Today we are going to a place I've never heard of before...in Yemen! In fact, we are going to an island called Suqatra Island. Strange but beautiful place!
Suqatra Island
This enchanting and little known island also known as Socotra is located off the coast of Yemen in the Middle East. Isolated from the rest of the world its plants have evolved into many bizarre shapes and forms that are unknown in other parts of the world. One of the most famous of these is the Dragon's Blood Tree the sap of which is used to make crystals that can be used as a dye or as an alleged aphrodisiac. The plant depicted above is the strange Desert Rose (Adenium obesium) but sometimes more popularly called the Elephants Leg Tree. The Island is slowly becoming known to the world and has great potential for eco-tourism as long as the visitors don't do more damage than good. Other species include the Cucumber Tree and the Socotran Fig. Suqatra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008
None of us will ever have the time or opportunity to visit all of these marvelous places, but thanks to the power of the Internet, not only can we visit them at our leisure but we can do so from the comfort of our own home! Once in a great while, technology is a real boon to us!
Coffee on the patio this morning. It's supposed to be sunny with a high in the 70's! Some Winter, huh?
What a strange looking plant. It looks as if naked turkeys were planted into ground up to shoulders, flowers shooting out their legs.
ReplyDeleteSorry - too much cough medicine I guess. But still bizarre appearance.
Beautiful pic, Mr. Hermit! There are really some amazing places to see in this world.
ReplyDeleteSend some sunshine here - its only 26 this morning and cloudy. The mud has frozen. Let me borrow your stove again - I'll make apple fritters for all!
As always, an interesting site. Would love to see it in person but don't think going to the Middle East is a good idea right now.
ReplyDeleteI love those trees - they are just so unique. Thanks for the "trip to Yemen". Your "cyber trips" are the best vacations a person can have :) Warm (48 degrees) today with rain, followed by temps dropping back into the low 20's. This has been a crazy winter so far. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteWOW would I love to see that close up. If they open it to tourist you just know only bad can come of it.
ReplyDeletePeople will trample over everything. It's happened before.
I'll take a nice hot cup please need warmth.
It must be the secrete burial place for elephants and they didn't get completely buried.
ReplyDeleteSince the internet any place in our world is just a click away!I've traveled the world through National Geographics now we have the internet.The world keeps getting smaller.
ReplyDeleteHey Anon 7:22...
ReplyDeleteDid you notice how they all have the similar appearance? Everyone sees something different in them!
Better slow down on that "cough syrup!"
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Phyllis...
Apple fritters sure do sound good! I like nearly any kind of fritters!
Thanks so much for coming by today!
Hey Momlady...
You are probably right about this not being a good time to visit the middle East! Is there ever a good time?
Sure would like to see one of those trees in person!
Thanks for dropping by this morning!
Hey Linda...
Strange but beautiful, right? Places like this serve to remind us just how diverse this old world really is!
I really hope we get the weather to settle down soon! It has been crazy, no doubt!
Thanks for coming over today!
Hey Jo...
Right you are about folks destroying the scenery when they visit!
Would be something to see, though!
Thanks, sweetie, for coming over today!
Hey Dizzy...
whatever it is, it sure is pretty! Wonder if they have many of those trees around?
Reckon we could drive the RV there?
Thanks, buddy, for dropping by today!
Hey JustAStick...
ReplyDeleteUsed to be that places like this were unknown to us, except magazines like National Geographics, and now they have their own website!
Like you said, the world keeps getting smaller! Prettier, too!
Thanks for coming over this morning!
I used to have some of those desert rose as houseplants. They are ferociously poisonous, btw. They really didn't get enough light and heat to thrive here in the cool Pac Nor'west. But they bloomed so prettily in the warmer years.
ReplyDeleteNot in the 70s here....mid 20's this morning.