Hurghada day 14
So...we have reached the final day of our journey, tomorrow doesn't count cos we have to leave our room and step up on the bus at 12.00.
I finished the PADI diving course last sunday (today it's wednesday) and I did what I had set out to do - I got every question right on the final exam papers *whii*, and we made two terrific dives from "queen samira" (on of Colonas ships). The second dive was at a divesite called "Camel Reef" where we descended to 18m (which is the maximum allowed depth for PADI Open Water divers). There were corals and fishes all over the place, the clownfish being the most amusing :). The rock formations were steep, stretching from the bottom up to about 4m from the surface and to me it seemed that every inch of the reef was inhabited. I just wish Robert could have come with us to see it all - he is after all Crazy about corals!
He will give it another go within a year though, hoping that his ear and airways have cleared up by then. Cos once he has claimed that certificate we can go on diving trips all over the world (theoretically) :)
If you have any questions concerning PADI Open Water - feel free to ask!
At this very moment I'm laying on the beach writing a lay-out on a piece of paper... it feels strange to sunbath on the 13:th of december when at the same time in Sweden Lucia is marching down the hallway. But it's definately a feeling I can get used to - meaning more winter vacations for me in the future!
I bet Bosse misses us terribly considering he's the one who has taken care of our cat, hamsters, fishes and plants while we've been away - I hope they're still alive! :) We appreciate the break though!
This was the last report here from Hurghada. As soon as I get home I'll add pictures to the texts (unfortunately none from below the ocean surface) but I have lots of other to choose from.
And Erik... if Fling has forgot to tell you we intend to spend the night in your apartment (that is thursday to friday) and the airplane will land at about 20 so if you could pick us up at 20.30 it would be gr8!
See you back home!
KGs
I finished the PADI diving course last sunday (today it's wednesday) and I did what I had set out to do - I got every question right on the final exam papers *whii*, and we made two terrific dives from "queen samira" (on of Colonas ships). The second dive was at a divesite called "Camel Reef" where we descended to 18m (which is the maximum allowed depth for PADI Open Water divers). There were corals and fishes all over the place, the clownfish being the most amusing :). The rock formations were steep, stretching from the bottom up to about 4m from the surface and to me it seemed that every inch of the reef was inhabited. I just wish Robert could have come with us to see it all - he is after all Crazy about corals!
He will give it another go within a year though, hoping that his ear and airways have cleared up by then. Cos once he has claimed that certificate we can go on diving trips all over the world (theoretically) :)
If you have any questions concerning PADI Open Water - feel free to ask!
At this very moment I'm laying on the beach writing a lay-out on a piece of paper... it feels strange to sunbath on the 13:th of december when at the same time in Sweden Lucia is marching down the hallway. But it's definately a feeling I can get used to - meaning more winter vacations for me in the future!
I bet Bosse misses us terribly considering he's the one who has taken care of our cat, hamsters, fishes and plants while we've been away - I hope they're still alive! :) We appreciate the break though!
This was the last report here from Hurghada. As soon as I get home I'll add pictures to the texts (unfortunately none from below the ocean surface) but I have lots of other to choose from.
And Erik... if Fling has forgot to tell you we intend to spend the night in your apartment (that is thursday to friday) and the airplane will land at about 20 so if you could pick us up at 20.30 it would be gr8!
See you back home!
KGs
Hurghada day 8
These last few days we have kept ourselves rather busy, hence the reason why I havn't written anything for a while. Today was the second day of the PADI Open Water diving course and we are making brilliant progress. Robert still hasn't completed any dives because of a soreness in his right ear. Yesterday evening we visited a doctor in Sekalla (one of three larger city-areas here in Hurghada) and he prescripted some rather doubtful medications - but Robert is more than happy with the result. I Quote: "- I havn't been able to breath this freely all my life!"
Anyhow... tomorrow we'll be writing our theoretic final exams and than I have two more dives to complete before I get my liscense (!)
About the safari... the ATV-ride was awesome! We drove at about 70-80 km/h right into the desert - no helmets - no protection and with a local guide in the lead who really floored it :)
When we arrived at the beduin village we got to ride the camels, actually a quite uncomfortable experience. We couldn't wait to get back on our ATV's *he*. On my next trip to Egypt I simply have to take my mother on this ride - would be quite a sight!
As usual food awaits us (it sometimes feels like eating is all we do) but the food is nice so I don't complain. After dinner Robert and I must study hard so that we can be the first ones to pass the final exams by 100% =)
Take care!
Anyhow... tomorrow we'll be writing our theoretic final exams and than I have two more dives to complete before I get my liscense (!)
About the safari... the ATV-ride was awesome! We drove at about 70-80 km/h right into the desert - no helmets - no protection and with a local guide in the lead who really floored it :)
When we arrived at the beduin village we got to ride the camels, actually a quite uncomfortable experience. We couldn't wait to get back on our ATV's *he*. On my next trip to Egypt I simply have to take my mother on this ride - would be quite a sight!
As usual food awaits us (it sometimes feels like eating is all we do) but the food is nice so I don't complain. After dinner Robert and I must study hard so that we can be the first ones to pass the final exams by 100% =)
Take care!
Hurghada day 4
Today we have spent our time on the Red Sea and on Giftun Island (also known as Paradise Island) where we could enjoy the clear blue water and white sand beaches. The boat brought us to an area of beautiful coral reefs and a subwater wonderworld. The snorkling out there was fantastic! Words cannot possibly describe the feeling.
Egypt is indeed fantastic. The service is excellent, the people are so friendly and once you have gotten used to the way of shopping down here (mainly consisting of negotiations) you can get yourself a real bargain!
Tomorrow we will probably stay at the hotel - improving our tan and snorkling some more down at the beach (just cant get enough!). Wednesday is safari-day, which includes riding camels, driving ATVs in the desert (for 80km!! and we drive them ourselves...cool), also we will be served a big egyptian buffet and some egyptian tea while the sun sets over the desert (which down here lasts for about 90 seconds giving the sky an intense red colour - it is said to be a magnificant view).
The days pass by too fast, before we know it will be time to head home (cannot say that I miss the scandinavian climate) :)
Now it is dinnertime at our hotel (which we absolutely adore) so I should get back before the obese germans have cleaned the tables *he*. I will try to write again in 2 days. Robert says Hi :)
Yours sincerely
Karin
Egypt is indeed fantastic. The service is excellent, the people are so friendly and once you have gotten used to the way of shopping down here (mainly consisting of negotiations) you can get yourself a real bargain!
Tomorrow we will probably stay at the hotel - improving our tan and snorkling some more down at the beach (just cant get enough!). Wednesday is safari-day, which includes riding camels, driving ATVs in the desert (for 80km!! and we drive them ourselves...cool), also we will be served a big egyptian buffet and some egyptian tea while the sun sets over the desert (which down here lasts for about 90 seconds giving the sky an intense red colour - it is said to be a magnificant view).
The days pass by too fast, before we know it will be time to head home (cannot say that I miss the scandinavian climate) :)
Now it is dinnertime at our hotel (which we absolutely adore) so I should get back before the obese germans have cleaned the tables *he*. I will try to write again in 2 days. Robert says Hi :)
Yours sincerely
Karin
Hurghada dag 2
Bloggar nu ifran ett internetkafe bestaende av EN dator :) Vadret ar underbart, ca 25 grader varmt med dryg vind vilket gor att man kan sola langre stunder utan att kanna sig spyfardig.
Considering the fact that there is no possibility to use our beloved letters a:a:o with dots on the top *he* I will refer to english during this trip. The flight down here was rather interresting, somewhere over Turkey an older woman got sick which forced us to land on Cyprus to get her and her bags to the hospital... so we stayed there for like an hour. The crew handled the incident with total control, no stress, no panic - excellent perfomance!
Anyway... in about 30 min we are going to attend an African party with dancing, shows, buffet and drinking... sound like great fun to me... and cheap (like most of the things here in Egypt). The people are...eh... friendly, perhaps a bit too friendly (what they really want is not our friendship but our Money). I have also noticed that there is only men working in the hotel, you can hardly see any women anywhere (except on the womens bathroom where they (hopefully) collect lots of money from "needy" tourists :)
That was all for today... I am still alive and well so Flingan you can sleep well at night!
Greetings from a sunny Egypt! (pics will be added on return)
Considering the fact that there is no possibility to use our beloved letters a:a:o with dots on the top *he* I will refer to english during this trip. The flight down here was rather interresting, somewhere over Turkey an older woman got sick which forced us to land on Cyprus to get her and her bags to the hospital... so we stayed there for like an hour. The crew handled the incident with total control, no stress, no panic - excellent perfomance!
Anyway... in about 30 min we are going to attend an African party with dancing, shows, buffet and drinking... sound like great fun to me... and cheap (like most of the things here in Egypt). The people are...eh... friendly, perhaps a bit too friendly (what they really want is not our friendship but our Money). I have also noticed that there is only men working in the hotel, you can hardly see any women anywhere (except on the womens bathroom where they (hopefully) collect lots of money from "needy" tourists :)
That was all for today... I am still alive and well so Flingan you can sleep well at night!
Greetings from a sunny Egypt! (pics will be added on return)