Nuweiba, Egypt

Hi I've just returned from a brilliant underwater photography trip to Nuweiba. I went with 17 other Photographers. My first trip away by myself (apart from my Dad being there). I was a little worried at first but it turned out to be really good fun and very sociable.

The weather was hot hot hot and the water was 25 0r 26oC. The Coral Hilton Hotel was great with 2 pools and beautiful gardens.

I completed 13 dives including one 6am dawn dive and 2 night dives. I joined the trip to improve my photography especially taking wide angle photographs.

This is Dad on a night dive surrounded with Lionfish and Jelly fish.

The photographers were a wide mix of people all from different areas in the country and different working backgrounds. We all got on extremely well underwater and topside.

The reef in Nuweiba is jam packed with exciting things to photograph. From a big Spanish Dancer Nudibranch, to Lion fish, turtles, pipefish, shrimp, sea horse, frog fish all sorts of wonderfull looking species.

A big Octopus a photographers pictured below;

On the way out from one dive we started to collect litter, plastic bags etc that were floating in the water. After doing this I looked down and found a Frogfish nestling itself into my shoulder as though I was a reef! It must have been hiding in the plastic bag. We took a few photos of it on the cameras and then placed it back on the reef. This was a great find as we all love Frogfish and we hadn't seen one so far! I also amazingly spotted a sea horse in amongst a huge patch of sea grass. How I found him I don't know but he was definately once of the exciting parts of the trip. Photo in my portfolio below.

As the trip was about diving I hardly caught the sun with only an hour sat by the pool for the last 2 days. The rest of the trip was dive, review and edit photos, eat and the process was repeated 2 or 3 times a day.

It was my Dad's birthday while we were away so we managed to gather the photographers and all have dinner together with the waiters bringing out a giant half fruit half chocolate cake and singing in Egyptian funky style Happy Birthday to you.

On the last night we all gathered up our best pictures of the week and put them into a portfolio of 6 images. The Emperor Dive Centre staff, Dad and Heather and all the other photographers voted for their favourite portfolio and best image of the week. This was my portfolio;

Irish Andy ran away with the Best Portfolio gaining a huge amount of votes. His work was very impressive.

This is Andy looking at a beautiful small Spanish Dancer.

I came 3rd in the competition winning a lovely Emperor Dive polo shirt. And amazingly I won best image of the week with a photo of a lionfish reflected in the surface of the water by the jetty. It was taken only the previous evening on a night dive where we all got a bit too carried away and exceeded the 60minute dive limit by a further 45 minutes - oops.

I have to say diving in Nuweiba was addictive. I didn't managed to do any other the fun activities that the hotel offers - aqua aerobics, crazy golf, belly dancing lessons, kareoke night etc.

A little funny from my flight out;

I was sat next to an old man and his wife. He had fallen asleep. He woke up and was just staring at me from 6inches away from my face. I said 'I think you are asleep!' he said he was having a wonderful dream and was just about to kiss me! Yikes his wife was right there and on a plane there is nowhere to run too. We just had a giggle about it!

To do something a little alternative me and Rhiannon decided that it would be cool to photograph some camels in the sea. As Rhiannon had bad ear troubles and didn't get to do much diving she went off to negotiate with the local Bedwin men and women to get the camels in the water.

We had great fun shooting them. Julie also took a funny video of me encouraging the camels through the water, but the tables were turned as the men gee'd the camels on and I was basically running away tring not to get run over. They are big impressive creatures! I know I'm a chicken!

Love

Anna

Nuweiba 14th - 21st May

Hi Everyone

Its not for as long as usual but Anna is off on her travels again.

This time she will be leaving Chris behind in Cardiff. She is going on an underwater photography trip to Nuweiba, Egypt.

Photos to follow, possibly after the trip. 14th - 21st May 2007.

Chris and Anna went to Nuweiba in 2005, here are some photos

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Chinese New Year is turning into a frenzy of activity. There are people everywhere. Lots of people in fancy clothing. Pretty chinese lantern decorations are up everywhere. The shops have all closed and everyone is having fun.

We went to breakfast this morning and there were drums beating, symbols smashing, people dancing, dragons dancing, there was a santa like chinese guy with a big black beard handing out red envelopes to people.

Its really good fun.

Early evening today we fly to Bangkok arriving there late evening. We hope to catch some of the festival parties there if we are not too tired.

Last night we stumbled apon a nightclub with a live band. We were drawn in by the funky music and bright lights, quite a contrast to the rainforest. The band were superb, young and fresh with 3 main singers that were all very talented. They were doing covers of popular modern music. We boogied the night away. The club was filled with shy chinese youngsters too afraid to dance. Sitting in small huddles, singing alone and clapping lots. We started dancing with a Chinese guy and all his mates started to laugh at him. But then they gave us free beer! Cool

Tomorrow we climb aboard our last flight and head for home.

This adventure really has been exciting and beautfil. We have been to some really special places. I feel very lucky indeed. And we managed to escape bad weather at a time when there has been plenty.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Love

Anna and Chris

Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Sabah

We have just returned to civilisation after spending 3 days in a Rainforest in Sabah, Borneo. We stayed at an eco lodge. We were very lucky and only had one huge downpour of rain for 10 minutes during our stay. The lodge is set 2 1/2 hour drive from Lahad Datu. Using 4x4 power to get through the mud. It was a bumpy drive. The humidity was crazy we seemed to sweat constantly for 3 days.

After arriving at the lodge and looking up at the beautiful view of a river with rain forest climbing up hundreds of metres behind it. The trees there grow of to 270ft!

The next thing to hit you is all the sounds. Without human traffic to cloud nature you really do just start to listen. The forest is alive with constant calls, chirps, branches being moved. They have insects there that make the most incredible sounds some seem to imitate birds, others sounds like alarms going off. The noises from the insects changes at different times of the day - these used to be used as a natural time clock for native people.

We heard the calls of Gibbon monkeys in the morning and evening echoing in thge valley.

On our first afternoon walk we saw a large male Orangutan. We were very lucky to see this. He was huge and they said he has 5 times the strength of us. He stayed where he was, watching us and eating happily in the tree. It really did feel special. It was lovely to see an animal this big and impressive in the wild and not stuck behind a cage.

We spent valentines here which meant a 1 hour dinner inbetween afternoon walk and night drive. I put a dress on and then lashings of Deet! Very attractive!

On the night drive we saw Samber Deer, Mouse Deer (50cm tall awww!), 2 owls, flying squirrels ( although not flying t the time), and lizards.

The 15th was my 28th birthday. Thanks Sam, Sean, Chloe and Elle for the lovely cards, and everyone else for their emails and e greetings cards.

We walked up very high to a viewpoint overlooking the valley which was stunning. There we saw and eagle flying. We were above him and so could look down and see all the patterns of his feathers! lovely.

On the walk down we stopped at a waterfall and took a swim in the brrrrr water! The sun was pouring through the trees it was gorgeous.

While heading back we encountered our first leeches. they are a right pain! We bought special leech socks. I looked down to see where I was going and there was one on my hand - yuk. I have no idea how he got their. We learnt how to remove them easily - but it is a mind battle as you just want to scream and flick it off. This doen's work though so you have to pick it up, roll it in your palm and then flick it. Far too much time to be in contact with a leech I say!

In the evening at dinner all the staff came out of the kitchen with a guitar and a chocolate cake singing happy birthday! Just a little bit embarassing but nice too! Chocolate cake was had by all.

The nights were a little difficult to sleep through. We had some massive bugs and huge ants in the room. A little unsettling but I guess that's the price you pay for being in such a beautiful and amazing place.

Today we took a tiny plane to Kota Kinabalu, the main city in Sabah. On the flight we passed Mount Kota Kinabalu surrounded with big puffy clouds. We had wanted to climb it but don't have enough days left. Another time maybe.

It is strange to be back in the city. It is also approaching Chinese New Year. Everywhere is packed. Most hotel rooms are full. Tonight they have a huge market that happens once a year before chinese new year. The roads are blocked and are filled with chinese people. There are food stalls and clothes stalls and culturals shows, music etc.

A big belated Happy Birthday to my twin, Debbie. I think that was our 2nd ever birthday spent apart from each other.

I forgot to say.. Ive converted chris he is no longer cool. he is a bird spotter!

Lots of love

I nearly forgot to post this photo. It is a bearded pig! The strangest pig I have ever seen. He had amuddy hang out next to the lodges kitchens! Looking for easy pickings.