Asia

[Visited: December 2021]

We had passed the beach several times before, on our way further east, and back, to get a PCR test the day before our departure - and now, we are finally stopping at Delisha. We find what must once have been a serious attempt at making a resort on Socotra. There are some buildings, there is even something looking like a roof terrace, but it is all in serious decay. We have lunch, and after a dip in the sea, are off to do what seems the most evident thing to do here: walk the fine white sand of this long beach. We decide to first head to the oil tanker that is stranded on the northwest side of Delisha beach. From a nearby fisher village, a group of kids runs towards us, and follows us as we walk along the ship. Nothing is in the water anymore: its entire hull is visible. We can only hope that it didn't spill oil when it got stranded here.
The ship lies almost at the far end of Delisha beach, and it is time to turn around and walk to the other end. On our right, thick clouds sail through the sky. At several points, we see rays of sunlight seep through openings in the clouds, and cast light on the island of Socotra which we will have to say goodbye the next day. We see peaks of the Haggeher Mountains, but much of the scenery is lost in the clouds. We walk the entire length of the beach on our bare feet, until we reach the far end where a stream runs down from the mountains above. We are close to the foot of an enormous sand dune which, like those at Arher further down the coast towards the south, lie comfortably against the higher mountains above. When we are back at the encampment, the sun is already down, and we wash ourselves in what once must have been a nice room inside.
The next morning, I am out early. It is our day of departure, which sparks a kind of sadness inside of me. At the same time, I feel I will be back here in the future. For now, all I can do is to walk the beach again. I head straight to the sand dune. It is a bright day, and I now have the sun shining straight into my eyes. The tide has washed away all footsteps of the previous day, but I do see one fresh set heading out. Someone must have woken up before me. After a while, I see the carcass of a dolphin on the beach, its eyes bulging out of its head, and some blood here and there. A brutal sight. I walk until the end of the beach and hike up the entire sand dune. When I turn around, the beach of Delisha lies at my feet. A little further east, I see the two rocky outcrops of Dihamri. Now, there is only one thing left to do: walk down the dune, walk the beach, and have a pre-departure breakfast.

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Delisha (Yemen)

Delisha > Yemen > Asia

[Visited: December 2021]

Around the World in 80 Clicks