Adventures around the Globe

Ok...there is probably one place which I now can say that I enjoyed about Egypt. It is Nuweiba...just after the popular resort for the rich, Sharm El Sheikh...we stayed at Sawa Camp...sleeping in grass huts and ejoying the wonderful view of the Red Sea. The sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species and 200 soft and hard corals and is the world's most northern tropical sea. Unfortunately, it was too hazy for the sea to be red. The intention was to be at Sawa Camp for one night and be on a ferry to Aqaba, Jordan the next morning. However as the officials decided that the sea would be too choppy the next day, they cancelled the ferry...which meant another day in paradise. It was seriously heaven....so relaxing - I would definetely go back to Nuiweiba for a holiday. But it also meant no TV, no internet...absolutely nothing but sun, sand and mossies. So after being bitten on my eyelid and my right cheek....I was also glad to be leaving this morning as I was constantly battling with the mossies during sleep.

Prior to that....it was hiking up the 3750 steps of repetence to the summit of Mt Sinai....ok....I did it the easy way of walking where the camels would walk....but it was still tough and the last 750 steps still needed to be done to see the sunset from the summit of Mt Sinai. The hardest part was probably walking in the dark through the rocky and windy road when the sun set.

Today....was tiring. Due to red tape...we were to arrive at the ferry port at 11.45am to board a ferry leaving around 2-3.30pm. It left after 3.30pm. But it was probably the boarding of the ferry that is so interesting. There were hundreds of locals and a few foreigners taking this speed boat to Aqaba, Jordan. We followed out Intepid group leader from one entrance to board the bus that was to travel us 200m to the ferry. BUt every time we moved the locals moved....and the idea was to get us to the head of the line. When an entrance which could be used was settled....the officials were smacking locals whenever they tried to get in front of us.....it was a pushy event....the same went for boarding the ferry. It also didn't help being the only Asian travelling with westerners as they questioned where I was from and whether I am actually part of that tour.

At around 6.30pm we reached Aqaba...it was really a whole day event. The roads of Jordan are clean and organised. People actually obeyed the lines on the roads unlike Egypt where 3 lanes were created into 6 by the locals that travelled on it it.

Anyway.....I am looking forward to the rest of my trip, especially Turkey. BTW...I am still waiting for Si to join me here. So get your butt moving Si.