Egypt total coastline of about 2700 km, where the Red Sea coast from the north to the southern end of the Suez Canal, about 800 km border with Sudan. I was in February 2003 when a second visit to Egypt, the honor went to a small town located on a trip to Egypt in the southern Red Sea southeast of Marsa Alam (Marsa Alam). Experienced a memorable desert adventure (Safari).
Inland type formed in the Red Sea, four million years ago, surrounded on three sides by desert, because little rain, and there is no river flows into the mainstream of the Red Sea, so the blue sea, the clear exception. Direct sunlight sea, colorful coral tentacles can touch, a variety of fish stream, the Red Sea paradise naturally became unique in the world of diving enthusiasts. Europe has a large number of tourists come every year to develop the northern Red Sea resort. Although tourism is an important source of revenue for the Egyptian economy, accounting for more than 5% of GNP. But in recent years, over-exploitation of natural resources are greatly damaged, mainly in too dense resorts and dive operators pollution of the marine waters, coral reefs and biodiversity loss or damage, as well as visitors leave the desert waste. The Egyptian government had to take measures to protect the southern part of the Red Sea virgin piece of uncultivated yet corrupted. I went to visit the Marsa Alam is the southernmost coastal aircraft can fly. There are two lots south of here recently been designated as a national forest park. Not designated as regional governments within a national forest park only allows developers to sustainable development of tourism projects, are not allowed to set up artificial landscape, the resort only to build eco-hotel. The so-called eco-hotel must try to use the materials in place, in part, the use of renewable raw materials. It offers free supplies as chemicals, waste water directly to the hotel for watering Botanical Garden. Eco-tourism activities such as diving camps, etc. must limit the number of desert adventure, without prejudice to the existence of natural, historical and cultural value as a precondition.
The fastest growing tourism, eco-tourism the highest growth potential in the development of international tourism, environmental protection is growing today, is a tendency to fly fast development, subject to world attention. The media often see "green consumption", "green tourism" and other fashionable word. According to the "Environmental Protection" 2002 7 article introduces the world's tourism industry with an annual rate of 4%, while the growth rate of eco-tourism is as high as 20% -30% market share is expanding rapidly.
Marsa Alam indigenous population of only two hundred come, fishing, livestock for a living. Most of the other resident population working outside the resort owners and staff. Here is a magical land! Creating a unique location and beautiful scenery here. Close to the coastline along the south line of the road, on the left is blue, and the sky even as a sea, the sea is calm, a piece of beaches distributed between the bay dotted with reefs, sea water so clear, crystal, pearl flashes; right is Sahara Desert, rolling hills and rock gods. Blue desert yellow, and the sea, red, grass green floral resort in stark contrast. Here's resort living mostly European tourists, mainly traditional tourism projects are diving camp and desert tours. In recent years, it was only directed at the beginning of the beach sun bathing, relaxation come. Divers need a week of training camp, oxygen bottles back to the sea, due to the time I had to give up diving plan. Here the general down to the depth of 20-30 meters, dive in the water 30-50 minutes slowly float. It is said that a bad coach to teach beginners often grasp the action, only to start snorkeling beginning, that is, no oxygen bottles back, only wear goggles, floating on the sea, with a plastic goggles breathing tube next. To comply with environmental regulations, where the divers are not allowed to touch the coral reefs.
Go uninhabited land, once a desert adventure is the main purpose of my visit. The African desert adventure generally divided into two three, one foot, one kind of camel, one kind of car. Time as short as two hours or as long as 35 days with tent camping. According to environmental regulations, guides can only take up to ten people, and therefore expensive, one person a day to pay about $ 100. I was only one day, on foot could not walk far, do not have to ride a camel, only the car. So spend 650 Egyptian pounds (about $ 150) to rent a car with four-wheel drive jeep with a driver, by a Dutch female boss Kerin desert camp for tour (also have to pay 650 Egyptian pounds), in an Egyptian American experts accompanied the National Tourism Bureau, began a short but very exciting desert safaris. Forward by the tour guide Carin made full preparations, in addition to the anti-car broke down with the instrument, but also prepared a satellite phone, flashlight, plenty of food and water. She said drinking water per person each prepared enough to support ten days, also prepared a water purification tablets, so if the water comes running out, use well water or the need to find an oasis of water.
Jeep along the road to open more than one hundred kilometers later, at around 11:00 in the morning, turn right 90 degrees west drove into the desert. One off the road, the wheel is not so listen to beck and call. The driver is very experienced, along a winding trail to the west desert areas song go. Toss the car slowly creeping east to west Britain deep left leaning in dry valley between hills and rocks. Karen has extensive experience in the early years did guides geologists, geological structure, flora and fauna and other familiar. Her chances in the eighties a chance to the Red Sea, all of a sudden be attracted to this land deeply, from here to take root, is a live 14 years. Over the years, she was back to Amsterdam, except for the occasional visit his elderly mother and siblings, but throughout the year live in the sea, not far from her office tent. But she has repeatedly stressed that "Do not look down upon this tent, it Liangshiyiting, but everything inside the facility, not to pay the rent. My computer connection speed is not necessarily slower than you." She told me she earned Far better to earn more money while doing white-collar workers in the Netherlands that year. Easy to see that she is deeply in love with this piece of land. Among other things, just look at her long been strong ultraviolet damage to the face, neck and back of the hand, it can be concluded that, in addition to the desert, anything else is not so important to her. In contrast, I was afraid for myself because the whole body wrapped airtight sun ashamed endless.
Jeep from time to time in front of a variety of rare species to stop, introduced by Kerin do. For example, there is a tree called Accra, can be used to brush your teeth after chewing the stems. There is a tree called Solomon apple, open flowers is very beautiful, like the mango fruit knot as big, but toxic. Also saw many tamarisk bushes species composition. There is a very short life Compositae chrysanthemum called short-lived, it just needs a little raindrops seeds moist, it will germinate and grow immediately, within a few weeks to complete germination, root, flower and bear fruit, wilted whole cycle . Desert plants appear most undoubtedly cactus, as adapted to arid environments, it becomes succulent stems, you can store a lot of water; it into a needle-like leaves, water can not evaporate, but also to protect themselves from abuse. Here once a year on average drop of rain, every six or seven years only once flood.
Although it is winter, the desert temperature was close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Karen says summer hotter, too hot rocks can not touch. Water has become the most precious thing, here is the survival of the main obstacles. Freshwater plants along the coast with water thanks to the car shipped to various resorts.
Jeep continues to meander along the ancient river gorge in depth, along the way have seen some animals, such as camels, sheep. Even though I did witnessed desert fox, gazelles, jackals, gerbils, rabbits and other rare African hoofed animals, but see a lot of animal feces. Arrived at a place called Gina Xikai (Genel Sikeit) Roman ruins drove about two hours later. It is 50 AD Roman Empire expanded to the whole of Europe on the Mediterranean coast and in the heyday of mining gems here ruins. This depression surrounded by mountains, was once one of at least a thousand people lived in the community. This submerged in the canyon of the town, forming a natural cliff walls; or carving on the hillside surrounded by buildings or rocks piled with stairs, houses. The most notable is a relatively complete preservation Temple. The whole building full cut made from solid rock, a hillside, erected granite pillars, is completely Roman architectural style. Some descendants of the rock wall to leave a message when patronize this place. As in 1818, a German left "a visit" pen card, then people do not see the ecological consciousness of modern man. The place is near a mountain when the Romans abandoned quarry hole, due to time constraints, could not climb. According to Karen said, now able to find some of the pile of abandoned poor quality emeralds in the rocks. Human life in this Roman ruins about 500 years, the sixth century began to be abandoned. Because of climate change, rainfall becomes less, or because the decline of the Roman Empire, no way conceivable.
We happened to encounter stationed there's a United Netherlands and University of Delaware archaeological team to when, where study sites actually built in 2500 BC or AD. One player said to find some clues, but still not sure. Perhaps the archaeological team will reveal to us more southern Red Sea prehistoric to historic Islamic era. Another task is possible archaeological team is continuing to protect the temples and houses collapsed, but no overall restoration to turn it into a newly developed tourist plan. Imagine, water scarcity coupled with DIF, where the living conditions are how hard! Break up, we bless America Dutch archaeological team to complete the task as soon as possible.
Gina Xikai mountains in a quiet, so quiet you can hear your own breathing. Silent Canyon and prosperity seemed to tell the noisy heyday of the Roman Empire in the quiet. On the way back I rarely speak, quietly enjoying the natural magic. Where this otherworldly realm off, you must use the mind to quietly experience, appreciate and enjoy this quiet and comfortable world's most psychedelic view of the Sahara: ancient, temple, depressions, rocks and mountains.
source : Xikai
