Monday, May 26, 2008

old shali

Mud built houses with palm tree support beams.... all well and good- unless the rains come.................. The old mosque- still being used...
..... what happened when the rains came.................


sitting amoung the ruins...
Surreal somehow................



Look at the cracks in these walls (and people were living here!)

The textures were wonderful- all that melted mud (reminded me of porraige- or maybe that was just because we went out to take these photos before breakfast!!!!) all those wooded doors- I could have taken hundreds of pictures just of doors (in fact I maybe did!!!!!!!!!!)

That mottled effect....................... talk about the plaster falling off the walls.....................The walls might crumble- but the rafters remain................Who else thinks this looks like a hobbits home?!!!!!

at the oasis...............

Getting our feet wet in the hot sulpher spring.... last one in's a rotten egg!!!!!!!!!!!
Calm, peace, beauty.... amazing............

having a dip...
The crazy jeep!

general Siwa shots

head in the flowers!its a donkey's life....
playing..................
early morning shave..........


coca-cola rest stop............


Friday, May 23, 2008

Sandy photos.... from Siwa

on the 'road' to nowhere............




Moira. I didn't even know she and Jackie from Edinburgh were coming on this holiday so it was a LOVELY suprise to meet them at the airport!



Gemma came along with her mum on this holiday... but from this photo you would think she was born in the desert- those eyes are just perfect in those sands!





Mindy and Linda- one adventuring off- the other sitting patiently waiting.............

The jeep drivers...............



Thats me- in the pink and red...... can you spot me?!!!!!!!!...........

and there's me pointing out the ridge...............................

what ridge I hear you ask?....................................



.............................



this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This really was what the desert was about for me..............

............ and here's Nancy and Karen chillin out on the edge!


and here's Ann- surrounded by nothing.......................

This last shot looks out of focus.... and black and white somehow too. Its neither. There was a fairly strong wind and the sands were being swept along the surface of the desert creating this eiry effect!

Siwa pics

Here and the aformentioned pictures I took in Siwa!!!

We stayed in Shali lodge. It was lovely. Not the posh one with the same name as far as I can make out, that is an eco lodge... and the one that Prince Charles stayed at... but the one near the village square- with palm fronds hiding the path to the door and making the approach in our big bus like something out of indiana jones.

Here are Ann and Sara chilling in the open aired sitting room in the hotel, after our 13 hour coach journey.

The rooms were lovely- almost everything was natural fibres and locally made. (except for the TV that Ann didn't even realise was in the room for the 1st day!!!)

The stone bathroom had wooden pegs hammered into the walls to hang towels etc on.... very lovely and minimal....

As you can see in this picture- the beds, the tables- almost everything was made out of palm.

The design of the hotel had been really artistically thought out and there were lots of little nooks and crannys with interesting things.... it was lovely....

And wonderful breafast/chilling areas up on the roof too. All open air- which is fine for the desert (unless it rains of course- which is did on our 1st night!)


A whole blog entry dedicated to one hotel.... well , why not- it was stunning! More siwa and desert pics to follow ............

Sharm with Sam

I am just back from a wonderful 3 day break in Sharm el Sheik. My sister, her husband and their son were there for 2 weeks holiday and my work schedule allowed me to take 3 days out and go see them.

I flew Egypt air (cost 750le) and arrived at 9am. Very quick flight! It all went smoothly (once I found out that domestic flights dont go from the same place at all as the international ones that it!!!!) My sister was staying in an all-inclusive resort called Holiday Village in Nabq Bay. Lovely resort, beautifully laid out- lots of stunning flowers in the large gardens, and nice pools to make up for the beach being shingly (although stunning- great fish- even in the shallows!!!!!)

They had a swim up room- which means you open your sliding doors onto a terrace and your own pool - only shared with other people with like rooms- ie about 12 rooms.
The best thing was that for the same price they had quoted me ($150 per night) I managed to get the room next door!!!! it was heaven!!!! Their room was the one on the left- mine the one of the right. All that pool just for us!!!!! (we were in Block 11- and its def. the best!) Would definatly recommend this hotel- but esp to people with children- lots for them to do and nice big rooms etc.


Here's Sam pointing out to his mum the Swingpark.... Just in case she had been trying to avoid it! 'Mummy..... look......'




Sam was adorable... he's 2, and a real comic. A Gymnast too in this pic!


we had a lot of fun!

It was interesting being in a place where NO tourists speak arabic.... the shock on peoples faces (usually the staff of the hotel) when I spoke in arabic to them was highly amusing! Well- until i had to complain about the waiting staff's behaviour to the restaurant manager- then no one was laughing! The tourists at large might not understand the arabic being spoken at them or about them but they DO understand tone of voice and the sleazy comments. When you went for your food each night was just too much for me to put up with!

We went to Naema Bay too- just for a couple of hours. Bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes galore. And touristy shops. We went down to walk along the beach front and it took me a long time, and I mean a good 10 minutes to realise we had arrived at the beach, since every spare inch of sand was covered with loungers and umbrellas. The sort of place you'd want to go to party- but NOT for a relaxing or sunbathing holiday!

I got horribly burnt... the wind is deceptive! So last night I was back to Cairo and back to work and performing in my costume with the body stocking so people didn't see the pink belly and think I was more of a tourist than the touists in the audience!!!!!!!! Thankfully No one commented!


Really enjoyed my travels (more to write about them all- and photos to come too!) but its also nice to be back and at work. I missed dancing!

and already I miss this wee man......................