The desert, yet another fascinating experience to live in Egypt's Sinai peninsula. I say experience for the desert is much more than just a vast expanse of sand, as I myself once imagined it to be. Today, I am permanently impressed by the incredible variety of landscapes. It is more like a seemingly endless museum of nature's art. Hundreds of different canyons such as the self descriptive colored canyon, white canyon and narrow canyon are accessible as well as sand dunes, oases, lower and higher mountain ranges, surreal rock formations and more than one can possibly describe. Tones, colors and shades change constantly, sunrise and sunset being particularly impressive moments. The night is no less impressive, if you are not illuminated by the moon, you are resting under a curtain of stars.

There are actually numerous animals living in the desert, not to mention thousands of varieties of plants, bushes and trees. A good Bedouin guide will be able to identify animal tracks. It is quite rare to encounter anything in the desert as it 's inhabitants are extremely prudent. However evidence of their passage is quite common. Various lizards are the most spotted species, specially in the hotter months, birds too are often seen and heard. Depending on one's luck, mice, rodents, snakes, foxes, hyrax, ibex, scorpions, hyena, eagles, butterflies, gazelles live in the desert. Often surviving thanks to water retained from the rare rainfall, hunting and moisture in the plants.

Of the thousands of types of plants, many of which are endemic, most also have medicinal properties. The most known one of these being baatharaan, as trong smelling, very bitter tasting plant that is excellent in healing stomach upsets

The lack of sound. light and air pollution comes as a blessing to the senses. The dry wind sometimes carries the fragrance of various desert plants, it flows through the canyons, bounces of mountains and breaks against the bushes to create nature's music. When the wind drops, silence settles in. One's ears ring from the sound accumulated over time. The absence of electricity and electro-magnetic current also contributes to the the relief from tension and stress. The desert therefore has a very powerful relaxing and healing effect, the perfect place to regenerate and cleanse the soul. The effect is almost immediate, in such awesome surroundings, one's everyday problems seem so meaningless. This is surely why the Bedouin tend to be such peaceful people.