Island of Djerba
Djerba is a five hundred and thirteen Square Km island in the Gulf of Gabes, off the southern coast of Tunisia. Spellbinding beauty permeated its air. As we crossed the causeway that connected mainland Tunisia to the isle of Djerba we were transported to a whole new world surrounded by the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean adorned with spotless white boats. There was an abundance of fruit trees including olive trees, date palms similar to the oasis of Tozeur, as well as orange, lemon and pomegranate trees along the coastline. In the midst of the greenery, snow-white homes or menzels embellished with blue wrought iron trimmings shone like a jewel in the crown of the island. This was perfection personified.
Many travelers across the centuries including Ulysses (often regarded as the first traveler to tread the island of Djerba) had appropriately termed Djerba as the ‘Isle of Forgetfulness’ holding its visitors under the spell of its abiding beauty. Under this spell, one forgot mundane issues and worries and entered a state of peace and happiness.
According to Greek legends, in Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses almost lost his men when the charming maidens of this haloed island fed them the lotus flower.
The men were so pleasantly intoxicated by the lotus that Ulysses found it virtually impossible to make them return to their ships.
A veritable floating garden arose from the sea like a mirage as the island’s spell of forgetfulness continued to enchant those who were fortunate to traverse this land. Ruins from the Roman and Phoenician period were scattered near the causeway.
We reached the Yadis Hotel Djerba, a resort hotel nestled between the beautiful La Marsa beach and a large golf course. Pink bougainvillea flowers surrounded by leaves, along with fragrant yellow and white jasmine flowers adorned the entrance of the resort. We were given a welcome drink, a sweet fruit punch, in the lobby area.
We had lunch at a seafood restaurant on the private beach of the hotel. Glittering white sands, resplendent in the glaze of the noon sun, glimmering waters of the Gulf of Gabes, I felt dazed as if in a dream. I marveled at the extraordinary beauty that God had bestowed upon this land. It was God’s own country. Lobsters, prawns, fish, the seafood poured out as Mr Najeeb ordered a vast variety in his inimitable style.
After lunch I relaxed on the beach soaking in the splendor of these precious moments. Kids swam amidst the waves. Some were riding on jet skis atop high waves and low waves, pointed waves, and curved waves. It reminded me of the dunes of the Sahara of all shapes and sizes. Others were enjoying paddleboats, kayaks, banana boats and speedboats. The elderly basked in the afternoon sun. Young and old enjoyed alike.
Inspired by the kids, I got onto a jet ski for the first time and had the time of my life. I rode along the waves at high speed under the glare of the sun. With strong winds in the background, I drove at top speed before crashing into the Mediterranean with a splash. I was up again in a few moments to continue my journey in the water.
Next it was time for the leisurely banana boat. I hopped on with my family and bumped along gently. As the afternoon wore on, the heat intensified, and I decided to dive into the sea to cool off with a swim. The sea grew more turbulent and tumultuous as it was nearing high tide. I swam with all my skill and dexterity. As the tide rose, I returned to the beach. I rested on the white sands and thanked God for blessing me with this glorious experience. My hair started tasting a bit salty. My sun tan lotion had evaporated.
As the sun began to set on the Mediterranean Sea, my mind went back to the glorious sunsets on the Sahara desert. The sky became an array of colors of orange, yellow and violet. The color of the sea changed rapidly under the glare of the setting sun reflecting hues of orange and yellow in parts. I remembered how the color of the sand dunes transformed turning golden just before sundown. The white sand here on the beach glittered momentarily showing hues of golden before adopting a duller hue.
I freshened up in the room and then had dinner with family at an indoor continental restaurant. I had soup, salad and pasta. After dinner we enjoyed the activities of the resort including live music and dance.
I awoke early the next morning and went for a swim in the long and winding resort pool. I watched the sunrise from the pool as the sun’s disc rose above the sea in the distance. Each moment the color of the sky and sea changed — swiftly changing shades of crimson, red, orange, yellow and gold, reminiscent of the sun rise on the sands of the Sahara, reminiscent at times of the sunrise on the highlands of PNG. As the sun continued its movement, the sky and sea took on their light blue color of the morning. I marveled at the miracles of nature. I took a few more laps in the pool and then headed for breakfast. I ate toast, cereal and coffee and then headed for a game of table tennis with my brother while my father went to play a game of golf. My mother watched us play. I played a round of darts and then snooker before taking off for the beach.
The sun was shining and the beach was slowly filling up with people. The sea was at its placid best. The lifeguards were in position for their daily duty. Cafés by the sea were slowly opening up. I lay back on a reclining chair and started reading a novel. As the heat enhanced, I went for a dip in the sea. The water was cold but warmed up quickly as the rays of the sun intensified. I set off on a speedboat with a group of other tourists. I felt gusts of cool air blow past me. In the distance was the horizon — essentially a mirage that one could ever reach it. As one went towards it, it seemed to move further away. I returned to the beach, dried myself and resumed reading my book.
It was time for lunch. I ate to my heart’s content. I went to the Thalasso (spa) with my mother post lunch for a round of Aroma Therapy for which Djerba was well known. Aromatic oils rubbed on to the body by a lovely Tunisian lady with melodious tunes playing in the background. It was so soothing to the nerves. What a calming experience.
The evening was spent grabbing a drink at the bar with Mr Najeeb as he recounted tales growing up in Tunisia in the years post independence as the country evolved into a relatively prosperous nation leveraging its strengths in sectors like agriculture, mining and tourism with areas like Djerba contributing substantially to the high end tourism segment. Drinks were followed by dinner. Time just flew by. Tomorrow we were to return to our home in Carthage. I couldn’t believe the trip of a lifetime was coming to end in a heartbeat. This trip would be etched in my heart and mind forever. It formed now an indelible part of my memory. I was madly in love with Tunisia and eternally grateful to God for giving me a chance to experience these special moments of life.
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