"Siwa Oasis" Siwa by June.b

I've been wanting to come to Siwa since my first trip to Egypt, but wasn't able to due to time limitation and my travel companions who aren't much into it. So I traveled alone this time taking the long distance bus from Cairo to Siwa - direct 12-hour trip.

Siwa is one of those places that you either love it or hate or get inspired.

One of Egypt's most isolated town of about 25,000 people mostly of ethnic berber origin speaking the Siwi language, lies 50kms only away from the Libyan border. So historically, it is located in the ancient Libyan desert.

Siwa is home to the Oracle of Amon which was visited by Alexander the Great in 331BCE to confirm if he was the son of Zeus.

It's a small town where donkey are still one of the most popular mode of transport. So you could feel how it was then and now. It seem time had stood still - people wear their own clothing, seldom that you'll find those wearing western clothing. Public transport, aside from donkey carts - are those tuktuks, motorcycle driven carts with devised roofing.

I've stayed at a place just at the central of the town. I don't know, but I have this old west feel of the town center. You know those holywood old dusty west (minus the cowboys) movies -- dusty street lined with taverns, this one though are lined with stores - that don't sell cigarrettes!!! And couple of restaurants, fruits store, and small hotels.

So whenever you go out expect that you'll be whipped with some dusts on your feet -- if you're wearing flipflops of course.

• Pros:Calm, serene, a rest from the material world.
• Cons:Don't expect luxury here.
• In a nutshell:An oasis of serenity.