Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: wadi

Another shot of Shibam, the Manhattan of the Desert. Shibam is a magical place from the air or on the ground. It must have been a breathtaking vision of civilisation for any desert traveller crossing the Empty Quarter to look over the high cliffs of Wadi Hadramaut and see this beautiful city rising from the wadi floor.

We lived in Yemen 1992-94. The office was in Sana'a in the mountains but the field area was a 3 hour flight to the east in the Hadramaut. Taken from the company de Havilland Twin Otter Wadi Hadramaut is seen in the distance running roughly east-west into which this north-south subsidiary connects.

Airborne over Wadi Hadramaut in eastern Yemen. Because of the dramatic relief (up to 300m) between wadi & jebel we used helicopters on the seismic acquisition crew and all equipment was flown out to the line. This is the view as the aircraft tops the jebel. We had one ex-Vietnam vet pilot who used to delight in giving visiting newcomers a gentle take off from the jebel, fly slowly across the edge of the cliff & then immediately drop vertically down 500ft into the wadi. An exhilarating experience to say the least. Unfortunately he was later in an accident when the engines cut-out at about 100ft when he was long-lining & the helicopter fell to the ground. Amazingly he kept the aircraft upright & survived with minor cuts & bruises but shortly after he decided enough was enough & took retirement.