Comments on: Frankincense and camel-jumping http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/ "To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world" – Freya Stark Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:02:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Andaverde http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-106 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:53:28 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-106 Interesting.

W8ll read further when I have the time.

Keep it up.;

]]> By: Frankincense Trail: travel notes « Quite Alone http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-95 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:33:29 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-95 [...] Tim Mackintosh-Smith, Ubar, UNESCO, World Heritage, Yemen by Matthew Teller I blogged in detail here about Episode One of the BBC’s travelogue The Frankincense Trail, where Kate Humble travels [...]

]]> By: Mti http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-86 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:24:30 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-86 Interesting.

Will read more when I have the time.

]]> By: Mti http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-85 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:22:45 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-85 Interesting.

Will read further when I have the time.

Keep it up.

]]> By: Matthew Teller http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-83 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:27:02 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-83 True – well spotted, Gail!

]]> By: Gail Simmons http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-82 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:55:35 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-82 At least they didn’t make a big thing of qat when in Yemen – another stereotype that is usually trotted out.

]]> By: Matthew Teller http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-81 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:13:33 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-81 Couldn’t agree more about mindset. A bit of pre-trip background research, too.

Interesting point made by the TV reviewer in The Times here:
http://is.gd/2G0sa
- basically saying that if the same travelogue had been fronted by someone who knew the Middle East and could explain it to a Western audience then she simply wouldn’t have bothered watching. The fact that it was Kate Humble as presenter “lulled” her into watching the programme and thereby simultaneously imbibing images and issues that she otherwise would have had no exposure to.

It’s an odd argument – supposedly intelligent heavyweight newspaper advocates style over substance as direct channel to improve cross-cultural understanding – but there’s a grain of truth in it.

However, since the BBC recently stretched to Arab Scientist Explains Arab Science (Jim Al Khalili’s superb series – google him), I think it’s high time for Middle East Expert Travels Through Middle East, instead of a stream of more or less bemused outsiders doing the camel thing ad absurdam…

]]> By: ynotoman http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-80 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:58:37 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-80 they had rather a good guide in Oman – but the re-routes in Yemen, locations in Saudi (Riyadh was the opening Saudi shot I think) and your comment about Gaza combine to add mystery to the issues involved.
Re the veil. Frances Linzee Gordon travelled through Yemen covered from head to foot and found the country wonderful – so I suppose it depends on ones mindset

]]> By: Matthew Teller http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-78 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:58:43 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-78 Thanks @ynot – interesting perspective. What happened with the shoot – were they not given good guides/fixers? I’m not yet sure what the ‘series highlight’ will be: we’ve got the whole Petra thing to come yet, plus all the shenanigans about trying (and, so I heard, failing) to get into Gaza for the final sequence…

Hello @Ruth – lovely to see you over here! The programme should be watchable at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mfzjr
(or is that only for people in the UK? Not sure…)
You should post that comment about the niqab to the BBC Message Board!

]]> By: Ruth http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-77 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:33:01 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-77 It does sound as if it would have been a fascinating programme, what a pity that both you and the DT turned thumbs down. There’s no chance of it’s coming to France, I’ve done a search, but so far anyway no sign of its being on the Net anywhere.

In fact, I rather enjoy wearing the niqab – it’s lovely and private! I wish they had pointed this aspect out.

]]> By: ynotoman http://quitealone.com/2009/08/28/frankincense-and-camel-jumping/#comment-76 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:41:57 +0000 http://quitealone.com/?p=139#comment-76 have to agree with you Mathew – and wonder what happened.
Though not directly involved I knew about the general filming situation; the jigsaw of small details that would create an extraordinary full hour program in Dhofar, just weren’t built in.
So I guess Prince Waleed/Bandar (who when Riz Khan did a program with him – came across in a very tele-visual way ) will be the series highlight and not Luban (or even better Sahaz – as it’s called in Jibali) .
Nit picking about maps – the Oman / Yemen border looks like the old pre 90s one

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