Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Terry,

Glad to see you're heading back over there!!! I'm hoping I'll be in Egypt earlier in November so long as I can raise the $$$. So I won't be lucky enough to enjoy this tour with you.

Have a wonderful holiday, I'm really looking forward to going back again.

All the best............Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie, Good to hear from you again - and thanks for your good wishes. Yes...really looking forward to it. We've actually done this trip before....once or twice, but there's so much to see and a good time is always had, hard to go past. This time we are taking our daughter with us so it'll be like going there for the first time - can't wait to see her face light up!!

Cheers,
Terry

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hello Terry,

Your daughter should be blown away by her Egyptian experience!!

I have been lucky enough to enjoy the, Nile Safari (March 1999), Jewels of Egypt (Dec/Jan 03/04), Nile Rover (Nov 06).

I didnt have enough spare $$ to enjoy a tour in March 07, but did enjoy all I was lucky enough to organise in Egypt. Took many, many pics, all of which provide wonderful memories!! As always many thanks to Im Trav!!!!

Each & every tour has had their own highlights. All the tours I have travelled with have been very different, some much cheaper than others, but ALL were wonderful to experience.

I can hardly wait to enjoy a cruise on the Nile again, or some day live my dream of catching a Nile Perch at Aswan!!

Anyway, wishing you all a wonderful holiday. Kindest regards..........Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

I caught a fish in the Nile!! Our local agent in Aswan arranged a handline for me before we boarded the felucca and after 3 days of hard work and with just breadcrumbs left as bait I saw some 'bigguns' on the horizon, launched my bait into the middle of the Nile (okay, I'm exaggerating) and bingo! The biggest one flew at it and after an epic battle I landed him on board and the group was able to eat that night!

(All meals are provided by the way on the feluccas)

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Oh WOW Brendan!!!!!,

I am SO jealous of you!!!! Only kidding, but WOW what an experience!!! I have seen them breaking water at Aswan, have seen amazing pics of HUGE Nile Perch that have been caught. I am just so caught up with the idea of hauling one of these things in myself!!!!

What time of year was that? When I last asked about trying to catch a Nile Perch, I think it was back in Dec 03/ Jan 04. At that time I was told the Perch werent running, so I didn't even try. But I would love to at least attempt to catch one of these fish...........& get photographic evidence..........my other half would NEVER believe me!!!

Thanks for telling me about your catch, you are the first person I actually know, who has told me about their catch!!! That is just so wonderful & to catch it at Aswan.......pure magic!!!

Did it taste wonderful??? I'm betting it did.........& those guys on the felucca's can really cook, I hear!! Once again, thanks for sharing!!

All the best...........Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

Thanks; I was quite chuffed with myself after failing to catch anything for the two previous days - much to my groups' enjoyment. It wasn't a nile perch truth be told and I guess I will never know exactly what species it was... It was lean and silver with a couple of large teeth and it fell to a piece of stale Egyptian bread on a rusty 2 inch hook (that old chestnut). It was in September a couple of years ago.

I was really surprised when on the felucca just how shallow the water is in places along the Nile and could clearly see the bottom, even when we were in the middle of the river. On one occasion I saw some huge shadow swim underneath us (like 1 metre in length) but I couldn't be certain if it was a Nile perch (not knowing exactly what one looks like after all!).

Regards,
Brendan.

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Brendan,

I'll see if I can find out what your mystery fish was!! Im curious myself now!

Nile Perch are in the same family group as our Barramundi, so if you do a search for either a 'barra or Nile Perch you should see some pics of these amazing fish!! I have seen pics of one Nile Perch, so big, that took 4 big men to hold it up for a happy angler pic!!!

Well I guess the Nile is like any river & changes it's course slightly all the time. Of course you are always going to have sandbars beneath the surface.......especially in Egypt, I would think. Have you ever seen one of the sandstorms there??? When the river is as clear as it is between Aswan & Luxor, it would be easy to see these sandbars!! I'm guessing that the felucca captains would be made to stick mainly to the waters that the cruise boats cant use??

Anyway Im still over the moon that you caught something!!!!.........anything!!! Im gonna try next time!!

All the best...........Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

You'll have to get one of those telescopic rods and brush up on your Rex Hunt viewing for some tips. I haven't been fishing in ages come to think of it, maybe I'll go this weekend. Maybe we should start an Egypt Fishing Adventure company together?!

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Brendan,

Have already got one of those rods!! And cant say Im much of a Rex Hunt fan!! I reckon the fish dies after he kisses it anyway............yuck!!!

MMMMMMMMMMMM thats a tempting business offer.......theres only one problem......we'd both want to be fishing instead of working!!! HAH!!!

All the best...........Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

I'm yet to meet anybody from Australia who actually likes poor old Rex! We'll put Egypt Fishing Adventures Ltd. on hold for a little while then

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Brendan,

Should we register the business name just in case?????

All the best.......Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie, I'm game if you are. I'll get my lawyer to look into the legislation surrounding Anglo-Australian joint ventures based in Egypt...

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Oh Brendan,

You make me laugh sooooooooo much!!! I wish there was a "laughter" icon!!!

Look forward to hearing what your legal says!!!

All the best............Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

Jokes aside, I do love travel and I do love my fishing so it's not as crazy as it sounds! Heck, I have a rough idea how to run a travel company too!

Think of the limitless travel to Egypt you could have as a tax write-off?! There are already companies doing it though and I'm not sure what I could do differently to stand out in the market place.

Perhaps I am paying this too much thought already when I should be answering Imtrav questions...

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie & Brendan, been following the banter between you guys with interest - as the (good)idea of a business was spawned on my question link, I think partnership would be appropriate!!
Joke....Seriously though, the idea of having an on line business dealing with Egyptian goods has appealed for a looooong time. It's finding the right (trustworthy) contacts that's difficult.By the way Deb, you probably already know but we can get genuine imported Nile Perch at Woolworths believe it or not. It is from Lake Victoria though.
Cheers & Yalla Beena,
Terry

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Terry,

Okay, let's talk turkey!

I'll send you a private message in a minute with my thoughts and some ideas. It's very interesting what you say about the Nile Perch. I think there's always going to be a good level of demand for authentic Egyptian items and I remember once in Seattle in the US I visited an awesome Egyptian shop completely decked out in ornaments, shishas (of course!) and all kinds of other novelty items, just like the ones that you see in Egypt.

One way to get around the 'risk' of dealing with unknown exporters, as I see it, would be to travel to Egypt, hire a container, and then fill it with all kinds of weird and wonderful goods from local tradespeople. What a trip that could be!

Of course there's a lot of rubbish on sale in the very touristy areas but there are also a heck of a lot of incredibly skilled craftsmen dotted around and I think everybody who has been to Egypt has picked up at least a couple of really special souvenirs.

It helps obviously that I am only four and a half hours away from the country here in the UK...

What sort of items did you have in mind? And don't forget about Egypt Fishing Adventures ltd.!

* These are not the views of the Imaginative Traveller by the way

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Brendan, Interesting thought - you are absolutely correct. The carp is a major pest with no real sign of any change in that area, although the major drought we have had here for the last few years has bumped a few of them off!! May be worth an enquiry to the dept of Primary Industry. On our trips to egypt we've managed to pick up a few really nice items including some leather work that looks (to me) very good quality. bags, belts, etc. Some of the better carving of the "gods" are also quite well done and very reasonably priced compared to what you would pay here. I'll have do some more research and check it out in November. Cheers, Terry

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hello Brendan & Terry,

Hey dont forget me will you????? Im a partner in this!! I am also very prepared to travel to Egypt to purchase goods for the business. Hey I'll even take people ouot fishing!!!

Yes Terry I have enjoyed some Nile Perch from Woolies!! Usually at Easter we lash out & have a nice bit of Perch!!

But Im afraid eating them isnt as much fun as catching them!!! I REALLY want to catch one at Aswan!!

Hope you both have a great day..........Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the info; I will indeed look into contacting the dept of Primary Industry. You'll have a great opportunity in November to further investigate your own idea and having paid it a bit more thought, there are surely some westerners based in Egypt who export fine Egyptian goods. Good luck if you do start anything and most importantly, enjoy your tour!

Regards,
Brendan.

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

Hope you have a nice day too (and that your knee isn't too sore today). And how could we possibly leave you out of the equation, it was you who planted the seeds of the idea in the first place!

I was thinking more along the lines of the Egyptian Fishing and Export co. now. What do you reckon?

Regards,
Brendan.

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Just remember to keep me in the loop

Maybe I could be the buyer??? Im really good at haggling with vendors

See you............Debbie

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie,

Well, I'm hopeless at haggling with vendors when I'm on holiday and am only now learning how to say 'no' !!

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

ahhhhhhhhhh Brendan!! You crack me up!!!! There really should be a laughter icon!!!

See ya!!!

Re: Nile Valley & Red Sea 25/11/07

Hi Debbie & Brendan, That all sounds good - I don't mind the odd haggle either, I actually find it stimulating and a really good way to interact with the locals who I think appreciate it! Especially when I'm wearing my galabeyah!
Cheers guys, and yes - I will enjoy November, looking forward to a beer at the Salma....Terry