Missed Opportunities, Cigars, and Cinnamon Tea

Today everyone apart from myself and Ville (who was too busy being stoned) went snorkelling in The Blue Hole. I stayed in Dahab and rested. Spent time by myself exploring the seafront and stopped by a restuarant/bar called The Penguin, who's wooden seafront gazebo had a roof you could sit on. There was something romantic about sitting up there, feeling as though you were in a tree house, your back against a palm tree, staring out across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.

Bliss.

I wrote in my journal, and sipped cinnamon tea. Not quite to the standard of Koos creation, but easy on the palate, nonetheless. On my walk back to the hostel I got chatting to an American Egyptian. Originally from Cairo, he now lived in New Hampshire. He was very nice, and invited me to join him for dinner. Not hungry, I declined, and he didn't press the matter, but told me where he'd be hanging in the evening if I wanted to meet up.

This evening, after much arguing; the 10 of us ate at a joint called Yum Yum's. As tourism is down in Dahab, everywhere tries to lure you in with 'special' offers. We were promised a free starter and dessert. I had spicy chicken rice for the main. The dessert was a joke. Some stale cake absolutely SMOTHERED in cream. I was handed a huge knife to cut it with, but ended up letting Jordo, who pretty much destroyed the confection, by ramming the knife down as if he was chopping wood. The cake was massacred, but still tasted as it should... ie. STALE.

I almost choked as Rob said 'My this really is delicious, but I'm just too full to manage' sarcastically, whilst pushing it to the side. Janina was so embarrassed by noone finishing their cake, that she wrapped hers in a napkin and stuffed it in her bag. She really liked the waiters, as earlier when we had first entered the restaurant, she still was feeling dodgy from the food poisoning of the day before and so chucked her guts up over the edge into the sea. The waiters came across as very concerned for her welfare.

Meals in Dahab seem to go very slowly. You end up staying at the restaurant for hours and hours, so it's best not to walk in when you're starving, but only on-the-way-to-being-starving. The seafront gazebo we ate under was lit with fairylights, and Jordan was allowed to put on a selection of tunes. He chose Eagle's Take It Easy, amongst others, and then the compulsory Bob Marley Legend album.

After dinner Jordan and I cracked open our cuban cigars, and smoked whilst everyone drank on the shores of the Red Sea, further down, outside a bar called Adam's. After an hour or so, it was only Mark, Jason, Murphy and I left listening to the sound of the waves lapping at the shore. I think the guys have continued on to another bar. I didn't feel particularly in the mood.

Tomorrow, the boys are going quadding. As much as I would really love to, I can't realistically afford such extravagance. I am going to do the Mt Sinai trip within the next few days, and possibly go snorkelling with the girls in a couple of days too. Until then, just more relaxation. Some of the Latinos from the kibbutz arrive tomorrow. Hopefully Dahab will start picking up, soon.