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Monday 30 July 2007

El Gouna Part 4..............

We didn't do many trips on this holiday apart from the bus trip Downtown, the Lagoon trip and a boat trip to a nearby deserted Island called Mahmya , which is in fact a National Park.

We were picked up from the hotel at 8 a.m. and taken to the harbour at Hurghada to pick up the boat. As we came to board the boat I stopped and said "There's no way I can get on there!" I love sailing (apart from in little boats where people keep standing up and down!) but this boat was a bit too far away from the jetty for me and I knew there was no way I would be able to jump it. My knee is much stronger now but I still have to go down on my bad leg and wouldn't trust a jump landing on it if you know what I mean. I explained I'd not long had an operation (showed them the impressive scar) and they said "no problem" they just hauled the boat in a bit more and practically lifted me onto the boat! A young couple from our hotel, who were on the same trip, asked me later if I'd had a knee replacement to which I repled yes. When I told them I'd had the operation in February they were amazed at how well I am doing because they just happen to both be physiotherapists and knew what was involved. This pleased me no end because I thought it was taking too long to recover.

Anyway, all aboard, we set sail to Mahmya Island about a 50 minute journey and a very pleasant one, MWM and I spent the 50 minutes sunbathing on the front of the boat and scanning the horizon for dolphins (no luck there unfortunately). As we approached the island we could see that the beach had oodles of thatched umbrellas for shade and thatched buildings dotted about and there were quite a lot of boats arriving. We had to decant into a smaller boat with an outboard motor to be taken ashore and were told we would be left to our own devices - sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling etc until midday when we would be taken back aboard our boat to visit another coral reef for more snorkeling.

The beach was absolutely beautiful, white sand and plenty of shade. You only needed to go ankle deep to see tropical fish swimming around your feet, I went a lot deeper to do some snorkeling but MWM (who doesn't swim) tried the mask and snorkel in about two foot of water and really enjoyed it.



Noon arrived quite quickly and we were back on board for the second part of the trip. I was a little apprehensive about getting on and off the boat by the ladder (I certainly wasn't going to jump in) to go snorkelling but I had no trouble at all and the underwater view was worth the effort. I don't stray too far away from the boat though because I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world but I do like to give it a go.

After about an hour everyone was called back on board to be taken back to Mahmya for lunch. We did the decant into the smaller boat again and were asked to make our way up from the beach to the restaurant. It was just a whole load of tables and benched covered by a thatched roof with a buffet table but the food was delicious.

I don't normally take photographs of toilets but this time I did because what they looked like outside was nothing like what they looked like inside! I was expecting a hole in the ground but it was like walking into the Tardis! Wait until you see the photos you'll understand what I mean.

We had another hour on the beach which MWM and I walked along hand in hand then we sat in the surf relaxing. All too soon it was time to board the boat again for the trip home, we were worn out but very happy. We just had time for a power nap at the hotel before we got ready for yet another evening of eating and drinking and relaxing.















Tune in again for the last part of El Gouna (Part 5).



Read El Gouna Part 1, 2 and 3.

36 comments:

buffalodick said...

More beautiful pictures of a beautiful place! Probably an excellent place to rehab the knee!

Akelamalu said...

It was buffalodickdy and my knee is 150% better!

Dan's Fi-ver said...

It would have amused me more had the toilets just been a hole in the ground!

D
x

Akelamalu said...

No, Dan's fi-ver a whole in the ground is NOT funny!

katie eggeman said...

What great pictures and beautiful surroundings. MWM in his 2 foot of water was doing what my girls called goggling. On one of
our last family vacation all together, we took the girls to Hawaii. We went on a snorkeling trip and the girls were enchanted, that is all they wanted to do. Too expensive so we bought them some goggles and every time we stopped at a beach or lagoon they went goggeling and had just as much fun. They still call snorkeling goggeling!

Akelamalu said...

Goggeling is a great description of what MWM did bankerchick.

Flowerpot said...

well at least the sun's out here now so I don't feel quite so jealous!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

What a place. I felt the heat just looking at the pictures. Great slideshows, Akelamalu! Love the edit segues with the hearts, too.

Akelamalu said...

Yes flowerpot the sun's out here too! Fingers crossed it stays like this eh?

Akelamalu said...

Glad you're enjoying the side shows julia. It's really easy with Slide, no technical knowhow needed on my part! :)

Jenny! said...

Love the pictures...seriously I can't believe that bathroom either! I would not have been brave enough to even attempt to go in there!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

yet more lovely photos, what a wonderful trip!

smiles, bee

Irene said...

What a wonderful island adventure!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am enjoying yours very much! :)

Dumdad said...

Lovely pix. Part 5, bring it on....

Akelamalu said...

That's exactly what I thought Jenny, which is why I rushed straight back out for the camera!

Akelamalu said...

Glad you're enjoying the trip Bee. :)

Akelamalu said...

Thanks for stopping by Irene I hope you'll call back. :)

Akelamalu said...

Thanks dumdad Part 5 coming up soon - are you sure you're not fed up with them yet??? ;)

Anonymous said...

first time here - visiting from Sally's
I have dicky knee, too!
The sun, sea and sand look heavenly

RUTH said...

Those toilets are incredible! In fact the whole place looks wonderful. I love swimming and would love to have a go at snorkling. Thanks for another great post and glad your knee held up so well.
Rx

GEWELS said...

And here I was anticipating tht you were going to tell us that you pulled up onto a nude beach. Where IS my mind these days? Yikes

Catch said...

Great vacation photos Sweety! WHy didnt you just put me in your suitcase and take me too????? lol

Barb said...

That beach with the white sand is so inviting! And the blue of the water.. :)

You are a pretty lady!

la bellina mammina said...

tried commenting on the other post but it didn't upload - gonna try again here - posted my tuesday tips on my blog, it didn't upload either!! Anyway, Can't wait to read more about El Gouna. The pics are just so awesome Akela!!

Elaine Denning said...

Your holiday sounds and looks more spectacular every time I visit. These pictures are beautiful! What I'd give to tickle my toes in that water right now!

Lo Kelween said...

I am interested to see the toilet but unfortunately, my server is down today. Will come and check out another time!

I wonder: doesn’t snorkeling affect your ankle?

And I am looking forward for the part 5! :)

Akelamalu said...

Hi Belle thanks for stopping by. What's with the knee? I've had a total knee replacement - you?

Akelamalu said...

Oh it was wonderful Ruth you would have loved it, I wish I could have taken you with me. x

Akelamalu said...

A nudist beach - there were one or two almost naked gewels. There again there were women swimming in the pool in the full hijab!

Akelamalu said...

AwCatch I wish I could have taken you all with me but this posting these pictures is as close as I can get to it!

Akelamalu said...

skittles there's nothing like sunshine to make everything look better - including me! ;)

Akelamalu said...

The internet is very skittish lately I've found Bella - it's a pain sometimes isn't it.

Akelamalu said...

Glad you're enjoying the show missu and that you're not getting bored! ((wink))

Akelamalu said...

There's nothing wrong with my ankle elween, it's my knee that's been the problem - but no snorkeling does my knee no harm at all thankyou for being concerned. x

Anonymous said...

The sea looks so gorgeous, and the snorkelling is making me want to jump into the photo!

Akelamalu said...

Turquoise waters do that, don't they misslionheart? :)