October 31st, 2007 
Sheila Simkin Kawkaban and Shibam (not the Shibam in the Hadramawt valley) are considered twin towns. Kawkaban had more perfectly preserved stone tower houses perched on the edge of a 1,000′ cliff top. An important stronghold during the Turkish occupation, Kawkaban protected the town of Shibam below and the only way the Government could subdue Kawkaban in the 1960′s was by airplane. Kawkaban had huge iron gates that are still locked at night. During times of war, the residents of Shibam would leave their homes and flee to Kawkaban for safety.
There was a paved footway, or trail, between Kawkaban and Shibam. This province, Al Mahweet claims to be the most fertile and beautiful in Yemen. I loved the reddish architecture of Kawakaban contrasting against the green areas and mountains, always changing color with the sunlight. Into the 4WD’s on what passed for a road….
There was time for a little shopping and time to browse through a few stands before continuing the day’s journey…
Shibam was supposed to have a great Friday market (we were there on a Tuesday) and a 1,000-year old Grand Mosque. This entire area was so amazing that we took the perfect group photo…
Back in the 4WD’s to Al-Mahwit, set at almost 10,000′. Somehow, I didn’t expect these kind of altitudes in this primarily desert area. In Al-Mahwit, Sarah arranged a surprise “hen”-na party for the women. We walked overfrom the Al-Mahwit Hotel to the henna
applier’s house, and one-by-one she carefully decorated our arms/and or hands with henna. I thought it would wear or wash off immediately but mine lasted for the entire trip.
…Trish and Sheila, beautified and ready for any formal Yemen occasion… We women had such a great time…
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