Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Early Christian Cemetary
Near one of the Oases is a large Christian burial area from the first century AD, complete with the remains of a beautiful chapel. I didn't expect to find anything like it in the Western Egyptian desert.
Tea Time
At one of the Oases we stopped for tea and this kitty jumped into my lap. Notice my new white lucite ring given to me by a Bedouin widow as well as the red string that was given to me by a Rabbi in Jerusalem. I consider it a complete set.
Restoring a Ghost Village
Mud bricks dry in the sun before being used to repair the walls of this ancient deserted village. We were the only people there and could easily have spent a week exploring it.
Ghost Village
An entire village from 100s of years ago contained wooden lintels over the doors, describing the past owners and the builders.
The Bedouin Connection
My guidebook states that if you want to see the most direct link to the people who lived at the time of the Pharoahs - you look at the Bedouins. They have maintained their 1000s of years of traditions
including strict traditions concerning marriage.
including strict traditions concerning marriage.
The Desert Taking Back Its Own
The tiny shape of a guy on a motorbike can hardly be seen as the sandstorm tries to reclaim the land taken by the highway.
The White Desert
It is often described as something out of Alice in Wonderland. The white shapes created by nature seem impossible and some actually look like animals.
Desert Visitors
For the entire 4 day trip through the Western Desert of Egypt we met only one other tour group - this jeep convoy of about 50 people. We also ran into a guide who was looking for a small group of people who had gone out into the desert on camels. He had temporarily lost contact with them, but no one seemed worried.
Hardship in the Desert
We had lunch and shopped at this woman's place. She is a widow with four kids and numerous relatives she supports. I ate and shopped and we exchanged cheap jewlery. I gave her my 25 cent bamboo bracelet from Cambodia and she gave me a 50 cent
white lucite ring with red chili peppers painted on it, which I now wear proudly.
white lucite ring with red chili peppers painted on it, which I now wear proudly.More Music - More Tea
As the evening wore on we found ourselves at the club house of a local hotel where Tammer and an impromptu band played for most of the evening. The floor is sand that is covered with rugs, except for a place for an open fire in the middle of the room. There is a hole in the roof for the smoke but it didn't draft well. Everything had an eerie glow to it while the band played traditional Bedouin music.
It was an amazing evening and much tea was consumed.
It was an amazing evening and much tea was consumed.Crashing the Batchelor Party
Tammer was scheduled to play at a bachelor party the evening we were visiting, so he dragged us all along. Just as it is in Laos, it is supposed to bring good luck if a stranger comes to your wedding. The couple should have a great life because Tammer brought all 3 of us.
Bedouin Julia Childs
One evening we had a 7 course meal (and tea) cooked on this single fire. It was the best food I've had on the entire trip.
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