I think the thing that first drew me to camels was my associating them with good things, namely Egypt (I once considered becoming an Egyptologist) and Christmas, my favorite holiday. One of my favorite Christmas carols is “We Three Kings” (love those minor keys) and a favorite childhood memory is watching the Claymation Christmas in which the song is sung not only by the kings but also their incredibly groovy camels. I always found the magi more interesting than the shepherds, probably because I’m bookish. (And I love the smell of myrrh). So their trek via camel is as the forefront of my mind at Yuletide.
And it’s not just Egypt but the entire Middle Eastern region, really. You know, the cradle of civilization and all that. Many places there rank high on my travel wish list: everything Egypt, Petra, Cappadocia, a lot of places in Israel including Mareshah, of course. And how cool would it be to experience it all from the back of a camel?
Besides being associated with good things, camels themselves are one of God’s most perfect creatures. They are perfectly adapted to their environment with nostrils that can completely close, extra long eyelashes, and extra eyelids to keep out sand. Their gums are extra tough so they can eat brambles in the desert. Their feet are designed to function on sand the way snow shoes do on snow. They distribute their weight over a larger surface to prevent sinking into the sand the way a horse’s hooves do. You, of course, know about a camel’s capacity to go for long stretches of time without eating or drinking. They are a symbol of endurance, and as a beast of burden, a symbol of strength. To Bedouin and other natives of the region, camels are similar to buffalo in North America. Every part of them is used: milk and meat for food, hair and hide for clothing and brushes, bones for jewelry and tools.
Camels have a unique gait wherein both legs on one side move at a time. Most quadrupeds move differently with their front right leg and left back leg moving and then alternating to front left and back right. It is this unique gait that gives some people a seasick experience when riding them, though I find riding them to be enjoyable. And they don’t spit nearly as much as some teachers I’ve had. Camels get a bad rep as stubborn and ill-tempered. I think they’re like any other domesticated animal. Treat them badly and you’ll have problems. All the camels I’ve been around were well behaved.
Ultimately I think I like camels so much because they remind me of me. They are strong, perseverant, intelligent, and don’t tolerate a lot of bull. They are really quite graceful when they’re in their element. And they’re super cute, in a goofy way. How can you look on those giant, lash lined eyes and that huge grin and not fall in love?