It's a small world

While I was in Australia, on my last evening in Melbourne I went to see the musical "Billy Elliot" at the insistence of my nephew who really wanted to see it. Talking to the lady sitting next to me who also happened to be visiting Melbourne and was from Alice Springs. When I happened to mention that I had lived in Morocco she then proceeded to tell me about her friend who had just got back from competing in the Marathon des Sables in Morocco.

For those who don't know, this ultra-marathon is a 6-day, 243 kilometre, endurance race through the Moroccan edge of the Sahara Desert. This year it ran from March 27th to April 6th. Not only are competitors expected to run up sand dunes across stone littered plains being pounded by the hot African sun, but they are expected to carry to their own food, sleeping gear and emergency equipmenton their backs while running. The runners also have water rationed out, about 1.5 litres per stage (not per day).

Hard as it is to believe, 770 people completed the race this year, with not surprisingly two Moroccans filling the first and second place. Only 800 are allowed to participate and hard as it is to believe, there is a waiting list!!!

Back to the Australian connection. Even after training in the Australian desert, my new friend's friend still found it incredibly difficult and the hardest thing he has ever done.

That's Morocco for you!

Here's a video to give you some idea!!

My desert jinx

Again I tried to go to the desert, this time for New Year's Eve, and again my desert jinx surfaced. Last time it was a sandstorm that stopped my nephews and myself spending the night in the desert. This time it was rain! Mind you I did get to ride a camel into the desert ( in the rain) and I did get to spend the night in a tent in the desert, but listened to the pitter patter of rain drops of the hessian as the water pooled above. Thank goodness the hessian had plastic below so I remained dry inside but it didn't help that I had wet jeans to sit and sleep in. So no campfire and no starry sky for New Year's Eve, but I survived.

Instead got up in the morning; the rain had stopped but the clouds interfered with the sunrise.

Although some people staying there were happy to greet the New Year.

Then it was time to get back on that noisy camel of mine The one that didn't like being at the end of the line, but had no choice.

It was a pleasant camel ride back to the auberge without the rain. On the way we saw a number of camel trains heading out to pick up large groups from their overnight camp.

As we neared the auberge there was lots of evidence of the recent rains (not just the previous night) as the lake was much larger than when I visited 9 months ago with my nephews. Then to top it off, we got stuck in the mud when driving out!

Just my luck, after breakfast at the auberge, I walk outside to be greeted by blue skies and sunshine!!Maybe it is thrid time lucky for my desert trip.

Desert, Gorges and Kasbahs

While taking my nephews on a trip exploring some of Morocco's highlights we covered the traditional tourist circuit from Marrakesh to Dades and Todra Gorge, to the desert of Erg Chigaga and back to Marrakesh. With quite a few other stops along the way.

Back to Dades Gorge for my third visit, it was too windy to do the circuit walk up the side gorge so instead we drove to the end of the road for normal vehicles. To travel further 4WD is needed. The switchback road to travel from the base of the gorge up to the clifftop was amazing and is shown in the photo below. We passed villages merging with the earthen colour of the cliffs. While beside the river were a patchwork of green, barley and other crops interspersed with the pink blossom covered peach trees, the light green of the almond trees and the bare brown branches of the walnuts. The gorges remained one of the Moroccan highlights for my nephews visit.
The weather also impacted on our desert visit as a sand storm blew and blew and blew, not blindingly but enough to stop our camel trip into the desert where we were to sleep on the sand, under a Berber tent and marvel at the stars overhead (although there is still not as many as in the southern hemisphere though). Instead we spent the late afternoon and evening lazing around in an Auberge bordering the desert, while the windows rattled. We did get out to see the stars, and the nearby lake, late in the evening after dinner. We returned to the sound of beating drums and singing as some of the locals entertained the other stranded visitors. Not to miss out completely, my nephews did get a camel ride into the desert for sunrise next morning. it wasn't great due to clouds low on the horizon. As I've already been on numerous camel rides, I decided bed was a better option.

A Quick Snap

Travelling over Spring break gave me the opportunity to indulge in one of my passions, photography. Unfortunately rough roads, blowing sand and glaring sunlight don't make it easy. However, early morning and late afternoon provide an ideal time to get some nice photographs of the desert. Although there were ranges of sand dunes, some quite tall, there was also a lot of stony desert with a splash of colour because of the earlier rain. Although it often appears lifeless there were occasional birds, plenty of dung beetles and other tracks on the dunes. Looking back now, I probably should have taken more photos.

This time it was the deserts from Zagora to Erg Chigaga, one of Morocco's two popular desert areas. The other being Erg Chebbi and Merzouga, which I am told is now wall to wall hotels. Not that I remember it being like that seven years ago. The sand blowing is my biggest memory of Merzouga. No photos of that but instead of the sunset after the sand let up.

To me, the most important parts of photography are two-fold; prompting of good memories of travels as time passes and an opportunity to take those who can't physically travel on a pictorial journey to other places. Still it is important to stop and observe the scenery, the people, what is happening around you without always having a camera in hand.

Happy snapping.