Journey totheEast
Elena Kozodaeva


This is the second book inthe series Journey tothe East. The book contains essays on my many trips tothe Sinai (Sharm, Dahab, the monastery ofSt. Catherine, the oases ofSinai, Blue Hole, Colored and White canyons, waterfall Ashok, travel toTaba, Nuweiba, El-Tour, RAS Mohammed, etc.). Aseparate Chapter is devoted tothe traditions and lifestyle ofthe Bedouin ofSinai. Here are stories about Jordan (Petra, Aqaba), Tunisia.





Journey totheEast

Notes traveler, part2

Elena Kozodaeva



Elena Kozodaeva,2016



Created with intellectual publishing system Ridero




Sinai roads



Idiscovered this wonderful place quite byaccident. Came somehow inthe midst ofour gray and slushy winter inatravel Agency and asked them tofind me aticket tothe sea and the sun. Certain wishes Idid not, just suddenly wanted blue sky, sea and warmth! And it so happened that fate brought me toSinai! InEgypt Iwas only inHurghada and Cairo, saw Memnon the colossi, the pyramids ofGiza and Karnak temple. But my first trip toSinai in2004was aturning point inmy life. Icant imagine yourself without this edge, he truly became my second Homeland. Inthis book, Igathered their impressions ofhis numerous trips tothe Sinai. Ihope that my experience and knowledge will help tourists inanew way todiscover Egypt.






The map ofSinai.




Sharm El Sheikh


My acquaintance with the Sinai began with the Sharm. Byatwist offate inthe winter Iwent torest inEgypt and saw the Sinai. Icontinue togo here for twelve years, for along time already know all the sights and sharing the experience with those who are going there for the first time.






How beautiful Sharm early inthe morning!



Inside Sharm there are not many places tovisit Old arket, Naama Bay, 1001 nights, the Dolphin show, perhaps, and all. The old town has asmall fish restaurant, where the food is tasty and inexpensive. Irecommend everyone tovisit it. InNaama Bay there is asense togo shopping and take awalk along the promenade. Tourists come toSharm for abeach vacation, well and shopping. And all the interesting places are outside the city.






1001nights inSharm






Inside the complex 1001nights






Couldnt stop myself and made some photos inthe Eastern interior.






Buying spices can be difficult. Especially when such achoice!






How do you like that dried crocodile? Actually he wood.






Partake ofthe local customs and try on the galabya.






Buying aShisha inNaamaBay.




The bedouins ofSinai


The main wealth ofthis region is the Red sea, the sun and, ofcourse, people. Locals (Egyptians, Bedouins and Copts) greeted visitors with asmile, because well aware that the main source ofincome for them the tourists. Ioften had tocommunicate during their trips with many people, some ofwhom Iknow many years. This essay Idedicate tothe Bedouin ofSinai. Bedouins and Copts constitute aminority inrelation toGeneral population ofEgypt, they constitute no more than 10% ofthe total population, but nobody knows the exact figures. Their religion is Islam with all the ensuing consequences.






Women with children work part time that offer tourists tea and jewelry.



The Sinai Peninsula is home to5major clans (families) ofthe Bedouins. Almost everywhere the Bedouin will find adistant relative or acquaintance. Distinguishes these people ofextraordinary hospitality, they are always ready tohelp, toshare the latest piece ofbread and be sure tobuy travelers tea. Probably, these customs produced for thousands ofyears, because life inthe desert very difficult and dangerous. If you dont help today the traveler, it may simply die, and tomorrow you can be inhis place. The Bedouin cherish their families, parents touching care ofchildren, and the children honor and respect their parents. Inthe family usually between 6and 10children, the older look after the younger, but without the quarrels and fights, too, is not bypassed, as inany family. Parents, as arule, not yelling at kids, trying toexplain tothem calmly, but if thats persuasion do not work, you can give afew slaps. Again, all families are different. However, if one ofthe members ofthe family some difficulties, the whole family (and sometimes several families) comes tohis aid. The birth ofachild, wedding, and other celebrations are also marked with the whole family.

The main source ofincome for the Bedouin is the camels (inthe desert), the tourist business, sometimes toflag aprivate car (taxi) and the sea. Many ofthem are engaged infishing, diving. Almost all men-the Bedouin born swimmers, easy dive with mask at 510meters. Women beduini almost cant swim because they have toswim inclothes and not float away. But they are skilled inmaking simple dishes on the fire, the manufacture ofall kinds ofjewelry from beads and shells, hand embroidery. Many times Iobserved how the Bedouins bake bread. Knead unleavened dough, rolled out flat bread and baked it on the coals (ash), or is rolled on ametal circle and also baked on the fire. This bread is delicious with tea, can long shelf life and is an important part ofany meal. The tea is aspecial ritual, which seems also not changed for centuries. Inametal kettle is boiled the water, poured inher tea and placed the sugar, then the tea infuse. Special odor and taste oftea marmaria the grass collected inthe desert. This tea is very fragrant, good thirst quencher inthe heat and warm inthe cold winter days. Bythe way, winter inSinai is very harsh, especially inthe mountains. The temperature at night can drop below zero, and the day torise above 20degrees. Such extreme temperatures and strong winds require warm clothing, rescue blankets made ofcamel wool is very warm and light.






Beduinka bake bread on the fire.



Inrecent decades, many customs have undergone changes. Lets just say society has become more open. For example, now awoman can quietly enter into the room where men sit, closing only with this person. But still the house unofficially divided into female and male half. If the house guests came, men and women can sit together for some time, however, after men drink tea separately, discussing their problems, and women whispering about her on the female half. The man is still the head ofthe family, the main breadwinner and support. Women from the Bedouin are officially unemployed, but because families with many children, Itry toearn some money how can sell beaded jewelry totourists, offer them tea, etc. Many families trying togive their children at least primary education. Schooling is free, but alot ofkids and not always have money for clothes and books. Younger often wears their older (likeus). Actually, the more Ilearn about the Bedouins, the more Isee similarities betweenus (thats the paradox!). Some boys and girls from affluent families receive ahigher education inCairo.




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