Blogs from Taba, Sinai, Egypt, Africa

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Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba December 11th 2015

We departed Sharm El Sheik at 0900 and took the East Delta bus to the Egyptian border crossing at Taba ($6) via Dahab and Nuweiba. I had initially planned to buy plane tickets to fly directly to Jordan, but the cost was so high and I heard to do the trip overland was scenic, 1/5 the cost, fairly easy and relatively safe. We traveled through the Sinai peninsula north up through the mountains along the coast, past Mt. Sinai and other biblical locales. Our bus had several other tourists on it, including two Icelanders and a very loud and obnoxious native Greek NY'er Greg who we befriended along the way. Greg talked non stop about how great Israel was and how he couldn't wait to return after his horrific trip to Egypt where it seemed like ... read more
Bakery tour
Coffee stand

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba February 16th 2012

Hardly anyone visits the serene coastline of northern Sinai. Add to that the fact that it’s mid-February; then factor in the recent strings of kidnappings and other misdeeds that have been occurring in Egypt over the past few weeks and what you get is me, alone on Sawa Beach, reveling in the quietude and the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. The border crossing to get here (surprisingly my first by land on this journey) was incredibly easy. I was the only one there. Guards had to be woken from naps to cursorily inspect my bags and officials had to be called in from lounge rooms to stamp my passport. It was all smiles and “Welcome to Egypt!” I had two hours before the bus left (don’t worry, I’m not hitching) that were easily killed ... read more
Lopsided Hut
Looking South from Sawa
Looking North

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba November 3rd 2011

Before the winter of 2010 set in, I departed on my first holiday outside of Europe. To Egypt, Taba in particular, was the location of my stay. During this period, which was approximately 10 days, I adventured into Cairo and across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. A personal record for flight duration was achieved and came in at 5 & 1/2 hours. Don't act like you're not impressed. We touched down during the evening in an area that was baron and desolate. The coach journey to Taba from the airport streamed through rocky landscape that reminded me of an early still scene in "There Will Be Blood". We passed through checkpoints and abandoned construction sites. My research prior to departure highlighted that our hotel (Hilton) was subject to a terrorist attack a few years back. ... read more
The Pyramids
Hawk off
Lunch in Jordan

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba July 11th 2010

Beach package holiday in Egypt, with a day trip to Petra, Jordan. June 2010.... read more
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Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba January 3rd 2010

We wake up in our amazing beach bungalow to a beautiful view. It seems all the rastas missed Nuweiba and settled to travel to Dahab. As a result Nuwebia has fallen off the map for many tourists and is bliss as a result – not many people, just you, the beach and a few lazy relaxed locals. We love our surroundings and the atmosphere so much that we decide to stay on until lunch before catching an overland bus to Taba. We say our goodbyes to Egypt and cross into Israel/Palestine. Due to our late arrival and our original intentions of traveling to the Dead Sea that night the last bus is already gone. We decide to spend the night in Eilat, which is probably a good thing as I have become sick and eagerly appreciate ... read more
Egyptian Paradise
Our Bungalows by the beach
Crossing into Israel

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba February 26th 2009

With no INTERNET at our hotel, we haven't had a chance to book anything for our next leg. We debated if we wanted to head back up the coast to Dahab for a few days, with a 9 ½ hour drive to Cairo after that, or to do to Suez for a few days, breaking up the journey. In the end we decide on heading to the Suez, partly for some new site and partly to shorten any one days travel. Our hotel has prepared box breakfasts for us and arranged for a taxi to take us to the bus. The taxi driver tries to convince us to pay for a taxi to Suez, but gives a rate of 400 Egyptian pounds - some four times the cost of the bus so we say no. While ... read more
Our taxi to the Suez
Goat on the side of the road

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba February 11th 2009

Day 16 I woke up in the Hilton Taba Resort located at Taba Beach in South Sinai, Egypt. We were allowed to sleep in late that morning, no later than 11am. At 12:00 pm, we were on the bus going to cross the border, leaving Egypt and entering Israel. When we were in line for the passort control, two Russians shoved their way to the front of the line. Also, a Russian lady was shoving through the line. I stepped in front of her so she couldn't get ahead. Then we had to wait in a long line and scan our baggage. That took at least two hours. After entering Israel we got onto another bus and drove to Jerusalem, Israel at the Olive Tree Hotel. We arrived at the Hotel and ate dinner, but didn't ... read more

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba February 10th 2009

Day 15 After breakfast we got into the bus. We were traveling to Taba which takes 6 hours. We stopped twice because of bathroom and stretch breaks. We ate lunch on the bus, boxed lunches. The box lunches came off a bus on the side of the road, they have probably been sitting in the hot sun for hours. Grandpa was the first one to eat lunch. In the boxes were two oranges with a small hole in each, a sub sandwichwith mayo, ham and veggies, chicken flavored chips, and a dessert stick which was chocolate with cream inside. I ate one of my breakfast cookies. After lunch I looked out of my window and saw a pack of dogs running away from the street. We were in the middle of no where! Front, back, side ... read more

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba February 5th 2009

Day 10. Today we traveled to Egypt which took five hours, but we stopped three times and once for lunch. The first and only place we visited today was St. Catherine's Monastery which is where the bush that burned in front of Moses. I saw and touched the bush that burned and and it hasn't moved. The bush is over 2,000 years old and the only one of its kind. As we were leaving, I saw at least 21 cats. There were so many! I saw my first Siamese Cat, it was pretty. I hope to see many more cats and even dogs. There are only 9 people in my group and we have a huge bus. Since our bus was so big, each of us were able to have our own row of two. Our ... read more

Africa » Egypt » Sinai » Taba November 11th 2008

Our second time to Egypt, this time we decided we wanted to go to Taba on the Sinai peninsula rather than the 100mph of Sharm as we hoped it would be a little quieter and less hassle from the locals. Our arrival was at Taba airport which is a military airport was interesting to say the least, long queues to obtain your visa stamp ( £15.00 ) which is a large stamp put in your passport and then you move on to the next box where another chap then stamps your passport with either a stamp to allow travel throughout Egypt or a local stamp which only allows you to stay within the Sinai area. Mine was stamped with the right stamp on my visa sticker and KT's was stamped with the local one as he ... read more
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