Thrill on Silent Hill

It can be cool living in a volcano. Once you get rid of the noxious fumes and the death-dealing molten lava that is. The heart of Aden (in southern Yemen) is in such a place. An ancient volcano, long since extinct, is only recognizable by it's circular crater. It is here that most locals and tourists come to eat, drink (juice that is) and be merry. But simply being surrounded by the saw-toothed hills which envelope the town isn't enough for some. I'm not the kind of guy who climbs hills just for the sake of climbing. I generally need a more tangible reason. Luckily, on one of the outcropping sits the Tower of Silence (best name ever).

Although it usually comes to the surprise of many tourists, Yemen

actually has quite a diverse history. Conquering armies, trading caravans and colonial occupiers have all made their mark in the history and culture of Yemen. Although predominantly Muslim (around 99.9%) there was a time of religious heterogeneity. One of these groups included the fire-worshiping religion of Zoroastrianism. Often mistaken as a fire worshipping religion, it was one of the first (if not THE first) monotheistic religions (belief in only 1 God). But the thing about the Zoroastrians is they didn't want to pollute the Earth with the dead, nor did they want to corrupt fire. So, the only logical alternative was to leave the rotting corpse to the elements and wildlife in specially constructed Towers of Silence (still a cool name).

The tower in Aden lies in complete disrepair. The few remaining followers left southern Yemen in 1967 after the end of British rule. Better resembling mere crumbling homes as opposed to once hallowed grounds, the temple in not actually the main attraction. As real estate agents often say, it's all about location, location, location!! The views from the nearby "make out" point (not the real name), are arguably the best in the city. Expansive 360-degree views range from the mountains to the sea and over the entire crater. AWESOME!!!

Getting to the Tower is fairly easy. At the edge of the crater

are the Tawila Cisterns (an attraction in themselves). From there, follow the wall that leads of to the left. At the end of the wall, take the first right. Go past the mosque where a dirt road lead up the hill to the left. It's about a 20-minute walk uphill, on a very sun-exposed road wannabe. Stair zig-zag through a makeshift shanty-town, eventually leading to the tower site. It is complete free (no one would charge for it). If you do somehow manage to get lost, just say "Parsee" (another word for Zoroastrian) and point in an upward direction. Locals are sure to help. This is Yemen after all.