The people, the Socotrans, are unique too. Uniquely kind, hospitable and delightful. Whether a Bedouin or a fisherman we were guaranteed a sense of humour, a broad smile and to a man they exuded a happiness and generosity where xenophobia should be endemic. When we were pushing a skiff out to go fishing or riding into the village bouncing along in the back of a Hilux we felt so welcome. Despite the profound cultural differences we laughed with abandon around the campfire and to be shown the forest of the dragon’s blood trees by the very guardians themselves as we strode amongst the trunks and under the canopies of these magnificent parasols skipping over razor sharp rocks and up and down jagged escarpments barefoot was more than just one sight to behold. Beyond both of these spectacular sights there are still more to be seen.
The Wadi systems that have carved their path through the limestone and granite of the Diksum Plateau surrounded by these weird trees so fantastical in their symmetry could not be more incongruous but more complimentary at the same time. For an island that you think ought to be a desert there is an abundance of this crystal clear fresh water trickling and seeping throughout and this has helped carve the amazing feel of the place. The large bodies of water surrounding the island have done a considerable amount too.
On the wreck dive, a ship destroyed by the relentlessness of the Indian ocean, the abundance of sea life reassured us that the island is so far removed from normality which was compounded when we went to try and spot dolphins. The water off this headland was boiling with pods porpoising and playing. They were so numerous it is still not quite believable. The influence the sea has over the island is fundamental to the beauty of the coastline and the culture whether it is the sheer cliffs dropping into the aquamarine waves below, the vast tracts of dunes or the pristine lagoons and beaches.
This island is not for the faint-hearted as it takes your breath away.
