Makadi Beach Pharao Makadi Bay

Not much to blog today except that I managed to find the Singapore GP <br>on the TV. Unfortunately on a German station but at least I managed to <br>watch it at least.<br> <br>Can't remember if I mentioned on the diving days I spotted an Osprey <br>nest on one of the marina entrance marker bouys. On the second day <br>both Ospreys were standing together ...

We left Bob Marley Hotel in Luxor at 7am to catch the bus to Hurghada. When we arrived at the bus station there were a few more back packers waiting aswell. Not surprisingly the bus didn't show up! Or it was at least an hour and a half late. We decided to take a mini bus taxi with 6 other backpackers to Hurghada for 450 LE. it was about a 6 hour ride. We were pretty content to arrive in Hurghada until we realized it was coined "Egypt's Party town" It sure changed since I was ...

Our 20th wedding anniversary today which started with some shopping <br>and then the hotel offered us a free meal tonight mainly because of <br>the problems at dinner last night but also because of our anniversary.<br> <br>Rest of the day is quiet with a relax by the pool this afternoon <br>because it is has been really hot today and it helped us cool off.<br> <br>Dinner tonight was excellent in the hotels al la carte restaurant <br>which was all the better because it was free!<br>

Meryl's Birthday and we spent the day on the dive clubs boat going out <br>to Dolphin Point to do snorkelling. It was pretty good to see the fish <br>again like yesterday plus we got to see a few dolphins as well.<br> <br>Got back to the hotel around 5pm and guess what? Another cake has <br>arrived! Woo hoo!<br> <br>Going for dinner tonight on the side of the marina with a show as well.

Wow and wow again, that diving lark was spectacular. I saw all sorts <br>of tropical fish including scorpian and lion, rays and moray eels, BIG <br>moray eels. Plus I got to swim with Nemo, a couple of clown fish came <br>up and said 'hi' it was truly amazing.<br> <br>Had a Dutch instructor called Zietza who was just as crazy as his name <br>suggests but he was good ...

... I suppose fat is more bouyant than muscle.<br> <br>Thankfully there was no one taking pictures of me in my outfit and <br>especially when I bent to take my shoes off, over balanced, fell <br>against my instructor and then flapped around like a duck on its back <br>trying to get back up. This stuff is heavy you know!<br> <br>Once in the water though it was easier to move ...

... as 'Egyptland' <br>by the locals because it has been purpose built as a holiday resort in <br>much the same way that Disneyland is the acceptable facade of America.<br> <br>We've booked our snorkelling trip today for Friday plus I've booked my <br>SCUBA sessions as well. I have a trial in the pool tomorrow and then 2 <br>dives on Thursday.

One thing about multiple centre holidays is that you get to arrive <br>multiple times. This feels like the 3rd holiday we've been on as it's <br>our 3rd check in and welcome and of course another journey to get <br>here, this time it was 7 hours on a coach across the desert.<br> <br>How to explain El Gouna? Well it's hard to believe that we are in the <br>same country. Cairo felt like it was the country's engine ...

... now on the coast in Sharm el Naga, a low key resort with a diving club under Dutch management. The fish are splendid, living within spitting distance from the shore. The first reef is actually 5 meters offshore. Enjoy the days that the boss is not nagging you, Robert, Tanja, Sander and Jasper

... The food is not good, it is not bad, but we got five star food on the cruise, and were kind of expecting a lot of the same. Luckily we had some left over cakes from Gill and John-and those made up for it. There was no entertainment planned for the evening, other than a "club" that played a lot of Bryan Adams and Celine Dion, we decided to forgo it to sleep. No clue where the infamous nightlife is, maybe we will find it tomorrow. -Ash