Richard Lane

Riding a camel is something you should only do once – it’s just far too uncomfortable. But that is what simon and I did today, 45 mins down the coast at a bedouin settlement, along with half a dozen other Brits from the hotel. and despite pre-warning, quite disconcerting when the beast rises rear-end first after you have clambered on board, though just managed to hang on. Half an hour later we all dismounted with some relief, rubbing our inner thighs and trying to wash off the smell of camel dung in the waters of the gulf of akabahr. So the Lawrence of Arabia bit has been done – and yes I wore a ridiculous headscarf thing, photos are promised. But bizarre as I imagined centuries of bedouin life and camels as we trotted along the beach to then receive and e-mail welcoming me to saudi Arabia (50 miles over the water). Not sure T. E Lawrence would have approved.Back at the bedouin camp we were shown how to make unlevened bread, I duly gave it a go, quite fun flipping the dough from hand to hand to make it expand, then lowered it onto a seriously hot bread plate over the open fire. And then some bedouin music and dancing, it all seemd real enough, though in reality think they couldn’t wait for us to leavfe as Egypt were about to play Cameroon in the African nations cup final (Egypt won, 2-1, phew).So back in the hotel room, we are too tired to go crazy on our last night, so instead have packed the case and we’ve finished off the vodka – esssential to bring duty free out here, for obvious reasons. Oh and one other fact of life – although we are in egypt, we are not in Africa. This region (sinai), much fought over between egypt and Israeil over the years is a sort of inbetween region; technically we are in asia, and while being in egypt, one needs a visa to go to Egypt proper from here (Cairo and the like) – all a bit confusing.But it has been a great trip, far too relaxing for words, so a shock or two awaits back in blighty, no doubt.

…is the least bad Egyptian wine on the menu at the hotel here in the Hyatt rEgency here in Taba on egypt’s north-eastern corner on the red sea. Extraordinary place, you can walk for miles and still be in the hotel grounds, the Red Sea located at the end of the garden; 30 miles across the water – Jordan. To the left, Eilat, Israel’s Red sea resort. Over the water to the right: saudi Arabia. There is a point near the hotel when you can clearly see all three countries.
Despite being in egypt, this is not a holiday for the ancient sites. Cairo and Luxor just too far away, so another time. Just wonderful to feel a warm sun under deep blue skies, to have time to read – the Count of Monte Cristo is, as well as being very long (49 hours of audio), absolutely gripping, thank goodness.And simon and I seem to be known by everyone in the hotel, I suppose we are fairly visible as he guides me around. Most folks think we are brothers I think, or gay partners maybe. food highlights include plenty of houmos and a fantastic bread oven on site – so morning toast really is quite an experience Comedy moment with the egyptian doctor as bizzarrely I awoke on first morning with unusual sports injury – inflamed tendon of right big toe after heavy sleep and foot trapped in the bedclothes. anyway £50 later and a jab of voltorol in the derriere all seems well.So off for more swimming, slow newspaper reading, and the great dumas. Ahead: water skiing if the sea calms down a bit, and camel riding with the local bedouin tribe.