Yemen, an Arabian fairy-tale

[YEMEN.NORTH 26273] 'Water cistern in Hajjara.' Near Hajjara, a village in the Jebel Haras mountains southwest of Manakha, a flight of stairs leads down to a cistern which supplies the villagers with water. The cistern receives its water from the rain. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26278] 'Manakha tower houses-1.' The tower houses of Manakha, a small town in the Jebel Haras mountains, catch the first rays of the sun. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26283] 'Manakha tower houses-3.' The tower houses of Manakha, a small town in the Jebel Haras mountains, catch the first rays of the sun. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26298] 'Donkeys at Lakamat.' Near the village of Lakamat al Gadi in the Jebel Haras mountains donkeys feed on a meager meal of straw. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26305] 'Shepherd in Al Jebel.' A shepherd passes through Al Jebel village (in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha.) Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26309] 'Father and daughter in Al Jebel.' A father proudly shows his young daughter in Al Jebel village (in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha.) Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26313] 'Kahel village-2.' The tower houses of Kahel village sit on a craggy rock pedestal in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26316] 'Gate of Kahel village.' The village of Kahel is entered by a gate that is decorated with simple geometric motives. The village lies in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26333] 'Mosque in Ben Ismael.' In the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha the white mosque of Ben Ismael village is dwarfed by neighbouring tower houses. In the background the village of Sherege catches patch of sunlight. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26342] 'Green village.' The greenish stones of Sherege village create a nice colour contrast with the ochre terraced fields of the Jebel Haras mountains. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26349] 'Sherege village-2.' Tower houses of Sherege village in the Jebel Haras mountains. These tower houses have a stable on the ground floor and the manure is shoveled through openings onto the rocky pedestal of the village. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26357] 'Villagers of Sna-1.' The sheikh (mayor) of Sna village (south of the capital Sanaa) poses together with a neighbour. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26361] 'Man with jambiya-1.' As most men in Yemen, this villager of Sna (south of Sanaa) wears a jambiya, a ceremonial dagger which is a symbol af manly pride. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26275] 'Peaks in the fog.' Evening fog closes in on the craggy peaks which tower above Manakha, a small town in the Jebel Haras mountains southwest of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26279] 'Manakha tower houses-2.' The tower houses of Manakha, a small town in the Jebel Haras mountains, catch the first rays of the sun. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26293] 'Lakamat al Gadi.' The fortress-like village of Lakamat al Gadi overlooks the terraced slopes of the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26302] 'Al Jebel.' The tower houses and white mosque of Al Jebel village are centered around a water cistern. The village lies in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26307] 'Girl in Al Jebel.' A young girl in Al Jebel village (in the Jebel Haras mountains) is allowed to play in her bright blue dress. When she gets older she will have to wear the black chador when she goes outside. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26311] 'Kahel village-1.' The tower houses of Kahel village sit on a craggy rock pedestal in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26315] 'Kahel village-3.' The tower houses of Kahel village sit on a craggy rock pedestal in the Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26327] 'Cloud shadows near Shargi.' In the rainy season thunderstorms build up during the afternoon over the Jebel Haras mountains. Sunlight playing through the clouds give the landscape a dramatic appearance, as here around the village of Shargi, southeast of Manakha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26335] 'Ben Ismael and Sherege.' South of Manakha the tower houses of Ben Ismael village overlook the terraced slopes of the Jebel Haras mountains. In the background the village of Sherege catches a patch of sunlight. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26345] 'Sherege village-1.' The tower houses of Sherege village catch the golden rays of a late afternoon sun while the Jebel Haras mountains behind it are darkened by a blueish fog. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26354] 'Jebel Haras mountains.' The Jebel Haras mountains south of Manakha are dotted with fortress-like villages, each on its own rocky pedestal and surrounded by terraced fields. To the right: Shargi village. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[YEMEN.NORTH 26358] 'Villagers of Sna-2.' The sheikh (mayor) of Sna village (south of the capital Sanaa) poses together with his wife. Photo Mick Palarczyk.