- Title: Egypt desert adventurers revel in oasis waterslide
- Date: 27th November 2016
- Summary: FAYOUM, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAN SLIDING DOWN RAMP INTO LAKE MAN IN WATER MAN SLIDING DOWN WATER SLIDE, DOG RUNNING ALONGSIDE HIM MAN SLIDES INTO LAKE MAN FLOATING ON WATER BOARD IN LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DESERT ADVENTURES OWNER, HANY AMR, SAYING: "We thought we wanted to do something new, something that grownups can enjoy, and that's exciting, so I thought about what I could do, and I got this idea. So I started studying it to see how it can be done. At first, I brought linoleum surface and jerry cans and I tried, but found that the sliding wasn't possible. So I brought a motor and started studying it further and I brought hoses and pipes, the fireman hose, to build this ramp, and it developed to what you see now: this ramp." VARIOUS OF GIRL SLIDING INTO LAKE MAN SLIDING INTO LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PARTICIPANT, ISMAIL ALAA, SAYING: "I hope that one day this place will be one of the landmarks in Egypt where people gather to engage in various water activities, like the water sliding, and even on windy days, they can do kite-surfing here, or sandboarding. No, this spot is very powerful and very unique and we can do various sport and fun activities, but it can also be used for relaxation and peace of mind." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SLIDING DOWN RAMP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PARTICIPANT, JANNA AYMAN, SAYING: "This slide was a new idea for me. I thought that at most, I could slide into someone's pool, but to slide into a lake in the middle of the desert and also the people here and the atmosphere are very nice, the tents, horses and some people bring their dogs, and I want to pet them all. Sandboarding here is also fantastic." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SLIDING INTO LAKE
- Embargoed: 12th December 2016 11:40
- Keywords: oasis desert Egypt adventure
- Location: FAYOUM, EGYPT
- City: FAYOUM, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A7XTUD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Desert trips to the Egyptian oasis of Fayoum just got ramped up a gear, with a water slide that takes thrill seekers from climbing sand dunes to splashing in water in a matter of seconds.
The slide is one of a number of activities organised by 'Desert Adventures', a company that holds desert tourism trips.
Hany Amr, the company's owner and manager, said Wadi el-Rayan in Fayoum was the perfect spot for the water slide due to its magical scenery, safety and existing lake.
"We thought we wanted to do something new, something that grown-ups can enjoy, and that's exciting, so I thought about what I could do, and I got this idea. So I started studying it to see how it can be done. At first, I brought linoleum surface and jerry cans and I tried, but found that the sliding wasn't possible. So I brought a motor and started studying it further and I brought hoses and pipes, the fireman hose, to build this ramp, and it developed to what you see now: this ramp," he said.
The desert trips attract a wide variety of different people.
Ismail Alaa, a bodybuilder and sports enthusiast, enjoyed the new slide and said he hoped to see more water activities in Wadi el-Rayan.
"I hope that one day this place will be one of the landmarks in Egypt where people gather to engage in various water activities, like the water sliding, and even on windy days, they can do kite-surfing here, or sand boarding. No, this spot is very powerful and very unique and we can do various sport and fun activities, but it can also be used for relaxation and peace of mind,'' he said.
The water slide concept is still quite new, and attracts around 20-30 people per week.
Trips organized by Desert Adventures range from 200-500 Egyptian pounds (11-28 US dollars), depending on the activities included.
The organisers hope to help promote Egypt's tourism industry which has struggled after instability following the 2011 uprising which drove tourists away. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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