Alex and I had intended on getting up early and leaving for the boarder at 9am.... That didn't happen, we ended up sleeping in and didn't get a taxi from Amman to the boarder till about noon :) The owner at our hostel helped us get a good deal on the taxi. We only paid 20 Dinar, the driver didn't seem to want to take us to the boarder at all, although he was trying to get more money to take us the hostel manager was able to talk him down. About half way to the boarder our cab driver started yelling out his window at another cab driver passing us by on the highway... They both pulled over and we were told to switch cars! I have no idea why or what happened because neither ... read more

(December 24th) Alex, Stacy, Tom(another guy staying at the Hostel) and I were up bright and early to catch the morning bus to the Baharia Oasis. The bus ride was not too bad it was just a bit hot. We arrived in Baharia mid-day, I forgot that our seats were up on a step and ended up falling out of it and almost all the way out the bus but someone got up and grabbed me! I got a lovely blue and purple bruise from it on my left thigh. I thanked the guy who grabbed my arm and assured everyone that I was ok because everyone that saw looked concerned! I laughed at myself as I successfully made it off the rest of the bus safely and grabbed my backpack. We were picked up ... read more

I am so glad that we didn't have to find the train station in Cairo on our own, because I don’t think we would have figured it out. It was under construction so it didn’t look like anything, and there were no lights in the front, it was very shady looking! The guy walked us all the way to our sitter car, which was small and had only 3 seats! No door, cold, and a window that banged as the train swayed but nice because we had it to ourselves. I was stuck in the middle, and got no sleep. The train ride was something around 15 hours and I only used the toilet once because it was really gross!!! Breakfast was 30 Egyptian Pounds and was 2 of those rolls we have seen lots ... read more

Shoestring Backpackers turned out to be the best place we could have chosen to stay. They had a closed in parking lot for the car with a guarded gate. As you walk in there is a bar and lots of sitting areas in an open courtyard with a pool(that we decided we would not be swimming in – the water was not exactly clear) Our room was just around the corner to the bar it was simple but clean. Two bunk beds in a plain small square room with a window. The bathrooms were a little more interesting and tattered looking but they served their purpose! We got back to shoestring and Alex decided to shower. Raymond and I plopped ourselves down at the bar and started our first of many drinks! The power was ... read more

Balito Bay is a beautiful place. A real beach paradise with the beach lifestyle, small town size, and big city vibrancy. I loved it there. Once Sam decided she was going to extend her trip in South Africa and was given an opportunity to work in Balito I instantly wanted to go down with her for a bit and help her get settled in. I think it was about 7 years ago that our family went there and we just had the most amazing time so having the chance to go again was not something I could pass by. Chris and Nan offered to let us stay in their flat out there which is right on the beach and absolutely beautiful! We flew down to Balito on Monday afternoon. Sam and I were not a hundred ... read more