Hotel Kasbah Tombouctou Merzouga

... had breakfast and hit the road by 8am. We stopped about 30 minutes outside Azrou to see monkeys who live in a forest there. The monkeys were friendly and came right up to us for some peanuts. Apparently the forest is full of monkeys. It would be fun to walk deeper in to see them in their natural habitat, but we stayed near the main drag so we could get back on the road. We met several friendly monkeys and got some ...

... The monkey girls sat atop the dunes, pondering the magnificence of such a view with all around them theirs to enjoy in complete solitude. (picture here) After a large Moroccan dinner of couscous, tagine, and Moroccan salads, the girls sat out by a glowing camp fire as Mohammed and the camp's Berber caretaker sang local songs of the desert with the Milky Way streaming in the heavens above. (picture here)

... of childbirth abound. Finally I could hold off no longer and willingly gave way to nature. Totally oblivious of the fact I was in full view of the huge tent and it's occupants, I gave way to the sheer pleasure and relief this action provided. Deed done, I sheepishly readjusted my clothing, filled in the hole and slunk back to the tent, desperately praying that my actions had not been observed by anyone within. I vowed there and then I would never touch red wine again - ever!

I wasnt sure if it was smart to be taking a trip to the desert considering its july and the summer heat from what I've heard is unbearable, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity since I don't envision myself returning to Morocco any time soon. From Marrakesh, its a good 9 hour drive heading due east across the beautiful atlas mountain range to get to the start of the sahara desert. On the way, we stopped at towns such as ouarzazate, which is famous for ...

... don't have to get far out of Marrakech before you are clearly a long way from anywhere and the sense of dramatic isolation is immediate. We shared the tour with a good group of people. Ed and Emily were also from Australia, although Ed was based in Madrid with the Australian Embassy. Ed was our age, but with degrees in History, Law and International Relations - oh, and a stint with the UN working in New York - I was left pondering the full magnitude of resume ...

... we finally reached Merzouga city limits, we were under whelmed by the lack of buildings or structures. At the beginning of the sandy dune paradise, there were a few mud hut-like structures randomly scattered with very little signs. After driving ten hours in the heat and with the sun swiftly setting, our sense of urgency quickly escalated. The more intently we searched for our kasbah (hotel), the more lost and hopeless we felt ...

... 30 seconds the air was black with sand and we couldn;t see a foot in front of us, or hear each other. we couldn;t see the hotel, but headed in that direction when we saw lights. it was the 4X4 from the hotel coming out to look for us. we were very glad to get back under cover and to watch the sandstorm rage from the safety of our room. the next day we went camel trekking. we set off at 10.30 on two camels and a berber guide who walked in front. camels are not ...

... I both agreed later, however, that the most beautiful views of the desert were those right outside our window from our palace room. Spent the day driving across the desert, sometimes through sand, at others across rocks, dirt, gravel, and marveled at the landscapes, stopping along the way for pictures, lunch cooked on an open fire in the middle of nowhere and a cup of tea in the small adobe hut/house of a nomadic family. It is amazing to see how these people ...

... We met up with the girls and the guide and told each other about our experiences.. I think Prashant and mine was a bit funnier and more entertaining .. its not every day you get to tell nomads that you're sick then give them water and bread.. that day i felt i had found my calling.. feeding native nomads .. anyway.. From Midelt we travelled down to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara, which was around 36 degrees in the shade. We were still feeling pretty sick and the ...

... What if Mustafa slits our throats and steals our wallets? What if a band of angry nocturnal Arab villains slits both our throats and Mustafa's taking all of our wallets. What if Mustafa simply doesn't want to be around Westerners any more and leaves us there all alone? This thought caused the most dread. In the desert, knowing the direction you want to travel means little. If you try walking where you shouldn't you'll find yourself trudging in ankle deep sand. If ...