Dahab 1

Dahab….. finally here in the laid back backpackers heaven “apparently” as advertised by fellow backpackers and the comments on various websites but will not from the first observation. First day i.e morning in Dahab as woke up after arrival and feel fresh, there is something about sleeping in normal bed instead of bus seat or I just really am in midlife crisis and need bed 😊

Well either way I’m out of bed and today plan of action is to find the diving school and select the one I will attend to get my scuba certificate “hopefully up to rescue diver” until I will leave for Jordan. First thing was the laundry as since November some garments needs to be refreshed and as previously investigated it will cost 50 pounds so €2.5 not bad deal and they are better than after the usual sink laundry. Since the laundry is on the main strip I stopped at Yum Yum falafel shop for breakfast for 15 pounds and also got fruit for later for outrageous 60 pounds “ two bananas, to oranges and one granat apple” then continued on the main strip heading towards the sea shore through the shopping area leading to the main strip of restaurants and cafes on the sea shore. Saw one diving center on the strip called Orca Dive Dahab had a chat with the guy at the desk and discussed he cost, time and all the details what is what, took his card, thanked him and said that I will think over it and maybe come back. Realistically I was just going to do some research on all available diving schools and make selection afterwards. Next stop was at tourist agency what is just behind the wooden bridge what is spanning over the beach what probably could get flooded by the sea, otherwise I do not see reason for such bridge there to ask about the hike to Mount Sinai what I want to do before leave the Dahab. All fine as for 15 pounds they will bring me to St Catherine monastery around 21:00 as this is starting point for ascend on Mount Sinai as well as finish point next morning after the sunrise observation at Mount Sinai. So far this is secondary as the first thing is the scuba diving and then hiking, since the mountains around here are looking magnificent and are so close that it would be shame not to go there. Only thing is that I have not seen any green on the mountain just barren red rock burned by sun like brick in the oven. Second stop was Sea Dancer scuba diving school, where the bloke was English at the desk and we had a bit of chat starting with him string on my t-Shirt from Japan with cartoon figures what he could not recognized so I told him to get sip of nitro from tank and then he will 😊 Well eventually we talked about business and same thing, card and polite thanks I will see and move to another school on the strip. H2O was looking good and girl sounded American, nice lovely bubbly personality, great chat and she was apparently similar like me when started diving for fun and now she is working there full time instead of accountant job she held before at home. Same routine again , card, thanks, will see and moved to another Red Sea Resort diving. Here was girl from Macedonia and explained to me all the things and they were cheap as well as offered accommodation in price of the course for duration of the course, what was offered by Orca Dive Dahab school too. However when I mentioned that I would like to complete the three courses up to Rescue diver she said that this could not be achieved as they have big group booking in few days and could not accommodate me. The strip itself was usual setting of restaurants / cafes at sea side and shops across street, where between them were the kitchens serving those restaurants at sea front. Also the hotels behind the shops accessible by narrow streets between shops and in few cases straight from the walkaway. Lots of Russian tourists all around, mainly women with kids and few men al lon the sea front lying and catching the sun tan or leisurely walking on the promenade.  Since there is no point to go to every shop I saw on the strip “lots of them, nearly every third house” I just walked and evaluated which one to select. Eventually I realized that there is no point to think too much over it and leave it to intuition  i.e good feeling as well as stomach requested attention so went to see food. At the lighthouse “ no actual lighthouse there” junction I turned left inward to city where things would be cheaper as much as Dahab suppose to be laid back backpackers heaven, the main strip is rip off expensive ! 120 pounds for food  ! when the generally everything in Egypt is around 20 to 30 pounds for meal so the laid back yes but not backpackers I would say. However I’m sure that if I would rent a room or house in the real Dahab more away from the sea it could be. I went just two street away and got a shawarma for 30 pounds which is better than what they asking for food at sea side. There was this girl talking with the chef when I came and then she sat down at table where sketching pad and pencils were and chef handed her his mobile and she said o.k and started doing this portrait with calligraphy pen, what looked really nice, so when I finished my food and paid for it I stopped at her table and told her that it is beautiful what she is drawing. She seems happy with this compliment and we had a brief conversation and I left her to continue to draw. The idea came to me that what a good trade, I will draw you or what ever you want and will get food in return.  Seems that artist is sometimes handy craft. Well food done I walked back and selected two finalist Red Sea Resort and Orca Dive Dahab as both offered accommodation what will help a bit with budget. As I came to the wooden bridge I felt pull to the right and when asked which one I felt that Orca so I went there and it was a good choice. Ashraf who run the business, remembered me and also my name and if I felt good the moment I was there first time so I was glad. We agreed and I went to get cash as the bank transfer was complicated and they do not accepted card but offered me to take off the bank charge from cost of the course. Got a books to study, manual and RPD with tables of pressure groups, break times etc what needs to be know if you want to dive safely. So all done, books in the hand and agreed start tomorrow at 9:00 and now I can go happy at hotel with short stop at shop for postcards and stamps to send to friends. Since the shop had a English books I bought one for bed time reading as this is what makes me sleep really fast. Five cards including stamps and book for 100 pounds not bad deal and at least the post cards are kept alive in this age of What’s Up, Viber, Email and Facebook. Next stop to get yogurt as I have to eat something normal not only the restaurant food and yogurt is good for belly. Well happy with day and got back to hotel, sat down with Daniel and Jess and they invited me to dinner as they were cooking in the rice cooker they dinner of chicken with green beans and rice. Nice time to eat and talk with mind liked people about life and travelling and they are lovely couple to be with. Well day is nearly over and with full belly we are ready to get to bed after hour or so of talking. Good night.

Friday 14th is here and I’m up and ready to get this diving course going so up at 7:00 and after five Tibetans shower and then for falafel for breakfast and on the way to Orca Dive Dahab with smile on the face and anticipation of diving. Met Adawy my instructor who gave me tea and sat me in the room to watch video teaching what is complimenting the manual book I’ve got yesterday. Video till 13:00 with one coffee to get blood to brain, than quick lunch and afterwards we went to water. Well we tried as when we did first exercise I felt so bad that I could not descend down and felt chest pain so I signaled to go up and on the surface Adawy tried to calm me down that this is only from breathing. I explained to him that no this is not from breathing and that I want to get out now, so we went. We talked a bit and as soon as I took off weights and BCD I was feeling better and few burps relieved me big time, upon which Adawy asked what did I had for lunch ?  I said Falafel 15 min ago and he started laughing than told to Ashraf all story and even he started laughed so in while the whole school call me Falafel man 😊 but just in case Ashraf told me to get checked in local dive doctor tomorrow. Since the dive finished early I went to sit at beach and study the diving manual, until sunset , listening to crashing waves is so good for study. When the sunset same the weather turned a bit colder so packed backpack and head off to hotel with stop for a food, shopping the local fruit in the shop I found in the local part of Dahab 20 min walk from the beach inland. Lots of fruit for 150 pounds. Now early bed as tomorrow need to be at diving school for 9:00 to get to doctor and then back for 11:00 to start my second dive.

Saturday 15th “jeysus have to type dates otherwise I get lost” proper holiday or traveling when you are losing sense of days and dates. Well same morning routine with exception that I bought muesli, cornflakes and yogurt and had light breakfast in the room as no more falafel for me, except the nickname in the dive school of course 😊 Got to school at 9:30 and Ashraf told me that I can go there myself, gave me directions and sent me off. Well it was on the same street as the  laundry and I saw doctor practice previously on evening walk so I just took leisure pace since the surgery is opening at 10:00. When came to surgery there were few locals and few tourist too including the security guy who told everyone when their turn to see doctor came. Little kid with Mom who looked way to good and young to be Mom, most probably tourist, judging by clothes as only tourist are here in shorts and sleeveless vest. In relation to surgery itself I had no expectations and this is the best approach to Egypt I would say as the surgery was so nice all white marble, spotless clean and the dive doctor so cool he could be called Bob Marley. Listened to me what I have to say and that is good sign for a doctor as only when they listen they really will know what is wrong with you. Well after all the listening he asked few questions and then run some test with fancy gadgets, like measure the oxygen saturation, then EEG, EKG with small gadget just pressed against my chest in heart location, blood pressure and afterwards the lungs capacity. Lung capacity measuring is fun as you have to breath in and then forcefully breath out I none big breath. Overall all results were fine, and even my lungs what I was worried about due the period of pneumonia in Ireland, but pass all with flying colors and signed / stamped as fit for diving. In near run speed I got to the diving center and handed over the certificate to Ashraf, geared up and ready to get under the water. So first few exercises as taking off and replacing  mask, regulator, flooding and clearing the mask in the shallow water and then off out to deeper levels to observe the underwater life for me and instructor to observe me. Great feeling of weightlessness and silence down there and suddenly you realize that under the water we are all one, no mater of language, religion, nationality as in this silence only hand signals and looking after each other. Not sure how long we were under but we went out when the air was nearly gone to reserve. I did enjoyed this first dive immensely and even Adawy was asking how is falafel 😊 we agreed that we are meet tomorrow at 9:00 and join the two more people. Happy as Larry went towards the hotel and this time was again invited for dinner by Daniel and Jess, since Daniel cooked lovely beef with cabbage and rice. So good of them to invite me for dinner and also nice chat since we were the only occupants of this new Balsam Dahab Hotel. We had late dinner and after talk I was ready to sleep, water will tire you out.

16th Sunday another dive day but this time we were three, Samir and his girlfriend Menna so it was more fun and also less pressure as there were two other for instructor to take care of. We did the same exercise as day before plus learn how to balance only by using lungs instead of BCD, Emergency ascend, replacing the BDC  under water , replacing weight belt under water… etc whatever is needed for Open Water Certificate. Then for second dive we went to lighthouse reef what is only maybe 10 meters from the sea front cafes and restaurants and the sea life is beautiful, so many colorful fishes, corals in different sizes, shapes, colors, absolutely amazing considering that just few meters above is the main touristic beach. Adawy mentioned to me later that it was hundred times nicer in past but then the stupid people are taking the corals when diving as souvenir and also other aspects are not helping. Well what can you do, some people and some nationalities are not as understandable and caring as they could and should be, especially from East Europe direction. Well two dives done and time for my cooking as after two nights it was my turn at the hob to create something edible for dinner. Since I like plain cooking and also light diet on the sun and for diving I just shopped for basics, rice, cheese, ham “chicken only” corn, fresh peas and created partial risotto since the white vine and chicken stock were relieved from duty. As side dish we had fresh mango yummy yummy so dinner ready and we were waiting with Daniel as Jess went for a walk but eventually after hour I said that I’m hungry so we started without her. As usual murphsy law is, Jess arrived with our second spoon. Well all went well, we ate the whole thing even if I cooked too much “at least I thought so” and then had a brief chat since I had two dives this time I was ready for bed but needed to type few words to play catch up and Daniel needed to do some work too. Also he showed me few tricks with what I can do with my website so thank you for that Daniel.

17th Monday we went this time a bit out of town to diving site at reef what was even more beautiful than the one from previous day and we were also dive in small cave what was really nice. I could be typing every detail but you have to see it by your own eye to know what I mean. Water visibility excellent even if there was a bit of current and see was a bit choppier. Great exposure to learning to swim at bottom, where  the current is not so strong and therefore you will need less energy / air what is quite important. This time we were six of us as three Koreans or  Chinese joined us so we were separated to three teams and me with Samir at the end, new people in the middle and later at front since there was some issue with their masks. As far as I understood they have snorkeling masks what are not good for diving, plus they seems to have problem to regulate their buoyancy. Anyway we all enjoyed the dive and went back on the beach where pick up was ready for us and we hopped on the back loading tray since there was spot only for four inside. Great day and this was also my last dive for Open Water Certificate so tomorrow I will start the Advance Open Water Course.