Sinai expedition 2008

   As all of our families adjusted their body clocks to British Summer Time, we, the 35 Wycombe Abbey girls, along with 4 members of staff and 2 Wind, Sand and Stars guides were embracing the drastic transformation into the Bedouin way of life. Upon disembarking the aeroplane, we boarded a coach which took us two hours into the depths of the Sinai desert. Just as we thought our travelling was over, several Jeeps arrived to take us even further away from civilisation. The ride was not a smooth one, hurtling through sand tracks and past treacherous rocks, we joyfully feared for our lives until eventually we came to rest at our camp site. Here, we sat around a camp fire, drinking black tea and eating the infamous Egyptian biscuits, enthusing about the week ahead of us. Little did we know that tea and biscuits would become a regular and treasured feature in our desert lives.

We awoke bright and early with the sun the next morning (which was, according our body clocks, 3:30am!) after a very different night’s sleep. The temperatures had been much lower than one would expect in the desert, and the sand surprisingly rigid, yet still managing to locate itself everywhere possible. However we whole-heartedly ventured on the ‘easy’ morning walk, which involved life-threatening rock climbing, scorching heat and little shelter, before enjoying a hard earned rest at a lusciously green oasis. After this, we were given the afternoon to restore our energy and we enjoyed the free time that we were given to contemplate our new situation.

            The next morning, we were shocked by the presence of 40 camels waiting patiently (but not quietly) to greet us for our three day camel trek. We had intensive days of pain, which in the end brought us closer to our new furry friends, serving as a replacement for our absent pets, some of the most original names being Camelot, Camilla, Humphrey and Camera! Our extensive journey was interspersed with make-shift desert art galleries (or wall paintings as they were better known) and some travelling by foot up rocky pathways in the midday sun. The most enjoyable break came when we walked up one of the largest sand dunes any of us had ever seen. The best part, however, was running down the other side, although not for some, who tumbled, lost their trousers and filled their mouths with sand. Our Bedouin hosts also kept us very well entertained, celebrating with us on our last night together, singing songs and performing tricks. They also impressed us with their speed and agility on the camels, when they competed in front of our very eyes for the title of Fastest Camel Rider.

            After three days with the camels, they left us to spend our last night in the desert. It was here that we realised we were really going to miss the Bedouin cuisine, consisting of chicken, rice, pasta, tuna(!), beans and of course, the irresistible flat bread, which could be combined with any kind of food, sweet or savoury, and fit from breakfast until dinner. We settled down at our usual bedtime just after sunset, and gazed up at the stars one final time. They really were impressive, twinkling is not just a poetic turn of phrase, it is actually visible in the wilderness. Not being the most well-informed astronomers, we were forced to create our own constellations, which served us well in navigating the skies.

            Our journey took a different turn the following day. We packed up and headed for St Catherine’s Monastery, the home of the Burning Bush (which was not, on that day, alight), where we found ourselves packed in between thousands of other tourists. We experienced absolute harmony inside the chapel, admired the priceless ancient artwork and discovered the religious nature of the Sinai desert. In the afternoon, we got a taste of civilisation, stocking up on chocolate and souvenirs, before arriving at the long awaited hotel rooms, fitted with showers! This had become an extreme luxury to us after spending 5 days in the desert with no running water. After cleaning ourselves up, we enjoyed a fabulous buffet, and passed the hours away by playing card games and shaking out our possessions whilst searching for tics. Fortunately, none were found!

            Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) loomed ahead of us, and rising just before the sun, we prepared ourselves for what was going to be the most gruelling day so far. Having survived the desert for the past few days, we did not expect some of the members of our group to fall ill upon reaching the hotel, and it saddened us to have to leave them behind. Others fell victim to dehydration en route, and our once large party was dwindled down to just a determined few. 25 girls, along with one guide and three members of staff stopped along the way to listen to several readings from the Bible which Father Tim had prepared for us, and it really helped to set the scene, and make us understand the true nature of our visit. After 3 hours of climbing, finishing with 200m of steps, we made it to the summit, 2285m above sea level. The feeling was indescribable, the sense of achievement irreplaceable. After the climb down the mountain, we crawled into our coach, and collapsed at our luxurious four star hotel.

            On our final day, we were given the morning to sunbathe, snorkel in the colourful Red Sea, play beach volleyball, and enjoy our final few hours in sunny Egypt. The end of our journey came sooner than expected, and all too suddenly we were greeted by the icy chill of England. However the memories are still warm in our hearts, and we would like to thank Father Tim for accompanying Wycombe Abbey girls to Sinai for the fifth time. Our gratitude also goes to Dr Bates, Mrs Harrison and Dr Dawber for bravely enduring the tough week, bringing their cheerful characters to the group, and to our three guides, Ruth and James from Wind, Sand and Stars, and Musa (our Egyptian guide) who were necessary in every aspect of our lives out there. Returning home, our stomachs filled with water and dioralyte, and our bags filled with Bedouin crafts, we left what had become an intimate community, never to forget the opportunity given to us.

Sophie D and Ellie M