Friday noon-time prayers are the most important of all the week's in Islam. What better way to experience them than over the P.A. system in your bus from Cairo to Sharm-el-Sheik? While at a military checkpoint?

The Sinai peninsula and Suez canal are considered strategic assets to Egypt. As a result, the seven hour bus ride traversing these included at least 5 such military checkpoints. It is Egypt's way of displaying sovereignty over the region, maintaining order during its official State of Emergency (now entering its 26 year), as well as combatting terrorism. Though the checks were smooth and soon started to feel routine, they acted as reminders that I'm definitely not in Canada anymore.

The roadsides down the Sinai are mostly barren but for sand, piles of trash, and sand. Though in one particular stretch you could see tanker ships slowly gliding over the dunes... away in the just distinguishable Suez.