I took the decision to go on a Safari with Wild Guanabana as I was trekking down Mount Kilimanjaro!
My light was scheduled for later that day, and I refused to leave, I realized that I still didn’t have enough of this African beauty, that is Tanzania!
I stayed behind and managed to convince a few more climbers to stay with me to venture into the African spreads. And let me just tell you that they are still thanking me for this till this day: D
Almost six months passed since I’ve been on the “Last Tango in Argentina” trip. It’s time to plan my next vacation. But now I noticed a problem! Wild Guanabana raised the bar so high that I can’t find something topping, or even close to, that last experience.
برغم الاصابة اللى فى كتفى و الاجهاد اللى انا فيه دلوقتى ..الا انى حبيت اشرككم فى موقف صغير حصل معايا من اربعة ايام و انا مسافرة
الموقف اللى حصل معايا خلانى احس قد ايه المصرى دلوقتى صورته قدام العالم كله اتغيرت...بقى بطل مغوار ,الكل يحب يكرمه و يستلهم منه القو ة و الصمود
It is difficult to write about a journey the end of which sparked a new beginning in my life. It all started on a day like any other when I was checking my facebook and found a cause on my homepage: ‘The Right to Climb’. Out of curiosity, I checked the link and read about a climbing trip to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with Wild Guanabana, an association offering life-changing journeys to exotic destinations.
I’ve always been addicted to travelling, infatuated by other cultures and languages, excited about exploring new places and people. My last trip to Nepal was –to say the least- the ultimate sum up of all my travel dreams.
When I think of India, a million and one senses jolt my memories. My best friend's wedding and a dream honeymoon drew me to India in 2006. Attending her wedding was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.
It was my giant dream since around fifteen years. After I read the book “Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield I was planning my future adventure. I was looking for the right time and right arrangement. I use to say that things happened to us in the right time.
I’ve just came back to my beautiful country wanting to embrace everyone I care for and share my experience with them, one of my favorite quotes is that of Aldous Huxley "Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you." And I usually add to this quote: the good return of the experience whether it was a bad one or good one, mine was extraordinary !
I recently went on a trip to Thailand and I can assure you it completely took me out of my comfort zone. I was able to meet new people from a foreign culture. I explored a new part of the world and quite honestly I was anticipating this, but what was a shock to me was how much I learned about myself.
When I heard about this camp and how adventurous it will be I was so excited especially when I knew that Omar Samra will be with us because of his past experiences and fame, I was so excited to gain this amazing experience that I even did not read the program.
When I first heard that Momentum Camp was going to Thailand, I got very excited and applied straight away without looking at the trip itinerary. I have always been fascinated by the Asian culture, so I thought it would be a great chance for me to go. After attending the general meeting we had about the trip I got a closer look at what we would be doing over there, and yes I was terrified.
Mountain climbing, a first for the team. Moe, Raed, Anshul, Sachin, Rishabh, YP our cameraman and myself Matt, never expected what we confronted. The idea came to our mind when Moe and I visited Nepal for a Safari last February. Everest gave us a feeling that could not be described in words.
Out of 228 photos I snapped on our 7-day adventure to the summit of Kilimanjaro, I picked this one of a lonely gnarled tree to show you. You can’t help but try to figure out what it looks like… what it reminds you of?. The tree sat just a few minutes from our mountain-foot inn, on a dusty road featuring school children hurrying back and forth.
When I first heard of Wild Guanabana through my cousin, I went on the website to have a quick look but stayed there for hours, going from one page to the other, already discovering new places and meeting new people. I needed to disconnect and was dreaming of traveling differently so I called Omar and told him I had some time in July. And the adventure began!