WHO knew there was an Eastern Eurpoean Summer Time.....????
This is tres mal, my friends as it is now 5am and not 4am.
SHIT.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Day 28: Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai)
Back tracking a little.
So Friday night/ Saturday morning, despite very very stiff and rather painful quads (step aerobics Weds eve, then circuit training Thurs eve), we set off to climb Mt. Sinai. With a load of Russians.
It took us 2 hours of solid walking (including the 750 steps after Elijah's Basin) to get to the summit. And we only just made it for sunrise. Along with a Canadian army man, Keith, Alice and I were proper trekking at the front of our group. Our guide would make us pause every now and again to wait for the rest of the Russians, who would come huffing and puffing 5-10 mins later, "Go slower! Go slower, ah?"
We didn't go slower.. Slower was more painful on the legs! Half-way up, our Bedouin guide informed us that half of the group would never make the summit in time for sunrise and that we should just power on if we wanted to make it. Apparently our bus had arrived 45 minutes late, so we HAD to be fast if we wanted to get there.
So after spending a good 30-40 minutes up at the summit, we re-grouped at the bottom of the steps (Elijah's Basin). Our guide told us there are 2 ways down:- the Camel Trail (the same way we came up) or the Steps of Repentance. The rest of the group all chose the Camel Trail. We decided to do it as the Lonely Planet suggests and took the Steps of Repentance.
The Steps of Repentance consists of 3000 steps, all the way down from Elijah's Basin to St. Katherine's Monastery (which is situated at the foot of Mt. Sinai. They were laid, single-handedly, by one monk as a form of penance.
Once we reached the bottom, we had a bit of a wonder round St. Katherine's. Despite being absolutely manic at the summit, by the time we got down to St. Katherine's my brain and eyes were beginning to suffer from the complete lack of sleep.
After that we went to a nearby restaurant for "breakfast", which consisted of a boiled egg, fried vegetables, feta cheese, and bread rolls with jam and/ or honey. It was one of the *weirdest* breakfasts/ meals I've ever had. THEN, we chilled the fuck out:-
More piccys here. Boogie (work) time. Cairo and the Pyramids soon..
So Friday night/ Saturday morning, despite very very stiff and rather painful quads (step aerobics Weds eve, then circuit training Thurs eve), we set off to climb Mt. Sinai. With a load of Russians.
It took us 2 hours of solid walking (including the 750 steps after Elijah's Basin) to get to the summit. And we only just made it for sunrise. Along with a Canadian army man, Keith, Alice and I were proper trekking at the front of our group. Our guide would make us pause every now and again to wait for the rest of the Russians, who would come huffing and puffing 5-10 mins later, "Go slower! Go slower, ah?"
We didn't go slower.. Slower was more painful on the legs! Half-way up, our Bedouin guide informed us that half of the group would never make the summit in time for sunrise and that we should just power on if we wanted to make it. Apparently our bus had arrived 45 minutes late, so we HAD to be fast if we wanted to get there.
Dawn over one of the many small coffee shops on the Camel Trail on route to the summit.
Sunrise over Gebel Musa. (And lots of coupley coupley gayness!)
So after spending a good 30-40 minutes up at the summit, we re-grouped at the bottom of the steps (Elijah's Basin). Our guide told us there are 2 ways down:- the Camel Trail (the same way we came up) or the Steps of Repentance. The rest of the group all chose the Camel Trail. We decided to do it as the Lonely Planet suggests and took the Steps of Repentance.
The Steps of Repentance consists of 3000 steps, all the way down from Elijah's Basin to St. Katherine's Monastery (which is situated at the foot of Mt. Sinai. They were laid, single-handedly, by one monk as a form of penance.
Down the Steps of Repentance
?Significance of Rock Stacking
Once we reached the bottom, we had a bit of a wonder round St. Katherine's. Despite being absolutely manic at the summit, by the time we got down to St. Katherine's my brain and eyes were beginning to suffer from the complete lack of sleep.
St. Katherine's
The Burning Bush, believe it or not.
After that we went to a nearby restaurant for "breakfast", which consisted of a boiled egg, fried vegetables, feta cheese, and bread rolls with jam and/ or honey. It was one of the *weirdest* breakfasts/ meals I've ever had. THEN, we chilled the fuck out:-
More piccys here. Boogie (work) time. Cairo and the Pyramids soon..
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Recent Happs
I haven't blog about our trip to the Bedouin Desert "Restaurant" (for all intent purposes) yet, have I?
So, the day after Dr Adel's birthday (Day 17), Dr Adel took us to the desert for a Bedouin dinner. And it was amazing.
They kill a goat, and slow cook it in an underground oven (?quite common in many African countries). The meat was probably the best I'd ever had (very very tender and not overdone like most meats in Egypt) and the veg was amazing. I don't think I've ever loved overcooked-carrots so much!
Dr Adel also invited his lady-friend and her ?visiting German friends, one of whom had a MASSIVE flash light for his quite posh camera which he insisted on using the ENTIRE TIME..
Then on Monday (Day 23), Amr (our mafia-esq father-like figure) took us desert quad-biking, and I *finally* learnt how to tie the Arabic scarfs!! We dined on the beach in Na'ama Bay with some of Amr's friends and I had the most *amazing* paella. When I opted for paella, Amr said, "How did you know!" It was GREAT.
And lastly, a couple of stragglers:-
Ah yes and last but not least, the afore mentioned "Egyptian sandwich" = Falafel + salad + yoghurt (+ aubergines, not pictured).
The Chamber will no doubt be eerily quiet again tomorrow, what with all this volcanic ash polava (do excuse the pun). Although with 3/4 of flights resuming.. Maybe not?
Either way, I must be orf to my bed.
So, the day after Dr Adel's birthday (Day 17), Dr Adel took us to the desert for a Bedouin dinner. And it was amazing.
They kill a goat, and slow cook it in an underground oven (?quite common in many African countries). The meat was probably the best I'd ever had (very very tender and not overdone like most meats in Egypt) and the veg was amazing. I don't think I've ever loved overcooked-carrots so much!
Arriving at the Bedouin "Desert Restaurant"
The Bedouins retrieving the exceedingly tasty goat and veg.
Our Desert Dinner, courtesy to the Bedouin people.
After dinner I had a mini-camel ride (AMAZING!)
And this was followed by a bit of stargazing.
Dr Adel also invited his lady-friend and her ?visiting German friends, one of whom had a MASSIVE flash light for his quite posh camera which he insisted on using the ENTIRE TIME..
Then on Monday (Day 23), Amr (our mafia-esq father-like figure) took us desert quad-biking, and I *finally* learnt how to tie the Arabic scarfs!! We dined on the beach in Na'ama Bay with some of Amr's friends and I had the most *amazing* paella. When I opted for paella, Amr said, "How did you know!" It was GREAT.
Desert Quad-Biking at Sundown: Half-way Point
Dining on the beach by candle light..
And lastly, a couple of stragglers:-
The Moon and the Evening Star
The Chamber will no doubt be eerily quiet again tomorrow, what with all this volcanic ash polava (do excuse the pun). Although with 3/4 of flights resuming.. Maybe not?
Either way, I must be orf to my bed.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Day 24: Diving is a GO!!!
YAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!! I passed my medication-free spirometry today with an FEV1/ FVC of 88% predicted. So not perfect (obvs, due to my history of asthma), but not horrendous (the cut off for asthmatic divers is when their FEV1/ FVC is >75% predicted).
My lung capacity is, I think, 113% predicted (so I have big lungs for someone my size), and my FEV1 (the amount of air you have forcefully blown out by the 1st second of expiration) was 96% predicted, so my big airways are good. But my medium-smaller airways are slightly restricted and instead of having the normal curve pattern, my curve looks a wee bit like this:-
Medicine aside, Open Water Diving Course, HERE I COME!!!!!
My lung capacity is, I think, 113% predicted (so I have big lungs for someone my size), and my FEV1 (the amount of air you have forcefully blown out by the 1st second of expiration) was 96% predicted, so my big airways are good. But my medium-smaller airways are slightly restricted and instead of having the normal curve pattern, my curve looks a wee bit like this:-
Medicine aside, Open Water Diving Course, HERE I COME!!!!!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Day 22: Russian?
I was asked a most unexpected question today, "Russian?"
... I don't know. Do I *look* Russian...?
There are LOADS of Russians in Sharm and they all prance around in skimpy shorts and boobilicious tops (some of them might as well walk around naked..) And rumour has it, they're all slaaaags!!
We decided, "Russian?" is the Egyptian way of asking if you're "easy".
... I don't know. Do I *look* Russian...?
There are LOADS of Russians in Sharm and they all prance around in skimpy shorts and boobilicious tops (some of them might as well walk around naked..) And rumour has it, they're all slaaaags!!
We decided, "Russian?" is the Egyptian way of asking if you're "easy".
Day 21: CSI Miami...
... is proper SHIT.
It's one of the many - CSI Miami, Las Vegas, NCIS Los Angeles (which I actually quite like sometimes..) etc. - we are forced to watch with such limited English-speaking channels here in Egypt.
Yoga today was HILARIOUS. I've never done it before and I always thought it was a bit *silly*. And well, some of it is. (Did you know there's a position where you end up, quite simply, looking at your own vagina..? I had to refrain myself from having a proper giggling fit.) Most of it isn't and obviously it's not *supposed* to be funny. But I mean, when you're bent over, with your arse in the air, your head between your knees and staring at your own vagina.. How can anyone NOT think it's FUNNY????
Moving swiftly on.. Yesterday, we spent the day at Cleo Park, the water park in Sharm. It was ACE. I was 10 years old all over again!!
We managed to blag a 50% discount off at the door (because we, for all intent purposes, "work" here), so it only cost us E£100 instead of the usual E£200. And we got in pretty early before the hordes of tourists arrived, so it was easy getting on all the rides.
And today, the Chamber was exceedingly quiet. We saw ?3 patients.
So tomorrow, we are off to the Shark's Bay Bedouin Village, where there is a lovely beach and some nice snorkelling to be had.
But for now, some sleep would be good..
It's one of the many - CSI Miami, Las Vegas, NCIS Los Angeles (which I actually quite like sometimes..) etc. - we are forced to watch with such limited English-speaking channels here in Egypt.
Yoga today was HILARIOUS. I've never done it before and I always thought it was a bit *silly*. And well, some of it is. (Did you know there's a position where you end up, quite simply, looking at your own vagina..? I had to refrain myself from having a proper giggling fit.) Most of it isn't and obviously it's not *supposed* to be funny. But I mean, when you're bent over, with your arse in the air, your head between your knees and staring at your own vagina.. How can anyone NOT think it's FUNNY????
Moving swiftly on.. Yesterday, we spent the day at Cleo Park, the water park in Sharm. It was ACE. I was 10 years old all over again!!
We managed to blag a 50% discount off at the door (because we, for all intent purposes, "work" here), so it only cost us E£100 instead of the usual E£200. And we got in pretty early before the hordes of tourists arrived, so it was easy getting on all the rides.
And today, the Chamber was exceedingly quiet. We saw ?3 patients.
So tomorrow, we are off to the Shark's Bay Bedouin Village, where there is a lovely beach and some nice snorkelling to be had.
But for now, some sleep would be good..
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day 19: Monty's
Tonight's attempt at finding "friends" was pretty hilarious.
So. Alice's diving instructor told her about this bar, Monty's, which was supposidly where all the cool kids hung out. Particularly on Thursdays. Alice was very VERY excited, "We're gonna make all these friends, we're gonna have an amazing time, and it's just going to be great!"
I, on the other hand, was not so enthusiastic.
Over the years, I've adapted a slight if-you-set-your-bar-low-you'll-be-less-disappointed mentality. Some would say I've become a bit of a pessimist, but I wouldn't go as far that.
Anyway, we headed to Camel Bar to get some food and picked up our 20% discount cards (which we are allowed because we "work" in Sharm). Chicken Jhal Freze (with the *correct* Egyptian spelling ofc) with rice. Followed by a couple of cocktail taste tests and some free cocktails (NOMNOM Mojito) off the nice Mancunian chica.
Then, we headed to MONTY'S. And,
Oh.
My.
God.
It was probably my worst nightmare, but very much DOWN-sized. The entire bar was black with a black and white checker tiled floor and UV lights "lighting" (!) the place. It was about the size of your average living room and the music was THIS LOUD you literally have to SHOUT in the other person's ear for them to vaguely understand what you're trying to say. Half the people in the bar were army blokes on leave, I think (looking for a bit of nookie), and the other half were ?Russian girls gyrating with the army blokes and... "Having a good time," I think is what they like to call it.
We stayed awhile. Alice introduced me to her instructor and his girlfriend, then was chatting away with him. I stood about, drank my kiwi milkshake (AMAZING) and people-watched/ looked bored.
When we left, Alice decided that as Monty's had been so awful, we'd go scope out the other supposidly cool bar where all the divers congregate: Pirates' Bar. Pirates' Bar, we were told, was inside the Marriott Hotel, which was 500m down the road from Na'ama Bay. Let me tell you now, it bloody didn't FEEL like 500m. And when we got to Marriott.... We found Harry's Pub (known as "the English pub" in the Egypt Lonely Planet). Not Pirates' Bar.
Ailce was most disappointed, but I thought what-the-hell and insisted we at least go in to have a look. So we walked into Harry's Pub, which had TECHNOTECHNOTECHNO music, strobe lighting and
*tumbleweed*
Yes. It was like walking into a deserted town in the desert.
It was UTTERLY hilarious.
(For me anyway, I think Alice found it a little bit more traumatic..)
And to top it off, on the way home we stopped for some small crispy-munchy round ball things coated in syrup and got chatted up by the THREE Mohammeds running the stall. (I had my first taste of Egyptian man-hassle, which I did not enjoy in the slightest.)
All in all, a great/ RUBBISH night out! HUZZAH!
So. Alice's diving instructor told her about this bar, Monty's, which was supposidly where all the cool kids hung out. Particularly on Thursdays. Alice was very VERY excited, "We're gonna make all these friends, we're gonna have an amazing time, and it's just going to be great!"
I, on the other hand, was not so enthusiastic.
Over the years, I've adapted a slight if-you-set-your-bar-low-you'll-be-less-disappointed mentality. Some would say I've become a bit of a pessimist, but I wouldn't go as far that.
Anyway, we headed to Camel Bar to get some food and picked up our 20% discount cards (which we are allowed because we "work" in Sharm). Chicken Jhal Freze (with the *correct* Egyptian spelling ofc) with rice. Followed by a couple of cocktail taste tests and some free cocktails (NOMNOM Mojito) off the nice Mancunian chica.
Then, we headed to MONTY'S. And,
Oh.
My.
God.
It was probably my worst nightmare, but very much DOWN-sized. The entire bar was black with a black and white checker tiled floor and UV lights "lighting" (!) the place. It was about the size of your average living room and the music was THIS LOUD you literally have to SHOUT in the other person's ear for them to vaguely understand what you're trying to say. Half the people in the bar were army blokes on leave, I think (looking for a bit of nookie), and the other half were ?Russian girls gyrating with the army blokes and... "Having a good time," I think is what they like to call it.
We stayed awhile. Alice introduced me to her instructor and his girlfriend, then was chatting away with him. I stood about, drank my kiwi milkshake (AMAZING) and people-watched/ looked bored.
When we left, Alice decided that as Monty's had been so awful, we'd go scope out the other supposidly cool bar where all the divers congregate: Pirates' Bar. Pirates' Bar, we were told, was inside the Marriott Hotel, which was 500m down the road from Na'ama Bay. Let me tell you now, it bloody didn't FEEL like 500m. And when we got to Marriott.... We found Harry's Pub (known as "the English pub" in the Egypt Lonely Planet). Not Pirates' Bar.
Ailce was most disappointed, but I thought what-the-hell and insisted we at least go in to have a look. So we walked into Harry's Pub, which had TECHNOTECHNOTECHNO music, strobe lighting and
*tumbleweed*
Yes. It was like walking into a deserted town in the desert.
It was UTTERLY hilarious.
(For me anyway, I think Alice found it a little bit more traumatic..)
And to top it off, on the way home we stopped for some small crispy-munchy round ball things coated in syrup and got chatted up by the THREE Mohammeds running the stall. (I had my first taste of Egyptian man-hassle, which I did not enjoy in the slightest.)
All in all, a great/ RUBBISH night out! HUZZAH!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Day 16: Bona Fide DR April..!
OhmyGOD.
I just saw my own patient. With mask squeeze. Did a telephone consultation with Dr Adel. Gave him a prescription. Signed it.
And off he went.
Aaaaaagggghhhh!!! FREAK OUT- I'm like a bona fide doctor!
I just saw my own patient. With mask squeeze. Did a telephone consultation with Dr Adel. Gave him a prescription. Signed it.
And off he went.
Aaaaaagggghhhh!!! FREAK OUT- I'm like a bona fide doctor!
Day 16: FRIEND!
I MADE A FRIEND..!!!! YAY! (Ok, acquaintance..)
Some Italiano dive instructor (Filippo). He left me his card and said to let him know if Alice and I are in Camel Bar/ Na'ama Bay in general.
And that we could HANG OUT!!!!!!!!
(Do you think it's because I introduced myself as Dr April..!?)
Some Italiano dive instructor (Filippo). He left me his card and said to let him know if Alice and I are in Camel Bar/ Na'ama Bay in general.
And that we could HANG OUT!!!!!!!!
(Do you think it's because I introduced myself as Dr April..!?)
Day 16: Grey's Anatomy
Today, I was called "Grey's Anatomy" by an Italian boy.
(When I say "called", I mean I walked back into the consultation room, he pointed at me and said, "Grey's Anatomy!" One can only smile and nod at that kind of remark/ outburst...)
I am manning the station alone this afternoon (Alice has gone diving again)- it's hard work. This morning, flocks of people came, so it was pretty much one-in-and-one-out until 12ish when Alice had to bob off.
Then. It got CRAZY busy.
We had an Italian lady (mother of the "Grey's Anatomy" boy) who'd walked INTO a glass door on Friday night, banged her head and had since suffered from intense dizziness and nausea = not good. Her balance was AWFUL. Romberg's +ve and tandem gait RUBBISH, but apart from that full neurological examination was more or less normal (had some slight sensory discrepancies on her R-forehead and R-lateral thigh), no nystagmus, no flashing lights and no vomiting.
Anyway, we sent her off for a CT scan at the "Pyramid" (coz it's shaped like a pyramid)/ Sharm el Sheikh International Hospital, following which Dr Adel advised her to stay under observation at his hospital (the Sinai Clinic) for 24-48 hours.
And now, it is relatively quiet again. Phew. I haven't stopped since half 10. Not even for a drink. So I've stealt a can of cooooool Fanta Orange out of the fridge, teehee. NOMNOMNOM.
Also, circuit training last night was ace, but I am currently in so much PAIN!!! I can't actually get out of bed, I have to *roll* out of bed no thanks to my non-existent abs. Uuuuuugh...
(When I say "called", I mean I walked back into the consultation room, he pointed at me and said, "Grey's Anatomy!" One can only smile and nod at that kind of remark/ outburst...)
I am manning the station alone this afternoon (Alice has gone diving again)- it's hard work. This morning, flocks of people came, so it was pretty much one-in-and-one-out until 12ish when Alice had to bob off.
Then. It got CRAZY busy.
We had an Italian lady (mother of the "Grey's Anatomy" boy) who'd walked INTO a glass door on Friday night, banged her head and had since suffered from intense dizziness and nausea = not good. Her balance was AWFUL. Romberg's +ve and tandem gait RUBBISH, but apart from that full neurological examination was more or less normal (had some slight sensory discrepancies on her R-forehead and R-lateral thigh), no nystagmus, no flashing lights and no vomiting.
Anyway, we sent her off for a CT scan at the "Pyramid" (coz it's shaped like a pyramid)/ Sharm el Sheikh International Hospital, following which Dr Adel advised her to stay under observation at his hospital (the Sinai Clinic) for 24-48 hours.
And now, it is relatively quiet again. Phew. I haven't stopped since half 10. Not even for a drink. So I've stealt a can of cooooool Fanta Orange out of the fridge, teehee. NOMNOMNOM.
Also, circuit training last night was ace, but I am currently in so much PAIN!!! I can't actually get out of bed, I have to *roll* out of bed no thanks to my non-existent abs. Uuuuuugh...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Day 14: Snorkelling
The Chamber has been very very quiet. We had no customers today until noon. And no further decompression sickness cases to report.
Having said that, there was a Swiss guy who came in the other day with ?DCS. Alice joked that he was like the man of my dreams because he was ULTRA organised. He had *everything* with him: we asked for his passport, he had his Swiss ID; we asked for his dive profile, he had his ENTIRE log book with him; we asked for his insurance details, he logged into his e-mail and gave us MORE information than we needed. It was like being in heaven. The only thing that was mildly hilarious was (this isn't breaking doctor-patient confidentiality I don't think) that his name was BORIS.
Pfff-AHAHAHAHHA.
Ahem. Anyway.
We took another day off yesterday (Day 13) because Amr, our mafia-esq father figure for all intent purposes (more on him another day) was taking Mohammed (the 22yo geeky IT tech guy who can't swim) to the beach and invited us along. As if we'd ever say no to the beach.
So we bobbed along and Alice taught me how to swim breast-stroke with my head above the water. FINALLY. Apparently (I don't know why I was never told or maybe I just never fully understood what I was being told), it's 1 *arms* and 2 *legs*. How did I never realise that..??? Now, I can leisure swim! HOORAY!
We rented a pedal boat (with a bendy slide on it = ACE) and pedalled out to sea. Alice and I did quite a bit of snorkelling and it was amazing. SOOOOO many fishies! Some proper fat ones too. And the colours! It's proper amazing below the surface. You'd never guess.
I'm going to have to get me a disposable underwater camera methinks so I can at least take some piccys.
Oh and yes, birffday (Day 10) was cool. We went snorkelling IN THE SEA (drove to Ras Mohammed National Park, which is about 20 minutes outside of Sharm) and I was absolutely petrified because I hadn't swum in YONKS.
My first attempt was awful (plus I managed to lose my R-contact lens even before I'd immersed myself underwater = tres gay). Ugh, and I kept putting my foot down on the coral (BAD BAD BAD). My 2nd attempt was a little better, but still put my foot down a couple times. All together, I managed to sustain 3 minor injuries to my legs. At least it was PROPER salt-water, so the wounds were pretty clean.
Snorkelling yesterday was much much improved! (I'd also purchased my own snorkel + mask, which was more suited to my face.)
So that's the happ. There are other snorkelling-related story..
But another time maybe.
Having said that, there was a Swiss guy who came in the other day with ?DCS. Alice joked that he was like the man of my dreams because he was ULTRA organised. He had *everything* with him: we asked for his passport, he had his Swiss ID; we asked for his dive profile, he had his ENTIRE log book with him; we asked for his insurance details, he logged into his e-mail and gave us MORE information than we needed. It was like being in heaven. The only thing that was mildly hilarious was (this isn't breaking doctor-patient confidentiality I don't think) that his name was BORIS.
Pfff-AHAHAHAHHA.
Ahem. Anyway.
We took another day off yesterday (Day 13) because Amr, our mafia-esq father figure for all intent purposes (more on him another day) was taking Mohammed (the 22yo geeky IT tech guy who can't swim) to the beach and invited us along. As if we'd ever say no to the beach.
So we bobbed along and Alice taught me how to swim breast-stroke with my head above the water. FINALLY. Apparently (I don't know why I was never told or maybe I just never fully understood what I was being told), it's 1 *arms* and 2 *legs*. How did I never realise that..??? Now, I can leisure swim! HOORAY!
We rented a pedal boat (with a bendy slide on it = ACE) and pedalled out to sea. Alice and I did quite a bit of snorkelling and it was amazing. SOOOOO many fishies! Some proper fat ones too. And the colours! It's proper amazing below the surface. You'd never guess.
I'm going to have to get me a disposable underwater camera methinks so I can at least take some piccys.
Oh and yes, birffday (Day 10) was cool. We went snorkelling IN THE SEA (drove to Ras Mohammed National Park, which is about 20 minutes outside of Sharm) and I was absolutely petrified because I hadn't swum in YONKS.
Our Snorkelling Site in Ras Mohammed.
My first attempt was awful (plus I managed to lose my R-contact lens even before I'd immersed myself underwater = tres gay). Ugh, and I kept putting my foot down on the coral (BAD BAD BAD). My 2nd attempt was a little better, but still put my foot down a couple times. All together, I managed to sustain 3 minor injuries to my legs. At least it was PROPER salt-water, so the wounds were pretty clean.
Snorkelling yesterday was much much improved! (I'd also purchased my own snorkel + mask, which was more suited to my face.)
Trying out my new snorkel and mask! (Amr price: E£105)
So that's the happ. There are other snorkelling-related story..
But another time maybe.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Re: the War on Mozzies-3
I think the remaining mozzie took revenge after I went to sleep. I covered everything but my face, woke up at 2am with an intense itch on my forehead.. The mozzie was basically eating my face off, so hid my head under the blanket too.
EPIC FAIL.
And now I look like I am DISEASED. Great look for your 24th!
Re: the War on Mozzies-2
Today's mozzie kill count: 7 Make that 8.
Get. In.
Bites are still accumulating though. Bloody things.
Think I've gotten all the ones in my bedroom.. *fingers crossed*
.. Ugh. No. Just missed another. GODDAMMIT.
Get. In.
Bites are still accumulating though. Bloody things.
Think I've gotten all the ones in my bedroom.. *fingers crossed*
.. Ugh. No. Just missed another. GODDAMMIT.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Day 8: Mystery of the Free Diver
Remember I said about the body Dr Adel and I went to examine?
Apparently, Dr Adel heard from the police the day before yesterday (Friday 2nd April) and it was confirmed that yes, he was a man; and yes, he was indeed a free diver who went diving from the beach; he was Russian (Dr Adel guessed he might be, because apparently quite a few Russians come to Sharm to free dive); and his body had been in the water for 3 weeks and 2 days.
BOOM! Get in.
So he is no longer a mystery. And he had actually been reported missing to the Russian Embassy in Egypt, but not to the Search + Rescue.
Case closed.
Apparently, Dr Adel heard from the police the day before yesterday (Friday 2nd April) and it was confirmed that yes, he was a man; and yes, he was indeed a free diver who went diving from the beach; he was Russian (Dr Adel guessed he might be, because apparently quite a few Russians come to Sharm to free dive); and his body had been in the water for 3 weeks and 2 days.
BOOM! Get in.
So he is no longer a mystery. And he had actually been reported missing to the Russian Embassy in Egypt, but not to the Search + Rescue.
Case closed.
Life at the Chamber
It's cloudy today. No sun = no beach.
Well (*yawn*), at least I'm awake and can do some photo blogging. So here we go:-
Well (*yawn*), at least I'm awake and can do some photo blogging. So here we go:-
Daddy Gecko (who I think is still not back..)
The worst of my mozzie bites (no thanks to Skyping JW outside on my 1st/ 2nd night when there was no Wi-Fi signal inside the accommo)
The Chamber = massive cargo containers welded together.
Inside the chamber: O2 and air cylinders with valves on the Left and the Chamber on the Right.
Sahara Secrets: Where we go for dinner with Dr Adel Mondays & Thursdays
Sahara Secrets is pretty cool. It's the cafe area at a dirt-bike track (one of the best in Egypt/ ?the World) which Dr Adel and his mate Iman rent out in the evenings so they have somewhere nice to eat and socialise. (Iman works as the accountant for Dr Adel at the new Sinai Clinic he is building and is also the "hobby chef" at Sahara Secrets.) There is a massive TV screen, so the evening goes a bit like this:- Dr Adel drinks coffee/ tea, smokes shisha, watches TV, eats, drinks more coffee/ tea, smokes more shisha, continues watching TV. Repeat. It's all rather sedate.. (But nice.)
The view from Sahara Secrets
I think the sun has actually re-appeared from behind its cloud. Oh well. It's too late to go now anyway!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Day 7: Na'ama Bay
This evening we went for an (Egyptian) fish dinner at Safaraf (seafood restaurant) in Na'ama Bay. On the menu, you couldn't order crab, but you *could* order a "carb". Hehehe. Ahem. (I didn't quite manage to take a photo coz the waiter came to take our order waaay too quickly, who would've known! Next time, for sure.)
Anyhow. It was tasty. And the restaurant was nice, although the nice balcony-esq place we were sat at overlooked (basically) the Hard Rock Cafe's dumping ground. *thumbs up* (We chose to sit overlooking the restaurant stairs instead of the dumping ground.)
Then we headed to unt bar (the Camel Bar) which was pretty sweet- I had a Lipton Lemon Ice Tea = TASTY. NOM. E£30..! (Alice's small glass of red wine was a whopping E£55!!) So pricey, but very nice atmosphere and pretty much overlooked Na'ama Bay.
So Na'ama Bay is basically tourist-central. It's where all the posh (and not so posh) hotels are. It's "the happ", as it were. Rather different from Old Sharm.. More trendy. And more organised.. Proper shops (with doors etc.), not juststalls small shops (with no doors). But Dr Adel says stuff you buy in Na'ama Bay is always priced at least 10x its value, even with bartering. So I guess souvenirs will have to be from Old Sharm (± a bit of bartering..)
Fish fish fish. NOMNOMNOM.
The "lantern" for the candle on the plate is a tomato!
Anyhow. It was tasty. And the restaurant was nice, although the nice balcony-esq place we were sat at overlooked (basically) the Hard Rock Cafe's dumping ground. *thumbs up* (We chose to sit overlooking the restaurant stairs instead of the dumping ground.)
Then we headed to unt bar (the Camel Bar) which was pretty sweet- I had a Lipton Lemon Ice Tea = TASTY. NOM. E£30..! (Alice's small glass of red wine was a whopping E£55!!) So pricey, but very nice atmosphere and pretty much overlooked Na'ama Bay.
Camel Bar & its view overlooking Na'ama Bay
So Na'ama Bay is basically tourist-central. It's where all the posh (and not so posh) hotels are. It's "the happ", as it were. Rather different from Old Sharm.. More trendy. And more organised.. Proper shops (with doors etc.), not just
Work-wise, you will be pleased to hear that our DCS man has left us today, although he has not been given the all-clear. However, he was desperate to get home, so Dr Adel let him go (with a modified Rx regime, to make sure he was fit-to-fly) with a view to continuing his hyperbaric recompression therapy at a chamber nearer home.
We also had another case of ?DCS or ?pneumo-enchephaly on Thursday. He's been in the chamber with our DCS man twice now and will be back tomorrow to see if he is fit to be discharged.
We also had another case of ?DCS or ?pneumo-enchephaly on Thursday. He's been in the chamber with our DCS man twice now and will be back tomorrow to see if he is fit to be discharged.
Oh, and the geckos are back. Yay!
There is much to tell, but now I must go to bed. It is late and we must pay the beach (and our friend, Totti, the beach-owner) a visit tomorrow am, seeing as we snuffed it this morning for more sleep.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
