Sunday 19 November

This morning we were picked up by our Traveline Consultants at 5:30am and taken to Cairo International Airport. Here we boarded our BA flight back to London... We got to watch some really great movies on the plane home but the flight was only 4 and a half hours... nice short one.

We were met again by Allison Cowling and we all went out for Lunch at Mcdonalds... YAY!! poor after trip LOL... then we spent a few hours catching up with Allison then started our 4 and a half hour drive back to Cheshire... HA!

It was a really pleasent drive and not much traffic. Dark at 4:30pm which is so weird. It's going to be by 3:45pm in a few weeks time. YAY!! Anyway we got home about 8:30pm and hit the hay, ready for work tomorrow!!

For more photos of Egypt visit: http://peterhobbssalvorock.spaces.live.com/

Saturday 18 November

This morning after our last buffet breakfast we spent time relaxing on the beach. Where Aunty Chris took a giant leap in confidence, by snorkling off the hotel's pontoon which was about 15 metres deep under her!! YAY Both Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris are now like water babies

Then Di and I said goodbye to Uncle Paul (they left later) and the fantastic Sheraton Duty Manager Ahmed, and our precious cleaner friend, Ramastad (who kept telling us we're having three or more kids) and headed off to the airport at Sharm.

We took a flight to Cairo where we spent our last evening. Accept Di and I were so tired we ordered room service and went to bed after watching Naked Gun 2 1/2... it was the perfect end to a perfect holiday...

For more photos of Egypt visit: http://peterhobbssalvorock.spaces.live.com/

ris

Friday 17 November

This morning DI and I were up really early to go on our last day of diving. We went out to the Jackson Reef on Tiran Island. Just look at how amazing it was.

We spent the whole day diving, however after diving the Thistlegorm we found it a little unimpressive. It was a really nice and relaxing day and we drank alot of free Coca Cola, which was provided by the cruise.

We got back home about 5 then hit Naama Bay one last time for our final night in Sharm. We went to a Thai restaurant (Which wasn't really a Thai restaurant, it was only by name). We spent time looking around the shops and I got a hard rock T-shirt from Sharm.

Then our tooting taxi driver which Uncle Paul appropriately named 'Toot in Car Man' (get the pun??) took us back to the hotel (how great is the hotel) where we played another game of Uno then hit the hay.

For more photos of Egypt visit: http://peterhobbssalvorock.spaces.live.com/

Thursday 16 November

Today we had a day lounging on the beach, we got up and had breakfast then it was off to the beach where we spent the day snorkeling and relaxing.

It was here Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris both got really adventurous and entered the water to discover a whole new side of Sharm... the ocean.. It was great we all got to experience the fish, coral, and beauty of the Red Sea.

In the evening we went to a really nice restaurant in the holiday complex just next to the Sheraton. We all had really nice meals, more fish and meat... mmm...

Then following that I taught some of the local Bazaar store owners some simple magic tricks with their money, to their delight. It was really funny watching them try to work it out, then show their friends... Ha!

Then it was back to the hotel room for another game of UNO!! YAY!! then an early night as Di and I need to be up early in the morning for another Dive.

For more photos of Egypt visit: http://peterhobbssalvorock.spaces.live.com/

Wednesday 15 November

Today Di and I headed off on another Diving adventure accept this time to dive on the Thistlegorm Wreck, a boat bombed in world war 2. Check out the video..

Tuesday 14 November

So we spent the next hour and a half soaking the fact we're climbing the mountain where God gave Moses the 10 commandments... it was truly awesome.

Once we reached the top (as far as the camels could go), we had a hot chocolate in a little rest point (a Bedowan Tent). Then our guide led us in the dark up 700 steps to the top of the mountain. When we reached the top we purchased a mattress and blanket each then were taken to the best viewing point on the mountain and slept till dawn.

We awoke to see one of the most amazing sunrise's you'll ever see... we pulled out our bible and started to read the section where Moses received the tablets and it was just so special... like you could imagine what it would have been like with just moses alone on the mountain. selah...

We came up with the camel, but on the way back we walked.. in fact we walked back on a different track, it was meant to be the track Moses walked on, a narrow and very steep track which cut down through a valley of Mt Sinai.. You must all do it!! it is so awesome. At the bottom of the mountain is St Katherines Monastry. This is supposed to be the site of the burning bush experience and where the Israelites camped while Moses was up the mountain.

We made our own monument to mark our visit to the mount.

When we got back to the bottom we headed back to Sharm.. another 2 hour sleep.... zzzzzz

Di and I then slept for another 3 hours on the beach when we arrived. Then we went for a walk around the bay to a cute little place where we had lunch. The rest of the afternoon was speant lounging around the hotel and snorkling.

Monday 13 November

Today was special as it was Aunty Chris's birthday! YAY! We got up early and had breakfast together, all you could eat buffet... We love holidays.. Then we spent the morning by the sea sun bathing and relaxing. After that we headed into Naama Bay to do some site seeing and had dinner by the sea in a little cafe.. it was yum.. Then we went on a glass bottom boat in the bay to check out some of the tropical fish, then watched the sunset.

Once we got back to the hotel we went back to the Turkish restaurant and had another delicious meal, then all of a sudden the lights dimmed and a birthday cake was brought into the room with candles... yay!! Happy Birthday to you... it was a great surprise, none of us knew Uncle Paul had arranged it... After a great meal Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris went off to bed while DI and I got picked up out of the front of the Hotel to be taken to Mt Sinai...

Fortunately we were able to sleep in the van on the way as it took 2 hours to get there. On arrival we met our guide and started to climb the mountain.. It was an awesome experience to know this is where Moses had been... Any way we came to a Camel Caravan and we were asked if we would like to ride a camel half way up the mountain.. of course Di and I didn't say no and we then spent the next hour and a half riding up Mt Sinai on a camel... it was awesome...
(continued on Tuesday)

Sunday 12 November

Today DI and I began our first day's diving, we'd had our check now it was onto the marina to head out to Ras-Mohammed National Park to go diving... well it was awesome and it should be as this is meant to be one of the best diving places in the world (http://www.rasmohamed.com/rasita4.html).

We had an amazing day and did two dives and snorkelled. We saw so many different kinds of fish, like sting rays, trumpet fish, lion fish(picture), Nemos... it was awesome.

When we got back we spend the evening with Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris and had dinner in the Turkish restaurant in the hotel... the food was great!!

Saturday 11 November

This morning we said goodbye to our new friends, who we hope to visit soon in Canada and NZ.

Then we got picked up by our Traveline representative then headed off to the airport to catch our flight to Sharm El Shieke. It was only a 45 minute flight on Egyptian Arlines and we ended up arriving in Sharm at 8:30am. But along the way you could see all the terrific coral in the Red sea as we flew over it. Just wetting our appetite and making us even more excited about diving.

On our arrival to Sharm our Traveline rep met us and took us back to the time share apartment. There we made plans for the week and booked up our diving trips, including the check dive for this afternoon.

The apartment we had booked ended up being nothing like it was in the brochure, so Di and I (on Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris's behalf made alternative arrangements). When we went for our check dive at the Sheraton we were blown away with the facilities... so after our check dive we went and checked out the prices to stay in the Sheraton, they were a bit pricey. But we worked our charm and used our new bargaining skills to get the rooms for about 30% of the original charge... which was awesome. So we booked to stay for the rest of the week...




That night when Uncle Paul and Aunty Chris arrived from the UK we took them to the original apartment then took them to their suprise new alternative, THE SHERATON SHARM.. They loved it... as did we.. So we ended up having a light snack then went to bed...

Friday 10 November

This morning we crossed to the west Bank to visit the Necropolis of Thebes then the Valley of the Kings where Di and I got to go down into the tomb of King Ramses the 2nd (Moses brother), then to Tutankhamun's tomb (http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~ancient/kv.htm). They were so elaborate and something we'd never dreamed of or seen anything like before. After that we headed off to the Valley of the Queens and visited the temple of Queen Hatshepsut(http://www.kingtutone.com/queens/hatshepsut/ ), and the colossi of Memnon. Just awesome sculptures and art work, to think all these monuments were made with primitive tools before the Iron age...

In the PM we visited the then visited the temple of Karnak (http://www.touregypt.net/karnak.htm) and the temple of Luxor (http://www.touregypt.net/lxtmpl.htm). Amazing temples again thousands of years old and still standing.









After another busy day of touring we headed back to the boat and had another fantastic meal. We spent time with our new found friends and then hit the hay... cause tomorrow we head to Sharm El Shieke...