It seems that it’s currently holiday season in the Microsoft Academic Team in the UK what with Neil about to head off to Barbados and Dave having just made it back from a trip home down under.  I guess it would be rude not to continue the trend and also rude not to file my trip report from my latest holiday to the Sinai Peninsular.

So I’ve just returned from a week’s extreme windsurfing (and camel racing..) at Club Dahab situated on the Gulf of Aqaba in Egypt and 5 days later I’ve still got a pulled hamstring, pumped biceps, arms like Mr Tickle, a multitude of bruises, blisters and cuts as physical reminders of a truly awesome week.

Dahab which means gold in Arabic is a mecca for windsurfers including the likes of Dan Ellis, Lucy Horwood and Mike Birt, who were all out there training as part of the professional circuit or testing new kit. It’s also a mecca for PADI diving with two internationally renowned dive sites – The Blue Hole and the Canyon - lying alongside the deepest section of the African Rift, the giant crack in the earth’s crust that formed the Red Sea. And as a former hippy commune the lifestyle there is EASY, Eastern style…situated amidst a palm fringed oasis, with the rolling red sandstone mountains as a backdrop, with crystal clear seas, sun-baked sand, Bedouin bars, and of course camels and loads more…

Dahab is also reputedly blessed with over 300 days of Force 4+ wind a year HOWEVER during the week that we were there we experienced Hurricane-style conditions of Force 6-8 all day, every day with Dan Ellis stacked on 4.2m sail! And talking about wind related matters Dominic, Mark and Corey (three former Microsoft Student Partners) would probably kill me if I didn't sneak the opportunity to plug Project Hurricane, the great student community portal kit they developed and which is now blowing up a storm :).

Apart from windsurfing we managed to fit in some night time camel racing followed by a Bedouin style barbecue in the middle of the desert under the stars, horse riding on Arabian stallions, dinner in open air Bedouin restaurants in Masbat (word of advice here though don’t order the Bedouin Calamares as it’s better than the Atkins diet for losing weight.. just ask Lee, Mr Calamari Man.)

In conclusion Dahab is an awesome place even if you’re not a windsurfing or diving fanatic. I’ve really got the windsurfing bug again and must get around to booking my main summer holiday to Club Vassiliki in September….