Shortly after 9/11 I was sent to Egypt for a military training exercise but at that point anything was possible, Egypt is definitely a lot closer to the hot spot of the world than Camp Pendleton. While there I would spend majority of my 12 hour guard shift by myself thinking about everything and everyone. I would imagine scenarios of me back home shooting the shit on the block, rocking out on stage with a guitar, anything to keep me from sleeping since I was on the graveyard shift (I preferred it, it wasn't as hot).
Towards the end of my shift I would have the pleasure of seeing the sunrise in Egypt, and I have to tell you I have yet to see a sunrise that matches theirs! The land of Moses, the Nile and countless years of ancient history. Every morning I would hear the call to prayer (Fajr) and then shortly thereafter the most exquisite sunrise I had ever seen. It was a moment where I would not know whether the sun was going up or going down, sort of like purgatory. I am not a religious person, but those were the moments I felt most at peace with myself and the world. Odd how I was in a place a hopscotch away from one of the most conflict ridden areas in the world and yet I felt peace like I have never felt or felt since. (pic below, not mine although I wish I had taken one)
After getting to my hootch, thats what Marines call sleeping quarters, I would pop in my Enya disc and would play the song below, since I was in Africa why not continually hear "Storms of Africa'.
One song I wish I had during my trip to Egypt was Desert Rose by Sting, I think it would have been perfect, since I do consider Egypt my Desert Rose.
Towards the end of my shift I would have the pleasure of seeing the sunrise in Egypt, and I have to tell you I have yet to see a sunrise that matches theirs! The land of Moses, the Nile and countless years of ancient history. Every morning I would hear the call to prayer (Fajr) and then shortly thereafter the most exquisite sunrise I had ever seen. It was a moment where I would not know whether the sun was going up or going down, sort of like purgatory. I am not a religious person, but those were the moments I felt most at peace with myself and the world. Odd how I was in a place a hopscotch away from one of the most conflict ridden areas in the world and yet I felt peace like I have never felt or felt since. (pic below, not mine although I wish I had taken one)
After getting to my hootch, thats what Marines call sleeping quarters, I would pop in my Enya disc and would play the song below, since I was in Africa why not continually hear "Storms of Africa'.
One song I wish I had during my trip to Egypt was Desert Rose by Sting, I think it would have been perfect, since I do consider Egypt my Desert Rose.
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