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From:
Yedioth Aharanot travel supplement “Maslul”
Published on 21/02/05 |
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Pearl
of the Sinai |
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Tobya Boutique Hotel was built by
an Egyptian artistic couple, who wanted
to live by the sea. Today, it is an
oasis of civilization, serenity, and
fraternity -- five-star services,
at the Sinai prices:
Written by Amir Shvartes – Taba
(Guest at the hotel)
You reach the charming beach, owned
by Sadek Abu elDahab and Nadia Shalaby,
in ten minutes from Eilat airport.
All this is near the Israeli resort
and yet so far away. After passing
through strict security measures,
including passing through many metal
detecting gates, the visitors enter
the heavenly hotel, which was completed
a year ago.
This hotel is different from any other
hotel one has been to: there are no
lifts and no noise. Anywhere your
eyes will stop; upon a lamp, a rug
or a cozy sofa, the strong atmosphere
of art hanging over the place makes
one wonder: "Have I set foot
in a hotel or in a Museum"? |
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| Everything
was started with dreams. Sadek and Nadia are
well founded artistic Egyptian husband and
wife. They looked ahead and dreamt of building
a house in Taba, wherein they can spend their
old age in tranquility overlooking the reddish
mountains and by the very blue sea. However,
the Egyptian authorities had promptly made
it clear to them: this is impossible in effect
as, according to the Egyptian law, it is prohibited
to build private resorts in this area; however,
it is permissible to build a hotel.
Hence, the two artists decided not to
give up their dream. "We will get into
the hotel business” Sadek said to
his wife, “we will build a small hotel
and live there as long as we want".
This is how the building of this artistic
palace started; the plan was to have 20
rooms all handmade. The couple had depended
upon themselves regarding every minute detail
of establishing the hotel: they chose every
brick and every carpet themselves. They
also selected from Cairo the artists, who
drew the paintings, shaped the sculptures,
and carved the wooden poles. They have decided
from the very beginning to attract the Israelis
and those in search for art and culture.
They wanted this Hotel to be an island of
serenity and tranquility in our tense region.
At which time the Palestinian Intifada broke
out, and the Israelis hurried away from
the Sinai. The family made use of this opportunity
to expand the hotel, which now comprises
100 rooms; two swimming pools; 4 restaurants,
a pub, and an amazing lobby. The private
beach with dozens of chaise longue, restaurant
and alot of fun. One can bathe, snorkel
or just lay by the amazing view of the sea
or have a romantic meal on the beach. The
kind waiters would serve you shrimps and
glasses of Champaign by the waterfront.
All what you have to do is close your eyes
and make a wish.
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From: AlAhram – May 4, 2006
By Ezzat Ibrahim |
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| International Star Jim Carrey in Dahab & Taba Wearing Bedouin Head Scarf |
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The guests and employees of a hotel in Taba were taken by surprise when international star, Jim Carrey showed up in at the hotel reception to check-in wearing the traditional Bedouin head scarf.
Jim Carrey’s private jet had landed 3 days earlier in Sharm ElSheikh airport, from which he departed heading for St. Katherine’s. He spent 2 days in the mountainous region accompanied by his manager, Wayne Felming, two Canadians and American and an Israeli. The famous star’s manager had booked at tobya boutique hotel in Taba.
Mrs. Nadia Shalaby – General Manager told us: Someone had called 4 days earlier and asked to book a hotel apartment for a VIP. A request that this VIP was not be searched was denied and the hotel manager informed local security to take all measures needed to secure this visit. Jim Carrey drove a rented Jeep Cherokee from Sharm to Taba. On route to Taba, Carrey stopped in Dahab and walked the streets for an hour.
Carrey had arrived to the hotel yesterday afternoon in the company of four people, and at the reception Carrey’s manager asked the hotel manager: did you not recognize Jim Carrey?
Mrs. Nadia added that the famous comedian was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a Bedouin head scarf and she says: he looked very much like “Lawrence of Arabia”. Jim Carrey spent last night at tobya boutique hotel and had a lunch of burgers, homos and Tehina and for dinner Carrey requested an authentic Egyptian meal. The hotel prepared for him a fine seafood dinner, which he enjoyed before departing to Israel. |
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From: AlAhram – May 6, 2006
By Ezzat Ibrahim |
| Jim Carrey asks his hotel waitress to imitate him |
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| During his stay at tobya boutique hotel - Taba, the international star, Jim Carrey, asked his waitress to imitate him in his film "Liar Liar". The young waitress Sally did an imitation that had the famous star laughing and applauding her performance.
Jim Carrey had left Taba the day before after a four day tour of the Gulf of Aqaba and St. Katherine's, during which he did not request any special security measures. According to Carrey's manager, Wayne Fleming, Jim Carrey had wanted to visit the Monastery of St. Katherine's and other religious sites of the Sinai as part of a religious pilgrimage he had always wanted to do. |
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Ramzi Van Gogh:
The
artistic beauty reveals itself in every
room and suite of the Tobya Hotel. For example,
in the Van Gogh suite, I counted more than
30 paintings of the great Dutch painter,
Van Gogh, painted by the Egyptian talented
painter Ramzi.… Everything there is
so lovely that it captures the eyes and
the heart.
Tobya is a family Hotel, in the whole sense
of the word 'family'. Nadia, acting as Hotel
Manager, personally carries out the guests'
demands. In this Hotel, as soon as one asks
for something, his/her demand is met. One
needn't go through asking those Assistant
Managers and other employees.
The food is delicious. Every restaurant
has its own atmosphere and its own kitchen.
Nadia likes to take the guests on a tour
around the kitchens so as to know closely
how the served meals are prepared.
The restaurants serve a mixture of fresh
sea food and dishes of the traditional Mediterranean
kitchen. All are served in a romantic atmosphere:
the candles and the tunes of the pleasant
Egyptian music are all over the place.
"We greatly hope to see Israelis, side
by side with the Egyptians, getting to know
each other” said Selma Abu ElDahab,
Nadia and Sadek’s daughter, the Sales
& Marketing manager of the hotel. “In
this atmosphere of culture and art, it will
be easy for both of the two peoples to overstep
the barriers keeping them apart up till
this moment. We are all human, looking for
peace. In general, we all want to enjoy
our lives."
Written by a guest at Tobya Hotel.
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