Rainbow Hotel Photo

Photographer’s Note

To my knowledge this is the first photo posted on TE of this amazing hotel in the valley of Wadi Do'an. This actually used to be a palace, but has since been converted to a hotel. I love the colours that adorn each panel. There is beautiful detail on each of the posts. The location is incredible, deep in the valley of eastern Yemen, with the gorgeous cliffs around this area.

There are over 100 rooms in this gigantic place, but when I stopped here there was only one german woman who was staying here. For a regular room, which I got shown costs $60 a night. Not overly expensive considering the location, and the history of the building. Unfortunately for me, that was hefty, and how much I had probably spent on hotels the past week. So I ended up staying in a seedier place about 10 minutes from here, and came back in the morning to take some photos.

I believe it's called the Khailah Palace Hotel, as its located in Khailah.

Standa, stego, hispic, robertosalguero, KLB, edytungkal, soulie, avene, jonathan_hart, jusninasirun, jmdias, adores, cfreire, pboehringer, gary91, xuaxo, PaulVDV has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (2763) 2008-01-24 21:30

Hello David,

A beautiful building indeed and very sharp picture. The angle is very effective though the fallen ine on the left is a bit distracting. Good colour balance and excellent light to compose the image. I wonder what this building look like inside. Cheers :-)

Roberto

tinvin (320) 2008-01-24 21:32

nice touch of color to a very arid environment...i like how it stands ou against the blue sky and brown mountains...great

marjan (6081) 2008-01-24 22:03

hi Daivd, this is very nice shot. Interesting motive and good compositon. Your explanation is useful and good too.
Marjan

aadilj (17950) 2008-01-24 22:19

Thats one building I wouldn't have expected in the desert country of Yemen which is known more its stark expanses and textures. I like the perspective you have attained here alongwith the tones and the vibrant colours. Its nice composition

ambar_81 (665) 2008-01-24 22:55

Hi David,
Very nice photo of this colorful building.I liked ur POV very much.
Thanks for share,
Ambar

UnTrained (0) 2008-01-24 22:56

Hi David,
very impressive hotel by colours and architecture, too bad that you had to miss a night but a luck you gave us a chance for a view. Very well done in the morning with good light and a great sky in addition.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

edytungkal (4519) 2008-01-25 0:27

You have shown TE's spirit indeed with beautiful rainbow hotel that never seen before. You have chosen unusual angle but the diagonal result still make it impressive. As Roberto's said the colours balance and sharpness are perfect, Nice post David and interesting story behind it.

daniel

Zolive (1654) 2008-01-25 0:30

Hi David
great shot of this colored building. It contrast very well with the color of the cliff. Well done.
Olivier

KLB (17952) 2008-01-25 0:33

Hello David

Amazing hotel ! The contrast between the austerity of the mountain and this joyful facade is stunning.
The light is well managed to highlight these vivid colors and the sharpness is fine.
Interesting subject, thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Karine

cak (3807) 2008-01-25 5:48

more coloured and legendary building. thank u

barrufeto_77 (25687) 2008-01-25 8:35

Hi David.
As you told us...an amazing hotel! Its different colours are excellent.

Well done!

avene (10938) 2008-01-25 9:10

one of the most interesting photos I've seen recently. look at all those vertical columns, each one carefully painted. superb photo of a most interesting place, David, for me seeing this building would be reason enough to travel to Yemen :)
I like alot how you have composed the shot, the simple and very natural background really make the astonishing building to stand out. superb details and excellent light management, my compliments on the great shot.
best,
Kristine

jonathan_hart (22570) 2008-01-26 2:57

insolite building, nice colours, good light
regards
jo

Senk (2033) 2008-01-26 10:09

Hi my friend

Look the color from this pictures it need, look like toy , good color

Seng

trekks (14262) 2008-01-28 5:27

Such colorful facade for this unique architecture and shot with a great composition.

Interesting hotel concept. TFS

bill

ikas (611) 2008-01-28 20:11

Dear David,

This is very beautiful photo with vibrant colors and nice shapes. Sky and mountain complement the hotel very much.

Take care

Irfan

jusninasirun (10150) 2008-01-29 19:48

Hello David,

I've never seen building painted in so many colors. You have showed us this architecture in wonderful perspective with good lighting against the stunning blue sky.

Thanks and well done.

Jusni

jmdias (19053) 2008-01-30 6:12

daVID

another fantastic view from Yemen. I hope to know this country some day.. Beautiful colors, pov, light and everything else. I think this façade could to give us many other fantastic shots in details

hugs

jorge

sebinho342 (18734) 2008-01-31 1:23

Hi David, your today's picture attracted me in your gallery and i just found next to it this one ! I prefer it cause it permits me to appreciate the wider view and the majesty of this construction. Yes as i've browsed perhaps all yemen picture i think and quite sure that's it's the first time we see it !
Excellent, what a beauty !
On your today's picture, bibiweb's WS is excellent

capthaddock (28640) 2008-02-03 0:52

Wow, what a fairy tale structure, I passed by a similar one, maybe it was the same one, and I was told it was owned by the Bin Laden family, it was on the way to Khureibah, but just off the main Mukalla-Seiyun road, as you first descend into the valley, I like the inclusion of the cliffs above. I will add a photo of the building I saw to workshop (when I find it, it may take a few minutes)

[workshop] [compare] +

stego (22350) 2008-02-09 15:57

Hi David,
Wow! Indeed an amazing and unique building and you caught it beautifully. THe POV isn't so great, namely because it brings out many perspective distortions, but it is much effective and even nice. Considering the talent you show in other posts and looking at the WS of 'master Tan', I guess that the place doesn't allow better POV's.
The clarity is superb, it looks like you chose the perfect time of the day to catch the perfect angle of the sun.
TFS, Regards, José.

hispic (7399) 2008-02-11 1:24

Hi David,
Original color hotel that I have never seen, harmonizing in the blue sky. The effect of the shadow from the light in the morning is intriguing.
Obvious gripping shot!
Best wishes, Hisashi

sacavem (8219) 2008-02-11 2:04

Nice one David
Good balance from colours, good lines in it nice depth.I like it, very good job.
Best regards and a good week.
Filipe

testmaniac (12032) 2008-02-11 8:34

Hello David, great and colorful architecture photo from Yemen.

I like it very much! Cool and very interesting building!

TFS and regards,

Philip

Standa (1861) 2008-02-12 1:24

Hi David,
this is realy amazing hotel. Colours and sharpnes are superb and I feel atmosphere of this spectacular place.
Best regards,
Stanislav

adores (15459) 2008-02-25 17:03

Hi David!
Wonderful building in a very good pov and beautiful colours. Guess it's first time I see this building.Did you find the country safe when you went there? Been wanting to go there for a long time but I'm having some doubts about safety at this moment.

kmarscher (2881) 2008-03-03 18:37

Colorful and graphically interesting this architecture benefits greatly from the painter's brush. It is so intriguing, given the dull facade of the right hand wall? or stone hillside? Congrads on your adventures and travels. appreciate your eye and sharing the results.
Kathy

cfreire (11647) 2008-03-07 14:03

Hi David
Excellent shot. Vivid colors and contrasts. You chose a special of point of view which emphasized the architecture of the house with range of colors. Well done, regards, Consuelo

grantlp (2104) 2008-03-09 21:04

Hi David,
I agree with you, this seems to be the first image on TE, of this wonderful old hotel, and the colours are definitely eye-catching. The array of colours are further emphasised by the natural earth tones of the surrounding landscape. Very good clarity and POV. Well done.
Cheers Grant

pboehringer (770) 2008-03-14 18:25

Hahaha, that was probably what I would have done too. Go to a cheaper place and return in the morning or evenning with the best light conditions to extract what I really want - a good shot during the day and less a lot of money for when I'm sleeping and not seeing anything anyway. Wise choice! Did you use a polarizing filter for this here?
Peter

coco (27754) 2008-04-25 7:53

Hi David.

Really an amazing hotel and also a nice and different picture.

Well done.

gary91 (15321) 2008-06-07 21:43

Hello David,
A pity you could nt stay in this wonderful building. If the inside is as beautiful as it is outside, it must be terrific. The morning lights on these wonderful colors give a very nice picture.
Have a nice sunday.
Best regards, Christian

faubry (32265) 2008-06-08 2:18

hello David, wonderful place and amazing colors....i like how you had caught in diagonale; impressive photo, thanks
francine

xuaxo (5683) 2008-06-26 14:18

Amazing view. Seems like the builder liked Lego ;-)
Beautiful.
F

PaulVDV (5136) 2008-08-08 11:31

Hello David,
It's the first time I see a picture of a building in Yemen with so many colours at the outside. Usually you see the natural colours of the stones (or the mud) together with white paint.
The architecture is very impressive.
Your pictures shows also something of the beautiful surrounding.
Best regards, Paul

scalerman (25711) 2008-08-10 14:12

David: easily a classic architectural topic - the colors of the façade says it all. regards, c