Saturday, June 28, 2008

Show and tell- June 29th



What better a Show and Tell than pics and info about an exotic place. An very cool place that is MY FAVORITE place in all the world.

Dahab, Egypt is my Show and Tell topic of today.


Dahab which means GOLD in Arabic, is a small town located on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt in the Gulf of Aqaba. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, it is located approximately 50 miles northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.


The Bedouins still live in Dahab. They own most of the businesses there and tourism is a large source of their income.


We have made friends with many Bedouins over the years and one of our very dear friends from Dahab passed away last month... we love and miss you dearly Ali....



Dahab is considered to be one of the Sinai's most treasured diving destinations. It is world-renowned for its windsurfing, scuba diving and snorkeling is some of the best anywhere, with the nearby Blue Hole and Canyon being internationally famous dive spots.



When you arrive in Dahab, you feel a mix of old and new, like most of Egypt really. On the one hand you have people living in very poor conditons and on the other hand you have 5 star hotels and all the comforts of home available if you want them.

What we love so much about Dahab, besides it beauty and awesome waters, is its charm. It has a Bohemian like feel to it, everyone is laid back, its not touristy like Sharm El Sheikh and has retained its feel from years gone past. My husband used to visit over 20 years ago when there was not one hotel. They used to camp on the beach and there was no electricity or water. He said despite all the ammenities they have added, it still has the same feel.



You will not find any McDonalds or other franchises there. They tried and the locals fought it. I say good for them, It wouldn't be Dahab if you saw a western style chain there really. And besides they are everywhere else in Egypt.

There are so many cats there. They like to visit you when you lounge by the seashore having dinner or just relaxing. This one below joined us for breakfast one morning and looks like she wanted to have some of our tea.
The picture of colorful pillows, well cafes line the shoreline there and they are all decorated in bright colors with pillows on the floor. Its a great place to have tea and smoke shisha, which is a water pipe filled with fruit flavored tobacco. If you haven't tried it before, it is a must!



The first time I went to Dahab was in 1998. It was like a paradise for me. Ever since then we used to come once a year while we were living in the USA and have been going back every few months now that we live in Egypt. I never dreamed I would live just 6 hours away from my favorite place in all the world, but i do and it makes me so happy.

So, i recommend EVERYONE visit Dahab once in their lifetime. You will come a guest but definitley leave as a friend of Dahab, you'll LOVE IT! If you plan to visit to Egypt, let me know I can recommend lots of good places to visit and things the average tourist wouldn't experience on a guided tour.



Be sure to check out what everyone is showing and telling this week.

17 comments:

  1. Wow, that looks really beautiful. I would love to visit the middle east some day. My great grand parents came from Lebenon and Syria. It has always been a facinating place for me.

    Your little piece of heaven looks wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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  2. Ah! Dahab looks wonderful. I really love places with a bohemian feel-- it feels that much more like a vacation.

    I'm putting this one on my "someday..." list.

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  3. Beautiful photos! I'd love to visit one day.

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  4. Wow! What a wonderful place! I would to just get a way to a slow place. I love the Beach, and your favorite place looks absolutely wonderful. Thanks for Sharing.
    Kim

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  5. What beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing and thanks for coming by.

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  6. The beach looks tranquil and pristine. I would take my melon smoothie add some Rum and kick back.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  7. That looks just gorgeous - must put Dahab on my to-do list!! That enclosed area with the cushions look really comfortable, I can just imagine curling up with a good book and some iced-tea!

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  8. That place looks so wonderful! I would love to have a place I could curl up with lots of pillows by the sea and a good book!

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  9. I've always wanted to go to Egypt, totally in my top 10. I'm very jealous!!

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  10. Wow, your photos are beautiful!! I can see why it is one of your favorite places and I love that the locals fought off the Western influences.

    Ahhhhhhh. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Love the photos... especially the second one!

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  12. What a nice find, your blog!

    I used to live in Haleb, Syria. Would you send me some of those delicious jasmine flowers and hibiscus?

    And would you get your spare room ready for me?

    Shukran!

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  13. Wow - it's gorgeous! I so wish I could go there right now. :)

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  14. Wow!! That water!! It looks FABULOUS! :)

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  15. I hope to make it one day! I cannot get over the color of the water, I have never seen anything like it!

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  16. You know, I've never had a hankering for that part of the world - but through your eyes, I wish I could visit there.

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