اهلا وسهلا!!
This weekend we took a trip to Sinai and Sharm elSheikh as a program. It was definitely awesome!!
(picture- sunrise on top of Sinai)We left on Thursday afternoon and arrived at St. Katherine's Monastery close to Mount Sinai around 1am. The bus ride was long and uncomfortable as bus rides usually are and we didn't get much sleep on the bus. We did however watch Omar wa Selma part 1. This film 
involves Tamer Hosny, montages of Tamer and his girlfriend having real or imagined conversations over the phone while he is shirtless on the couch under a blanket with a bunch of lit candles, lots of drama, and in the end- a marriage proposal and a wedding. In between there are strange parts were Selma smells her hand that Omar shook, Omar throws a woman out a window, and Omar slashes Selma's tires so he can be creepy and stalker like and offer to fix them for her. Definitely my favorite Egyptian film thus far.
(picture- me on the top of Mount Sinai, in my Michigan gear!! GO BLUE!!)
involves Tamer Hosny, montages of Tamer and his girlfriend having real or imagined conversations over the phone while he is shirtless on the couch under a blanket with a bunch of lit candles, lots of drama, and in the end- a marriage proposal and a wedding. In between there are strange parts were Selma smells her hand that Omar shook, Omar throws a woman out a window, and Omar slashes Selma's tires so he can be creepy and stalker like and offer to fix them for her. Definitely my favorite Egyptian film thus far. We slept 1 hour and then left for the climb at 2am. I didn't realize how hard the climb was going to be!!! It took us a total of about 2 hours and it was 2 hours of climbing steep paths with no break. You can to climb and try to avoid the camels on the path. You have the option of riding a camel up or down, but most of us opted to climb on our own strength. They strategically place the camels along the climb- staggering the groups. At first you're like. "I dont need a camel!" and then you climb for 20 minutes and decide maybe a camel isn't such a bad idea. They are located all along the path, up to the very final part of the climb.
The final ascent is made on what are called "the steps of repentance" which are large, crude stone steps leading up the mountain. They were super hard and it was difficult to see in only the moon light. They are called the steps of repentance because they are so hard to climb. If you want to repent for something- you climb the steps. Or, my theory is that while you are climbing the steps, you says things that later you must repent for.
(picture- view from the top!)
I was climbing with 3 other people and we had to stop several times to rest. Then while we were climbing up, there was several little old women with canes being helped down by guides. We figured if they could do it, we could do it. It was difficult because we really hadn't eaten much in about 9 hours and hadn't gotten any sleep. Plus once the oxygen started getting just a little thinner at the top, it really made things interest.
(picture- view from the top!)
I was climbing with 3 other people and we had to stop several times to rest. Then while we were climbing up, there was several little old women with canes being helped down by guides. We figured if they could do it, we could do it. It was difficult because we really hadn't eaten much in about 9 hours and hadn't gotten any sleep. Plus once the oxygen started getting just a little thinner at the top, it really made things interest.
It was definitely worth it once we got to the top. We arrived probably half an hour before sunrise and climbed the tallest spot on the peak and 
huddled together. After sweating like crazy from the climb, it was really cold on top of the mountain. On the top there is a temple and a mosque. In the temple is supposedly the exact spot Moses received the ten commandments. We watched the sun come up and more and more people began arriving. We stayed for a while and then went back down. On the way back down we had to stop and use a bathroom. It was a small straw hut on the edge of a cliff. Probably the worst bathroom I've ever seen, but it was an experience. The trek down was MUCH faster.
huddled together. After sweating like crazy from the climb, it was really cold on top of the mountain. On the top there is a temple and a mosque. In the temple is supposedly the exact spot Moses received the ten commandments. We watched the sun come up and more and more people began arriving. We stayed for a while and then went back down. On the way back down we had to stop and use a bathroom. It was a small straw hut on the edge of a cliff. Probably the worst bathroom I've ever seen, but it was an experience. The trek down was MUCH faster. (picture- the steps of repentance)
We were super tired after that. We stopped by to have breakfast at the hotel which was really disappointing. We were all starving but about the only good thing there was some bread. and it was hard.
We were super tired after that. We stopped by to have breakfast at the hotel which was really disappointing. We were all starving but about the only good thing there was some bread. and it was hard.
Then there was an optional trip to the Monastery. I opted to stay behind (most of us did) and sleep for about 2 hours before we got back on the bus and drove to Sharm elSheikh.
(picture- the moon was still out while we were hiking down!!)
Sharm is like a completely different country. It's definitely a tourist spot. There are foreigners everywhere. It's like the Cancun of Egypt, but much tamer. Still, it was strange to see so many women in so little clothing! Bikinis everywhere!!!
Sharm is like a completely different country. It's definitely a tourist spot. There are foreigners everywhere. It's like the Cancun of Egypt, but much tamer. Still, it was strange to see so many women in so little clothing! Bikinis everywhere!!!
The first day, Friday, we took a glass bottom boat ride and got to see all kinds of fish. We stopped at one point and were able to jump in the sea and swim for about 20 minutes. The water was perfect! So clear and warm. We came back for dinner and just kind of hung out for the evening. I went to bed early b/c I was tired from the climb and have been fighting a cold all week (that is still lingering! UGH!)
Satruday we woke up early, had an awesome breakfast at the hotel. There were pancakes. ahamdilliah الحمدلله(praise be to God) there were pancakes!!!!!! and coco puffs and pastry and omelets. Very nice!!!
Then we spent all Saturday on a boat called the Wassila (Sarah Palin anyone??) snorkeling and diving at Ras Muhammad, which is a nature preserve. It is supposedly the second best place for snorkeling and diving in the world after the Great Barrier Reaf. We had the boat to ourselves and it was great!! We went out into the water in 3 different places and snorkeled. I got to see lots of fish and coral up close. It was beautifu
l. We also stopped at one point and got to jump off first the lower deck, and then the top deck of the boat into the water and just do some swimming. We also hooked up someone's ipod to the speakers on the boat and listened to all kinds of music and danced. At one point we played the "I'm on a boat" song from SNL. Very fitting. T-payne anyone?? I had my flippy floppies, and the only thing missing was my nautical themed pashimna afghan. (For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's an SNL thing- please see this webaddress: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4964402)
After the boat ride we came back and went to dinner. I was all excited because I thought that I didn't get any sunburn all day, but I
must have forgotten to reapply the sunscreen to the back of my legs and lower back because i definitely got some wicked sunburn. It still hurts. I've been applying aloe like crazy!!! (picture- Hira, Mae, Valerie, Laura, Tom)
That night we walked around a little and ended up just chilling on someones balcony, talking. We were all too tired and it's too expensive to go to the bar or club in Sharm. Sunday we woke up and hopped back on the bus (2 hours late) and drove home.
That night we walked around a little and ended up just chilling on someones balcony, talking. We were all too tired and it's too expensive to go to the bar or club in Sharm. Sunday we woke up and hopped back on the bus (2 hours late) and drove home.
It was such an awesome trip!!
(Picture- crystal clear water!!)
(last picture- our gangsta faces while listening to "I'm on a boat" while, in fact, on a boat)
Katlyn, very nice post, great pictures, very entertaining. I only find one flaw in it:
ReplyDeleteThere is no mention of a push-up competition.
I mean, that's what I remember most about this whole trip.