21T09:49:00.001+03:002011-12-21T09:51:09.814+03:00

Yemen, for years, has known more democracy than many other Arab states. There is a multi-party system, with an opposition. The 2006 elections between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and an opposition member were free and observed by the international community. Another sign of democtracy, or maybe it should be called freedom, is that the sit-in wasn't immediately taken away by the armed forces.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-57978115251599295172011-12-12T09:49:00.001+03:002011-12-12T09:49:00.101+03:00

Since no one is perfect, it's time to let you know a bit about some negative traits the Yemenis possess. An old colleague of mine used to say, when asked about his opinion of the Yemeni people, "friendly, but not polite." I guess you get used to it, but coming from the west it may be awkward to see customers in a shop calling out, "Give me this and that!" The words 'please', 'excuse me', or '

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-16182468074785014722011-12-11T16:17:00.002+03:002011-12-12T13:00:23.778+03:00

For the time being, things have quieted down after the forming of the new interim government. However, the situation is all from stable because WHO is actually happy with it? Only the opposition members who have gotten a place in the new government. The youth was warned, and it turned out to be true: the opposition took over their uprising and it's them who won. The youth is mad since they

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-2026677973408363352011-11-30T15:50:00.001+03:002011-12-01T17:02:52.114+03:00

Ondanks Ali Abdullah Saleh's handtekening onder het GCC akkoord afgelopen woensdagavond gaan demonstraties en gevechten in Jemen door. Daags na ondertekening vielen er in Sanaa vijf doden, en dagelijks protesteert de jeugd in Sanaa en Taiz om vervolging van Saleh te eisen – waarvan hij is vrijgesteld in het akkoord. De oppositie-leiders hebben laten weten dat de jeugd het recht heeft om dit te

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-40283885385635185642011-11-25T11:20:00.000+03:002011-11-25T11:20:36.992+03:00

I had expected bullets to be shot into the sky after the signing of the GCC agreement two days ago in the early evening. However, this didn't happen. Is anyone really happy with President Ali Abdullah Saleh's signature? Of course, the US, the EU, the Golf countries. The UN envoy who stayed in Yemen for a couple of weeks. It's their victory. However, in Yemen, people are not quite happy. The

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-70327679554518110562011-11-18T16:49:00.000+03:002011-11-18T16:49:33.816+03:00

Another remarkable thing is that it's very easy to make contact with Yemenis. I remember train trips in Holand of a couple of hours during which nobody said a word to each other. Here it's quite usual to have a conversation in a bus trip of twenty minutes. At the market, customers advise each other on what to buy, or you man 'borrow' a child to check the length of a piece of clothing that is

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-8146442006803921282011-11-16T14:53:00.000+03:002011-11-16T16:56:58.243+03:00

Een ander opmerkelijk iets is at je heel snel oppervlakkig contact maakt met de Jemenieten. Ik herinner me urenlange treinreizen in NL waar niemand een woord tegen elkaar zei. Hier hebben mensen al snel een gesprek in een busritje van twintig minuten! Op de markt geven klanten elkaar adviezen, of je 'leent' even een kind om een kledingstuk te passen dat bestemd is voor een kind van ongeveer

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-73057281132072951532011-11-15T09:21:00.000+03:002011-11-15T09:21:40.086+03:00

There are obviously significant differences between a western country like Holland and a Middle-Eastern country like Yemen. However, the differences aren't only about poverty, climate, or warfare. There are some other ones, too. The other day I was driving home in the dark. The car window was open while I was slowly driving through a pretty busy street. Groups of teenagers were crossing the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-15480343724144154942011-11-11T11:43:00.003+03:002011-11-13T10:05:10.783+03:00

Natuurlijk is er een wereld van vershcil tussen een westers land als Nederland en een Midden-Oosters land als Jemen. Die verschillen zitten echter niet alleen in armoede, klimaat, of oorlogsvoering. Er zijn ook andere, minder tastbare verschillen die het waard zijn aangestipt te worden. Laatst reed ik in het donker naar huis met het auto-raampje open, langzaam-aan door een redelijk drukke straat

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-21260933451121355392011-11-08T16:42:00.000+03:002011-11-08T16:42:03.491+03:00

Eid al-Adha, het belangrijkste Islamitische feest, is in Jemen dit jaar niet helemaal hetzelfde als gebruikelijk. Door de moeilijke financiele omstandigheden van veel mensen kunnen zij dit jaar niet naar hun dorpen afreizen, terwijl dat een geliefde bezigheid is daar alle employees een week vrij hebben. Om dezelfde reden zijn er veel meer ondernemingen open dan normaal gesproken. Ook kunnen

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-46890816724194520302011-11-06T07:49:00.000+03:002011-11-06T07:49:00.506+03:00

Eid al-Adha starts today, the second of the two Islamic Eids. Apart from slaughtering a sheep or cow for whoever can afford it, which is sunneh for Muslims who did not go on hajj, I don't think most people in Yemen will be able to have a real "Eid feeling". With all the security problems it may not be possible for some to travel to their villages, which many people like to do since employees

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-45157395162063591902011-11-04T16:46:00.000+03:002011-11-04T16:46:16.305+03:00

Tomorrow is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the Day of 'Arafah. It is recommended to fast this day for those who are not performing hajj (pilgrimige) in Mecca. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Fasting the Day of 'Arafah expiates the sins of two years, the previous year and the forthcoming year" (Muslim) The people who are performing hajj stand on this day at a place called 'Arafah, where they offer

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-86171116220968346702011-11-01T17:27:00.000+03:002011-11-01T17:27:53.571+03:00

Whenever a few petrol stations are out of fuel, lines appear at the ones that are still working. It doesn't necessarily mean that there has come a stop on petrol again, but people immediately fear the worst. This way, we might well create an 'azmeh' ourselves! 'Azmeh' is literally translated as 'crisis, emergency, impasse' but can also be understood as a lack of something. There is the general

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-14020736815563226822011-10-24T17:37:00.000+03:002011-10-24T17:37:04.455+03:00

Nowadays, when there is electricity for an hour or so, it is like a real treat although it is often too weak to do much with it. This is especially frustrating for the owners of Internet cafes. Because with the current petrol and diesel prices it is impossible to have the generator working all day, they only open when there are enough customers. I found the owner of the Internet cafe chewing qat

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-12392433191593376102011-10-23T17:21:00.002+03:002011-10-23T17:21:59.003+03:00

The following hadith is taught to Yemeni children as early as in second grade. However, too many of us forget about its real meaning. Otherwise, Yemen wouldn't have ended up in the current mess. Abdullah Ibn Amr reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe" (Bukhari/Muslim) Though this saying contains few words, it encompasses many

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-25069699244287486892011-10-16T09:00:00.007+03:002012-02-11T10:19:12.810+03:00

Last Friday, imam Jabri Ibrahim Hassan held a great sermon that was very clear. In Islam, it is prescribed to help each other do good deeds and forbid each other to do evil deeds. This is called الأمر بالمعروف ولنهي عن المنكر. Also, the Islamic scholars have agreed that it is prohibited to oust your leader, and doing this is unbelief. The imam said: لا يجوز الخروج عن ولي الأمر وان ذلك كفر The

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-12900444434684364372011-10-11T17:05:00.002+03:002012-02-11T10:49:28.455+03:00

The other day I went to the Kentucky junction, where heavy fighting took place between the opposition and the national army just before President Ali Abdullah Saleh's return to the country last month. I simply wanted to see it with my own eyes. It was shocking, honestly. The silence that hung over this otherwise crowded junction in the center of Sanaa was weird. It had been completely blocked

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-26684710517183566272011-10-06T10:44:00.007+03:002011-10-09T11:51:05.489+03:00

Traditional Yemeni clothing for men may consist of a 'thobe', locally called a 'zenneh', which is a long, often white, garment. It is worn with a 'jambia' (dagger) and often a western-style coat. Others wear a 'ma'awaz', which is a long woven piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and a shirt on top. Instead of a 'ma'awaz', people in the south often wear a 'futa', an Indonesian-style sarong

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-70566161013023770412011-10-02T14:19:00.003+03:002011-10-16T08:20:12.839+03:00

Het Kentucky-kruispunt ligt in hartje Sanaa, al zou de naam je dat niet doen vermoeden. Het verhaal gaat dat vele jaren geleden er een filiaal van de KFC-keten, Kentucky Fried Chicken, op de hoek zat. Die sloot de deuren, naar ik meen vanwege de burgeroorlog in 1994. Een Jemeniet nam het pand over om er een eigen restaurant te openen die dezelfde naam hield. Vandaar. Sowieso hebben veel straten

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-67146973712723692152011-09-25T09:55:00.006+03:002011-10-06T11:04:58.965+03:00

So far, fighting is continuing in different parts of the city between different parties. Later today, the President is expected to give a speech to the public on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of Revolution Day (26 September). What he is going to say may well be important for the future of the conflict.For your information, Yemen has two Revolution Days: one of the north (against the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-21214728718276061312011-09-23T08:28:00.003+03:002011-09-23T08:31:30.007+03:00

We just heard the news that the President has returned to Yemen this morning. What a surprise! When we heard shooting from all sides, we knew something had happened - although it could just as well have been the beginning of a war in yet another part of the city. Saleh has come back in the middle of a big mess - with many parts of Sana'a blocked (Zubeiry Street and environments) and fighting

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-66080787098167600482011-09-20T11:04:00.000+03:002011-09-20T11:04:00.210+03:00

Ramadhan is over, and so is Eid al-fitr. Work and schools have started again. Still, some Muslims choose to continue fasting for six more days any time during this month of Shawwal, which is the lunar month after Ramadhan. The Prophet (PBUH) siad: "He who fasts Ramadhan, then follows it with six days of fasting from Shawwal, it wil be (in terms of reward) as if he has fasted the whole year." (

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-60783206762778390582011-09-17T09:31:00.000+03:002011-09-17T09:31:00.618+03:00

If you give beggars, who are mainly found at junctions, money, there's a big chance that they buy qat with it. That's why I decided to buy some packets of tea to hand out instead.An old man asked me for 'sadaqah', and I gave him a packet of tea. He looked at it with interest. "What is this?""Tea" I said, "so that you can drink tea."He looked at me. "Where can I drink tea?"It occurred to me that

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-7358512154070136672011-09-13T16:26:00.002+03:002011-09-13T16:28:56.030+03:00

Als je bedelaars, die zich voornamelijk op kruispunten bevinden, geld geeft, wordt dit veelal omgezet in qat. Daarom besloot ik een stel pakjes thee te kopen om her en der uit te delen.Een oude man vroeg me om 'sadaqah' (een aalmoes), en ik gaf hem een pakje thee. Hij keek er geinteresseerd naar. "Wat is dat?""Thee" zei ik vrolijk. "Kun je thee drinken."Hij keek me eens aan. "Waar kan ik thee

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-87202836996254255222011-09-09T15:14:00.000+03:002012-02-11T10:09:09.871+03:00

(Photo by Eveline Kuhlman)

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-43348053501958329452011-09-08T12:13:00.003+03:002011-09-08T12:20:21.100+03:00

The young generation is very much into learning English. Unfortunately, English education in schools is not of the highest level, which is why the numerous language institutes (which all teach one language, namely English) do good business. Most of these institutes are small and offer reasonably cheap courses of questionable quality, but the bigger ones offer education of better quality for a

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-83795854741767033272011-09-02T11:39:00.005+03:002011-09-02T11:54:50.116+03:00

This is a sign that you can see in many parts of the city these days. The man in the picture is Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, head of the Shura Council, who died in Saudi Arabia some ten days ago due to his injuries sustained in the attack on the Presidential mosque in the beginning of June. His body was flown to Sana'a last week where he was buried. The signs are both in Arabic and English.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-85926043038255554402011-08-30T14:33:00.000+03:002011-08-30T14:35:00.465+03:00

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-25548628670292081942011-08-29T12:01:00.003+03:002011-08-29T12:25:52.046+03:00

At the end of the month of Ramadhan every Muslim has to give zakat-ul-fitr as a purification for those who fasted. It is to be given on behalf of himself and all the people he takes care of - young or old, male or female. Its quantity is one saa' of one of the basic foodstuffs of the country, e.g. rice, wheat, dates, etc. These days, many Muslims have started giving money as zakat-ul-fitr, but

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-6958204512408935192011-08-25T09:53:00.001+03:002011-08-25T09:53:00.681+03:00

It was in Lailat-ulQadr that the Quran was sent down and in the Quran we can read that this night is better than 1000 months. Muslims, therefore, are encouraged to stand in prayer during this night, hoping for forgiveness and great reward. But when exactly is Lailat-ulQadr? Some Muslims these days fix its date on the 27th of Ramadhan. However, there is no proof for that at all. There are several

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-1263715930288903552011-08-23T13:57:00.000+03:002011-08-23T13:57:00.294+03:00

I'm sure you all know those people who simply sleep their time away in Ramadhan. They may wake up to pray dhuhr and go back to sleep, or they may even abandon prayer and get up a couple of hours before sunset. These people imagine that fasting is hard on them, but if they tried with spiritual willingness, they'd experience the opposite. It's not too late yet: get up early this last week of

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-55640392916195174392011-08-22T10:55:00.002+03:002011-08-23T10:24:30.149+03:00

Ramadhan in the past and the present...

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-57439069269100653932011-08-21T15:47:00.000+03:002011-08-21T15:54:02.033+03:00

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-2127745444323674992011-08-18T17:41:00.003+03:002011-08-23T10:30:58.384+03:00

"For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim) A fasting person breaks his fast at the approach of the night, when the daylight is passing away and the sun disappears below the horizon. This is the Messenger's (PBUH) explanation of the Quranic verse: "Then complete your fast till the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-68637356040840740952011-08-15T11:02:00.005+03:002011-08-15T11:20:30.481+03:00

Islamically, men are encouraged to pray all their obligatory prayers at the mosque in congregation the whole year round, and the Friday noon prayer is compulsory. In Ramadhan, however, people feel it is even more important to attend the mosque regularly. Women, on the other hand, are encouraged to pray at home although they can go the mosque if they wish: The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Do not prevent

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-21797206545734687272011-08-12T17:56:00.002+03:002011-08-12T17:59:01.842+03:00

Er is weer regelmatig benzine bij de pompen, en de rijen zijn ook verdwenen nu de prijs ruim twee keer zo hoog is geworden. Je kunt zelfs weer jerrycans opvullen. Een hele opluchting, maar duur is het wel, 3500 RY voor 20 liter (ruim tien euro). "Ach, 't is beter dan de 10,000 RY van de zwarte markt" merkte een auto-bezitter op. Altijd positief blijven! Je moet de prijs natuurlijk in perspectief

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-87218379793278841562011-08-11T14:39:00.000+03:002011-08-11T14:39:00.826+03:00

There is a special night prayer that is prayed at night in Ramadhan: the taraweeh prayer. It can be offered in congregation or individually, and it can be prayed anytime after the time of isha prayer (the last prayer of the day) until fajr prayer (the dawn prayer). Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "He whosoever stays awake during the nights of the month of Ramadhan (offering prayers,

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-19244807923377027742011-08-10T09:30:00.003+03:002011-08-10T09:44:24.317+03:00

Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is an obligatory act upon each and every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and is residing in a certain locality on a permanent basis, as opposed to traveling. A Muslim is not required to make up days he missed before embracing Islam. Minors are not required to observe the fast but are rather encouraged to observe it, even partially, in order to get

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-26332550671038229892011-08-09T10:55:00.001+03:002011-08-23T10:29:13.034+03:00

From 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book (i.e. Christians and Jews)is the taking of the pre-dawn meal (suhoor)". (Muslim) Taking suhoor is following the sunneh of the Prophet (PBUH). It also strengthens a person for fasting. According to the Prophet (PBUH), there is blessing in this meal, as we can

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-33639805004760075292011-08-08T11:46:00.000+03:002011-08-08T11:46:00.445+03:00

Instead of minced meat, you can also fill the sambusa with brown lentils. The preparation is very similar to the minced meat-variation.How to prepare:Soak the lentils for a few hours. Chop up an onion and fry it in a pan. Add a chopped-up tomato and garlic, a little salt and black pepper. Stir for a few minutes. Then add water and bring it to the boil. Add the washed lentils and some fresh

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-80951914707471015852011-08-07T10:46:00.007+03:002011-08-08T17:38:54.367+03:00

Ramadhan knows some special dishes, of which sambusa is the most popular: pastry filled with minced meat or lentils. You can find varieties over the whole Middle East in different shapes and under different names. You need: - fillo pastry cut into long strips of approx. 25 cm. and 7 cm. wide. One corner should be cut off. - some flour mixed with water to make a paste to close the sambusa - oil

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-91609407799914117872011-08-06T10:56:00.000+03:002011-08-06T10:56:00.391+03:00

De Ramadhan in Sana'a is dit jaar gearriveerd met enorme regenbuien waar door een bijzonder droog voorjaar al maandenlang naar werd uitgekeken. Regen wordt hier 'barakah' genoemd, een zegen, en is dus een goed teken voor de vastenmaand.In Ramadhan onthouden Moslims zich van eten, drinken, en roken van zonsopgang tot zonsondergang – dit jaar in Jemen zo'n 14 uur per etmaal. Om het wat

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-37703741063849131472011-08-05T09:20:00.002+03:002011-08-05T09:35:16.692+03:00

Reading the Quran should be done the whole year, but in Ramadhan it is especially encouraged.The Quran is divided into 30 parts and many Muslims try to finish the Holy bok at least once during this month - one part a day. Just reading is not enough, though, and the reader should also contemplate on the meanings.Here are a few ayahs (parts of a surah, which is a chapter) to contemplate:Indeed, in

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-64516421861203505102011-08-03T11:07:00.005+03:002011-08-05T09:06:25.309+03:00

Here in Yemen, many people like to stay awake all night long and then sleep their time away until dhuhr (midday) prayer - or longer. Personally, I don't think this is supposed to be the custom in Ramadhan. Isn't it all about fasting, practicing patience, reading Quran, etc.? So, here are some tips for Muslimahs without a job outside the house to use your precious time in this blessed month in a

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-68386983374604428032011-08-01T11:03:00.002+03:002011-08-01T11:04:52.010+03:00

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-77173787590673444642011-07-31T17:50:00.003+03:002011-07-31T18:20:51.876+03:00

A strange habit in Yemen is that people burn car tires the day before Ramadhan starts. Black smoke hangs over the city and tires smell terrible, too!Luckily, it's quite rainy today!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-38620145379942103752011-07-30T16:28:00.003+03:002011-07-30T17:18:35.326+03:00

Each lunar month has either 29 or 30 days, and when the crescent is observed, a new month starts. Today is 29 Sha'ban, the lunar month preceding Ramadhan. Therefore, Ramadhan will either start tomorrow or after tomorrow. The following hadith explains this: From Abu Hurairah, who said: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Fast when it (the crescent) is seen and cease fasting when it is seen, and if it

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-19418322513776007252011-07-30T06:04:00.000+03:002011-07-30T06:04:00.644+03:00

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "He who obeys me, obeys Allah, and he who disobeys me, disobeys Allah. He who obeys the Muslim chief, obeys me, and he who disobeys the Muslim chief, disobeys me. The Imam is like a shelter for whose safety the Muslims should fight and where they should seek protection. If the Imam orders people to be dutiful to Allah and fear Him and rules justly,

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-72500592477169564202011-07-29T11:58:00.003+03:002011-07-29T17:02:12.101+03:00

We all got an SMS yesterday from the oil authorities which said: There's no increase in the price of fuel, and normal petrol will be available again within days.The past few days people have been spreading the news that 20 liters of petrol at the petrol station more than doubled in price from 1500 rials to 3500 rials. This, of course, worries us all. Now it seems that the unleaded petrol (and all

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-69198589127442324012011-07-27T08:31:00.000+03:002011-07-27T08:31:00.744+03:00

Stel je voor, je gaat naar de supermarkt en merkt dat alle producten ineens in prijs zijn gestegen. Een paar dagen later ga je nog eens boodschappen doen en is alles weer duurder geworden. En dan niet een paar centen, maar 30 tot 100%. Uiteraard blijft je salaris hetzelfde. Hoe zou je reageren?Dit is nu al wekenlang de situatie in Jemen, en ik blijf me verbazen hoe kalm de bevolking het opneemt.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-52421961461586754672011-07-24T14:09:00.003+03:002011-07-24T14:17:18.392+03:00

These days, you can divide petrol stations in three different categories.First, you have the extremely chaotic ones where cars surround all three sides of the station trying to get in, this way blocking entire streets. Every time a car is being filled up, at least fifteen men gather around it. There's a lot of shouting and fighting, and sporadically even gun fire. For a woman there's no hope at

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-54538690251123258842011-07-22T16:09:00.002+03:002011-07-22T16:11:50.583+03:00

It's grape season again. The grapes are green and have seeds, and their taste ranges from sour to sweet. Black grapes come later in the year.According to the book "Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet (PBUH)", the best types of fruits are three: grapes, dates, and figs. Grapes are a good laxative and provide a good source of nutrition. They also strengthen the body. The book also tells us

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-1618844381617768772011-07-21T13:27:00.004+03:002011-07-21T13:32:18.110+03:00

Ik had een 20-liter jerrycan geleend van iemand en 'm nog kunnen opvullen ook, dus moest een nieuwe kopen om de benzine in over te gieten. "700 rials" zei de handelaar.Hmmm... dat was nog niet zo lang geleden 350. En toen waren de jerrycans ook nog van goeie kwaliteit. Deze zag eruit alsof 'ie van alle kanten zou gaan lekken en hij kon ook amper dicht. "Deze 10-liter jerrycans zijn sterker" zei

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-26600211795806406842011-07-20T09:53:00.002+03:002011-07-20T09:59:55.741+03:00

The German embargo on Yemeni parcels that was implemented about 9 months ago (if I'm not mistaken) has still not been lifted yet. The German aviation authority told me: "We keep on banning import flights and overflights from Yemen. It's not foreseeable yet when the ban will be lifted."A reason was not given. Because some European countries have copied this embargo and, if a country has no embargo

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-43255686713023368632011-07-17T13:13:00.001+03:002011-07-17T13:14:52.566+03:00

It is said that Ali Abdullah Saleh is supposed to return to Yemen today, exactly 33 years after he came to power. Nobody knows if these rumors are actually true, so we'll have to wait till we hear the bullets and fireworks, I guess!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-32398209827958653672011-07-15T11:48:00.006+03:002011-07-16T10:37:41.423+03:00

The problem with the anti-government people is that they can never answer any questions. They simply repeat statements they hear on Suhail TV, and that's it. I know I shouldn't try anymore, but sometimes you can't escape it. A neighbor exclaimed something against the President while we were sitting and chatting about nothing in particular. Since she looks rather Islamic in appearance, I asked her

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-9839946886316083382011-07-13T10:12:00.000+03:002011-07-13T10:13:35.786+03:00

Yemen shaikh allows oil pipeline repairsWed, 13 July 2011SANAA — A Yemeni shaikh whose tribe attacked an oil pipeline in the eastern province of Marib, contributing to a major fuel shortage, said yesterday he will permit the pipeline to be repaired.“We will permit the oil company to come to the area and repair the pipeline to lessen the oil crisis,” Shaikh Ali Jaber al Shabwani said, adding,

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-10220850486404298532011-07-11T17:06:00.003+03:002011-07-11T17:08:39.436+03:00

And again, last night we saw red bullets and fireworks over the city. This time it was because the President, who had been seen on TV talking to a US official, looked much better than in the last video that was broadcasted some days ago. This was enough reason for the people to show their happiness publicly.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-46370923757020759832011-07-10T18:03:00.004+03:002011-10-05T10:26:42.067+03:00

GarbageIt seems that the garbage collectors have no diesel to get their little trucks running, so garbage is piling up in some parts of the city.PetrolStill no petrol. And even worse, I heard that other parts of the country are now also experiencing a lack of it. Black market prices have reached 6.5 times the actual value...The President's ReturnIt is said that the President is planning to return

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-61854240127026632422011-07-08T07:51:00.003+03:002011-07-08T16:30:59.750+03:00

And again, last night, we were treated with an hour of red bullets flying over our heads. This time, however, we immediately understood it had everything to do with the President's speech on television. It was the first time since the assassination attempt in the beginning of June that he appeared on TV, and we had all been waiting for it. It seems that the main purpose of his speech was to

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-63951103668773141222011-07-06T06:51:00.000+03:002011-07-06T06:51:00.572+03:00

Traditionally, Yemeni women apply henna patterns on their body (hands, arms) on the occasion of a wedding, etc. At the pro-President women sit-in I met a lady who had written on her hands, in henna, which means, "Ali and nobody else".

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-89124067616740451762011-07-04T21:14:00.001+03:002011-07-04T21:14:00.305+03:00

The domestic war of 1994 occurred a little before I got to Yemen, but according to the locals it was much less of a disaster than what has been happening over the past several months.One of those locals told me, "In 1994, there was fighting for some weeks, but we never had a lack of anything and prices didn't increase either. What we're experiencing now is a war without weapons - all essential

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-89148881496176321172011-07-03T10:25:00.003+03:002011-07-03T10:38:45.108+03:00

A friend of mine had given birth to a baby-girl. When I visited her, her mother-in-law and another female family member were engaged in a loud discussion about applying kohl on the place of the eyebrows of the baby. The mother-in-law had done so, after which the other woman had taken it off. "It will cuase the eyebrows to be hairy," she said, "and that's not pretty for a girl.""Nonsense," the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-88245548115021136252011-06-29T11:03:00.005+03:002011-06-29T17:59:20.996+03:00

President Ali Abdullah Saleh is expected to make a media presentation very soon. He is also expected to be back in Yemen very soon. Many Yemenis are eagerly waiting for this moment. "When he's back, we'll celebrate!" say the women present at a women sit-in near al-Saba'een Square. The initiative for this sit-in was taken by Najat, a young woman who is a member of the ruling party GPC and a

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-10624744739024594522011-06-28T19:03:00.003+03:002011-06-29T18:15:24.267+03:00

These are great times for mechanics since the petrol from the black market (both the 'white' and the red petrol) sooner or later makes your car break down. This, because of additions to the petrol, like water, oil, or thinner. Owners of older cars, like myself, are lucky because the car won't stop working on the spot. New cars, however, are so sensitive that they do often stop working on the spot

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-11917438261847362512011-06-26T08:49:00.002+03:002011-06-26T08:52:59.263+03:00

Here, people use their first name, then their father's name, then their grandfather's name (etc.), and then their family name, although it's often shortened to the first two names only. So, for example, your name could be Ali Ahmed Hassan al-Yemeni, or simply Ali Ahmed.Women do the same, so don't be surprised to see a name like Fatima Ibrahim or so.People with children often call themselves 'the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-50912941374137282122011-06-25T11:25:00.002+03:002011-06-25T11:32:45.613+03:00

This is mainly - but of course not only - for the anonymous who posted a comment to my last blog post.It's already a long time ago - before I came to Yemen. I spent a few months in Holland as a Muslim, wearing long skirts, wide blouses with long sleeves, and a headscarf. In those days, a native Dutch Muslim was exceptional and so people generally presumed I was from Turkey. This led to a

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-31876929217866613522011-06-21T16:10:00.002+03:002011-06-21T16:12:41.172+03:00

Another day of waiting for petrol... The petrol stations are guarded by armed policemen these days to ensure a safe process of filling up your car!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-30199579873070838212011-06-19T16:30:00.003+03:002011-06-19T16:33:20.993+03:00

Today the exchange rate of the dollar is 237 rials. The reason for the fluctuation is, according to the money changer, either Obama or Ali Abdullah Saleh. Whatever the news is has an effect on the rate. I don't really get the point on how this works, but well.What we do notice is that prices keep going up. To give you some examples:0.25 liter of pasteurized milk now costs 90 rials (was 70 last

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-71988156716381391032011-06-13T11:00:00.002+03:002011-06-14T13:31:32.178+03:00

I had to smile after reading this report from Saba News, and that's why I publish it here.Official source denies president's family move to Abu Dhabi [12/June/2011] SANA’A, June 12 (Saba)- An official source has dismissed as baseless the false claims and void fabrications published by the Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper on the family members of President Ali Abdullah Saleh moving to the UAE capital

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-54688570124326168632011-06-12T08:30:00.004+03:002011-06-12T08:37:45.481+03:00

Like everywhere else, divorce rates in Yemen are increasing. Some people ascribe this phenomenon to the fact that the newly-weds often don't know each other. Some boys only see the girl's face for the first time on their wedding day. However, this is a local custom and not an Islamic one, for in Islam the boy who proposes marriage to a girl is allowed to see her. Moreover, this custom has existed

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-38426941110929583842011-06-11T10:21:00.004+03:002011-06-11T10:49:53.163+03:00

Friday is the Eid of the Muslims. Until recently, it used to be a quiet day for most Yemenis. This was before they had to drive from their homes in the country to the capital Sanaa or their own city for some sort of demonstration.It is sunneh (i.e. a good Islamic practice) for men to take a shower on Friday morning, wear clean clothes and some perfume, and then go to the mosque at noon (this is

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-57749192268427547172011-06-09T08:57:00.003+03:002011-06-09T09:02:16.190+03:00

Last night we were woken up by gunshots that came from each and every direction; from very close-by to further away. It lasted for about two hours in a row. I didn't quite understand this chaotic shooting until I was called by a friend. I was told that news had reached us that the surgeries of the President in Saudi Arabia had been successful and that these shots were to express the joy of the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-88206155703030676252011-06-09T08:23:00.004+03:002011-06-17T10:55:31.551+03:00

Gisteravond laat werd ik wakker geschudt door geweervuur, even na half elf 's avonds. Het kwam al gauw uit alle richtingen. Pistolen, mitrailleurs - dichtbij, verderweg. Ik keek uit het raam en zag roodgekleurde kogels alle richtingen uitschieten.Natuurlijk dacht ik dat een algehele oorlog was uitgebroken. Maar ook leek het zo ongecontroleerd dat ik het niet echt begreep. KAH-BOEM! TATATATATA!

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-27928297632939477352011-06-08T15:00:00.008+03:002011-08-22T17:53:08.308+03:00

No electricity means no fridge. But you can cool water easily by wrapping a mineral water bottle in a piece of cloth, wet it, and put it in an open window where the wind blows, preferably on the north side of the house. Within an hour or two it's refreshingly cool to drink. Of course, you shouldn't cook more than you need for a meal, since the food will go off quickly without a fridge. A real

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-84778050657540673192011-06-07T11:59:00.003+03:002011-06-07T19:50:27.421+03:00

We had, to our big surprise, two days of electricity - with only minor power cuts (minor means a couple of hours at a time, a few times a day).It was almost too much; I checked all the websites on the Internet I needed to check, did some laundry, recharged my cell phone, the kids watched cartoons, and the water heater heated up. After all that we felt we could do without again for a bit :) ...

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-67091409149302968462011-06-04T21:03:00.004+03:002011-06-04T21:06:28.622+03:00

Bericht van de Wereldomroep:DEN HAAG (ANP) - Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken sluit de Nederlandse ambassade in de Jemenitische hoofdstad Sanaa met onmiddellijke ingang. Het departement doet dit ,,in verband met de verslechterde veiligheidssituatie in Jemen, en in de hoofdstad Sana’a in het bijzonder", staat er op de site van het ministerie. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken heeft dit in

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-81909680038447734522011-06-04T19:47:00.005+03:002011-06-06T09:54:12.386+03:00

It is strangely quiet in Sana'a today. Even in al-Hasabah fighting stopped until there was some sporadic firing again in the afternoon.The silence is a bit worrying, though, and everybody expects a sudden escalation at any time.Even the 'white petrol' isn't widely available anymore (and prices seem to go up daily), and so many mini-buses, taxis, and cars cannot be used now. This adds to the

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-12412008535795003772011-06-03T16:14:00.002+03:002011-06-03T16:17:10.998+03:00

Certain news sites have said that the President was killed today in an attack on the Presidential Palace. We heard the explosions. However, the national radio just reported that the President is fine and will give a speech to the people within hours.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-56623068274605426682011-06-02T17:13:00.002+03:002011-06-02T17:18:17.538+03:00

Ik ging naar het postkantoor om m'n telefoonrekening te betalen. "Wacht even, we moeten de generator nog starten" zei een employee. Hij reed de generator op wieltjes naar buiten."Ga maar even zitten" wees hij me toe. Dat deed ik. Het bankje wankelde vervaarlijk en een andere employee onderdrukte een grinnik.De generator werkte wonderwel, maar de computer wilde niet starten. De employee dook onder

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-89094692834586150182011-06-01T08:49:00.005+03:002011-06-05T21:56:21.194+03:00

(picture of one of the many not-working petrol stations in Sana'a)Last week, in my blog post with the same title, I wrote that the lines at the petrol stations were very, very long. But at least, there was a little hope that you could get a few drops of petrol. This, I'm afraid, has changed.This morning I roamed the streets of the city from right after fajr prayer. I must have driven past a

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-52423290649557800272011-05-31T19:24:00.001+03:002011-05-31T19:28:44.817+03:00

These days, I hear from some people that gas cylinders are half-filled with water instead of gas so that they feel heavy but finish up very quickly. Terrible, isn't it, especially because the prices are extremely high.My gas cylinder finished yesterday. Today I saw some piled up at a store. No customers, though."Is there any gas?" (they could have been empty)"Yes". Surprise!"Is it really gas or

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-34035222570496375222011-05-29T11:32:00.002+03:002011-05-29T11:42:44.314+03:00

(photo by Eveline Kuhlman)In the past, samsarahs were used by traders from outside Sana'a who came to sell their merchandise. They were warehouses and lodging places, which taxed the goods on arrival.These days, many samsarahs in the Old City are used as places of storage for businessmen in the suq.

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9019208294439071515.post-37818479288139367602011-05-27T06:13:00.006+03:002012-02-11T10:25:37.812+03:00

A media report I just read the following on several websites in slightly different wordings: With the violence flaring, panic has begun to grip Sana'a. Long lines of cars and buses with bags strapped to the roofs were seen filtering out of the city. Those staying put have started hoarding, withdrawing cash, and filling buckets with petrol and barricading themselves indoors. It is true that some

alnakhlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08232882878445876384noreply@blogger.com1