A very dear friend came to visit me (a double purpose on visa change) for the weekend. Among the tourist attractions of the island, I have long been dying to see the Tree of Life. A mesquite tree about 400 years old so named because no one has been able to figure where it get its water source. It is said that it is standing in an area with no nearby water source.
Our journey begins with arguing what time we should leave even after discussing the day before that we leave at 9:30 am ( as usual! ). We finally left at ten armed with junk food, water and good music CDs. Just as we were in the area, we lost track of all notice boards and signage that will lead us to the tree. We were circling the deserted area full of oil wells and oil pipes. People are so mean, they wouldn’t stop for a car carrying lost passengers. At one point we considered harassing a police car ahead of us so they would stop and give us directions. When they turned right, I suggested we follow them until they get annoyed but the others decided to retrace our route to look for a marker. In the end, we found someone who told us to go: “sida, roundabout, sida, sida, siiiiiiida, sida, sida” (straight, straight….) Dang! We went the same way the police car went. I should follow instincts all the time. And yes, it was indeed an endless “sida” before we figured that must be the tree wit all the cars parked.
If there is one thing that excited me more though, it is the camels! The wild camels and the not so wild camel that crossed the road waiting for me to finish my shot. The lovable camel snuggling against his mother. The curious camel that laid there immobile staring at us. The weird camel that kept on grunting and stayed put when the European lady next to us petted him/her.
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