NEWIEBA, SINAI, 1980 - 1982

In March 1980 I took the "Magic bus" to Athens and then a flight to Tel Aviv thinking of spending three months working on a Kibbutz. I first worked in Moshav Hatzeva in the Negev Desert for two months picking tomatoes, aubergines and melons. I then went to Newieba in the Sinai for a holiday, found work there on Moshav Neviot and stayed over two years in this little piece of paradise.

Click on the thumbnails below to view pictures full size

My first job was selling food and drinks in the beach kiosk and then graduating up to hotel room cleaning, running the laundry and finally working in the hotel beach bar.
We worked 25 days consecutively then had 5 days off to do as we wished giving me time for desert trips or visits to Jerusalem.

Ein Hudra	Rock formation	Ein Fortaga	Jerusalem	Bethlehem

Although the hotel rooms had air conditioning us workers lived in grass huts. I shared mine for a long time with Caroline who worked as a waitress in the hotel dining room.
Most of the workforce were foreign, coming from all over the world, Australia, America and Europe.

I'd heard some bad stories about the Bedouin before arriving in Neweiba but whilst sitting at the beach kiosk I left my purse on a wall by mistake. A young Bedouin boy called Id, instead of stealing it, returned it to me immediately. After this I had a great respect for the Bedouin and became great friends with them.

Id		Awad and Medan	Radthia and Friend	Awad

During one holiday Caroline and I were let loose alone with a camel belonging to our friend Medan to trek to Ein Fortaga. He gave us a pregnant camel so we would not be bothered by male camels.
What we did not know was that she was frightened by vehicles and on the way home we found ourselves on a bolting camel. Caroline fell off the back and was picked up by the Jeep that had frightened her in the firt place. I tried to hold on to slow her down frightened that I would lose her. Eventually I lost all strength and had to fall off myself. Luckily the camel was stopped by a passing Bedouin and we walked the rest of the way home with her.

Medan teaching us to tie the feet	After the bolt	Looking shocked

We were not paid very much for our work(about Ł60 a month) but we got our board and lodging free and were allowed to take advantage of all the facilities for free such as wind surfing, water skiing and scuba diving. If there were any places available on desert trips or diving safaris we were able to fill those spaces.
I was very lucky to take the diving course to gain my diving license in the most fabulous area for diving, comparable apparently to the Great Barrier Reef.

Regulators in girls	Dennis	Trip to Sharm el Shaykh

Another Moshav nearby called Neviative grew Melons, Tomatoes and Flowers for export. I worked here for a short time living in the packing house.

Picking	Chrysanths	Transporting	Packing	Relaxing

Sadly in 1982 The hotel closed down and all the Israelies and workers moved out as part of the Camp David peace keeping agreement with Egypt. The Bedouin were allowed to stay. This was a very traumatic time even for those of us who had not lived there very long.
I understand that now the Egyptians have built a huge new hotel complex on the site.

Just a few last photos

Ein Hudra	Awad	Hotel Beach Bar	Bedouin Beach Bar	Neviot