It’s funny how no sooner do we get through the summer, grumbling about the heat, than we start thinking about warm places for winter. Pointing the way for our daydreams, the Travel Today Arabia compass spins south this issue. Mohamed ElHebeishy, whom loyal readers know as ‘elmoro,’ decided to find the southernmost spot on the Red Sea coast open to tourists. While Shalateen, some 1,000 km from Cairo, doesn’t have much in the way of resorts, it is a thriving trading outpost, with a steady stream of spices and sponges rolling through its dusty streets. Given ElHebeishy’s passion for exploring the desert, we wondered if he was in the market for some new transportation — Shalateen is also one of the first camel markets for the herders coming up from Sudan (“The Last Frontier,” page 32).  | Kate Durham | |
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While ElHebeishy hit the furthest reaches on the Egyptian coast, Davin Hutchins gets the nod for the southernmost destination this issue. Hutchins heads to the capital of South Africa to see how post-apartheid Pretoria is adjusting to its new life as Tshwane. The city is striving not to forget its infamous past, but to “rediscover its roots and to put the city’s checkered history into context” (“Tshwane” page 54). Contributing Writer Janet Groene is based in Florida, certainly one of the more temperate of the American states, and even she is winging her way south for this issue. Groene heads to The Bahamas, an idyllic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s not just for the weather, though. Nassau, the capital city, is host to the Junkanoo, a wild costume party held only two nights a year (“What’s New In Old Nassau,” page 48). In every crowd, there is the rugged individualist, the person who, when the world goes one way, makes tracks in the opposite direction. While we were bantering about beautiful bays and beaches, Päivi Arvonen went to Stockholm, Sweden, to bring us an Icebar. The entire bar — walls, tables, glasses — is made of natural ice carved from a river in the northern part of the country (“Absolutely Cool,” page 70). Karim Ezzeldin, our illustrator turned writer, prefers his water in liquid form. He learned how to chill out at the largest thalasso therapy spa in the Middle East, overlooking Egypt’s Soma Bay (“Winning Body & Mind,” page 62). It’s alright to dream about faraway places, but how do you get there? All across the world, the airline industry has ever-increasing options and price ranges. What is the difference between low-price and no-frills? What can you expect for service? Staff Writer Yasmine Saleh tries to make sense of the different classes of airlines in “Fare Skies Ahead” on page 36. We’ve got a few changes in the works for the magazine, starting with the introduction of “The Souq,” where you can turn to find dive centers, adventure travel and other tour operators. We’re starting small, with just one page, but stay tuned as we grow the section. In the meantime, you can revisit a familiar friend with our special supplement on Sharm El-Sheikh. The City of Peace has different appeal for different people, from the romantics to the adventurers, from teens to families. Find out what is waiting for you in “At Ease In The City Of Peace” (page 39). From all of us at Travel Today Arabia, we wish you a joyous Eid El Fitr, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Kol sena we inta tayyeb — happy holidays — however and wherever you celebrate. tt |
