Climbing, or hanging around stalactites?

I try to be neutral, but the benefit of cave exploration compared with "climbing" is not so obscure as one initially might think.
Just enjoy people hanging around Socotra:

A video clip, breathing biodiversity!

Help for Abd Al Kuri is on the way!

29th of May 2010.
A boat laden with over 400 tons of relief goods set off from Socotra today towards Abdul-Kuri. The aid includes: food items (rice, flour, dates, tinned food, water); medicines, bedding, clothes, furniture, cooking equipment etc.
The relief effort was funded by the Yemen Economic Association (?) in addition to private sector donations (+ some sort of army support?) and comes as a response to a call for support from the governor of the province, Mr. Salem Alkhanbashi to help the residents of Abdul-Kuri following heavy rains. 2 people were killed, a girl and a woman + livestock were lost.

سفينة محملة بـ (400) طن من المواد الغذائية إلى جزيرة عبد الكوري

السبت - 29 - مايو - 2010 - سقطرى / الثورة نت/مسعد صويلح


انطلقت اليوم من ميناء جزيرة سقطرى السفينة غريب نواس والتي تحمل على متنها أكثر من (400) طن من المواد الغذائية وإنمائية إلى جزيرة عبدالكوري ثاني كبرى جزر أرخبيل سقطرى بعد سقطرى بمحاظة حضرموت. وأوضح الأخ سعد علي سالمين مدير جديبو رئيس المجلس المحلي أن هذه السفينة والمحملة بمختلف المواد الغذائية من أرز وقمحم ودقيق وتمور ومعلبات ومياه بالإضافة إلى الأدوية والفرش والملابس والآثاث وأدوات المطبخ وغيرها, ممولة من قبل المؤسسة الاقتصادية اليمنية والقطاع الخاص واللواء الأول مشاه وجاءت بناء على توجيهات محافظ المحافظة الأخ سالم الخنبشي لمساعد أخواننا وأخواتنا في هذه الجزيرة النائية والتي تحتاج منا جميعا مزيدا من الرعاية والاهتمام . جدير بالذكر أن جزيرة عبدالكوري تعرضت لإضرار طالت المساكن والمواد الغذائية التي بحوزتهم والثروة الحيوانية إلى جانب وفاة طفلة وإمراة بفعل العاصفة الرعدية وهطول الأمطار الغزيرة خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية

Abd al Kuri hit hard by cyclone‏

Sana’a, May 24, 2010

At least two people- a woman and a girl child, were killed on the Arabian sea Island of Soctora, some 450km to the southeast of the port city of Aden, in the worst flooding to hit the Island in decades, media sources reported Sunday.

They said water streamed down from nearby mountains over the past few days after torrential rain into Abd Al Kuri and the western areas of Socotra Island, including Qalansia, flooding homes and sweeping away many vehicles.

The floods also killed scores of livestock and caused extensive damage to many civilian houses in Hadibou, the capital of the Island. Students were reportedly unable to take their final exams as schools were shut down due to the flooding.

The Yemeni deputy minister of health, Omar Mujali, toured the affected areas of the Island and inspected the scale and size of the damages caused by the floods, according to the sources.

Other articles:
* Yemen Post
* Earth Week

Thanks to the BBC!

As the BBC is currently shooting a new "Africa" documentary series, Socotra got included in their wish list. We were more than happy to give our advice. In return the BBC contributed, currently used for the set up of our new website. Best regards to Tooni Mahto for the interview.

Tourism on Socotra is BOOMING!

Almost unexistant at the beginning of this project, now tourism on the archipelago is really booming. The exceptional year 2008 with more than 2500 tourists, got easily surpased last year with a new record of 3786 people visiting the island(s). Hopefully the benefits will also surpase the inconveniances?

More details here!

The full SKP-storey on the web soon!

Finally, after a decade of exploration, a new website is under construction.
Already 1200 pictures are watermarked, ready for an online release scheduled in spring 2010.

The following url is reserved www.socotra.be