Serenity. The idea of it seems illusory or non-existent in the chaotic, urban jungle many of us live in. But in essence, serenity can be found in pure simplicity – simplicity of surroundings, of emotion, and of thought. It is to find authenticity, mindfulness and purity amid the noise and distraction. Inside the heart of Sinai are many stories of people and places that have come together to build new homes, memories, and spaces of serenity. Justina Abdalla’s story is one of them. Half Dutch and Egyptian, Justina came to Nuweiba a year ago initially for a short holiday, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were turned completely upside down. In just one year, she landed in an abandoned camp (Makati) where she also met Omar, her current husband, which is now repaired and is in transition to a different name: Meraki. “In the beginning it was challenging, because everything was old and broken,” Justina shares. “We lived for many months without water from the tap (only drinking water) and with our basic needs barely met. But slowly, we started to repair, rebuild and re-use everything we could.” Together,…
