A Malaysian's trip to the Sinai.
Sinai: Where history and culture meet war and danger
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 ASIA & OCEANIA
BY STAR2.COM
By SHAARI MOHD NOOR
Even before the present security problems that bedevil this Egyptian province, not many Malaysians have ventured into the heart of Sinai. It is an arid and less populated piece of triangular land sandwiched between the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.
I had the opportunity to travel to Sinai with the help and guidance of a former Malaysian student who is a PR working in Cairo. It was in January 2008 that we arrived in the Egyptian capital. After a few days visiting the usual tourist spots in and around Cairo, including the pyramids at Giza, the Nile, and the cities of Alfaiyum and Alexandria, our group of 10 travelled eastward by coach, first entering Suez City before crossing the Suez Canal into Sinai Peninsula which is one of the westernmost parts of Asia.
The first stop was a spot that was a part of Bar Lev Line, once touted by the Israeli military as being impenetrable during the 1973 war with Egypt.
The lone Egyptian soldier guarding the place allowed us to enter the huge bunker still being preserved for show. Some of the Israeli military assets, like cannons and other weapons, were still there. The army uniforms were also on display. These items were left by the Israeli army in their hurry to escape the lightning attacks by the Egyptian army. It was said that the attacks were so intense that some of the Jewish soldiers having their baths ran helter-skelter – buck naked! –to a safer place
We then moved southward along the bank of the Red Sea and arrived at Hammam Fir’aun. It was a cave (grotto) where people could enter to experience the natural steam bath. This ancient sauna was a favourite of the Pharaohs who used to make visits during winter, hence its name.
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Sinai: Where history and culture meet war and danger - Star2.com?
Sinai: Where history and culture meet war and danger
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 ASIA & OCEANIA
BY STAR2.COM
By SHAARI MOHD NOOR
Even before the present security problems that bedevil this Egyptian province, not many Malaysians have ventured into the heart of Sinai. It is an arid and less populated piece of triangular land sandwiched between the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.
I had the opportunity to travel to Sinai with the help and guidance of a former Malaysian student who is a PR working in Cairo. It was in January 2008 that we arrived in the Egyptian capital. After a few days visiting the usual tourist spots in and around Cairo, including the pyramids at Giza, the Nile, and the cities of Alfaiyum and Alexandria, our group of 10 travelled eastward by coach, first entering Suez City before crossing the Suez Canal into Sinai Peninsula which is one of the westernmost parts of Asia.
The first stop was a spot that was a part of Bar Lev Line, once touted by the Israeli military as being impenetrable during the 1973 war with Egypt.
The lone Egyptian soldier guarding the place allowed us to enter the huge bunker still being preserved for show. Some of the Israeli military assets, like cannons and other weapons, were still there. The army uniforms were also on display. These items were left by the Israeli army in their hurry to escape the lightning attacks by the Egyptian army. It was said that the attacks were so intense that some of the Jewish soldiers having their baths ran helter-skelter – buck naked! –to a safer place
We then moved southward along the bank of the Red Sea and arrived at Hammam Fir’aun. It was a cave (grotto) where people could enter to experience the natural steam bath. This ancient sauna was a favourite of the Pharaohs who used to make visits during winter, hence its name.
Continue reading at:
Sinai: Where history and culture meet war and danger - Star2.com?
