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TABA
COMPLIMENTARY
SUMMER 2013
ISSUE 27
HEIGHTS
GOLF INTRODUCTION
EVERYONE’S
WELCOME ON
THE GREEN
OVERLAND EXCURSION
A GIRLS’ ROAD TRIP
THROUGH THE SINAI
RESTAURANT REVIEW
BEST OF SURF AND
TURF AT BREEZE

Hotel Guide
The breathtaking setting and ideal location of Taba Heights is complemented by an offering of luxury four- and five-star hotels.
These worldwide hospitality leaders provide an unparalleled experience in relaxation and leisure in the land of sea and sky.
Each hotel offers an astonishing array of services and comforts set in innovative, state-of-the-art facilities designed for those who
wish simply to sit back and enjoy. Following is a listing of the amenities, facilities and services available at each hotel.
Hyatt Regency Taba Heights
Situated on the beautiful Red Sea with five kilometers
of secluded beach and a private bay.
Accommodation: Non-smoking rooms available
Entertainment: Evening entertainment, tour & travel services
Tel: (+2 069) 358 0234 Fax: (+2 069) 358 0235
E-mail: taba@hyattintl.com Website: www.taba.regency.hyatt.com
InterContinental Resort Taba Heights
Three main structures linked by tropical garden pathways,
all resting on a prime waterfront location.
Accommodation: 24-hour room service
Conference: Business center with boardroom, two meeting rooms
Tel: (+2 069) 358 0300 Fax: (+2 069) 358 0311
E-mail: sales@intercontitaba.com Website: www.intercontinental.com
Marriott Beach Resort
A secluded world of its own with over 44 acres of lush
gardens, pools, waterfalls and private beach.
Acommodation: Handicapped-accessible rooms
Entertainment: Open-air amphitheater
Conference: Three meeting rooms, wireless high-speed internet
Tel: (+2 069) 358 0100 Fax: (+2 069) 358 0109
E-mail: redsea.salesoffice@marriotthotels.com Website: www.marriott.com/tcpeg
Sofitel Taba Heights
Inspired by Oriental architecture, the hotel draws on ancient
traditions and modern trends for an enchanting atmosphere.
Accommodation: Six rooms adapted for disabled guests
Entertainment: Day and night entertainment
Conference: Three meeting rooms
Tel: (+2 069) 358 0800 Fax: (+2 069) 358 0808
E-mail: H3011@accor.com Website: www.accorhotels.com
The Three Corners El Wekala Golf Resort
Located in the heart of Uptown, El Wekala offers sublime
vistas, utter comfort and activities for the whole family.
Accommodation: All inclusive
Entertainment: Family oriented, outdoor amphitheater
Location: Downtown across from Golf Course
Tel: (+2 069) 358 0151 /2 /3 Fax: (+2 069) 358 0157
E-mail: elwekala@threecorners.com Website: www.threecorners.com

TABA HEIGHTS MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2013
Dear Readers,
The heat of the Sinai summer has arrived, driving us to the beach or the pool
and giving us added appreciation for frozen drinks and air conditioned indoor
spaces. The year’s hotter months come with some pleasant surprises for
those willing to brave the summer sun, as divers and snorkelers have recently
learned. Whalesharks have been spotted off the shores of Taba Heights
multiple times in recent months, and participants in Red Sea Waterworld
excursions have welcomed the opportunity to observe these gentle, planktoneating
giants in the wild (see News Around Town, p. 16).
Excitement can also be had on land, as we learn from Katie Roberts and
Victoria Learmonth, who recently took the less-travelled path of going from
Taba Heights to Cairo by road. Summer is the perfect time to try your
hand at golf: the Taba Heights golf club is offering free introductory courses
throughout the summer (see p. 6). If it’s an escape from the sun you’re
wanting, check out some of the boutiques listed in our shopping roundup
(p. 10). And take advantage of the relative cool of the evenings to indulge at
Breeze, a poolside restaurant at the Hyatt Regency (review p. 4).
Enjoy,
The THM team
CONTENTS
INSIDE
4
6
14
Restaurant: Breeze
Golf Introduction
Excursion: Road Trip
ALSO
10
16
18
The Buying Fever is On!
News Around Town
Shopping Directory
Taba Heights Magazine is a seasonal publication
produced by Icon Communications. For advertising
please contact advertising@tabaheightsmag.com
www.tabaheightsmag.com
SUMMER 2013 3

RESTAURANT REVIEW
BEST OF SURF AND
TURF AT BREEZE
Text by Francoise Ohayon
OCCUPYING A LARGE WOODEN GAZEBO SURROUNDED BY
A SWIMMING POOL IN THE LUSH GARDENS OF THE HYATT
REGENCY, BREEZE IS AN ENCHANTING SETTING IN WHICH
TO ENJOY A ROMANTIC DINNER AMIDST THE SOUND OF
GURGLING WATER AND PALM TREES RUSTLING IN THE WIND.
4 Taba Heights Magazine

Seafood Nights, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, are the
restaurant’s most popular evenings. Additional seafood items
enhance the menu on these days, and fish is char-grilled. Waiters
wearing little white sailor hats and tables softly lit by candles
in miniature lanterns complete the marine theme. Meat dishes
remain available for the less nautically inclined, and vegetarians
can make do with starch and vegetable side dishes, which are
ordered separately.
We shared a mixed seafood appetizer platter featuring moist
fish cakes redolent with fresh herbs served with coriander lime
dressing, calamari and shrimp tempura with sweet chilli sauce,
and pan-seared scallops. Other seafood starters on offer include
prawn Caesar salad and hot and sour seafood soup. Appetizers
for meat lovers are also to be had, such as Caesar salad with beef
bacon, chef salad with turkey ham, and sesame chicken salad.
Vegetarian salads and soups are also available.
Tantalizing smells wafted from the nearby semi-open kitchen, and
the ring of a bell announced more delicacies to come. My garlicand
herb marinated tiger prawns with grilled vegetables were
pleasantly fleshy and not overcooked as can so easily happen
with shellfish. I also had a taste of my companions’ main courses:
a flavourful U.S. Angus beef rib eye steak with garlic herb butter
and onion confit, and the delicate flesh of a whole grilled sea
bass. Side dishes were placed on the table for everybody to share
and included creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, sautéed
cherry tomatoes, and a large baked potato served with spring
onion, beef bacon, and sour cream.
Other U.S. Angus beef cuts include filet and sirloin. King prawns,
lobster tails, salmon, grouper, and red mullet are also available
on the regular menu, along with veal tenderloin, lamb chops, and
baby chicken, all char-grilled to perfection. Balsamic- and olive oil
marinated grilled calamari, lemon- and herb marinated salmon
filet, pan seared sea bass filet with bell pepper and avocado salsa,
honey- and lime marinated grilled sea scallop, and grilled lobster
tail with garlic parsley butter augment the Seafood Night menu.
Mixed seafood platters for two steal the show.
My dining companions, both regular guests at Breeze, had a
hard time choosing their favourite dish, and I understood their
dilemma: the restaurant’s bill of fare combines the best of both
surf and turf worlds.
Royal Coffee came highly recommended as an alternative to
dessert. The after-dinner drink made of espresso and imported
brandy and topped with a rich, thick layer of sweetened cream
made for a very satisfying digestive. Irish coffee with whiskey and
brown sugar is equally pleasing. Warm apple crumble with vanilla
ice cream, chocolate volcano with chocolate chip ice cream,
banana tempura with ice cream, and seasonal fresh fruit platters
are also to be had.
Breeze is the perfect place for meat- and seafood lovers to
enjoy a romantic dinner in an enchanting garden. Dine Around
privilege applies; reservations with your hotel’s Guest Relations.
SUMMER 2013 5

GOLF INTRODUCTION
EVERYONE’S
WELCOME ON
THE GREEN
Text by Francoise Ohayon
photography by Adel Ibrahim
Free introductory sessions are an excellent way to get
acquainted with a sport that has a reputation for being
exclusive. This tenderfoot discovered that it takes timing,
concentration, and control to get the ball into the hole—
but everyone is welcome to try!
6 Taba Heights Magazine

Golfing Environment
The Taba Heights Golf Course goes through a
staggering 4,000 cubic metres of water each day to
keep the greens in the pristine condition that players
have come to expect of their favourite course, despite
its desert location. This begs the question: where does
it all come from
Water is delivered to Taba Heights in three different
ways to make the best possible use of the natural
resources available. The Red Sea is the main source
of water: 13 salt wells collect water that is piped
into a desalination plant, where the salt is removed
by reverse osmosis to produce tap water. Another
source is waste water, which is stringently cleaned by
separating the solids, injecting water with air to allow
bacteria to aid in the purification process, and adding
chlorine for safety. All of this water is then pumped
into the largest of the lakes on the golf course. Last but
not least, five wells were bored 800 metres into the
ground to pump water from the mountains and bring
it over a distance of 26 kilometres to Taba Heights.
Ground water is used exclusively for irrigation around
the resort and on the golf course.
Making the most of this precious resource is vital,
and a cactus garden was recently planted to present
a visually pleasing setting that is sympathetic to the
surroundings while saving water consumption. All this
greenery provides a fertile environment for migratory
birds, many of which can be admired on the greens.
The Taba Heights Golf Course is a beautiful environment,
boasting gorgeous views of the Gulf of Aqaba framed by four
different countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It is—
of course—a place to play golf, but many come simply to admire
the landscape while enjoying a cup of coffee from the vantage
point of the terrace. There would be no such relaxation for me
on that day, though.
Indeed, the Golf Club caters not only to experienced golfers
but also to holidaymaking couples and families wishing to give
the sport a try. The atmosphere may seem a bit intimidating:
in a holiday resort where flip-flops and sleeveless shirts are
the norm, the green is a last bastion of elegance where ladies
and gentlemen brave the sweltering heat in less casual attire to
partake in a game that places etiquette on par with rules.
Fortunately, one-hour introductory experiences held weekly at
Taba Heights Golf Resort make everyone feel welcome to take
their first steps on the green. Golf Pro Magdy Abdel Aziz, who
has played for 33 years and taught the sport for 17, took our
small group of three to the putting practice area and introduced
us to the square-faced putter, the most used of golf clubs.
Magdy went on to explain the concept of “par”. The Taba Heights
course is an 18-hole, par 72 course, meaning that professional
golfers should need an average of four shots per hole (or three
on some holes and five on others) to complete the course.
SUMMER 2013 7

For example, on a par 4, 400-yard hole, the first shot, known as
the “tee shot” should take the ball from the tee to the fairway. The
second shot, the “approach”, should land the ball onto the putting
green. The remaining two shots are played on the putting green
to bring the ball into the hole. “You drive for show but you putt
for dough,” goes the saying that explains the importance of good
putting skills.
Putting is about direction and distance: you need to make sure that
you aim correctly and with adequate strength. We first threw three
balls by hand to get a feel for it, and then tried with the club held
with one hand only, which lacked precision. Then we learned how to
hold the grip properly with two hands, and how to position our feet,
our eyes, and the face of the club in relation to the ball. We were told
to read the green: the practice goes slightly downhill from right to left,
and so our line must compensate for the incline. Then we had to test
the speed of the green to adjust the strength of our shots.
I placed all three first shots within a couple of feet of the hole but
still managed to miss the second shots. “Timing, concentration,
control!” were Magdy’s operative words, and they were repeated
often. In the end, we played a small game of four holes with two
balls each, lowest score wins.
I lost by one point behind the pro and my fellow initiate Zaid
Ayoub, both of whom scored eight points. I felt better about it when
I learned that the latter was already an amateur of the sport who
called himself an “average golfer” with a handicap of 18. He had
come from Jordan for the purpose of playing golf and attended
the session as an introduction to the local course. His daughter,
seven-year-old Maya Ayoub, also took part in the initiation and was
allowed to wander off and do her own thing on the putting green
when the theory got too involved.
I had looked forward to whack the stuffing out of some golf balls,
but it turns out a finer touch is required. Putting—and, apparently,
golfing in general—is all about patience, concentration, and attention
to detail. The next steps toward becoming a full-fledged golfer are
to train with a pro on the driving range, on the short game area, and
on the practice putting green.
One can get through the basics in about six hours, or book a
full beginners’ package of 24 hours that includes training on the
practice facilities and playing nine holes six times with a pro. That
should bring novices to a level that allows them to play alone on
the course with occasional pro supervision and entitle them to an
official handicap recognized by other golf clubs.
Golf introductory experiences are held on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm
in the summer and 3:30 pm in the winter, free of charge. Advance
booking is not necessary.
For more information call +2 069 358 0073 or contact golf@
tabaheights.com. Visit the golf resort online at www.tabaheights.
com/golf.
8 Taba Heights Magazine

SPRING 2013 9

SHOPPING SPREE
THE BUYING
FEVER IS ON!
Text and photographs by Francoise Ohayon
Shopping in Uptown Taba Heights is a delight, with
countless outlets spread amongst the domes and arches
of pedestrian squares and shaded alleys. Haggling is
the name of the game, so bring your cash and your wits
and delve into the local pastime of bargain hunting!
Jewellery, leather goods, spices, papyrus scrolls,
perfume, and toy camels are all to be had in an array of
bazaars, fashion boutiques, and arts and crafts galleries.
10 Taba Heights Magazine

Souvenir shopping comes high on the list of things to do in a foreign
country for many holidaymakers. In Taba Heights, several bazaars
compete for your attention with curios that run the gambit from
authentic Egyptian crafts to ersatz watches and sunglasses. Ladies can
admire their silhouettes in belly dancing costumes and accessories while
gentlemen try on galabeyas (hint: the more colourful and ornamented
ones are not meant for you!).
Souk merchandise also includes hand-embroidered handbags and
pillowcases as well as Bedouin-style jewellery made of silver, camel
bone, wood, and seashells. Sculptures made from wood, onyx, granite,
basalt, alabaster, and sandstone are on offer, as well as copper and
brass ornaments. Leather items including garments, luggage, and
handbags are another good buy.
At the Magic Carpet shop, a family of nine brothers sells pottery made
by their clan in Taba and Nuweiba. Their perfume burners, ashtrays, and
decorative lamps all feature unique village motifs. Cotton, silk, and camel
wool tinted with vegetable dyes are used to weave carpets, and your own
designs can be transferred onto thick carpets and delicate wall hangings.
Shisha water pipes can be bought as a souvenir and packaged for
travel. They come with an assortment of tobacco flavours including
apple, banana, bubble-gum, mango, mint, peach, and strawberry. To try
out the shisha while sitting cross-legged with a glass of tea or coffee,
head for the uptown Bedouin Tent.
Specialty shops include the Salt Cave for Dead Sea cosmetic products,
salt lamps, and candles. Kodak will print your photos in just one hour.
The Music Shop has Arabic music CDs and tabla drums inlaid with
mother-of-pearl.
On a more utilitarian side, Dr Amir Pharmacy has all the basics to
fix you up, Net Café has internet access as well as basic computer
accessories, the Vodafone shop sells prepaid cards from Vodafone and
Etisalat, while the Al Amir Mobile shop sells Mobinil cards and sets up
international telephone calls.
When it comes to nourishment, Mario Supermarket is the
convenience store to go to for snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and
hygiene products. Golden Beer sells locally-made alcohol including
beer, wine, ready-to-drink alcoholic mixes, and spirits made to look like
famous international brands with labels reading “Gordoon’s Cairo Dry
Gin”, “Fineland Vodka of Egypt”, and “John Waler Black Label”.
For a pit stop after all the shopping excitement, head for Orangina
Café or the Oriental Corner for drinks and snacks. Chez Pascal
and the Flying Carpet off the central Uptown Square, as well as
Pub Tandoori, El Fuego, and Bird’s Nest on Restaurant Row, all
serve delicious full meals.
In the Art Gallery, mesmerizing motifs are designed inside tiny sand
bottles, and artists can be watched painting with oil and acrylic. Papyrus
shops sell decorative pieces of every size and style, and some will
inscribe your name in Hieroglyphics on the papyrus of your choice.
Fresh flowers, dried arrangements, vases, candles, and other trinkets are
to be had at the Flower Shop.
Jewellers sell ornaments in gold and silver enhanced with precious
and semi-precious stones including diamonds, rubies, sapphires, agate,
amethyst, jade, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, and topaz.
Cinnamon, coriander, cumin, oregano and more are found at
Mr Spices, including all the necessary ingredients to make traditional
local beverages including Karkadé made from hibiscus flowers, Bedouin
tea with mint or sage, and black Egyptian tea.
Perfumes made using methods that date back to the Pharaonic era are
blended on demand or sold as fragrances. Pure extracts include amber,
frankincense, gardenia, jasmine, lotus, musk, rose, and sandalwood,
while Oriental blends bear evocative names such as Arabian Nights,
Cleopatra, Harem, Nefertiti, and Secret of the Desert. Hand-blown
colourful glass perfume bottles come in all shapes and sizes.
Everything you need for a seaside vacation can be found in casual
clothing shops. Beachwear, sportswear, flip-flops and trainers, as well
as sun hats, caps, and beach towels are on offer. At Sea Club, a sister
outlet of the dive centre shop, snorkelling equipment and brand beach
gear is to be had.
SUMMER 2013 11

Learn to Golf or Improve Your
Skills This Year in Taba Heights
Taba Heights Golf Academy
The PGA Professionals at Taba Heights Golf Resort invite you and your family to improve your golf skills or try the game
for the first time by taking advantage of our Family Golf Experience package, an enjoyable introduction to the sport that
includes a ride around our manicured course.
Family Golf Experience Package
Three 60-minute sessions.
Up to four family members.
Use of clubs and range balls included.
Offer expires October 31st, 2013
Three 60-minute
sessions for only €170
TABA HEIGHTS GOLF INFORMATION
Green Fees
inclusive of cart
Winter
Outside
Guest
Winter
TH Hotel
Guest
Summer
Outside
Guest
Summer
TH Hotel
Guest
9 Holes 50 € 40 € 45 € 35 €
18 Holes 90 € 75 € 80 € 65 €
3 x 18 Holes 255 € 210 € 210 € 171 €
5 x 18 Holes 415 € 340 € 340 € 275 €
Green Fees
inclusive of cart
Winter
Outside
Guest
Winter
TH Hotel
Guest
Summer
Outside
Guest
Summer
TH Hotel
Guest
Driving Range Day Use 35 € 25 € 35 € 25 €
Driving Range Token 4 € 4 € 4 € 4 €
Rental Clubs - 9 Holes
(Start From)
5 € 5 € 5 € 5 €
Rental Clubs - 18 Holes
(Start From)
10 € 10 € 10 € 10 €
Taba Heights’ professional golf course is unmatched in the region, and the sunny climate of the Sinai allows the resort to be
open year-round. Golfers can tee off year round amidst majestic mountains overlooking the clear blue waters of the Red Sea, and
impressive views of the Arabian, Jordanian, and Palestinian coastlines can be seen across the water.
Contact Information:
Golf Clubhouse - Golf Reservations
Golf Lesson Reservations
Fax
General Information
Tee Times
Golf Academy
Website
12 Taba Heights Magazine
(+2 069) 358 0073
(+2 069) 358 0074
(+2 069) 358 0068
golf@tabaheights.com
golfreservations@tabaheights.com
pro@tabaheights.com
www.tabaheights.com

Indulge at Hyatt Regency
Taba Heights.
Vibrant restaurants and bars, culinary options, indoor and alfresco dining
through out the year. From authentic Lebanese to Italian dishes; from live
entertainment and dancing to traditional folklore; from outdoor favorites
prepared on hot coals to light alfresco dishes and seafood.
For reservations: visit taba.regency.hyatt.com or call +2 0693580234.Hyatt.
You’re More Than Welcome.
HYATT REGENCY TABA HEIGHTS
P.O Box 46621
South Sinai
HYATT name, design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2013 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.
Autumn 2012 7

OVERLAND EXCURSION
ROAD TRIP
Text and additional photograph courtesy of Katie Roberts
TWO TABA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON THE CAPITAL CITY
OF CAIRO, EMBARKING ON A GIRLS’ ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE SINAI.
“Let’s drive to Cairo next Thursday,” said Victoria as we sipped
glasses of wine in El Fuego on a cool February evening. Her
suggestion was inspired by my need to find a way to the
capital to catch a flight for my upcoming trip to Thailand.
Victoria is a seasoned traveller and expat, having lived in
Turkey for five years, but she hadn’t ever been to Cairo. As
a nine-year resident of Taba Heights, the idea of driving to
Cairo from Taba wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me. In earlier
times the trip would have been an easy but barren fourhour
trek through the middle of the Sinai Peninsula. Recent
political turmoil, however, has closed the direct road to
foreigners, leaving expats like us with no other choice but to
go southwest to Sharm El Sheikh and then proceed north to
Cairo from there. This doubles the length of the journey, and
the eight-hour trip sounded like quite an undertaking for two
young single females. But the thought appealed to our sense
of adventure (which was enhanced by the wine we had with
dinner), and soon we found ourselves making concrete plans
for the trip.
The day of the journey arrived and we left around 1 pm,
armed with water bottles, lots of music, and our rising
excitement. Would we be stopped at the checkpoints Would
we make it before dark Would we be able to get petrol for
the journey The lack of answers to these questions only
heightened our sense of anticipation. With the music on
full blast we sang along, feeling something like Thelma and
Louise. As we drove past the port town of Nuweiba and
proceeded to the checkpoint at Dahab, one of our questions
was answered: no, there wasn’t any petrol at the station.
Katie and Victoria used a company car, and their
extensive prior experience living in Egypt and other
places in the Middle East made them comfortable
travelling around the Sinai unaccompanied. It
is widely recommended that foreigners take all
precautions and use licensed tour guides when
travelling in the Sinai.
14 Taba Heights Magazine

We stocked up on other supplies and continued south,
having been assured that we would find petrol in Sharm El
Sheikh. The landscape was dry and rugged, punctuated only
by a few trees and bushes. Just as our eyes had accustomed
themselves to the monotony, a black cab of the sort
commonly seen in London appeared on the desert road like
a mirage. We turned to each other in stunned silence before
asking in unison, “Did you see that!” Years of living in Egypt
has made it difficult for anything to take me by surprise, but
the sight of a black cab in the middle of the Sinai proved I’m
still capable of being shocked.
Regaining focus, we reached Sharm El Sheikh and made our
way directly to the nearest petrol station, which had petrol,
thank God (or alhamdulillah, as the Egyptians would say).
After filling up the car we were confronted with the challenge
of finding the road that leads from Sharm to Cairo, neither of
us being familiar with the area. We followed a strategy that
was part guessing game, part me shouting directions, and
part Victoria pulling off some quick driving manoeuvres, and
soon we managed to get on the right road. At the Sharm
El Sheikh checkpoint, however, we were informed that we
might have to wait for a convoy of other vehicles. But after
a few quick words in broken Arabic and a flutter of the
eyelashes, we were on our way!
By 4 pm we were heading northward, and the sun was
slowly starting to set. It was a beautiful scene: the colourful
sky behind us, the Gulf of Suez to our left, and the stunning
Sinai mountains to our right. We rode along with Katy Perry
and Coldplay to keep us company in the darkness. An
uneventful drive of around four hours led us to the Ahmed
Hamdy Tunnel, which takes you beneath the Suez Canal,
away from the Sinai and onto the Egyptian mainland. Upon
reaching the tunnel we realized we were at the end of a very
long line of trucks waiting to pass through, with increasing
numbers of cars queuing up behind us. Being typically
British, we waited patiently in line, but as we watched
vehicle after vehicle move over into the opposite lane of
traffic to get to the tunnel entrance more quickly, we decided
to follow suit. Victoria’s driving skills came in handy as we
five-point-turned our way out of the queue to follow the
other cars.
The Travellers
Katie Roberts is the Public Relations Manager of Taba
Heights Marriott Red Sea Resort. Originally from North
Wales in the UK, she has lived in Taba and Nuweiba for
nine years, working initially with Longwood Holidays before
joining the Marriott in January 2011.
Victoria Learmonth was a TUI Team Leader based at the
InterContinental Taba Heights. She had lived in Turkey for
five years before coming to Egypt, where she worked for
six months before returning to the UK in April to pursue her
career in her home country.
As we approached the tunnel, however, we realized that the
tunnel guards were turning back the cars that had broken
the queue and were forcing them to return to the line. Had
we just made a major mistake “Wait,” I said. “Let’s just see
what happens.” When it came our turn to be turned back by
the guards, we opted to play the role of confused foreign
girls who didn’t understand what was happening. With a
few more flickers of the eyelashes and some coy smiles,
they let us pass through. We made our way through the
tunnel and out the other side, reaching Cairo an hour later
at approximately 9 pm. The room service and comfortable
beds at the JW Marriott were the perfect end to a long
journey. Would we do it again Absolutely!
SUMMER 2013 15

NEWS
AROUND TOWN
COMPETITION
Taba Heights through your eyes
Following the success of last year, Taba Heights’ monthly
Photography Competition remains as popular as ever, attracting
a stunning array of quality entries. Viewers have the opportunity
to vote for their favourites images and the winner receives a
complimentary week’s stay in Taba Heights, El Gouna, or Tala Bay in
Jordan. Best shots of Taba Heights may be submitted via www.tabaheights.com.
Ask your friends and family to vote for your entry!
AROUND TOWN
Premier League football now showing at El Fuego
In a continued effort to enhance products and services, Taba Heights
Marriott Red Sea Resort is now showing regular UK Premier League
football matches at the El Fuego Mexican Restaurant located in
Uptown. With Happy Hour drinks promotions and mouth-watering
“Mexi Platters” to share, El Fuego is the perfect place to watch your
favourite teams in action. For information on match times and
showings call Marriott at +2 069 358 0100.
Fête de la Musique at Sofitel
On 21 June 2013, Sofitel Taba Heights will celebrate the Fête de
la Musique, also known as World Music Day. The idea was first
broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, who was
employed by the French national radio station France Musique.
Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the moment
of the Summer Solstice, and the festival went on to become an
international phenomenon that is celebrated on the same day every
year in more than 460 cities around the world. Different types of
music will be played around the hotel starting at 19:30; for more
information call Sofitel at +2 069 358 0800.
Marriott gets connected
Starting in June, Taba Heights Marriott Red Sea Resort will offer
complimentary WiFi in all public areas of the hotel, including the
Grotto, Beach, Regatta, and Lobby Bars, providing guests with a fast
and efficient way to stay connected. Recognizing that connectivity
is a major focus for travellers using tablets, laptops, and mobile
devices, General Manager Brian Nourollahi stated that “We
understand the needs of our customers and the rapidly growing
trend for being connected. This is a service that more and more
guests not only expect, but demand from international brand names
such as Marriott and we are thrilled to be the first property in Taba
Heights to offer complimentary WiFi not only in the lobby, but
throughout the property”.
MUT Party continues
The Monday Uptown (MUT) parties hosted each week at Pub
Tandoori have become popular rendezvous points and will continue
throughout the summer. With its unique ambiance featuring a
combination of chill-out music, live entertainment, soft lighting, and
spectacular views over the resort, the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan, and
Saudi Arabia, the pub is the perfect venue to bring all Taba Heights
guests together. A 50% discount on beverages is granted to all MUT
partygoers from 22:00 till the early hours.
16 Taba Heights Magazine

TABA HEIGHTS SHOPPING DIRECTORY
FOOD & DRINKS
SERVICES
OUTLET
Ali Baba Shop
Anubis Bazaar
Art Gallery
Bedouin House
Blue Topaz Silver
Book Shop
Bouquet Flower
Copper House
Crystal & Art Wood
Fantastic Accessories
Gallery Shop
Golden Beer
Hera SportsWear
Isis Perfume
Kyamia Shop
Light House
Leather & R US
Magic Carpet Gallery
Mr. Spices
New Touch Cotton Wear
Omar Jewelry Gold
Oriental Corner Bazzar
Painter Shop
San George Souvenirs
Salt Cave
Scarab Art Gallery
Sea Club Dive Shop
StyleNo. 1
Sun Rise CD
Supermarket Mario
Surprise Kids Shop
Tut Papyrus Museum
Time Out Shop
Bedouin Tent
Bird Nest
Chez Pascal
El Fuego Mexican
Flying Carpet
Orangina Café
Pub Tandoori
Banque Misr
Beauty Salon
Bright Sky
CIB Bank
BDS Destination
Dr. Amir Pharmacy
Etapes Nouvelles Egypt
El Amir Mobile services
El Amir Net
Garranah Travel
Information Centre
Kodak Photo Centre
Marmara
Medical Center
Pro Tours Travel
Thomas Cook
Thomson Travel
Travco Travel
Vodafone Soteer
TELEPHONE
010 0095 6353
012 2793 4543
012 7222 9877
010 7222 9877
012 2856 5323
012 8139 0163
012 2250 2206
012 2793 4543
012 2793 4543
012 7222 9877
012 7222 9877
012 2614 6857
012 7033 7206
012 7101 0239
012 7101 0239
012 7222 9877
012 2793 4543
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010 0444 1295
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012 2349 5401
010 0528 8150
012 2793 4543
012 2218 5644
012 7101 0239
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012 2002 7141
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012 0202 0814
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010 6984 4400
012 2399 0339
COMMUNITY
InterContinental’s Heart of House
The InterContinental Group Heart of House project has been
created not only to communicate IHG’s unique working culture, but
also to improve the working environment for its team members. It
transforms the traditional “back of house” into the “Heart of House,”
which inspires the whole team. Rather than printing the graphics
in a workshop, the InterContinental has called on its team’s hidden
talents: the “Room to be yourself” is livened up by Mohamed
Sallam, who spends a few hours hand-painting the five zones each
day before starting his usual duties as a Night Auditor, embodying
the motto “Great Hotels, Guests Love”.
Marriott hosts Jordanian celebrities
Taba Heights Marriott Red Sea Resort was delighted to host
famous Jordanian singer Hussein Salman for a weekend of live
performances and radio interviews. Renowned Jordanian radio host
Mazen Diab hosted events, which saw a live radio broadcast directly
from the Marriott poolside and included competitions, giveaways,
and live shows. Performances were also held at the hotel’s
amphitheatre to a rapturous crowd of Jordanian guests who visited
the hotel especially for this event.
Switching off for Earth Hour
The Taba Heights Marriott Red Sea Resort joined other Marriott
hotels around the world in celebrating Earth Hour, which raises
awareness about climate change. The global Earth Hour event is
organized by the WWF each year and calls on thousands of cities
and towns around the world to switch off their lights for an hour in
a bid to reduce the world’s energy consumption.
DINING
New 19th Hole menu
The 19th Hole restaurant at the Taba Heights Golf Resort has
transformed its menu to offer even more tasty and exciting dishes.
Welcoming those who fancy a bite before teeing off or who
simply wish to take in the views of the golf course, the menu has
something to offer everyone; it was inspired by a survey among
golfers, who shared their preferred snacks and bites when off the
course. The resulting menu hits the spot like a hole in one!
New lunchtime snacks at El Mar Palmcourt
All-inclusive at the InterContinental just got even better thanks to
the El Mar Palmcourt, which now offers a lunchtime à la carte menu
as part of the all-inclusive package. Guests can indulge themselves
with tasty dishes cooked fresh to order, including pasta, pizza, and
salad, while enjoying the sea air in one of the most beautiful garden
spots overlooking the beach of Taba Heights.
DIVING
Whalesharks making consistent appearances
At least three individual whalesharks have been spotted in the
waters around Taba Heights by Red Sea Waterworld guests during
diving and snorkelling trips. The gentle giants justifiably attract
18 Taba Heights Magazine

a lot of attention, and water sports enthusiasts have had close
encounters every couple of weeks since the beginning of the
summer season. The biggest whaleshark ever recorded was over
12 metres long, yet this largest fish of the sea survives on a diet
consisting mainly of tiny plankton. When feeding, whalesharks swim
close to the surface, using their huge mouths scoop up everything
in their paths, and then plankton and small fish are filtered from the
rest. In spite of their size, whalesharks are passive, docile fish that
sometimes allow humans to swim with them for long distances.
Once they tire of the attention, they either rapidly accelerate away,
or simply descend into the depths, making any time spent with
them precious and a real privilege.
Enriched Air Nitrox for qualified divers
Red Sea Waterworld has extended the popular Enriched Air Diver
offer for the summer months. Certified divers can learn the benefits
of breathing Nitrox, which increases no-stop dive time and reduces
surface intervals, in as little as an afternoon of classroom time. The
cost of the course is 60 Euros, and once certified, divers can benefit
from free 12-litre Nitrox tanks for the remainder of their holiday.
Additional materials and PADI certification costs are payable locally.
Critter time
Critter season is back, bringing an explosion of new life in the Gulf
of Aqaba. Pinnacles are alive with juvenile fish, which attract the
ambush predators for which Taba Heights is so well known. Frogfish
were seen on all the main sites, a pack of devil scorpionfish was
spotted in Muqabila, and a tiny frogfish was sighted on the house
reef’s wreck. Marina Bay, a site normally used for training dives,
revealed a beautiful green seahorse, which has led to experienced
divers asking for a quick dip to see what all the fuss is about.
Slow-moving seahorses are ambush predators that prey on tiny
crustaceans that swim or drift by them. Divers at Marina Bay have
also recently spotted frogfish, sea moths, carpet flatheads, and a
sargassum frogfish, giving a new lease of life to an old favourite site.
Read It Online!
Check out the latest issue
of Taba Heights Magazine at:
www.tabaheightsmag.com
GOLF
Something for everyone
A new price brochure was recently released by Taba Heights Golf
Club, offering fantastic deals on 9-hole packages, annual pass
memberships, coaching, and much more. Children, adults, couples,
families, and groups are all welcome. There is something for
everyone on the golf course, including resort guests who wish to try
golf for the first time or novices with little experience.
Taba Heights International Pro Am 2013
Applications are now received for the 7th annual Taba Heights
International Pro Am Tournament, which will take place from 28
November to 1 December 2013 and will include an 18-hole
practice plus a 72-hole competition. Organisers are expecting a
challenging and fun event and are delighted to have the Taba
Heights Marriott Red Sea as partner hotel. Applications are
entertained on a first come first serve basis. For more information
about the event contact adrian.cafaro@tabaheights.com. Taba
Heights Golf Resort is also on Facebook and TripAdvisor.
SUMMER 2013 19