Here we are back from our sojourn in the desert. Jeannie wanted to do this blog but I think I, Jim of Arabia, am best placed to set out the events from last night. After a long long drive 500 kms ten hours (two tantrums and fifty "are we there yets?") with stops on the way arrived at the Doorway to the Sahara -Merzouga and the very nice air conditioned swimming pool restaurant spa kasbah from which we would depart. "My travels today have ended" said our driver Abdou, "But yours have not, ins Allah" (go with god)" or words to that effect- he might have meant "God help you". And went off to his air conditioned swimming pool restaurant room. Oh, I forgot to add that on the way Abdou had questioned whether we really wanted the two hour camel ride or a one hour ride? "We want the two hour ride" insisted JM, "it's in the itinerary". OK...

We get to the camels and straight away Jeannie: "I don't like that camel he looks angry. I don't want to get on. I don't like this ". It didn't help that the camel was groaning loudly and rolling its eyes as camels do. Jeannie had discovered that she suffers from extreme camelaphobia, and we had a two hour ride into the desert ahead of us! One after other we climbed aboard our groaning complaining steeds and each camel lurched to it's feet with rider clinging on for dear life, fear in their eyes and death grip on the saddle horn or steering wheel as JM called it. Except me of course but I am writing this story! I brought up the rear on the last camel, singing America's "camel with no name".

So we set off into the darkening desert on four camels led by our camel man Ali Baba. Actual name Ali but he overheard jan calling her camel Ali Baba and thought she meant him. All the other camel men thought it was very funny and every time they came near us after that they called out "Ali Baba!".
Sunset came, still going but stopped for photos, twilight, still going, dusk still going, night...still going... up and down dunes in the dark, the way lit only by stars. The sounds of the desert, wind blowing sand across the dunes, the camels movements, the groans of the tourists especially Jeannie "I don't like this...tomorrow I'm walking out..Abdou I've changed my mind! I want the air conditioned kasbah!". Even JM was bemoaning the choice of the two hour trip.

For me it was very romantic riding through the night with the stars, and Ali was very kind to Jeannie being careful on the down slopes of the dunes especially in the dark. "Only ten minutes more!" (four times)

We finally reached our camp and were welcomed to the camp by and shown our tent with four mattresses , carpet floors over the sand and tastefully decorated camel hide walls. Each party had their own tent setting in a big circle, with the camels bivouacked outside.

Dinner served at the low table set in front of each tent on carpets and lit by candle lanterns. The three course meal of fruit, desert rat and jeannie's camel was delicious and then the camel men gave drumming, singing and dancing. Early to bed for everyone especially a traumatized Jeannie dreading the return trip.

Up well before dawn and toiletries in the tastefully decorated unisex toilet tent atop a sand dune outside camp. So dark in there i wiped Mick's bottom by mistake. We all climbed the dunes for sunrise, with JM dispensing Lawrence of Bundaberg out into the further dunes for a good sunrise shot. The short dune climb made Jeannie realize the walk-out plan was not an option. Great credit to jeannie she overcame her fear and got back on that camel, and the two hour trek went much more smoothly (and quietly!), and we could see the tracks of many animals all through the desert, and our shadows in sharp silhouette on the dunes. JM kept describing how handsome her camel was and this was only a two hour trip! Back to the kasbah disheveled, unwashed and smelling like camels and walking spraddle legged like cowboys for a fantastic hot shower and a huge breakfast spread of croissants and other pastries, coffee and everything. So hungry i could have eaten my faithful camel .The manager asked Abdou to not bring any more Australians because they eat too much for too long!