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Published: August 15th 2006
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Where can you go at the end of October to escape Britains rainy cold climate? Answer - Sinai Peninnsular.
Due to Stan's new job he didn't manage to get time off until the last week of October. In desperate need of some sunshine we decided on Egypt as it boasted 'guaranteed sunshine'.We were not dissapointed, we stepped on the plane leaving temperatures of 10 degrees c. and got off to temperatures of 40 degrees c. Brilliant!
Stan persuaded me to buy a mask and snorkel. A bit apprehensive (I hate putting my head under the water- yes I know I'm a wimp!) I overcame my fear and tried it. Wow! How could I have got to this age and not discovered the whole new world under the sea?
I began by standing in the sea and gazing at a rock underwater, it seemed like any old boring rock to me but as soon as I put on the mask and snorkel what a difference! That 'boring old rock' was teeming with the most colourful fish I have ever seen, all shapes and sizes. As the sea got deeper, so the rock seemed to turn into a deep wall and
I had the feeling I was gliding through the air along side of it. The coral was amazing too, like a colourful garden under the sea.
The clautrophobic feeling I'd experienced when first covering my eyes and nose with a mask was quickly forgotten. The feeling that I was going to wretch with the rubber snorkel in my mouth also dissapeared. I was totally hooked!
Just to add to the experience the bar on the nearby headland began to play soft pan pipe music, just loud enough to be heard with my head under water. How relaxing! I will never hear that kind of music again without being instantly transported back in my mind to that moment.
Being the end of October the sun went down early and it was dark by 4.30 pm, but still VERY warm. Reluctant to drag ourselves away from the beach we tried a snorkel at dusk, there were very few people around and it was then we spotted our first ever lionfish and a scorpion fish. It was as if they only ventured out when most people had left.
I felt quite sorry for the fish in that part of the
more colourful fish
I was amazed when I first put my head under the water! bay as each morning a large group of people went into the water to do water aerobics to load nasty music, I'm sure most of them had no idea what was swimming around their feet as they jumped up and down in time to the music!
Now that I'd mastered the art of snorkelling we decided to join a snorkel trip to Ras um Sid National park. This too was amazing and my first experience of swimming in very deep water, my fear being overridden by the wonderland below me.
Our evenings were mostly spent in Naama Bay with other couples we'd met in our hotel. Naama Bay is a bit false I'll admit, but enjoyable all the same as it was so vibrant and the sound of Egyptian music gently drifted on the air from all directions creating a marvelous atmosphere.
One high point was when we came across a bar where 2 whirling dervishers were performing. I'd never seen anything like this before and was transfixed. As they spun to the music their colourful costumes took on various different shapes. How they kept it up so long in that heat I can't imagine.
All in
Whirling Dervishers.
These men spent ages just spinning and spinning! all, this short trip has only just whetted my appetite and we will be back soon I'm sure!
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