Lost Oasis - Adventures in and out of the Egyptian Desert by Robert Twigger (2007)
Read: March - April 2011
This book was lent to us by some friends, the Primes, who actually know Twigger and are friends with him and his wife. He lives in Maadi and the book is set over a year-long period as he packs up his home in the UK, moves to Egypt and becomes mildly obsessed with the desert. It's a signed copy and the Primes said that the next time Twigger and his wife are over at theirs we'll be invited round for a drink. Now I liked the book, but it's not because we're celeb spotters that it would be cool to meet this man - it just sounds like he does some interesting stuff.
Scotty got on to the book first - probably about a month or so after we were first lent it. I was on to it a few months after he'd finished it, so it's about time to go back to its owners. No problem, as I finish it in about a week and a half as I'm reading it on the bus to/from work. It's been wuite a while since I've had two books on the go at once, but with the other book being the Millenium Trilogy there isn't much opportunity for me to become confused!
This is a great book written in such an easy to read and engaging style. In that way it reminds me of Gordan's motorcycle book (btw surely his Manchester to Cairo must be ready soon?). This isn't always written in a chronological style though and sometimes can jump between time in the desert and time preparing for trips or packing up home in England ready for the move. It isn't confusing, but engaging and you keep reading to see where the next adventure is.
The irony is of course that every move in Egypt is an adventure. The desert doesn't have to be a factor and Twigger finds that going to the Club, finding a car to buy, getting a cart made and having his container shipped are all challenges in their own way. These are nice and reassuring to read that even someone with Egyptian family struggles in the same way that us mortals do. He lives in Maadi in the book and frequents many of the same haunts (including mention of our local pub and the owner!).
The trips in to the desert are good reads; a combination of real explorers, under the watchful and controlled eye of an expert, but with all participants trying to flout the rules in the own way (sneaking booze on the trip and finds off it). Lessons learnt? Drink enough water, but actually try and drink less (by not having any exersion in the middle of the day and getting dressed in long covering clothes in the morning when it is cool to trap the heat in), and always look for shadows that suggest a cave might be found!
Read: March - April 2011
This book was lent to us by some friends, the Primes, who actually know Twigger and are friends with him and his wife. He lives in Maadi and the book is set over a year-long period as he packs up his home in the UK, moves to Egypt and becomes mildly obsessed with the desert. It's a signed copy and the Primes said that the next time Twigger and his wife are over at theirs we'll be invited round for a drink. Now I liked the book, but it's not because we're celeb spotters that it would be cool to meet this man - it just sounds like he does some interesting stuff.
Scotty got on to the book first - probably about a month or so after we were first lent it. I was on to it a few months after he'd finished it, so it's about time to go back to its owners. No problem, as I finish it in about a week and a half as I'm reading it on the bus to/from work. It's been wuite a while since I've had two books on the go at once, but with the other book being the Millenium Trilogy there isn't much opportunity for me to become confused!
This is a great book written in such an easy to read and engaging style. In that way it reminds me of Gordan's motorcycle book (btw surely his Manchester to Cairo must be ready soon?). This isn't always written in a chronological style though and sometimes can jump between time in the desert and time preparing for trips or packing up home in England ready for the move. It isn't confusing, but engaging and you keep reading to see where the next adventure is.
The irony is of course that every move in Egypt is an adventure. The desert doesn't have to be a factor and Twigger finds that going to the Club, finding a car to buy, getting a cart made and having his container shipped are all challenges in their own way. These are nice and reassuring to read that even someone with Egyptian family struggles in the same way that us mortals do. He lives in Maadi in the book and frequents many of the same haunts (including mention of our local pub and the owner!).
The trips in to the desert are good reads; a combination of real explorers, under the watchful and controlled eye of an expert, but with all participants trying to flout the rules in the own way (sneaking booze on the trip and finds off it). Lessons learnt? Drink enough water, but actually try and drink less (by not having any exersion in the middle of the day and getting dressed in long covering clothes in the morning when it is cool to trap the heat in), and always look for shadows that suggest a cave might be found!
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