Lately, we Egyptian youth, have adopted what seems to be a very “bizarre” trend of spending our vacations in remote, isolated, and very primitive campsites, mainly across the coasts of the Red Sea.
The reason I’m using the term “bizarre” is because this act very much contradicts our generation’s habit of following whatever that is digital or online. We also show great pride in our up to date “materialistic” objects, whether it’s fashion -related (clothes), technology-oriented (phones/cameras/watches), or automobile (cars/motorcycles). We seem to crave whatever that is accessible via our phones, we follow our favorite brands and influencers on our social media accounts, we order our food online, we get around by calling our transportation via mobile apps, and adopt countless lifestyle habits that count on us being “connected.”
So what makes it so attractive for us to leave all our glamour behind, and head to a “disconnected” retreat? Here is your answer from the point of view of four young travelers after spending three days at the remote Blue Lagoon, Dahab. Amy Frega, Hesham Shakib, Mohamed Medhat, and myself.
We crave nature
Human beings started off close to nature, and no matter what generation or era you belong to, you will enjoy being back in touch with nature.
We have a thing for far, far away places
To reach the Blue Lagoon, you must first drive over eight hours to reach Dahab if you’re coming from Cairo. After that, you need a ride to the Blue Hole, then a camel ride (or speed boat) to Abo Galoum, then another drive to the Blue Lagoon. There’s a saying that goes “The toughest destinations to reach, are also the ones worth going.” We believe in that saying.
Our generation isn’t really “addicted” to technology. That’s a myth
Nothing beats going back to the basics. No electricity, no network coverage, no problem. As long as there’s food. There’s a difference between being addicted, and being caught up on something. Trends come and go, but what’s natural, stays forever.
To wrap it all up, spending a couple of days far away from our daily surroundings and close to nature, is more of a healing process. The disconnection gives you the privilege of reflecting and filtering out the toxins of everyday life, by taking away the necessity of being “there” all the time. When you go away, you zoom out on life, everything becomes clear and you can see the big picture. Give it a try next time you have a vacation.
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