The Sinai Bedouin: a photographic journey

46 Pages·2011·7.771 MB·English

by  Zoltan Matrahazi

-
-
- ~.......::
Zoltan Matrahazi
•
The Sinai Bedouin
a photographic journey
by Zoltan Matrahazi
Smashwords Edition
Copyright Zoltan Matrahazi
2011,
License Notes:
This free ebook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and
shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the
reader is not charged to access it.
For further information and other publications about the Sinai, by
this and other authors, visit www.discoversinai.net.
Cover photo: Bedouin man with camel and the Jebel Barqa ranges in
the bacl<ground.
Introduction
Although the Sinai is part of Egypt, it is a very distinct region. While
the mainland is in Africa, the Sinai, separated by the Suez Canal, is in
Asia. It is a barren and inhospitable - but very diverse and stunningly
beautiful - desert wilderness that has been inhabited by nomadic Arab
tribes, the Bedouin. Most of the Bedouin are from the Arabian Penin
sula originally, arriving in several waves before and after the Arab
conquest. Culturally the Bedouin are still closer to these roots than to
Egypt - some tribes actually expand across borders - and refer to them-
selves as the Arabs.
Life has been simple and tough, with little possessions, living at the
mercy of the elements. Relying mostly on their herds of sheep and
goats to survive, the Bedouin used to move around seasonally to pro
vide grazing for the animals. They also owned date palms in oases and
used to hunt and fish. Important to survival in the desert, the camel is
the symbol of Bedouin life and most families still own camels.
However, life is changing rapidly. Most of the Bedouin today are set
tled in or close to towns, live in stone houses, have cars, satellite TVs
and mobile phones. A lot is being lost, but in a changing world you
have to adapt. The desert cannot sustain their lives anymore as in the
past. People's needs have changed, there are bills to pay, l<ids have to
go to school - and there aren't enough rains anyway these days to pro
vide grazing for all. There is now a new generation of educated
Bedouin coming and - paradoxically - they are the ones who realize
best the importance of their traditions. I believe it is possible to find a
balance, you can have the best of both worlds. There are still quite a
few families who live permanently or seasonally in the desert and
mountains and I hope there will always be some - using new tech
nologies though, but essentially living the traditional way. It is a sim
ple and slow but very beautiful and rewarding life: close to earth, close
to each other and close to god.
Following are glimpses of Bedouin life and their natural environment
in forty images, followed by brief information for visitors to the Sinai.
Part I: A photographic journey
- -
-
-
Inhabited by Bedouin tribes - the Arabs - the Sinai is a vast wilderness
with a variety of landscapes.
There are open sandy plains and high dunes.
0
There are wind- and rain-carved sandstone ranges.
Maize of winding wadis and high plateaus.
In many places narrow canyons can be found at the base of
mountains.
•
•
•
There is water - and life - in the desert: a hidden green oasis.
•
•
...
,
'
The view of the vast desert from a flat-topped mountain.