Taste dates, black tea, and play in the sand.

The clusters of bright red dates against the yellow walls, the numerous terraces where visitors can admire the distant desert views, and the patios of the cafes... all make for lovely photo spots in this sandy land.

A journey across the Sahara Desert to the beautiful Siwa oasis.

Many people like to use the phrase "Following in the footsteps of the alchemist" to describe the journey across the Sahara Desert to the Siwa oasis, a phrase derived from Paulo Coelho's book, *The Alchemist*. The most prominent quote is, "If you truly desire something, the universe will help you." However, the character in the book didn't have many of the experiences that the desert generously offers to tourists today. With the ever-increasing wave of tourism , people come to Egypt not only to visit the pyramids and ancient temples but also to expand their activities beyond. The mysterious, arid desert, once a land reserved only for adventurous explorers and large caravans, fully equipped with weapons, food, and belief in supernatural beings, has been transformed by tourism investment into a place for tourists to experience life. Here, people feel as if they are transported back to the distant past, as the traces of ancient civilizations remain intact in the sands.

Even those with little interest in history are likely familiar with Queen Cleopatra, as Pascal aptly put it: "If Cleopatra's nose had been a little shorter, world history would have changed." But what does this woman of legendary beauty, the queen who turned an empire upside down, have to do with a journey across the desert? It's because the Siwa oasis still retains the pristine bathing pool where the queen once immersed herself. Whether this is true or not is debatable; many tourists simply love to visit to touch the clear blue water and feel the coolness of the green oasis amidst the sunny, windy desert sky. Siwa also boasts a strangely turquoise salt lake, an ideal backdrop for photographs with striking color contrasts. To admire the waters where the queen once gazed upon her reflection—isn't that fascinating?

Clusters of bright red dates glisten in the desert sun.

Siwa is quite large, with hundreds of restaurants and hotels, most of them in a rustic style with thick walls surrounded by date palms. There are many date palms in the land of the pharaohs, and many grow in public spaces, meaning visitors can pick them. No one objects to this fun activity, but no one picks too many, because even ripe red dates, if not processed, still have a bitter taste mixed with the sweetness. Clusters of bright red dates against yellow walls, many terraces for visitors to admire the distant desert, the patios of cafes… these sandy landscapes are lovely photo spots for each visitor to preserve memories of their journey. But the most memorable aspect of nomadic life is the pleasure of enjoying tea in the desert. As you hop into an off-road vehicle and speed along the sloping sand dunes, moving further and further away from the oasis, you'll wonder how the ancients traversed the desert – by starlight or sunlight, since there are no clear landmarks. There were only endless stretches of sand dunes, some high, some low, and as we all know, the sand dunes change their appearance with the wind. Then, in the middle of that winding road, as suddenly as it began, the car stopped for passengers to enjoy afternoon tea, the famous black tea of ​​the Middle East, tea brewed with milk that had a truly captivating flavor.

Spreading a tarp on the sand, lighting a portable stove in the fading afternoon sun, and watching the sky slowly change from blue to purple and then darken to reveal the light of the stars—such a poetic evening will remain etched in the traveler's memory for a long time. The further away from comfort, the smaller one feels amidst the vastness of nature. Here, the sky is crystal clear, the universe unfolding before our eyes with billions of brilliant stars. In the stillness of the air, even the most talkative travelers will often fall silent, as it seems every sound could disturb the desert's slumber. While in the sunlight, people enjoy running on the sand, sliding down slopes and laboriously climbing back up, in the evening, the small fire from the camping stove seems to radiate the only warmth, drawing everyone closer together. That's the desert; its magnificent scenery and vastness will allow the mind to soar to a realm of dreams.

Source: https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/nem-cha-la-tra-den-va-choi-tren-cat/