Middle East Travel

» Keith64 - Aqaba

You didn't mention the diving! They've sunk ships and Army tanks around Aqaba to make artificial coral reefs ... at least, that's what they told us; if there's any other reason, the driver of that tank is still in the brig!

If you don't dive, you can take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat ... although the water's so clear, you can get better pictures of the coral by just leaning over the side.

And, I have to mention the excellent aquarium. I don't know exactly how to get there, because the boatman took us ... but certainly well worth a visit.

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Aqaba

It's difficult to include everything in a 400 word limit. But you are right the diving is superb.
I'm a keen sports diver myself (SSAC 2nd class) What I like about Aqaba is that it really does have something for everyone.
Glass bottom boats are hard to avoid. If you walk along by the sea they will come in to the beach and try to persuade you to take a trip. They're all excellent value.

-- posted by hughtaylor

» Keith64 - Aqaba

If you walk along by the sea they will come in to the beach and try to persuade you to take a trip.

At least they aren't as bad as the ones in Kenya; they're an absolute PITA!! Some time ago, when I still had my 'military hat' on, I remember a visit to the Jordanian Navy's equivalent of Portsmouth ... about the size of a small lakeside marina, and the officer in charge of the whole Navy (The First Sea Lord!!) wore the insignia of an Army Colonel!

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Aqaba

Sounds like you've been about a bit Keith. Where else in the Middle East have you been?

-- posted by hughtaylor

» Keith64 - Aqaba

I don't suppose you'd count Egypt as the Middle East?

Otherwise, apart from Jordan, there was only some military stuff around the Gulf ... but if I tell you about that, I'll have to kill you!

I did visit Jordan quite a few times with the Air Force, but only got to visit on holiday, and 'do the attractions' a fairly recently.

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Aqaba

As far as I, the G8 countries and the airline industry are concerned Egypt is in the Middle East. Unfortunately for suite101 purposes it's in Africa. That's a great pity as it's a country I visit a lot. I'm currently writing the section on Nile Cruising for the new Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guide to Egypt.

It's one of those difficult decisions. Yes it's in Africa, or rather most of it is but historically, culturally and economically it's part of the Middle East.

But I'm sure my colleague who covers Africa would be delighted to hear what you have to say about it.

-- posted by hughtaylor

» Keith64 - Aqaba

I was in Egypt only 3 weeks ago ... and, according to the company that sold me my travel insurance, as far as they were concerned, it's in *Europe* !!!

(I think their logic was we called at Alexandria on an Italian-registered cruise ship!)

-- posted by Keith64

» Mike Gerrard - Diving in Aqaba

I've always thought of Egypt as being in the Middle East rather than Africa.

» Keith64 - Diving in Aqaba

So did I ... up until about 1956, the RAF's Middle East Air Force had its HQ at Heliopolis, in Egypt.

-- posted by Keith64

» hughtaylor - Diving in Aqaba

I once saw an advert that said 'Come to Israel and see the Pyramids.'
And a friend who is a Jordanian tour guide told me that he had come across bus loads of tourists at Petra who thought the were still in Israel. They had booked a holiday in Israel and although Petra was on their itinerary there was no mention of it being in Jordan.

-- posted by hughtaylor