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Queen of Sheba's gold mine discovered in Ethiopia

Sean McLachlan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Africa, Ethiopia, Yemen, Budget Travel, News, Middle East

The gold mine of the Queen of Sheba has been discovered in Ethiopia, the Guardian reports.

A local prospector led British archaeologist Dr. Louise Schofield to a mysterious mine in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. Schofield believes that this was the source of the Queen of Sheba's fabulous gold, a large pile of which she gave to King Solomon when she visited the Holy Land, as is reported in the Old Testament, the Koran, and the Kebra Nagast, one of the holy books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Sheba was probably the Sabaean Kingdom, a wealthy kingdom that included what is now northern Ethiopia and Yemen. It rose to power 3,000 years ago and controlled trade along the Red Sea, especially the profitable spice trade.

Inside the extensive mine, Schofeld found an inscription in Sabaean and a stele bearing a carved sun and crescent moon, the symbol of the Sabaean Kingdom. The remains of a temple and battlefield were found nearby. Schofield is planning to start a major excavation at the site.

This can only be good news for Ethiopia's growing tourist industry. During a road trip around Ethiopia two years ago, I was stunned by the desolate grandeur of Ethiopia's Tigray region. The main attractions are Axum, the ancient capital of a kingdom dating from 100-940 AD and considered by many to be a successor state to the Sabaean Kingdom, and Debre Damo, an amazing clifftop monastery that I had to climb up a leather rope to visit.

When I returned to Ethiopia a year later to live in Harar, I found that tourism had increased. Most of the visitors I spoke with said that Ethiopia's history was one of the main reasons they came to visit, and the Queen of Sheba was often mentioned. While Ethiopia can be dangerous just like any other adventure travel destination, most regions are safe and I've had no trouble in the more than four months I've spent in the country. Going back is my number one travel priority this year.

Hopefully this latest discovery will help inspire more people to discover Ethiopia's long history, friendly people, great food, and of course the world's best coffee.

Photo of an Ethiopian painting of the Queen of Sheba on her way to meet King Solomon courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Gallery: Tigray and the Sabaean Civilization

Queen of Sheba's gold mine discovered in Ethiopia originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012

Justin Delaney — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Photos, Africa, Asia, North America, Oceania, South America, Liberia, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Mexico, United States, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Airlines, Budget Travel, News, Travel Health, Middle East, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Travel Security

What comes to mind when you think of the world's worst place? While it is easy to complain about rural Wal-marts, La Guardia, Applebee's, and any government office with motor vehicle in its title, none of those places escalate the game from nuisance to immediate danger. All of them can be horrible, yes, but a threatened existence they do not pose.

The places on this list are the bad places. Some have run out of hope. Others have fought war for so long it is the new normal. Most are exceptionally dangerous and heartbreaking. And while none of them are fighting for write-ups by travel bloggers or inspiring travel with the NetJet set, some of these locations may someday be on the travel map. After all, it was not long ago that current hot-spots like Cambodia and Croatia would have made such a list.

Gallery: World's worst cities

Continue reading World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012

World's worst places: Top 10 places you do not want to visit in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to get a second passport

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, United States, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

A second passport sounds glamorous. And in point of fact, it is glamorous. There's no debating the matter. Possessing a second passport gives its bearer bragging rights and the ability to feel a wee bit like a spy, especially when he or she is traveling with both passports in tow.

So you want to get a second passport and feel like an undercover agent? Not so fast. The US State Department allows Americans to obtain a second US passport under two circumstances only: [1] when a particular passport stamp will prevent entry into certain other countries the bearer intends or needs to visit, and [2] when a foreign visa application's processing time interferes with upcoming international travel.

The first loophole addresses diplomatic barriers to travel. The chief example here is the Israeli passport stamp. Several countries refuse to admit travelers with an Israeli stamp (as well as Jordanian or Egyptian entrance or exit stamps from Israel's land border crossings with Jordan and Egypt) in their passports.

With an Israeli stamp in your passport, you may be refused entry to Algeria, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Anecdotal evidence from friends and various online sources indicates that some countries are stricter than others, with Lebanon and Syria particularly unbendable. The bearer of a second passport can alternate between passports selectively, thus making sure that he or she will not be refused admission for a years-old Israeli passport stamp at, say, the Damascus airport.

The second circumstance addresses the problem of bureaucratic delays. People with upcoming travel scheduled while their passports are unavailable as a consequence of a foreign visa application (or another procedure involving a foreign government) can apply for and receive a second passport.

The second passport is only valid for two years. In addition to the required form and photographs, applications must include evidence of upcoming travel and a letter explaining the applicant's specific need for the additional passport.

How to get a second passport originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa

Justin Delaney — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Africa, Asia, Somalia, Oman, United Arab, Yemen, April Fools Posts, News, Cruises, Middle East, Travel Security

After years of murders, kidnappings, and heists, the lawless sea near the horn of Africa seems to be getting worse. A Dubai firm is capitalizing on these pirate infested waters with a strange new form of pirate tourism. The tour company, Dubai based Seahunters LLC, sells both 7 and 14 day cruises embarking from Salalah, Oman and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Unlike the quintessential cruise, the cruisers do not board in hopes of devouring mid-morning nacho buffets or snorkeling with dolphins. These cruisers board in hopes of embarking on a hunting trip with the most taboo of target - humans.

Like any proper cruise, you can choose a type of stateroom with offers ranging from the humble sounding "standard inside" to the opulent "Hemingway suite." The similarities to any other cruise end abruptly when you begin assembling your personal armory. With offerings such as the predictably yielding "bazooka package" and a "mercenary madness" kit, you can personalize your weapons cache almost endlessly. The "mercenary madness" package includes rental of a M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle, an AR 15 assault rifle, and an 18kt gold plated Desert Eagle pistol. Bow and arrows are also available for purists. Flamethrowers can be rented as well, though require a 3 day licensing course prior to departure.

Continue reading Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa

Dubai tour company offers pirate hunting cruises off horn of Africa originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warnings continue to disrupt travel, cancel plans of many

Chris Owen — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, South America, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Mexico, United States, Cruises, Middle East, Travel Security

The State Department today advised Americans not to travel to Yemen and said those in the country should consider leaving today as warnings continue to disrupt travel world-wide.

"The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. Piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean is also a security threat to maritime activities in the region." the Department of State said in today's travel warning.

Continue reading Warnings continue to disrupt travel, cancel plans of many

Warnings continue to disrupt travel, cancel plans of many originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS

Sean McLachlan — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Equatorial Guinea, Brunei, China, South Korea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, United Arab, Yemen, United States, Papua New Guinea, Travel Health

For the past 22 years, if you had HIV or AIDS and weren't American, you couldn't enter the U.S.

That changed today as President Obama lifted the ban. Since the Obama administration is planning to host the 2012 World Aids Conference, the change in policy was necessary.

The biannual conference naturally includes many people living with HIV and AIDS, and barring their entry would have been bad PR for an administration that wants to be seen as a global leader in the fight against the disease

There are only ten countries that now ban people with HIV/AIDS from entering. They are: Brunei, China. Equatorial Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

According to the website hivtravel.org, some of these countries allow people to enter under "special circumstances". Some other countries not on the list put restrictions on people living with HIV/AIDS but not full bans.

Continue reading U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS

U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man ignites small bomb on U.S. bound plane

Sean McLachlan — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, Yemen, Netherlands, United States, Airlines, Transportation, News, Middle East

A Nigerian man is under arrest after igniting a bomb on a plane bound for Detroit yesterday.

Abdul Mudallad, 23, used a powder strapped to his leg mixed with a syringe containing some sort of liquid to set off a small explosion on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam as it made its final descent into Detroit.

While the mixture did explode, the explosion was very small and the ensuing flames only harmed Mr. Mudallad, giving him third-degree burns on one leg. Passengers quickly tackled him. None of the other 278 passengers or 11 crew were injured. One passenger described the explosion as a "little pop". The flames needed to be put out with a fire extinguisher.

President Obama has ordered increased security for air travel and the Department of Homeland Security has added extra screening measures.

The bomber was on a U.S. government database for having "a significant terrorist connection" although that did not qualify him for the "no-fly" list. Why someone with a significant terrorist connection can fly on a U.S. airline will doubtlessly be a major question in coming days.

Under questioning after the incident, Mr. Mudallad claimed he has connections with Al-Qaeda and got the chemicals for his bomb in Yemen.

Some reports state Mr. Mudallad is a student of University College London, but a search of the university's online directory did not reveal his name. The directory, however, only lists students and faculty who have publicly available contact information.

UPDATE, Dec. 27 1242GMT: This post was made shortly after the incident occurred and was correct according to the latest reports at that time. Two details have emerged that should be addressed. The man's name is now said to be Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and University College London states that he was a mechanical engineering student, but he is not currently enrolled. I felt it was best not to change the original post, as it is now of historic interest in showing how breaking news stories can change fundamentally over time, but since two later posts link to this one I felt I should update the name and university status. More details will doubtless emerge and be covered in later posts.

Man ignites small bomb on U.S. bound plane originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Union proposes global airline black list after Yemen crash

Scott Carmichael — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yemen, Airlines, News

For several years, the European Union has been maintaining an airline black list. The list contains the bottom of the barrel in the aviation world. On it, you won't find any of the big global carriers, but it is very well represented by countries like Kazakhstan, Angola and the Democratic republic of Congo.

As it turns out, the airline involved in the most recent crash had once been on the black list for incomplete reporting on its fleet inspections.

That crash has now prompted the E.U. transport commissioner, Antonio Tajani to propose turning the the European black list in to a global black list.

As much as I like the idea of sharing this kind of information and turning it into a global list, I'm not sure it will actually make any difference - for a global black list to work, every country in the world will have to participate. Thing is, the kind of country that does not take aviation safety that seriously, is not going to be the kind of country that signs up for the black list, only to ground its own national carrier(s).

A global black list of carriers won't do anything to prevent any of the recent air disasters we've seen - Air France would certainly not deserve a spot on the list, nor would Continental/Air Colgan (involved in the Buffalo crash back in February).

Many of these rickety airlines fly within their own country, or to neighboring countries with similar lax oversight. For a global aviation black list to work, countries should help each other, not simply tell them that they are not welcome to land at their airports. I'm pretty sure that "Sky Gate International" from the Kyrgyz Republic won't give a damn if the USA tells them to stay away from any of their airports.

The only other option is to increase passenger awareness and get the list promoted, to help people make an informed decision about whether or not to travel with an unsafe carrier. But if that airline is their only option, I'm guessing they'll take the risk.

Continue reading European Union proposes global airline black list after Yemen crash

European Union proposes global airline black list after Yemen crash originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nine foreigners kidnapped in Yemen

Sean McLachlan — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Yemen, News, Middle East

Nine foreigners, including three children, have been kidnapped in northern Yemen, the BBC reported.

The foreigners were having a picnic when they were taken on Friday by the Huthi Zaidi, a Shia rebel group. The victims include a British and a Korean citizen. The rest of the group, including the children, are German. The adults were working in a local hospital as part of an international aid effort.

Kidnapping of foreigners is common in Yemen, with more than 200 abductions in the past 15 years. Kidnappings of Yemenis is even more common but rarely makes it into the international media. The kidnappings are generally the work of bandits demanding ransom or local tribesmen seeking political gain. This act by an armed rebel group may herald a new phase in a growing problem.

The Zaidi are a Shia sect and make up 30% of the mostly Sunni country. The two groups have a long tradition of mutual tolerance in Yemen, but in recent years that has soured with the rise of a faction within the Zaidi community that wants to overthrow the government. The present government itself overthrew a Zaidi government in 1962. An article in Middle East Online goes into the politics of this civil war in more depth and also reports on the kidnapping.

Yemen is an incredible travel destination with historic architecture (like the impressive towers shown here), ancient ruins, and a traditional society not yet overrun with tourism. Numerous terrorist attacks and unrest in the provinces, however, have led the U.S. State Department to issue a warning to all U.S. citizens to avoid the country unless absolutely necessary. Many other countries have their own warnings against travel in Yemen, and this latest incident will only exacerbate the problem.

Have you been to Yemen? Please share your experiences in the comments section.

Nine foreigners kidnapped in Yemen originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yemen? Yeah, man.

Aaron Hotfelder — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, Yemen

Travel writing is usually at its most interesting, in my opinion, when it takes us to places we've never been, and especially to places where we've never thought of going. Like most travel-lovers, I daydream constantly about visiting scores of different places, but I can confess to never having given much thought to the country of Yemen. That's why I was so interested to read a new feature article in the New York Times travel section, "Yemen's Exotic Secrets."

The author paints a vivid though somewhat disturbing portrait of the Middle-Eastern republic, a country plagued by an unreported war, religious and political extremism, and consequentially, a poor reputation among tourists. Indeed, the only thing I associated with Yemen before reading this article was the bombing of the USS Cole that occurred in a Yemini port in 2000. Still, the author of the article maintains that, despite its poor reputation, Yemen is a place well worth a visit:

"So why visit a place this volatile? I came to find a complete and ancient way of life that is still largely intact. Moreover, despite the country's problems (and a need for tourists to be both alert and cautious), the place feels surprisingly safe. Indeed, few attacks on tourists have taken place in what I consider Yemen's two most spectacular draws: the Old City of Sana and the eastern oasis of Wadi Hadhramaut."

Be sure to check out the excellent slideshow that accompanies the article.

Yemen? Yeah, man. originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The "Other Galapagos" Island

Iva Skoch — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Yemen, Ecotourism

Two-hundred-and-fifty miles off the coast of Yemen, in the Indian Ocean, in an area pointed at by the Horn of Africa, is a rugged island called Socotra.

The number 250 has special significance in another respect: the island has been geologically separated from the mainland for 250 million years. This isolation means that there are over 600 species of plants and animals there that exist nowhere else on earth (a feat beaten only by the Galapagos and Hawaii).

It also means that human development has been slow: roughly the size of Long Island, and with a population of only 40,000, the first paved roads were built there only within the last few years. And don't expect a ton of new development: 70% of the island has been designated as national parkland. Be sure to plan your trip well in advance, and plan to stay awhile: there are only two flights in and out per week.

Pictures from the island blew me away: dragon's blood trees (like the one pictured from Harf Zimmermann), frankincense trees on lonely vistas, desert roses, rocky shorelines. (BTW, be sure to check out his other awesome pics on his Web site and the NYT's piece, and, of course, on Flickr.)

The "Other Galapagos" Island originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (09/19/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Yemen

How I've managed to forget this wonderful travel site often loaded with photography from some lesser explored places - I do not know. TravelAdventures.org has an amazing photo set of Yemeni people, the Haraz Mountains, qat, and other Yemeni things. I'm going to bookmark this one for future reference and so I don't forget it again.

Today's word is an Arabic word used in Yemen:

khwaga - foreigner

My Language Exchange is an excellent site in making friends across the globe while zoning in on the areas that give you the most trouble in your language of choice. While most services are free, contacting other members does cost a very small fee. Other learning tools for free standard Arabic online include this Learn Arabic site which has some remarkable lessons. The audio sounds a bit off for me, but they've got both the Naskh script (easy to read when learning the alphabet) and the Latin spelling of the letter. Babel Arabic is another good source. Planet Edu has an online listing of Arabic schools all over the Middle East, Africa and the U.S. Lastly, for purchase and a quick pocket guide there's the Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook.

Past Arabic words: wafin, akhdar, taeadol, shwiya, la bas, filoos

Word for the Travel Wise (09/19/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day (5/30/2006)

Erik Olsen — Tue, 30 May 2006 10:04:00 EST

Filed under: History, Learning, Surfing, Photos, Africa, Yemen, Photo of the Day

This photo made me do a double take when I came across it on the Gadling Flickr site. The incongruity of a surfboard and a Kalashnikov was just too much for my coffee-deprived mind to absorb this morning. But it is the real deal, and was taken by our good friend localsurfer. He says the shot was taken in Yemen, where "gun's are a way of life". Gnarly, dude.

Photo of the Day (5/30/2006) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 May 2006 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chewing Qat in Yemen

Erik Olsen — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 08:51:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Blogs, Africa, Asia, Yemen

A fascinating little video over at National Geographic.com takes a look at the city of Muscat, Oman, where writer Bernice Notenboom and photographer Martin Hartleyo head out to explore some of the ancient and extremely remote nooks of Yemen. Takes a while to load, but it's worth it, we learn about chewing Qat, a brush cultivated everywhere and that is masticated a bit like chewing tobacco...but apparently the buzz isn't that great. Still people are absolutely addicted to it. They show one guy who is, I'm not making this up, a professional qat eater. Notenboom seems to really like the stuff and gets a little rush from it. Something tells me that the marketing folks at Starbucks are making trips to Yemen as we speak. You'll be able to pick up an elegant little box of the stuff by the register, and they'll call it something fancy like Qat-izzi.

Chewing Qat in Yemen originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 Apr 2006 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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