Sierra Resort Nabq pictures / info and updates

[iain]

Okay – so some more things whilst I remember –
Computer access – until it’s up an running at Sierra – or if you are just visiting Sharm to check on your appt – you can keep in touch at internet cafe’s – there are 3-4 around on way to La Strada and one at La Strada that looks OK. Hotels may give you WiFi at a cost – I paid EG£ 45 per 30 mins ay Jaz Mirabelle Hotel next to Shams Suites where I stayed.
For WiFi go to Starbucks at Al Khan about 15 mins very hot walk from Sierra towards La Strada on the left. Free fast WiFi –I had a couple of video calls on skype home which cost me nothing, well a coffee actually. McDonals also have WiFi but I used it on the first day and there was no internet, but guess they sorted that out. Typically Egyptian – when I said it wasn’t working – they didn’t just say bad luck as they would here, the manager came out got up a ladder and did his best to fix it using my computer to test it! Actually when he had finished even the wireless part had stopped working, but that’s not the point.....
When I was in Satrbucks I moved to get better reception – at the front in the armchairs. A couple of other Egyptians sat where I had been sitting and then left. Half an hour later they came back in a spoke to the manager – he came over to me with a wallet and asked if it was mine, it was! I had dropped it when I moved and they collected it up in their things before realising when they got home that it was not theirs. My EG£ 100 was still there and also my credit cards – would that have happened here? Well maybe.
Alison says that there is a Metro supermarket that delivers which is great, without a car it’s hard carrying shopping in 42 degrees.
Iain

[Robin&Jane]

Welcome back Iain - thank you and Alison for all your hard (and hot) work, really appreciate it and glad you found time to indulge in a few drinks in the evening???!!!

We were a bit surprised at the state of our apartments considering we'd been told they were ready but are reassured by what you say and the developer has also assured us that the whole of our zone + swimming pool should be ready for handover when we visit the first week in November - so fingers crossed!

Looking forward to seeing more photos + videos

Robin & Jane

[iain]

I have uploaded photos into 3 albums - I have not mastered all the features of the Picassa album system yet.

One of the albums shows furniture in idea4furniture - much of which Alison has already shown before and also her appt.

I do have some more photos to add and will try to just add them to an existing album.

The albums are not "public" so you can only get to them by the link. I thought that not everybody might want all their photos available in a public search.

Here are the links - Alsion posted at least two of them before

Iain

Picasa Web Albums - iain - Sharm

Picasa Web Albums - iain - Sharm flight,...

Picasa Web Albums - iain - day two egypt

[iain]

Originally Posted by Robin&Jane

Welcome back Iain - thank you and Alison for all your hard (and hot) work, really appreciate it and glad you found time to indulge in a few drinks in the evening???!!!

We were a bit surprised at the state of our apartments considering we'd been told they were ready but are reassured by what you say and the developer has also assured us that the whole of our zone + swimming pool should be ready for handover when we visit the first week in November - so fingers crossed!

Looking forward to seeing more photos + videos

Robin & Jane

Hi Robin and Jane, Don't think first week in November should be any problem at all - I just wish mine was as far advanced as yours. The zone already looks pretty good and in fact my building (which was apparantly one of the first two built along with your) is the only one with significant work remaining.

the views from the top to the mountains are spectacular at present with nothing behind us at monent so hope top floor will let us take the odd trip to their roof and we can let them have a go on our grass! frankly the roof areas will be incredibly hot.

My advice is to keep in touch with developer/SSRE and make sure they know when you are coming - they used to say that nomads forgot about you as soon as you dissapeared over the sand dunes, well they may not be nomads but perhaps they do think this way - just keep popping your head above the dunes!

Oh and by the way it was Alison who did all the drinking, though my memory seems a bit clouded

Iain

[in2tense]

Oh and by the way it was Alison who did all the drinking,

I don't think so ?? you seemed to be doing pretty well with your drinks whilst watching Liverpool scrape through.

[iain]

Originally Posted by in2tense

Oh and by the way it was Alison who did all the drinking,

I don't think so ?? you seemed to be doing pretty well with your drinks whilst watching Liverpool scrape through.

HaHa! I was just working out if that was slander or libel and then my memory came back when you mentioned Liverpool

Well, Ok a couple of Stellas maybe,....

[queenie40something]

Hi Iain glad you arrived home safe and sound. Sorry I missed you a couple of times. I still have your plug so will have to give it back next time. A couple of things to correct you on - yes the rat was THAT BIG and I do remember having some help drinking the alcohol lol.

Chelle - spoke to another couple of owners that have been having probs with the pack that has been installed by SRE. They went into Naama to check the list to see exactly what was included - they didnt get mattresses - and were told that what they have is the old pack and they will be changing things like the kitchen etc for them. I had an email from the same chappie that replied to you ref mattresses asking me exactly what was in Mostafas pack and the price so seems they know you can get better and more next door and are prob looking to better theirs???? Of course I cant give him the info he wants he will need to speak to Mostafa himself about that and mine was the old price for 1 bed and he wanted to know if mine was for 6 people which it wasnt.

Went to Mangroves with Zeiad yesterday and it was stunning. If any of you havent been before it is a must. We were the only ones there - total peace and relaxtion. Tnahks Zeiad for a brill day. Took some stunning pics that I will upload.

My fridge has totally had it and doesnt close properly. I have told Mostafa that I dont want it and he needs to replace. The seal is no good and totally frozen up in the ice box so much so now that I cannot open the ice box door and water is dripping everywhere inside.
3 pols now can be used - the 1st phase, my zone and the one directly behind me. They are being cleaned daily and I have also seen them doing the tests on them with the little kit as well. Alot of rubbish and debris is getting blown into them at the moment espec on my zone but the 1st phase one has been lovely.

Went to the Italian at the 1st mall as you come into Nabq nearest to Park Inn and had a good meal and blagged a discount for Sierra owners. If you go there just say you are residents of Sierra and say Mahmood ( the manager ) agreed a discount for residents. I got 15%. It is called Gamero Rosso. They do not serve alcohol but you can take your own It was very busy which is always a good sign and they sold pasta, pizzas, fish etc. It was very clean and a nice setting with high ceilings and wood features.
By the Millenuim there is a shop selling alcohol called Amir Beer Shop with big green heineken sign and it was cheaper than the baccrus at La Strada.
I found Angel Tours Car Rental where you can rent a driver and car for 80 Euros a week. They will basically take you anywhere in Sharm over the course of the week. Just call them and they will be with you in 15 mins. So great for trips to Old Market etc espec if you want to do some shopping. The service is 24/7 7 days a week and you can call them up as many times as you need them. Email is angeltours@hotmail.com tel 002 0108 65796. The other called booked and are using New Castle based at bank street and I think theres worked out about £10 a day.

I did check the elec meter on Monday and in 6 days I had only used 40le worth. I havent not been in all day but have sometimes left the air con on all night, been charging laptop, phone, had tv on when Im in, charging mp3. I tend to just use the air con in the room I am in. I think what I will do if I rent to family and friends is tell them to check the meter ( eg if there is 300 on it at the start of their holiday ) when they leave just go to the control room to get the amount they have used topped back onto the meter so it still reads 300 when they leave. Seems the simplest solution and they can use as little much as they want.

James and Wayne and Fee - I had a essage from Tarek the developer and had expressed concerns over your friends apartment and that they are slightly worried as not heard anything and they are in the 1st phase so should have had handover and I have ask if he could email them and along with yourself as well James as you are due out soon and yours has not been furnished yet.

Dont know if I mentioned this but there is a sign now for KFC coming next to Mc D's, TGI Fridays next to Starbucks and also Burgerking next to Nathans.

[iain]

Hi Alison, just emailed you if you get a chance to check.

Well a couple of days left and you are still information gathering - good girl

I spoke to Mostafa about fridges and we get a different model as of course there should be more people using it, but the seals are really vital in that temperature so we will be keeping a close eye on it, it will have a freezer part at the top, a main fridge part and a fruit part with three separate doors.

Electricity use looks about right - you are working out at about 28 piasters per hour on 24 hour basis so if whole family there perhaps it would be higher and approaching the estimate of 50 per hour that we were told.

You're welcome to keep the plug - I guess we'll buy a few to leave at the appt as people always forget them - we'll mark them to try to remind people to leave them in the appt.

Glad you had a good day with Zeiad - I tried to get pics of sierra but we flew directly overhead, I did manage to take so pics of the mangroves from above, amazing sight, I'll add them to one of my albums,

safe journey

Iain

[queenie40something]

oohhh BTW I have heard that Carrefours is coming to Nabq and will have cinema as well xx

[StuandChelle]

We are just gonna wait now till we go out Sept 18th & sort the furniture thing out ,its boring me now & i need to speak to the people concerned out there & its easier to kick off to them if you are there in person,rather than by email
Chelle