Travel the World - Week 12

This is the 12th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Yemen

Yemen is a country in the Middle East.  Officially known as the Republic of Yemen, it is located in western Asia.  Yemen is bordered on the north side by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  It is the second largest country occupying the Arabian Peninsula.

Yemen is home to the world's oldest skyscraper city, a city of about 7,000 inhabitants in the district of Shibam. The city is famous for its ancient mudbrick high-rise buildings. About 500 such houses occur in the city with some being as high as 11 stories. These high-rise buildings date back to the 16th century. Thus, Shibam is often called the “Manhattan of the Desert.” 

Yemen’s Capital City Is One Of The World’s Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities.

Most families are large with more than seven members. Several generations may live together. 

More children are born in Yemen than in any other middle eastern country yearly.

Yemenis take much pride in their wedding traditions. An average wedding feast lasts 21 days.

Yemen is the world's largest humanitarian crisis with over 22 million people (three-quarters of the population) needing urgent humanitarian aid and protection.

Half of Yemeni girls are married before they are 18 and 15 percent are wed before they are 15. Within their marriages, Yemeni women do not have equal rights to custody, divorce, or inheritance. They also require a husband or father’s permission to travel or get a passport.

Yemen’s territory includes more than 200 islands, the largest of these is Socotra which has often been described as the ‘most alien-looking place on earth’. The fascinating flora is complimented by spectacular, awe-inspiring scenery. Socotra is truly one of the most unique and special places in the world.

In general greeting between men and men, women and women, and men and women, the most prominent thing noticed is the handshake.  Among men, the hand shake may linger and even lead to hand holding.  But the interesting aspect is in cross-sex greeting, there is little or no touching.

Yemenis tend to be more indirect in their communication.  This is because this helps them to avert confrontation, which something they really hate.  It also helps them to save face. 

In Yemen, one thing that has no place at all is public display of affection.  If you feel so strongly about someone, even if that someone is your wife, you would need to bottle up that feeling till you get to a private place.  No hugging, kissing, or any kind of necking in public.

Yemen is a male dominated society.  Men and women are rarely seen alone together since public display of intimacy is forbidden.   

The Bridge of Sighs also known as the Bridge of Shaharah was built in the 17th century. The footbridge constructed of limestone is located high up in the al-Ahnum mountains, named for al-Ahnum tribe, the indigenous inhabitants of these mountains. It lies at an elevation of 8500 feet above sea level and connects two mountain ranges

Yemen's Mokha city was once the centre of the world's coffee trade – hence the coffee named 'Mocha' in your local café.

Yemeni laws are usually strictly enforced with little or no mercy.  It does not matter whether the one breaking the law does so deliberately or ignorantly.  Breaking Yemeni laws usually leads to stiff penalties such as long jail terms or even worse, depending on the offense.

One does not have to tip in Yemen; the practice is unknown.

I decided to let this Yemen fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Tourists are expected to give pens for the local schools. Sweets are also acceptable.

I added fussy-cut flowers from the DP 

to the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Hero Arts Thank You and SU Crafting Forever (the pen) stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Handsome Hunter and Rose Red CS and American Crafts Me and You DP plus Notebook Paper DP from an unknown vendor

Die: Taylored Expressions Notebook Border

Embellishments: Simple Stories Enamel Dots