The Present
Trip Start
May 09, 2005
1
29
53
Trip End
Aug 01, 2005
Dahab,
Egypt
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
"The past is history
The future is a mystery
This moment is a gift
That is why this moment is called the present
Enjoy it"
--Allan Johnson
It's funny because all of my new friends here are perplexed as to why I am going back to America. They try and do their own cost-benefit analysis for me...saying that although you can make a lot of money back home the cost of living is higher, etc. Yes, but it really is so much more than just economics. They also want to know what I will do and when I will be back again. I try to explain to them that I cannot foretell the future and that it is very much a MYSTERY to me as it is anyone else. So all I can reply to anyone about the future is: insh'allah.
And as for the moment...I am enjoying it and unwrapping each new day as if it were a present. Although I want to know who out there had to throw in the blazing heat of summer?! It's damn hot, no two ways about it. The nice cool breeze has turned into a hot wind. Oh well, just a good excuse to go to the beach! Which is exactly what I did yesterday and today. I went to Baby Fish, my lovely spot out at the Hilton. Then an afternoon siesta after catching up on the news on Good Morning America and a little Oprah. With the high tourist season fast approaching...everyone seems to be having a party every night. I couldn't walk down the street tonight without having fliers for various parties thrust at me. But that's one great thing about Dahab, the nights are never boring.
Yep, tomorrow is still a mystery to me at this point--I have no idea what I will do or see. I'm still trying to figure out which day trips I want to do in Sinai. I told Anwar I really want to do a camel trek as I love the camels. It was quite funny because he's always boasting of how true of an Egyptian that he is...how his family from Upper Egypt dates back 7,000 years. He gave me the impression that this also made him 'one' with all of the animals. But yesterday as we were walking down my street, there was a freedom camel roaming around. I tried to explain to him one day that the camels might prefer to be free to roam the desert and not be a beast of burden for Bedouins and tourists. I told him that I wanted to set the camels free and he laughed. So now when I see an un roped camel I call it a "Freedom Camel." Anyways, so there was one in the street and they are quite large creatures if you've never seen one up close...much taller and ominous than a horse. They look rather goofy, but I won't underestimate any animal's wit or strength. But this camel looked at us funny and just walked straight towards us. Do camels charge, I thought to myself? Do they kick? Do they spit like everyone says they do? I looked to Anwar for a sign as to how to approach the camel and he instead squealed like a girl and started running the other way. A small Bedouin girl of about 8 years old walked by and said in perfect English "no problem" and ordered the camel aside and took charge of the situation. I looked at Anwar and thought "Upper Egypt--7,000 years huh?!" Anyways, I don't think they have camels in Upper Egypt so much...they mostly use donkeys there. So I'll forgive him this indiscretion into his evolutionary heritage.
