Egypt Travel Blog

The Bedouin are simply the best people in the desert. The Bedouin attitude to the desert isn’t sentimental. It's more like that of a coastal dwelling sailor or fisherman to the sea. He may even profess ‘to hate the desert’ but this is just a talk. The desert is in their bones and they are brought up to enjoy its bounty, its freedom and to respect greatly its dangers. Bedouin don’t take unnecessary risks. On any journey more than a walk from the highway they will take two vehicles, pick-ups usually. Sometimes you get people smugglers using a single vehicle as they cross from Sudan. These aren’t Bedouin, who would never take such a risk. In camp they are intriguing to watch. They all work in a kind of coordinated system yet without anyone giving orders. Even the head guide will do food preparation and setting up the camp. There isn’t any sense of the big leder reclining while the minions do the hard work. This sense of innate democracy extends even to travelling. Bedouin can dig their heels in and be reluctant to go somewhere. It may be because they are worried about their camels, or it could simply be that they are getting hungry themselves. But the interesting thing is they are always open to a reasoned debate. If you are set on something and can calmly but persuasively put your point across they will change their minds. Anger and ordering eventually backfire the best method is to sit down and expect a good long session of talking. Through the left hand is traditionally the one used to wipe the backside you will see they eat with both hands, though favoring the right. There is no need to be paranoid about touching someone or something with your left hand. They are far more sensitive to you putting your feet near their faces or food.