Egypt - I don't recognise you

 Egypt has changed

 

Fifteen years ago I visited Sharm for the first time and it changed my life.

That’s not an exaggerated version of the story, it did change my life. 

 

Revisiting the hotel, where I felt an awakening, was surreal. I’m sitting here now, writing this, and it’s unrecognisable—just my life. I could sit here and write quite happily, leaving the sun’s rays unattended. What is that feeling?

 

Coming back here again to research the book that will be the final book in the series, I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to venture off the beaten track, go back to old places that held special memories, and take photos and videos to help me with the writing process. I got more than I bargained for.

 

The hotel I am in now is called the Pickalbatros Royal Moderna. It’s turned full circle to be here, as I had my ‘awakening’ shall we call it – in this hotel, 15 years ago.

Yesterday I searched through old photos and thankfully found some. Turning my phone screen to the management, I asked if this is actually the same place. Back then, terracotta rooves surrounded a swimming pool which has now changed shape. I was concerned that I hadn’t recognised any of this hotel at all. There’s even a swimming pool where I didn’t think there was a pool. It's new. The management assured me there have been major rebuilds going on. 

How it looked iin 2009

Today

 

Afraid of forgetting things as they are, I wondered if keeping my YouTube videos was a genius idea. Writing from life dictates an element of truth and accuracy. I couldn’t plant a flying unicorn in the middle of this hotel, for example. For the purpose of the story, I could use an inaccurate memory of course, but this was bothering me how little I remembered.

 

Taking out my journal and pen, I decided to get my thoughts down about what exactly I was doing here. What was my aim or purpose? It certainly wasn’t ‘a holiday’ as people suggested. I can’t tell you the last time I took one of those – actually – it was the UK summer when I stayed in the tent. But when I travel, it is for the purpose of finding a story, creating YouTube videos and taking photos for my blog. Is this sustainable? Is this the end goal?

How do you even know what you are supposed to be doing? 

I would say, dig deep. Feel what’s inside and go from there. Of course, you need to be sensible but I found on this trip I feel a certain way. I feel I need to keep my faith in my writing and the books I produce. Time will tell of course but without a clear message, how can I expect people to be invested in my business? 

 

For a long time, I thought travel vlogging would likely be the route forward, but now I see it’s one of the things I do alongside my writing. 

Many years have passed since I began writing and my passions around biography and diaries has grown over that time. I feel it’s important we share those stories, which will remain even if a hotel has been rebuilt.