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Fishing in Sahara

© Arnvid Aakre

While last article took us deep into the desert, or maybe rather far out in cosmos (what's the difference anyway in being a tiny grain here or there?) - this will take us fishing in Sahara.

First - just sit back in front of your computer - put the fishing rod and net down beside you on the floor for a while, and I will tell you about how I meet my "Desert Teacher".


Media View

As head of a charter operation in Egypt, part of your work is to prepare for and take media around. My philosophy is always to show something "extra", something competing media did not get (- along with the "must see" places of course).

For the right media, a sudden tour on the Nile - banking on an island where one of the best chiefs are preparing a grilled lamb, give a far better story than a more standard Nile Cruise. After the journalists have been eating accompanied with a good wine to the music of reed flutes, white sails appears out of the dark night and dock by the island. Onboard on the traditional Nile sailboat, accompanied only by the amazing starry night and magical sounds from the Nile bank - the tour goes back to the hotel.

Not an easy adventure to forget even for the most blase journalist - and good turnout for any tour operators marketing department...


Into the Desert

This time it was a television team who should come to make a 45 minutes travel program from Egypt. The "must be's" was prepared, they should meet Director of the Pyramids, Zahi Hawass in Cairo and visit the major monuments in Luxor. The producer had brought along his friend Morten Harket for the tour - so the team consisted of the program host, sound as cameraman, in total four persons. I refused to tell them what we should do the first days.

My arrival team was inside the airport in Luxor, and I awaited them outside with a big 4WD desert machine. Had used two days only to negotiate that we could rent the car, which could have space for the film team and my team. Well my team was less, as I only had two drivers with me - we should drive through the night.

All luggages were on the top of the desert machine, only the camera joined us inside (have yet to meet a cameraman or woman leaving the betacam too far away). We crossed the Nile, and after a dinner - our journey into the desert started. Not too comfortable for a long journey, but some bottles of the good Egyptian Stella beer helped. The morning came and we were in the first oasis Kharga. But we did not stop, we should to the next oasis - Dakhla.

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