DESERT JOURNEY

in the Tunisian desert

THE SECRET OF LIFE

 

with Josine Zon, Noor & Akbar Helweg

 

22 April – 3 May 2010

-We invite you on this journey into the desert to resonate with nature: the wind and the sand playing together and forming ever changing visible wave patterns, the intense sun, the little animals and birds living in the desert, the unique bushes and palm trees....

-We invite you on this journey to resonate with the simplicity, joy and loving care of the Bedouins.

-We invite you on this journey to resonate with your own innermost Being, your unique Self.

The desert gives us an immediate sensation of silence, of void, all “superficial” aspects fall naturally away. The essence of Life becomes more evident. The Bedouins show us a lifestyle of joy and care, simplicity and inner richness.

Josine, Noor & Akbar will offer tools to help dive deep into yourself, finding your inner diamond, your unique being and ways to express this. All three are deeply inspired by Sufism, so they will offer some Sufi practices with sound and breath, song and dance. There will also be space for more expressive sessions in singing and body movement to embody your special qualities. One need not have knowledge of Sufism to participate. Sufism is called the ‘path of the heart’, so just feeling is enough. Especially in the desert we will be able to reverberate with all ancient wisdom seekers, who went there to find the ~ Secret of Life.

 

 

Sunrise and sunset meditations are offered throughout our journey.

 

 

Itinerary

Thursday 22 April ~ between 17.00 and 18.00 arrival at the hotel in Djerba. We will have a first meeting and meal together.

Friday ~journey by bus to Douz where we can buy a chech (headscarf) and if you want a burnous (cape to keep you warm). Then we will meet the Bedouins and start our first hours of walking in caravan style. Before sunset we will settle in for our evening camp.

Saturday ~ we walk in the caravan for 2 - 3 hours in the morning and after a long lunch break, another 2 hours. We arrive and settle in our small oasis.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ~ we stay in the same place, visit the village ruins and well and a Holy Shrine and have time to deepen the journey within.

Thursday and Friday ~ walking in the caravan, about 4 – 5 hours, divided in the morning and afternoon, with a long lunch break.

Saturday ~ last morning of walking, simple lunch and goodbyes to the Bedouins. A bus will bring us back to Djerba, where we can shower and have a meal.

Sunday ~ closing meditation, rest of the day free time in Djerba, to go shopping, swimming, etc. Last night in the hotel and dinner together.

Monday ~ Departure.

 

     

 

The Bedouin Guides

This group of Bedouin guides is used to travelling with meditative groups from Europe. They lived a nomadic life style up until about 1995, because it then became impossible due to the lack of water. They are now settled in a small village near Douz. The men carry on their Nomadic life style by guiding and travelling with groups. In the evenings after dinner, sitting around the camp fire, they will sing and dance and tell us about the customs of Bedouin life.

 

   

  

PRACTICAL DETAILS

~ Our group will be a minimum of 12 - maximum 20 people.

~ In the desert we will be guided and taken care of by the Bedouins. The camels will carry our luggage, food, water supplies and if necessary, people. The cook provides us with 3 simple vegetarian meals, dinner is mainly couscous with some vegetables.

~ We will sleep under the starry sky, so a good air mattress and sleeping bag are necessary.

~ There is a big Bedouin tent for sandstorms or to give us some shade if the sun is too hot.

~ Our journey will begin in Djerba. Charter flights go direct, so one is away for at least 2 weeks.

Price for the journey is € 600, which includes 3 nights in hotel Dar Faiza on Djerba, two evening meals, the whole desert trip and bus transport to the desert and back to Djerba.

For your own costs are the round trip flight to Djerba, . meals after our return and if you wish, a chech, burnous, shopping, etc.

Registration: before the 15th of February 2010.

The earlier you book, the easier it is for us and your place is secured.

A deposit of €200 is required. Dutch and German people contact Noor Helweg,

Registration fee for Desert, to SNS bank, account 90.74.32.417, name of PEACEWORKS, Hilversum.

French people contact Josine Zon.

Cancellation is possible up to 15 March, thereafter, no refund.

 

*Please make sure you have proper insurance coverage for your health, baggage and whatever

you feel is necessary.

 

Further practical information will be sent after registration.

 

Info: Noor Helweg    tel.: 00 31 (0)35 6249 570,    helweg@hetnet.nl

         Josine Zon      tel.: 00 33 (0)4 66 25 86 90, josine.zon@free.fr

 

 

Bedouïenenleider Kalifa met Josine Zon