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Abu Galoum the Lagoon. (2)

 

While you are in that beautiful spot on earth, grounding any negative energies from your body and absorbing peace, is not all what you can do, though it could be enough for some. 

As the lagoon is your base, now you can hike directly on the sea shore whether north in the direction to Newaba, or south as if going to ras Abu Galoum and the blue hole. The cool breeze of the sea is really chilling out.

The Gulf of Aqaba (on which you are on) has a very rich marine-life. More than 100 species of corals, 800 species of fish, and hundreds of species of crustaceans and mollusks (mollusks) . No wonder it has the best diving sites in the world, starting from Ras Muhammad in the south all the way north.

If you don't dive, you'll be amazed of the numerous marine-lives you can spot only by walking on the shore gazing at the water, a live natural aquarium you may say.

It's a heaven for shell collectors I might add; You'll find almost all kind of shells with numerous shapes, and sizes.   

 

   

I took these three photos right off the shore.  It shows how the water is so clear to let you see through, observe, and even take pictures

 

While hiking from the lagoon to Ras Abu-Galoum, I've spotted 16 different species of plants. I took numerous photos though. However and for the first look you'd have the impression there isn't much of flora there. Why? Because most of the flora there, as well as most of Sinai's are shrubs/bushes. Those small bushes scattered in all the wadis growing off the ground from 30 cm up to 2 meters (generally speaking) don't seem as rich flora for some people, if not for the majority, including me for quite sometime. 

 

   They even give you another impression they are almost the same, as they look alike from a distance, while the truth is far from that. Even couple of meters closer, sometimes is not enough to make you distinguish its kind.

Raising your curiosity to know the different species of this shrub or that makes you get closer for more careful examination. And then you'd discover they are not the same as they look from away. Then your eyes become more trained to tell the difference even from a reasonable distance. Then you'd be amazed to know how much valuable they could be. If every single plant is useful for the whole ecosystem, yet to know what each one is about is totally different story. And finally, your hike is not just a simple walk in the nature any more. You'd enjoy more now, learn more and get even more amazed.

           

 

 

 

 
For example, these are photos for a tiny shrub that grows between the rocks which was a bout only 30 cm high. When you pass by it, it just looks like any other shrub. Now see what happens when you get closer and closer

It's well known in Sinai by the names (in Arabic): Samwa and Mashta. The name "Mashta" came from el mesht or yumashet (as a verb) "Comb" in English. And that's because Bedouins have noticed that Camels rub their faces against it, but they don't eat it. It's said that its sticky substance over the leaves works as  a repellent effect for insects

 

 

 

 

In the last decade it has been subjected to extensive overexploitation to be used in folk medicine for curing diabetes. Bedouins use it also to cure insects and scorpion stings and snake bites. And researches are still going on.

 

 

After spending such a great time around the lagoon, it was time to go back home. Now heading north to Neweba through the costal track again, almost 16 km before Neweba is the northern border of Abu Galoum protectorate. At this particular spot where the main protectorate building lies, there are ruins of small houses on the shore. 

Apparently there was an ancient Bedouin settlement at the area sometime ago. A small plain area by the shore that maybe once it had its fresh water resource. 

And some say they were summer houses for Bedouins as they used to spend the hot days by the see where it’s a bit windy. The houses were built mainly from mudbricks and stones, with the use of wood and shells! 

 

 

To this point, and my short yet marvelous trip came to its end. The area still has more places to be explored. Other trips are sure on the way.

Hope you enjoyed this little virtual tour to Abu-Galoum.

Hany el-Zorkany.

 

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