Morocco

There’s something about North Africa that has always intrigued the travel bug in me… the food, the colours, the patterns, the architecture, or maybe it’s because it is home to the largest desert in the world. Surely enough, the journey to the desert in Morocco was one of my travel highlights. Guided by a Berber native, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to camp out in the Sahara Desert and absorb Berber culture in its most raw form.

Contrary to the simple living arrangements in the Sahara, the cities of Marrakech and Fez rang in the hustle and bustle of urban life, maze-like souks, and overcrowded taxis. They were homes to delicious tagines, succulent lamb chops, and refreshing spearmint tea. Still, it was the quietness of the villages in Dades Valley and Ouarzazate that struck me the most with their untouched beauty.

The country, while architecturally remarkable and littered with historic cultural gems, was not without its flaws. It was in Morocco where I had felt the most uncomfortable as a female traveller. I experienced multiple first-hand racist remarks and organized scamming tactics, but thankfully the unpleasant exchanges were fundamentally harmless.