My Snorkeling experience: Red Sea Jeddah!

When you are born in a small town in central Kenya, swimming is not a considered sport when you are growing up! It is not a need, it's unnecessary, expensive sport considered for the rich! So I only got to learn to swim in a pool as an adult,and I will not swim in a pool if my toes won't touch the floor! I need to know I can stand in case of anything that could lead to drowning hahahaha, or let's just say it's for the sake of my sanity! They tell you that it's all in your head, and you know it's in your head but how do you treat your head! wee.better safe than sorry? The only way I will swim in a deep pool is only when my partner is in it or the diving squad is around and in uniform:-)

When I set out on a boat trip deep in the Red Sea, my plan was not to snorkel, my plan was to wear my bikini, lie out in the yacht, eat, drink(water I mean), take photos and act rich at least for a day.

Bikini under the abaya, wide hat, sun glasses, all my sun block lotions,me and my good friend set out to sea. Before getting on the boat, they asked us if we needed to rent snorkeling equipment! My friend did, I didn't!

The in charge didn't tell us this!, but we did need a pill! I have been on a cruise before but being on a smaller yacht out in rough sea was like being in a meri-go-round! My stomach started feeling weird, my insides were acrobatic and i could taste some sour sweet liquid up my throat!. The first thought through my mind- 'Dear universe: do not let me fart in this boat! I am a lady and there's nowhere to run! i am looking good in my white bikini and sunglasses! i look classy and am pretending to be rich! do not embarrass me and i will be a good human'. Thankfully that didn't happen, who said the universe isn't fair?. The first 2 hours was disaster! I was seasick to the core, and same time trying to nurse others too by passing the trash bag! I was even lying on the floor. They finally gave me a blue  pill and magically, close to 3 hours at sea, I could actually open my eyes and stand.

Back to the classy, rich sophisticated lady who can hold herself together, i was about to pour myself a cup of tea, the boat was swaying smoothly. 'liz, you seriously have to see how beautiful it is under there, you have to, you can use my mask and frog fins, you can hold onto the boat and just put your head under for some seconds! you cannot come so deep into the red sea across the world and not see this!, my friend shouted in excitement. Some man,who looked like he could save me, was standing behind her shaking his head like, shes right!. I debated in my head hastily, kinda like when you are making up your mind in a bar at 3am whether to go for an after party or go home. Vi helped me into my gear and i went down the rails, even wrapped my legs to the rails just in case there's a huge wave, yea, sometimes i get a little dramatic. I put my head under! wow! and i put it again and again..wow!

I got back to the boat mesmerized, i could hear the fishes calling for me to come closer. The guys who were diving deep had come up for a break and they were like, what are you scared of?. 'drowning'!. They laughed, 'you are not gonna drown', they laughed again! 'we divers in this boat! we shall rescue you!'. I didn't know if their laughter was to scare me or make me realize how ridiculous i sounded of my drowning phobia. 'At least allow me to even look way ridiculous and wear my life vest.' 'Whatever gives you peace of mind! wear it and go!', and i did. I cannot begin to explain the beautiful reefs, the colored, stripped fishes of all sizes, a feeling of guilt swept through me from time to time and i felt like a bad human for my love of salmon dishes then i would console myself that its the circle of nature:-) go on.. laugh at me and with me.

So guess what happened, after going back to the boat to have some sips of water? I hurriedly put back my mask and frog fins..they were not mine even! and jumped right back to the water! slide, not jump but slide from the boat. I swam towards the reef again and something felt different, i felt so light but i couldn't really figure! 'oh shit! i came in without my life jacket! oh shit!' my head became a mess, and my goal was to swim back to the boat in a sec. I could have worn a medal that time if we were in the Olympics! 'the divers are so deep to catch up with you, the boat is close,its just here, go..go..you are almost there! Breath! you are holding onto the rail. Look, did you just go out there and swim back here? didn't they say its all in the head? oh shit! you did not just do that ! but hey i lived to tell the story'.

Those of you ladies in Saudi reading this and getting all excited, calm your nerves down. Always remember my story because the rules have changed a week from when i had this fabulous experience. To go diving or snorkeling deep at sea, you just don't need a flight ticket, a hotel and a boat paid trip! you need to be with your husband(marriage cert in hand)/ or your brother or father. You need to be protected...maybe from the beautiful fishes and the peace at sea..sorry singles! The universe is sometimes unfair! but luckily its something you can do in other parts of the world. Like Diani Mombasa, Kenya.

The only thing that beat me that day was the sun! The tan!!!