Dahab Dorms

... the LP here) "the most completely preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt". It was really amazing as it clearly has the most well preserved hieroglyphics we had seen describing many many things (rituals etc). Sarah has become quite an expert at reading and translating these and her...ah-hum...interpretations are really quite interesting and would I am sure open up a whole new school of debate amongst Egyptologists. I am sure that she will do soome for you when we get home ...

... pop out of place on the bus and you had to very painfully get it back in? Well, yes, but I figure I&#8217;m only going to have that opportunity once and I&#8217;m a very competitive person, so if someone else decides to climb a mountain with no trail or ropes, then I have to join them. Not exactly the brightest logic, as my swollen knee could tell you, but it was pretty worth it.<br><br>After a nice dinner, we went to bed early so we would be ...

... around 60 degrees, but after 3 weeks in Egypt it felt below 0. We huddled for warmth at the top of the mountain. An hour in to our "slumber" at the top of the mountain, we had to give in and buy blankets from the children because Brittany's hands had gone numb (even though she was wearing sherpa Lloyd's socks on her hands as mittens). We were woken by nuns singing and 200 people standing around us. To our dismay, two small children had snaked one of our prime seats while we were ...

... a simple lunch under tented shade at a laid-back Bedouin restaurant right on the beach. One day we walked to a nearby Bedouin village and just wandered around the streets, the few shops (I just had to have some street food!) and past simple houses, some with camels 'parked' outside. We heard noise and clapping coming from the grounds of a large building which, on closer inspection, turned out to be a school. There were ...

... They were just out to take advantage of our vulnerability and make some easy money. Were they terrorists? No. They were just simply underpaid, bored, and corrupt. All in all, we had a wonderful time in Dahab not in spite of, but because of our misadventures there. The more I travel, the more I'm growing to suspect that when a trip goes perfectly, it is less memorable and enjoyable. Luckily for me, nothing is ever perfect here in Egypt. And that's what makes my time here so great.

... Scottish guy we found out he was called Arthur and a minister on a month's pilgrimage to the holy lands! He turned out to be the perfect companion as he knew lots about the mountain including the stories about it and its place in history. After a good couple of hours we reached the top, the last bit was the worst as we had to climb 750 steps. The views were spectacular and it wasn't that cold so we sat around resting whilst Arthur went to chat with God. Whilst we were at the top the ...

... Spent the rest of the afternoon sunbathing and reading my book at the hotel restaurant/bar/lounge area. Very nice to sit and soak up the sun. Dahab doesn't feel like Egypt, more a Western touristy resort but for a few days I don't care. Egypt when not part of a package tour and having everything organized for you is intense and I can do without that for a few days. <br><br>Went to watch the Scotland v Ireland 6 nations match at a bar. Terrible. Never ...

Dahab 15 - 16 November After a gruelling 10.5 hour bus ride that involved numerous checkpoint stops, where one lady and her luggage was removed from the bus and not allowed to reboard, we made it to the Dahab bus station. The only problem was there was no one to meet us as promised, and we did not know the name of the hotel. Added to the mix, there was no public phone. There were also two Aussie girls and a South African girl in a different group ...

... ready to go to the next one. There are also simple Bedouin restaurants, doof style set up on the beaches near the sites where you could order tea or cold drinks. <br><br>We saw wonderful coral, jellies and sea cucumbers and made so many new colourful fish friends, there are over 1000 species here in The Red Sea. Many of the fish are glamorously coloured and seemed to show off their hues by parading themselves very close to us. Other times we would swim right through ...

I just received word that my grandfather died yesterday morning. He had been diagnosed a few short weeks ago and the family had been preparing. Still, it's hard for everyone. <br><br>The death of our grandparents is something we all expect to face. Unfortunately, my sister and I have had two losses in a very short time. My mind has been with my entire family over the past weeks, but even more so with my sister. I guess it's the controlling nature I have (call it ...