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Traveller
Morocco |
The first words of a letter from Capt. Gulliver
to his Cousin Sympson inspired me to write
this chronicle, which I hope you enjoy… My
uncle doesn't just like travelling, he loves
it.
 My
uncle is a traveller. In the family, he's
also a living legend. Nobody else in our family
seems to have inherited this energy he possesses
for always moving things around, including
himself. He's often the topic of our conversations
at home. We have no idea where he discovered
this thirst for the unknown and the unattempted.
Is it so different elsewhere or is it his
imagination that makes things appear to be
so wonderful when he recalls them?
Not so long ago, people used to hitchhike
to Kathmandu. My uncle, though, decided this
wasn't necessarily the best way to get around
the world, diversified his methods of transport.
He grew a wisdom tooth I guess. He now uses
most means of transportation to get to his
destinations.
When he comes home, he recounts his countless
experiences to us. His fabulous mental faculty
allows him to relive sensations and impressions
so vividly that I feel I cannot just keep
them to myself, but must also share them with
you.
The climax of my stay in Morocco was, he recounts,
when our guide (an Arab called Youssef) took
us to the edge of the desert to see the sunrise.
Youssef picked us up at 4 in the morning at
our accommodation and from there, we climbed
into a jeep and drove through rocky desert
until we reached the Sahara sand desert. As
if in a movie, the sun then rose towards us
from the horizon. We could not have dreamt
up a more perfect image to encourage people
to visit Morocco. And as if this experience
wasn't enough to give me a feeling for the
life of a North African man, Youssef also
lent me his burnoose. It was an exceptional
moment in my life. Sitting on a sand dune,
I let my eyes dreamily scan the horizon. This
experience gave my trip a totally different
meaning. It gave true meaning to it. I had
come here to escape my own body and soul,
and having done that now and 'returned', I
know I was a different person there for a
short time. The trip to Morocco carried me
away to a totally different world and forced
me to re-evaluate my values and culture. I
realized later that my priorities in life
were no longer going to be the same. One cannot
come back from such a trip the same person.
Sand Doesn't Melt
 Those
who have visited this desert know about the
wind that blows there and its precarious nature.
The sirocco destroys everything in its path,
and the sand that is carried along with this
violent wind doesn't look anything like snow.
It doesn't melt either. What it does is stick
to your skin, as well as hurt and irritates
you.
The strong wind and very strong sun force
the sons and daughters of the desert to completely
cover themselves with thick clothes. The traditional
burnoose or djellaba is the most popular item
on the market in Marrakech. It is worn with
a Moroccan kaffiyeh, an Arab head dress that
consists of a square piece of cloth. This
piece of cloth is folded to form a long band
and then worn on the head for protection.
There are two Moroccos. One is the rich Morocco
that is located along the coastline and in
the mountains. This is where most tourists
gather. This countryside boasts a wonderful
Mediterranean climate, and is an economically
stable area where people can make a decent
living. It is also protected from desert storms
by the mountains that surround the north of
Morocco.
The other Morocco is the sand and desert part
of the country. These regions are the poorest
regions of Morocco due to the desert's meagre
resources, but I found I had more affinities
with the desert people. They are fierce and
strong. They have survived the desert for
so long that nothing can touch them. They
are proud of their outlook on life, and it
is one that incites respect.
With its stable political climate, Morocco
is a country that will allow you to experience
something unique, but not dangerous. And while
your trip to Morocco may not always be conventional
or comfortable, it's a trip that will allow
you to combine the best of travelling.
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Fabulous
sunrise in Morocco
My uncle is real. He is not just the product of
my imagination. He lives and work near Montreal.
Although he might not be my actual uncle, everything
else is true: his travels, the way in which he recalls
them and his habit to come and go noticeably. |
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