Having visited Cairo & Alexandria – it of off to Sharm El Sheikh – this is the beachy part of our holiday – not much happening, other than sun sea and surf.  Plus a lot of wind……not the anal variety!

Last night we decided to stay in the hotel and go Italian – in an Egyptian environment!  Most pleasant.  There was a piano player, who clearly liked a bit of Disney and not much else happened other than a couple who appeared to be newly weds probably aren’t any more….married that is!  Not that we were eavesdropping (obviously we were) but she got up, he grabbed her arm, she sat down, she got up again, she stormed out – he followed…..nothing for the next 10 minutes.  They returned.  All appeared to be well until….she got up again, grabbed her bag, kissed him on the head – and walked out! Oh No! we thought……. He then wiped his eyes…..Oh No again…… I wanted to invite him to join us but Indy felt we didn’t need anymore pets!!!  The poor man sat there looking totally forlorn – signed the bill and left  That put a dampener on the rest of the meal – so having asked for the bill twice, waited 20 minutes still got nothing, we walked out.  Amazing how quickly the bill caught us up!!!

The day was hot and sunny so we were on the beach all day.  Indy went Snorkeling, ate a lot, played on the computer and that is as eventful as it gets……Maybe tonight something out of the ordinary may happen.

The TV is quite boring – lots of old programmes – none of the new stuff like ER, Desperate Housewives etc.  Instead we have Everyone loves Fatima, Eastcairo, Two and a Half Pharohs, to name but a few and the news programmes are very pro Arab – so we don’t watch them.

Well, like I said, not much happening – No one drowned today.- so I guess it was a good day in Sharm El Sheikh.

Hopefully something exciting may happen tomorrow, which obviously I shall report back.
Subject: Wednesday in The Sheikh

Date: Wednesday, 11 March, 2009, 22:57

So much has happened since we last spoke……

Last night we had dinner in the hotel Thai Fusion restaurant…..isn’t that a nice word…Fusion….What on earth does that mean.  Fusion?????  Anyway, the place wasn’t overly busy so the service was overly attentive.  It transpires that our Waiter, who could only be about 26 ish has TWO wives – as if one isn’t enough!!

The Arab world is very Male dominated…..Indy is referred to as Boss and I am decoration!!!

The waiter gave Indy the wine list and menu, and diidn’t even notice I was sitting there!!  He then referred to Indy as my Boss to which I replied….I don’t think so!!!  That was when we found out he had two wives….his Father has three!

The good bit about all these wives, is the first wife, gets to choose the following wives!!  Hhmmmmmm all kind of things spring to mind on that one!

This morning, Indy went Scuba diving and I sat reading my new book, which incidentally is called A prisoner at Birth – Jeffrey Archer – excellent!  I put plenty of suncream on but evidently it wasn’t enough….I look a bit like a beetroot! or a glow-worm! Hopefully by tomorrow it will have gone brown but it’s not my best look!

This afternoon we were collected from our hotel at 3.00 and were driven into The Sinai desert.  We have been Camel riding!  Egyptian camels have one hump only and apparently don’t spit, but you really don’t want to put that to the test……Camel gob really can’t be too healthy, considering the state of their teeth.

There were 22 people in total and everyone had their own Camel.  Mine was called Maradonna!  He also pee’d before I got on him – an oasis in the desert!  I didn’t think it was every going to stop.  He was like a faucet.  I call him He – but he could have been a She – how do you tell?

After our 30 minute trek to nowhere we arrived in the middle of nowhere.  It was a Bedouin camp.  Tents and carpets everywhere and a stone made wall Bar, approximately 4 foot high – how random. We then climbed a mountain – no protective gear, infact, no nothing…just a drop if you fell off!  The idea was to watch the Sunset, which apparently is supposed to be spectacular.  The problem was that we were later due to some people missing the coach and having to catch it up by Taxi.  We missed the Sunset and then had to get back down the Mountain!!  At the bottom, it was Toilet break time!  They do have toilets – they look like toitles, but not flushing ones.  You have to get in quick as you really don’t want to think about being the last one in!!  Outside there is a man with a bottle of water, who pours it over your hands – that’s considered very hygienic.   I on the other hand am traveling with Bacterial hand wash, Wet Wipes and Pampers Bottom Wipes (with Aloe Vera…of course!! Never leave the hotel without them!!!!)  I used the water as well as I didn’t want the man to think I wasn’t going to wash my hands – but in actual fact, I could have quite easily performed an operation, they were so clean!!

Next it was time to settle in to our Bedouin Camp.  Here I learnt to make Tortilla Wraps.  Very impressive.

The Bedouin camp was actually really cool.  Colourful woven mats all over the floor and big cushions everywhere – really quite comfortable.  It was a buffet style dinner – you lined up with your plastic plate and served yourself from giant shissels   By now it was getting dark and there are no street lights in the SInai, so really you had no idea what you were eating.  The rice was recognisable, as were the potatoes but who knew what was in them!!  The last shissel had chicken in it (maybe) and some beef thing, which was actually really nice…went back for seconds.  You were also given a Pepsi to wash it down with.  After dinner, our tour guide explained what the Bedouins were all about…they are nomads from other middle eastern countries, have no passports and no legal documentation –  they just live in the desert and more or less stick with themselves.  They finish school after primary school, as the children have to go out and earn a living to support the family –  making jewellery, hand crafts, begging etc.  They also have arranged marriages but the girl does actually have a say in it and a typical bedouin wedding can last up to 7 days worth of celebrations. Fortunately this is Bedouin style!

Then it was Sheesh/Negeela time.  For those of you not familiar with this ritual it’s like smoking a long pipe which is attached to a glass or metal looking ornate pot which has water in the bottom.  It’s not tobacco in the conventional sense – it’s all fruit.  They have 100’s of Negeela Bars here and the hotels have them for smoking after dinner.

After that, it was dancing time – Indy thought he was doing a cross between the Oakey Kokey and the Conga – everyone joined in – dancing to sitar type music in the dark with only the moon as light!

Then it was back on the coach and back to civilisation.

When we got back on the coach – there was a strange looking man sitting next to me  – With a GUN.Not any old gun but a machine gun!  He wasn’t on the coach with us when we went but he was now!!  I was a little concerned about this (actually, if the truth be known, I was a lot concerned by this, as it was only Indy and I who had seen the whacking great big gun sticking out of his back…. and as I was  texting a friend at the time, I asked her to let you know that if we all died, would she say Goodbye from us”

Fortunately – no one got that call!   He got off just before we got back on the main road!

Then it was onto Naamba Bay – this is where it all happens!  Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, Shopping, Casino’s – 100’s of them – everywhere.  Street upon street.  Somehow we managed to waste 3 1/2 hours there – not even eating and Yes, I had to buy more souvenirs just in case!!!  It’s all about the negotiations….nothing to do with the end product.

By now, exhaustion had set in – my legs were walking on their own and it was time to call it a night.

Now back in the hotel – Arsenal have won on penalties….unfortunately – and it’s time for bed.

For some strange reason, I think they have actually got the wrong room, our bed has been decorated with petals and hearts….very pretty but not sure why our bed???

Tomorrow is our last day – who knows what surprises there are in store for us…….

Bye for now.