Return from the wild

MANAMA: It changed my life. How many people can say that about something?

We visited nature reserves, rode speedboats and safari trucks, saw rare animals, danced around bonfires, built stretchers (and raced with them), mapped the world, shouted war cries, played tones of activities, cooked, camped, and discovered a new found deep appreciation for the environment.
Activities can be arranged, places can be visited - but nothing, absolutely nothing, can outdo the experience of true friendship, and that is what I truly valued about this trip.
As we sat around a bonfire, savouring what would be one of the last nights that we would spend together, someone said, “If there was ever a league of extraordinary people — I think I’m sitting in it right now.” I could have almost cried (I did, actually), because what he had said was absolutely true. I have never in my life been surrounded by such a warm and extraordinary group of people. So how could I describe it all in a sentence? There’s only one way: The best week of my life
— Fatima Al Alaiwat
Tuesday August 22, was the day it all began! It didn’t take longer than five minutes for the chatter and laughter to start. Every time I introduced myself to one of the delegates from the other countries: “Hi! I’m Noor from Bahrain,” I always received the same response: “Bahrain! Where’s that?” Fatima and I were on a mission, a mission to share our island’s rich culture with the rest of the world!
The mud fight
An eagerly-anticipated tradition for international wilderness experience. We all looked squeaky clean as we headed towards the Botshabelo River where the mud fight was taking place. In about two minutes, it was virtually impossible to tell us apart. All it took was a pile of mud to keep us entertained!
South Africa is a place I will never forget. The memories we shared with one another are priceless. 
— Noor Bu Talal