Middle East

Dahab

treyfrankovich — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:49:00 GMT

Made it Dahab and what a change from the chaotic Sharm! There were still the touts outside their restraunts and shops begging you to come in, but the crowd was more layed back hippie style and so where the accomandations. Felt more at home here than in Sharm.

There is one street that mirrors the bay which has restraunts over the water where you sit in overstuffed pillows as you look over to Saudi Arabia. Food was good and and service slow, just what one needs in Dahab.

I went diving with the same company that I did in Sharm but it was just myself and the dive master. Access to the reefs was by jeep driven down the beach and then we swam to the reef. Unfortunately it was not as beautiful of a reef and not near as much fun after leaving the others in Sharm.

After one day of diving in Dahab I was through with diving for this trip and that night I made arrangements to climb Mount Sinai and see St. Cathrine's Cathederal. I was picked up from the hostal at 11 pm and driven, with no AC, to Mt. Sinai. The hike started below St. Cathrine's Cathederal with about 700 other tourist and half as many camels. It was a long, dusty and smelly trip up the mountain. After my prior experiences with camels I knew that riding one of those beast wasn't an option (it's why people "walk like an Egyptian").

Finally made it to the point where camels could not go any further for the last 1/4 mile of steps to the top of the mountain to see the sunrise. I made the summit and was soaked in sweat and had another hour to go until the sunrise. It was cold and the wind was blowing. The tourist hundled together in masses awaiting the sun to show over the Sinai desert...it got light...and then a little more light...then we realized that the sun had risen but the dusty haze prevented the climatic experience! Long hike back down the mountain with the heat from the sun able to penetrate the desert haze.

St Catherine's was where Moses supposedly saw the burning bush. Didn't see any burning bushes and the Cathederal was accessed by a one person entry way through which all 700 people where pushing to get in and out of at the same time. Definetly not for the claustraphobic. Took a nap the rest of the day and then just layed around Dahab, getting ready for the ferry crossing into Jordan the next day.

Live aboard dive boat

treyfrankovich — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 GMT

Well, what a week of diving!

Went with Sinai divers on a seven night live aboard. There must have been 100 or more other dive boats in the marina! I was the only American on the boat. We had one French, three Swiss, one Austrian, three Germans, two French, one Italian and two from Chile. I was concerned at first about being on the same boat with the same people for a whole week but it turned out great.

The first day we spotted a nice manata ray in the deep blue. It was nice to be able to get back on the boat and not have to change the BC to another tank. The reef had to be some of the best I’ve ever seen! Trip included seeing octupus, Spanish dancer, huge napoleon, slipper lobsters, white tip shark and tons of lion and clown fish. Saw a second Manta ray on the last day and this one came within a meter from me! We dove the sunken ship Thistlegorm that was sunk during WWII by the Germans. The ship still has ammo and tanks and the rest of the cargo on the bottom of the sea.

The food was good. We dove, ate, dove, ate, dove, ate, dove, etc. Needless to say I’m sure I put on few more pounds. We had two dive masters on board and neither one of them well ever be the same after putting up with our crew for the week. It started out a little cold at first so myself and one of the Swiss had to liven up the bunch.

It started out with the jesting and then practical jokes followed such as tabasco on someones regulator, bread in their BC (fish loved that one). It progressed to having sand dumped on other divers, air being turned off 20 meters under the water, mask and fins being removed. Inflator hoses disconnected and then dumping their air at the surface and Zodiac boat wars. Yes, we all survived…but the dive masters had lost all control of our “special” group.

Our table of 5 plus Mirela, the dive master, was given the name of “The A Team” (I believe it stood for assholes). The other group would just stare at us and shake their heads. I know one of the Germans at the other table wanted to be part of our group but his wife wouldn’t let him. It had been a long time since I had laughed so hard.

The trip ended too soon and everyone went to the airport and I headed to the bus station to continue on my way to Dahab with some great memories to reflect on.

Sharm El Sheikh

treyfrankovich — Fri, 9 Jul 2010 11:54:00 GMT

Okay so I made it to Sharm el Sheikh and it is HOT! Waiting around for about 4 hours until the dive boat leaves. The dive shop can't believe I have all of my gear in just one backpack. They keep thinking I'm kidding when I tell them all of my clothes and gear on in that one bag...and have been able to take it as a carry on the whole way! Now as for airport security in Egypt, I had a full pocket of change and my cell phone and it didn't set off the metal detector, hmmm. Very surprised by the location of Sharm. Flying over there was nothing but mountains and desert. Where one would expect to see rivers between the mountains there was only sand...rivers of sand. If God led the Israelites through this then that was just as much of a miracle as parting the sea! Here though, all modern buildings, casinos, resorts and swimming pools everywhere. In fact I'm sitting inside of Starbucks typing this now. Haven't yet seen one sign of a native bedoin. Might go next door for lunch at McDonald's. Don't critisize, it is the closest thing to local food that I can find around here. Definetely not staying here when I get off of the dive boat. Plan on heading north to Dahab or Nuweiba. Nuweiba is supposed to have hardley any tourist except die hard backpackers. Sounds like my kind of crowd and the ferry to Jordan leaves from there.

Three days in Cairo

treyfrankovich — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 22:56:00 GMT

Spent the past 4 nights and 3 days in Cairo. The hostel is on the 7th floor about 1/2 mile from the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and the polluted Nile river. I have my own room and the desk folks are super friendly. Like all Arab nations it seems when they are friendly, they are overly friendly.

I haven't had too much trouble with touts so far, but I went out on the street and found an older looking gentleman, asked him if he had a car and if he would like to drive me around to the sites. Got the trip far cheaper than I could have through a taxi or tour group, including the hostel.

The Giza pyramids were the first stop and were impressive indeed. It was amazing because the pictures give you the impression that they are way out in the desert when in fact they are right on the edge of the Sahara where it meets Cairo. Saw several pyramids south of Cairo and went to the old city of Memphis where the first pyramids were built and the ancient city of the pharohs.

On the next day I had my same retired engineer driver take me to the Coptic part of Cairo and by several of the old mosques in Egypt. I finally had him drop me off at the Egyptian museum and told him I would walk back to the hostel from there. The Museum looked like something out of the "Indiana Jones" movies. There was little if any air conditioning and had poor lighting. The building itself was completed in 1901. I had placed the theme song from the movie on my Ipod for when I got to Petra but had to play it here to add to the moment.

Today I spent just wandering around the crazy city of Cairo. It is a wall of wall of noise. Car horns honking, brakes squelling and calls to prayer from the many mosque about town. It is a game of chicken when crossing the street. If there is no cars in front of the driver then it is an invitation to go as fast as he can until he encounters another vehicle. There are no lanes, none that are honored at least, and pedistrians must just take their chances in crossing. Needless to say it was very much a challenge.

Tomorrow I catch a 9 am flight to Sharm el Sheikh and embark on a 7 night dive trip around the Red Sea. Hoping for clear water!

Photos: Middle East

treyfrankovich — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 06:20:00 GMT

Final plans made

treyfrankovich — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:59:00 GMT

Ready to go! Have all of my dive gear and clothes for 3 weeks in one carry on backpack! Leave on Saturday at 1 pm from Houston and should be in Cairo by 4 pm on Sunday. I hate flying but it's better than taking a cruise! Hope it truely is a "dry heat" in Egypt.

made it!

treyfrankovich — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:26:00 GMT

We made it to the San Pedro Sula airport without any problems. The couple that was coming in from Chicago were on time and we caught the mini van taxi as planned. A quick 2:45 minute drive through banana and pineapple plantations and we made it to La Ceiba. We had 20 minutes to spare before catching the ferry to Utila where we spent the night. We are now on a small key off of Utila and have already begun diving. Britt went all the way down to 80 feet today and we've seen a turtle and a few lobsters so far. Hunter began his course and is doing okay. Few more days of diving and then back to La Ceiba.

trip plan

treyfrankovich — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:56:00 GMT

The kids and I were going to drive to Mexico but thought it would be better to fly to Cancun for Spring Break. Ha, the airline tickets were almost $800. Started looking for other places and found San Pedro Sula, Honduras for $340, time to go "wheels up". We are looking forward to Hunter getting his Jr. Open Water Dive certification. Brittany and I getting some more dives logged in and Brook getting to snorkel with the whale sharks. We also plan on spending some time on the mainland and in the mountains zip lining and white water rafting. We leave Friday this should be an adventure! let's go!