Very hard to chose from my many treks which one was the best. Wadi rum and Petra awesome but the trip was marred by an aggresive very stinky camel and a guide who could not speak English or French and a cook who kept trying to get into my pants!!
I think for me, the most worry free trip was Tunisia, I found a guy from the internet and he seemed to tick all the right boxes so I went with my gut feeling and put myself in his hands. Thats a big leap in faith for solo lady traveller who only speaks English.
It was a good choice. The company owner quickly realised that I have a deep and profound love for the Sahara and everything in it. I chose to travel just before Ramadan and it was hot hot hot so I decided to do two nights out in the desert then one night in the Hotel ( air con bliss) and then off for another two days.
During the nights away from the desert Mounir called my room every night to check all was well, He took me to the camel station and let me feed the camels and meet his new baby camel. One night he took me to meet a bedouine family, freinds of his and we ate under the stars while the children slept on oblivious to the warm air the peace and the beauty of all around. I still have a small bracelet the bedouine lady took from her arm to give me.
I am a Sufi, it is an ancient mystical path the practices include whirling and chanting. One night Mounir Hammadi myself and the camels set off and Mounir promised me a surprise. Wow what a surprise it was. As the sun sank low and the desert began the beautiful and eerie process of setting itself into the night, I smelled cooking. Cookng, how?
We skirted a dune and i was surprised by the welcoming sight of fire cooking pots and desert bread being made. Not only had Mounir arranged a small party, bless him to the end of his days, one of the guys was a Sufi
Mohamed began chanting and drumming and soon the beating of the drum and the slow chant assailed my heart, the love flowed through me and Itoo began to chant under the stars, the ancient words flowing from me and through me Allah Hu Allah Haq Allah Ya Wadud.... .
In that moment the desert and everything it contained was in me and I was in it. Indivisble One.
How can you put a price on that.
Dear Mounir, he even lent me a camera and a mobile phone after I (scatty hag that I am lol) lost mine.
He is not only 100% good guy with heart as big as the Sahara itself he was born on there and has generations of wisom and knowlege to fall back on. Ah yes and his camels are gentle and cute and they love him lots. <desertenauthentique@yahoo.com>
No comments:
Post a Comment