Socota island has its own spoken language which is predating the Arabic. On the island for centuries has existed the so called War of the Poets. Socotri poets dedicate their verses to politics. They use their talent to promote their views and believes and to gain supporters for certain cause. They challenge themselves to poetical battles.

A boy collects plastic bottles that he will use to store milk. For people who live far away from the city, plastic bottles are extremely valuable.

Dead Dragon Blood Tree.

Bottle trees. Locals called these trees “useless trees”.

Night view from the Dragon Blood Tree forest.

Old Bedouin pose for a picture next to the fire in his house in the Dragon Blood Tree forest. Many people migrate towards the city and the villages along the coast, some still leave high in the mountain, taking care for their goats and leaving as their ancestors once did.

Dragon Blood Trees are one of the 700 endemic species found on the island. They are slowly dying and the reason is still unknown. Since the war started in 2015 all environmental programs on the island stopped. Some researchers suppose that the trees are disappearing due to the climate change, others say that it might be because of the over population of goats which destroyed the fragile ecosystem. There are no young trees in the wild.

Fishing is the main income for the natives on Socotra. Each morning they go to an improvised fishing market, around an abandoned building in the capital Hadibu.

Salem (the man on the picture) was born around Dixam Plateau, high in the mountains. He used to live there with his family, but now had to move to the capital, looking for better opportunities. He works as a supervisor in the fish factory. He often visits his parents, wife and four children. His home is near the Dragon Blood Tree forest, so he learned how to collect its precious resin when he was little.

Decades ago people on the island were so starved that they didn't have strength to bury the people who died. They just dragged the bodies to a small cave, leaving them there. Still the islanders rely mainly on fishing and imported rice.

Salma (the woman on the picture) was born in a cave near the Detwah Laggon on Socotra. Her family lived in a cave for decades. Now she owns the land and a small house made of stones. She spent 2 months in jail, protecting her land from neighbors who wanted to took it from her. Salma thinks that the Yemeni government is weak and allows for it to run from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Because of the foreign influence, the culture and traditions of Socotra will soon disappear.

Boys are selling fish on the beach. Some children quit school to become fishermen and start earning money for their families.

Salem (the man on the picture) wanted to study in Europe, but then the War started. He thinks that being part of Yemen is no good for Socotra, as the conflicts never stop. He dreams for peace, no matter who will bring it.

Tank located on the beach left from the Soviet occupation of the island in the past.

Mohammed (the man on the picture) still lives in a cave that belonged to his family for centuries. He is a fisherman. He had sent his little son to study in the village nearby, but he feels to attached to his cave. He tells stories about his meetings with jinns. who he thinks still roam around the island.

Pupils during a class which they study Islam. Sokotri language is not into the school program.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov greets Alternative Foreign Minister of Greece Sia Anagnostopoulou during her official visit in Skopje. Dimitrov and Anagnostopoulou sign an agreement on new border crossing between two countries on March 8, 2019.

North Macedonia Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov meets Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece Sia Anagnostopoulou in Skopje.

Khat market in Hadibu. Khat comes by ship every two weeks.

Jazell Barbie Royale of USA walks on stage during the swimwear round.

Isabella Maquilon of Ecuador poses for the camera after getting her makeup done.

Nann Way Hnin from Myanmar gets her hair done as she prepares for the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Trixie Maristela, from the Philippines, does her makeup backstage. Trixie was crowned Miss International Queen in 2015.

Yaya (L) from China reacts after finalizing in the third position during Miss International 2019. In the background, the two other finalists, Jazell Barbie Royale from US (C) and Thailand's contestant Kanwara Kaewjin (R) wait for their result.

Tiffany Coleman from Nicaragua gets ready backstage before jumping into the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Yaya from China puts her lipstick on as she prepares for the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Tiffany Coleman from Nicaragua gets ready backstage before jumping into the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Contestants walk on stage during the swimwear round.

Contestants wait backstage before joining the swimwear round for Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Contestants wait for their turn backstage during the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Contestants run to get dressed for the next round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Family, friends and contestant's staff follow on TV backstage the final round of the Miss International Queen 2019.

Yaya from China during the national costume round.

Jazell Barbie Royale from US crowned Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.

Tiffany Coleman from Nicaragua reacts after winning the national costume round.

Isabella Maquilon of Ecuador takes a selfie backstage. Contestants use social media to share their experience with their family and friends.

Indah Cheryl from Indonesia backstage.

Jazell Barbie Royale of USA gives interviews to the press after winning the crown of Miss International Queen 2019.

Kanwara Kaewjin from Thailand was one of the finalists.

Isabella Maquilon of Ecuador gets ready backstage before jumping into the final round of Miss International Queen 2019, an annual transgender beauty pageant celebrated in Pattaya on March 8, 2019.