Starting Our Journey
Michael and I walked to one of the many mountains of the Sinai Desert.
Along the way we saw lots of garbage, some interesting plants, maybe a Fennec fox hole, an ant colony and interesting rock formations.
Fauna and Flora
Sayal or Acacia Tree
SAYAL – the classic desert thorn tree, found in lowland wadis. It’s known as the acacia in English. Camels love eating this and you can use its thorns as toothpicks, needles and other sharp tools. Acacia charcoal is some of the finest in the world for smoking shisha and it’s sold in the markets of Cairo – from Go Tell It On The Mountain
Base of the Mountain
My First Climb
Today was my first time climbing a mountain!
Eventually, I stopped about half-way up the mountain (Michael says I climbed one-third, not half!).
I was too scared to continue with the loose gravel conditions while wearing Converse sneakers.
I guess a beginner mountain climber has to start somewhere, and halfway (not one-third!) up a mountain in the Sinai Desert is a memorable adventure.
Panoramic View
Michael Climbs To The Top and Gets NaKed
At this point Michael and I separate as he climbs to the top while I climb as far as I can.
Michael is an avid mountain climber, with over 40 years of experience.
Some of the mountains he’s climbed are:
- King’s Peak, Queen’s Peak, Crest, and Albert Edward Mountain – Strathcona Park – Vancouver Island
- Mount Toubkal – Morocco, Northern Africa
- Base Camp – Mount Everest, Nepal,
- Kalapatthar Mountain – Nepal
- Seven Sister’s Mountains – Northern British Columbia
- Forbidden Plateau and Comox Glacier – Vancouver Island.
Michael made it to the top, took his clothes off and stood naked while looking over the vastness of the parched terrain.
Video of Michael standing naked at the top. You can’t really see him. This video is for the memory of the moment. As he stands naked, the Call To Prayer echoes out from a nearby mosque.
My Climb Continues – With My Clothes On!
Stephanie Gets Stuck
As I slowly navigated my way back to the bottom, I took what looked to be an easier way.
Nope.
I got stuck and panicked – terrified I would lose my footing on the steep, gravelly pathway in this picture.
So, I crawled back up a ways and found a better way down.
Back on Flat Ground!
With my feet happily on flat ground, I waited for Michael’s return.
Our feet sore and tired, we slowly made our way back to the resort.
S, 🇪🇬
Christmas Break, 2015 – Egypt
Cairo & Giza, Egypt – Arriving – A Childhood Dream Comes True
Giza, Egypt – Tour Guides & Riding Horseback Through The Village of Nazlet El-Samman
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Main Entrance
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Galloping Across The Sahara Desert
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Photo Fun
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Climbing a Pyramid of The Queens
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Riding to Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu Pyramids
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Kissing The Great Sphinx of Giza
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Queen Herepheres’ Tombs
Giza, Egypt – Giza Pyramid Complex – Call To Prayer
Cairo, Egypt – The Egyptian Museum of Cairo
Cairo, Egypt – The Egyptian Museum of Cairo – All Things Tutankhamen
Cairo, Egypt – Koshary El Tahrir Restaurant
Cairo, Egypt – Drive to Souq Khan el-Khalili
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Arriving
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Exotic Apparel
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Animal Life
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Food Vendors
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Colourful World of Souvenirs
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Beautiful Arabic Design & Light
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – The Apothecary’s Market
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – A Labyrinth Of Alleyways & Roads
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – The People
Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili – Mosques, Minarets & Architecture
Giza, Egypt – Canal Overflowing With Garbage
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Walking To The Giza Pyramid Complex
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Climbing The Great Pyramid
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Cheops Celebrity Fun
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – The Camel Guy
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Everything Camels
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Photo Fun
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Conversations With A Pharaoh
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Moments
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Photo Fun
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – The Great Sphinx
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Giza Pyramid Complex – Photo Frenzy
Nazlet El-Samman, Egypt – Christmas Eve – A Few Photos After We Leave The Giza Pyramid Complex
Nazlet El-Samman, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – End Of A Work Day
Sahara Desert, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Locals Come Out To Play
Sahara Desert, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – Sunset Glow On The Giza Pyramids
Nazlet El-Samman, Egypt – Christmas Eve Excitement – The Village At Night
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve Dinner – Cheristo Seafood Restaurant
Giza, Egypt – Christmas Eve – Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel – Final Night In Giza
Cairo, Egypt – Christmas Day – Cairo International Airport – Converse Sneaker Fun
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Christmas Day 2015 – Arriving At Its Vacant International Airport
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – A Quiet Christmas Boxing Day
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Poolside Kinda Day
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Late Afternoon Snorkel
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Off To See The Red Sea On The Yacht Daniz
South Laguna Reef, Straits of Tiran – Yachts Drop The Hook & Raft Together
South Laguna Reef, Straits of Tiran – Diving At South Laguna Reef
Gordon Reef, Straits of Tiran – Snorkelling At Gordon Reef
Gordon Reef, Straits of Tiran – The Wreck Of The Loullia
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Back To The Marina After A Day Of Exploring The Red Sea
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Morning Yoga
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Feeding The Fish
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Genuine Fake Shop
Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt – Exploring The Sinai Desert & Climbing A Mountain
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – A Quiet New Year’s Eve
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – New Year’s Day – Morning Snorkel
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – Snorkelling With A Red Lionfish
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt – Xperience Sea Breeze Resort, Shark’s Bay – New Year’s Day – Final Evening
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