We arrive in the White Desert. The name comes not from the color of the sand but from the fact that this part of the desert is covered in CHALK. Chalk on the ground, big chalk rocks, chalk everywhere.

The section that we first explored is called the "Mushroom Forest" by some because it is full of these huge, weirdly-shaped rocks (also made of chalk). Many look like mushrooms, kind of like this one. The landscape is so bizarre. I alternated between feeling like I was at the North Pole (because of all the white everywhere) and feeling like I was in Star Wars (the landscape really feels like it belongs on another planet).

Some people say this one looks like a chicken. I think it looks kind of like someone's head and shoulders, from the side.

Some people say this one looks like a chicken. I just think it looks weird.

Two jeeps of campers who were on safari through the same company as we were.

More of these bizarre rocks.

Sunset in the desert. End of day 1.

Our camp, by morning's light. We camped out every night like this, sleeping out under the stars behind our jeep.

Other camps amongst the rocks.

Shaban and the jeep.

Amy and Shaban chat about our plan for the day.

More big, funny-looking chalk rocks.

THE DESERT.

Amy, walking through the desert.

Me...and my shadow...

The jeep and Shaban atop a chalky dune.

My footprints in the sand.

Shabban and the jeep.

We're on a big chalk dune and are about to descend down it, following these Jeep tracks in front of us.

A palm tree in the middle of nowhere and some jeeps (more campers!).

An ancient Roman well. Ain't no water here now!

The "White House." These rocks are supposedly the remains of a house the Romans built out of the chalk rocks of the White Desrt. Amy and I were skeptical, but who knows...

An amazingly huge tree in the middle of the desert. This picture does not really do justice to the amazingly vibrant greens and yellows and whites of this tree and its tiny flowers, especially against the conrast of the barren desert.

When we got closer to the tree, we were amazed to hear the loud buzzing of hundreds of bees and the chirping of birds. This sole tree, in the middle of nowhere, appeared to be its own little ecosystem!

An up-close view of the beautiful yellow and white buds.

I'm pretty sure there's a tiny bird somewhere in this picture. Ten million bonus points to the person who can find it ;-)

Shaban decided to climb the tree.

A small oasis that Shaban called "Ain Romany" (Roman Oasis). The sand around the oasis is littered with shards of clay pottery that looks like it could have come from Roman pots and vases, but who knows... We hung out at this oasis for a few hours and had lunch here.

A working well!

Amy, at the entance to what Shaban claimed was the remains of an ancient Roman dwelling at the oasis.

Here you can actually see the remains of two walls coming together to form a corner.

Hope springs eternal in the desert.

I'd like to know exactly where this "hotel" is...

The Next Frontier: the bigger rocks and sandier turf on the other side of the road.