Blogs from Sinai, Egypt, Africa - page 22

Sunday, June 10, Dahab is a city which grew up around the Red Sea dive site “The Blue Hole” It became famous and busy, frequented mostly by divers and backpackers, and was apparently a place where a cheap good time was available, along with cheap drugs as well. Last April a bomb went off in Dahab and tourism is way off, particularly from Americans, who are so noticeably absent that merchants frequently asked us why there were so few American tourists compared with previous years. I guess the predominant tourist these days is Russian or German. We haven’t seen a whole lot of other tourists, either. And there are 20 or so restaurants with cushioned seats right on the water ready to serve you fresh sea bass, calimari, snapper and shrimp at prices which will ... read more

Dahab, Egypt June 8, 2007 We arrived today in Dahab, a resort city East of Mt. Sinai on the Red Sea. From Luxor we drove 4 hours or so North to Hurghada, another rapidly growing resort. The desert along this stretch of the Red Sea is filled with new condos, new hotels, and new apartments. It has been described as ugly by those who prefer a deserted beach, but I imagine the locals here see this as a tremendous opportunity for jobs and prosperity. No pressure here to dress conservatively, as tourists in shorts and beachware are everywhere. Food is cheap even by Egyptian standards As always, we have been treated very well every where we go; the people here speak a little english, and they all love the tourists and the money they bring. ... read more

More from Dahab. So where did I leave off. I think I had just met a Brit who'd served in the marines in the Iraq and Afghanistan; the mess-o-patamia that we've created…you know spreading democracy and saving the world from Al-queda and the Taliban. I stayed away from the political talk (for once) and just kind of prodded at his experience in the war(s). He spoke pretty candidly of it all, which was a bit surprising, giving that he was in a Muslim country talk openly about killing other Muslims. What I have found is that Muslims in general are pretty excepting (and supportive) of other Muslim, weather they be from Indonesia, Semolina, or Palestine. A Muslim is a Muslim in their eyes. But then again there is that whole Sunni Shia thing. We'll just put ... read more

Again, let me begin by saying...WOW! It just never ceases to amaze me how amazing life is. I know I've gone to a good place when diving is involved. Three dives later I've decided to finally do my advance diving course. How cool is that that I get to do it here in Egypt!!! The price is comparable to Malaysia and Thailand, maybe just a little bit more. That's gonna throw a bit ok a kink into my budget but what the hey it really is once in a lifetime kinda thing. I was gonna do the dives anyways. Started out yesterday with the first dive and it wasn't awesome. For one my powered lenses were not correctly done. Bugger. Yep, that's my new favourite word - bugger! lol...picked it up somewhere... So then the ... read more

Cairo-Suez-DahabTom Griffithurl='/Videos/2600.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/2600.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Dahaburl='/Videos/2602.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/2602.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Message from meurl='/Videos/2692.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/2692.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Helwan the camel Something weird is happening to the world's weather when you get a hailstorm in the Sinai Desert, right on the Red Sea coast of Egypt. Either that, or Allah or God or whoever is really angry. Why else would ice drop on a balmy diving resort in the Middle East, and on Friday the 13th as well? That's exactly what happened here this morning, and the locals are as amazed as the tourists. One guy was running around taking pictures ... read more