ODB Update :: Yeah man, the surf cranks in Yemen

Author: Brandon Foster

25th June 2004

I AM ALIVE, THANK THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!! Land of the Original Gangster!!!!!!!!!!

YEE HAAAAAAA what a trip, once in a lifetime crap boys ….. For those that don’t know Stuart Butler, Toby Anderson and myself just got back from a ground breaking trip to the Middle East country of Yemen.

On arrival we had no idea of what lay ahead, would we end up on the next CNN news broadcast of another dead westerner, would there even be waves or could we end up living as kidnapped bodyboarders in a Bedouin tribe. First off the people were maybe the friendliest people I have ever met unless you were Bush or from Israel. Inviting us in for tea and to sleep even if they had nothing. Everyone here does seem to be a bit too heavily armed with the average person having an AK47, handgun, grenade and the odd Anti-aircraft gun. Most of this is for the ongoing tribal trouble. The original gangsters, ha u kill my brother I kill you and so on and so on for century upon century.

Why, you ask after a 3 day desert trip to get to the coast through the most desolate place on earth, constant bodyguards, 50 degree Celsius temperatures and non-existent roads. I found and got to name maybe one of the best wedges in the world, which I believe, I am the first to ever surf maybe apart from Queen Sheba or the 3 wise men (they were wise u know). It makes it all worthwhile.

After one of my most successful surf discovery trips anywhere I’ve been on, on the mainland we head for an island. Whose name I will not disclose except as Dragon Blood Island out in the Indian Ocean off Somalia (go find it yourself). Here you never had to worry about the dangers on the shore like in Yemen but in the water. Yip Sharks. We found a point break that likens to Raglan and no-one around, except the 3 meter Hammerhead shark that tried to eat me. Soooooooooo scary bru….. Well we found some really good spots there and even got to see some of the rare plants and animals that are solely from that island. All in all I will never forget the time I entered the heart of the Arab world. Thanks to all my new friends and hopefully I will see you all again soon. I challenge anyone who is keen for empty wedges to head to Yemen and be surprised.

Well keep your eyes on your local magazines for the story and pictures you will be shocked …

I am in South Africa now waiting for the Big Wave Event to Begin in Cape Town so stay tuned for updates on the craziness of the SA TOUR >>>>>>>

CHEERS
GOD BLESS
BRANDON “ODB” FOSTER

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