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We have just spent three days in Dahab and the contrast to cairo could not be greater! After nine hours on the night (mare) bus - think back seats which dont recline, rocky desert paths, mike nearly getting attacked by a toilet attendant and passport checks all through the night- we arrived at Dahab, a backpacker paradise on the red sea. We were delighted to discover that our hostel was actually a corridor of dorms in a smart dive resort, and that we were using all their facilities! including a swimming pool, beachfront location and insane breakfast spread.
We have really been living it up and relaxing after the frenetic pace of the city. We managed to get in two really good snorkelling sessions; both really different and interesting. Yesterday we went to the world famous Blue Hole, which has claimed the lives of over forty swimmers, divers and snorkellers. We went on the back of a pickup truck with a guide, who told us lots of interesting facts about the marine life. The ride was amazing, as we drove past beaches and mountains populated by camels and bedouins! It was slightly terrifying descending into the water with all the memorial plates on the rocks behind us, most notably' Don't let fear destroy the dream ', but we were quickly mesmerised by the tropical scenery. It was like swimming in a giant aquariam with shoals of brightly coloured fish everywhere.
The water just off the beach offered an equally interesting experience, with much bigger fish and huge shoals of tiny fish. We saw puffa fish and watched the larger fish go in for the kill!
Last night we had a true cultural experience as we headed to the local discoteca with our very cool roomates (an Aussie and an American). The clientele was around 98% male bedouin! Who turned out to be very friendly and managed to get us local prices on everything.
There are Bedouin kids playing everywhere, and they are great fun to play with. They love the water and play in the sea (and the hotel swimming pool until the see the hotel security and run away!)
Our last night here will be spent like the others, sitting on the unspoilt coastline with a nice cocktail, eating dinner overlooking the sea. We have met some fantastic people here, both residents and staff, and will be very sad to leave. However we have managed to find a couple of backpackers here to share the taxi up to the Israeli border in what will most likely be an arduous journey up to Amman. However the prospect of meeting the team there makes the idea of two difficult border crossings, several buses and most likely a selection of bribes (we have cigarettes ready!) almost irrelevant! See you there guys!
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catriona glad I didn't know about the dangers of of the Blue Hole until after you had been !! mum xxxx