Mhamid - Buying Jams & Visiting The Kasbah

Mhamid is somewhat like a cowboy town, yet the landscape is one that I find so unfamiliar and alien.  Apart from the blue sky, it's just brown and more shades of  brown.  Dusty, needless to say.  I couldn't help wondering what is life like in a place like this.  As it's desert climate, people stay indoor during the day and only venture out in the evening when the temperature drops.  But what kind of daytime activities going on inside those mud structures?

Maguy took us to the shop that supply her jams so that those of us interested could have a better idea of the selections and sizes.  I am very impressed with the stock in the shop.  We were a little surprised the yoghurts were not kept in fridge but inside the glass cabinet on the counter.

While waiting for the jams to be sorted out, I had a peek inside this souvenir shop.

Inside the souvenir shop.

After a night at the Sahara desert, we arrived back at Maguy's sometime late morning.  The program in the afternoon was a visit to the Kasbah led by Omar.  As Omar only speaks Arabic and French with some English, those of us who followed him had no idea where we were going.  The walk from Maguy's to the Kasbah in the scorching heat was close to an hour.  We were brave, only 10 of us in the group professed such blind faith in Omar and pay no regard to the heat until it looked as if we were going nowhere.

Our walk took us to this part of the town before reaching the Kasbah.

700 years old and this mud structure is still standing.

This group of tourists have just returned from desert trekking.

Omar serving us tea.

The evening market.

Aziz waiting to fetch us back to Maguy's.

Le Drom' Blanc, Mhamid

Everyone is looking a little shattered after some 6 hours journey on the road.  Here we are trying to sort out who sleep where and what - on suite in the main building, only 3 units, tent or bungalow outside.

We were supposed to arrive Mhamid to see the sunset and we were in time to catch the last ray of light.

All those bags in the hallway show that we have just arrived.

I think Maguy wears a lot of black.

Where we would dine and had breakfast.

Someone is checking out the condition of the tent.  Unlike the bungalow it has no door.

The lobby where many of us would congregate and tried to get WiFi.  The signal was very weak, I did not have a chance to get into the internet at all during our 2 night stay.

That's our room, the bungalow.  It is comfortable and cosy inside.  

The very helpful and friendly Omar.

Who would have guessed this is a kitchen in the Sahara desert.

The very glaring morning sun.

After tasting the different jams that were served on the breakfast table, we decided we would make an order some jams to be brought home.  Maguy kindly took the order and made the purchase for us.  I ordered 10 jars of pure date jam. Although others were good, I thought this is something of a rarity I thought. 

Maguy, an inspiring and amazing French woman.

Aziz our driver talking to Lai Fong.

Breakfast will soon be served.

The next morning after our arrival.  We would be departing for the Sahara desert after lunch.

The best couscous. 

A board game that Maguy plays.  Those round pebbles are beautiful.

Siew Ngoh trying to take a picture of Omar's flamboyant pants.

Tabbouleh that was prepared by Omar.

These chicken satay are lovely and they come in big chunks as well.

We ordered a lamb roast in the traditional way on our last evening Maguy's.  She made a date pudding served with caramel to finish off the meal.  It was a splendid evening where it ended with music and dance under the stars.

One last photo of Le Drom' Blanc before we departed.