No Bullets in the Desert

Since my classes in Egypt don’t start till next week a couple of friends and I decided to go exploring the Libyan Desert, (which is actually in Egypt near the border with Libya) and a desert oasis (literally!). After driving 350 kilometers in nothing but desert sand, we finally approached this amazing patch of green trees, which was the Bahriyya Desert Oasis. The Oasis town was amazingly full of life and many Bedouins living in the desert sought refuge there. After spending a night there and getting eaten alive by the crazy bugs we drove 150 kilometers further in to the desert and that is where the real exploring began. Before going in to the desert I had to sign a contract that literally said, “No bullets in the desert” thank goodness they believed my affirmation and off to the desert we went. ☺

Our Bedouin tour guides took us in to the desert in this intense 4x4 and first we arrived in the Black Desert. The Black Desert is actually black because there used to be mountains and volcanoes that eroded leaving a thick layer of black sand behind. It was incredible. After driving further we stopped at a Bedouin cafeteria for lunch, which is basically like a desert truck-stop run by families. We were sort of scammed by them for some water, but we were pretty desperate!

After the Black desert we drove further till we reached the desert springs. These amazing cold springs are heavenly to dip in to in the insane desert heat and the water is so rich with minerals you can’t even see through it! Finally about 100 kilometers further we finally reached the White Desert. The White Desert is white because thousands of years ago it there actually used to be a sea and the water dried up only leaving the salt behind creating a white desert. These crazy rock formations are in all different shapes and are amazing too see!

It was an incredibly long trip, but one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I can’t believe people live there! To give you just an idea of how hot the desert actually was it was well over a hundred degrees and my wallet melted!! Not to mention almost all items made in plastic. I have never ever appreciated a cold shower more in life after that day!

More photos: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563703638lMccCy