Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bedouin Paths Ltd: Bedouin Blues
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 01 - 2009

It is getting cool during the day and downright freezing at night. The Sinai mountains are at an altitude of over 2,400 m, with peaks covered with snow during the winter. Snow is good because it means water for the Bedouin gardens, but it also means less customers because nobody wants to spend a chilly night on a mountain and wake up to frozen pools of water.
As every Westerner knows, Egypt is where the pyramids are and therefore it must be hot. Always. All the time. Explaining to visiting Westerners that actually no, the pyramids are not next door and yes that is real snow; takes some time. We have endless tales of day visitors from the coast wanting to climb Jebel Mousa (Mount Sinai) and arriving in their best beach clothes; only to find that the top of Jebel Mousa at 4 am during winter with a high wind; is shall we say, somewhat cold .
The Westerner has been sold beautiful pictures of the Red Sea, warm diving, radiant beaches and hot days by the pool. This is all true. However, Jebel Mousa is not by the coast, has no beaches and definitely not suitable for sun bathing. But no one has told them this so they remain in beach mode all the way to St Katherine.
They get out of the coach and then a look crosses their face. There is something wrong. Then it dawns on them. How come they have goose bumps? Why are they shivering? And why is the tour guide wearing a fleece?
They stoically start the hike up the mountain around 2 am; tired and cold. Then something else starts to make them think. How come there are so many small lights ahead? And what are those shadows? Then they realize that they are part of a long thin line of pilgrims all making their way to the summit. Jebel Mousa is where Moses received the 10 commandments and thus is one of the key pilgrimages of the world.
The Westerner also has no idea that the summit is maybe 10*10 square meters in total and although that is fine for a small group, it starts to be a bit limiting when there are 500 people there. So they all huddle together for warmth and wait for the sunrise.
Meanwhile those who need to go to the loo find that there are only two toilets, neither of which work.
The Bedouin at the summit do a roaring trade in over priced teas and coffees, while the poorly dressed tourists shiver and shake waiting for the sun to come up. When it does, the pitiful heat makes no difference and after having taken the obligatory photos they are soon practically running down the mountain to keep warm. The Bedouin look upon this with equanimity and see only the business opportunities of selling more hot drinks and warm blankets.
The tourists meanwhile get back onto their coach, heading back to the sunny coast.
Bedouin Paths runs ethical hiking tours out of their Bedouin Camp in St. Katherine in Sinai. Contact mark at [email protected] or call the Bedouin Camp on +20 189662010 or go to the website at www.bedouinpaths.com .


Clic here to read the story from its source.