O Sinai! Your sand dunes are like soulmates!!

It was years ago when I was set off from my home country Turkey southbound to Egypt. Though it was not a huge abstraction from my own culture, which is Islamic, I was unaware the destiny shaped by the abysmal discrepancy of Egypt.

So I deserted the tumultuous urban life of Cairo, heading towards Sinai Peninsula. One cannot descibe the idiosyncratic nature and mesmerizing beauty of Sinai, but to simply put it, a magic blend of nature and supernature. Unequalled underwater beauty, enchanting sand dunes, encapsulated character of the locals and the immensely mystifying nature and absolute nakedness of the desert is nothing but something to help you find and reach your inner self, which is your true self.

My first adventure was snorkelling in the lovely Niaama Bay near Sharm al-Shaikh. The unbelievable underwater scenes of the Red Sea makes Hawaiian and Caribbean waters remain duller.

And the St. Catherine Monastery, which was the pearl of the Peninsula and the unforgettable quintessence of my journey...The most striking moment came when I saw the Badawi (the desertman) grasped the rucksack of one of the guys in our party and threw it on the back of a camel. This was the herald of the exotic atmosphere you're about to taste. Having climbed up to the hills of monastery, tents pitched up,all awaited the famous sunset the day after.

In the meantime, I sip the coffee cooked on the coal fire brought by the Badawi while listening to the music. This is the ultimate hard rock café that you might experience on this planet, and you're trying to cherish these unique moments and live it up to the max.

The daybreak is an unfathomable experience that leaves you speechless. You're at the climax of your trip, and maybe the utmost you will have had in the whole country. You also stroll through the olive- tree- besetted-hills around the Monastery, where you have a "tour d'horizon" throughout the whole Biblical history.