Egypt's "hippy hangout" says won't be cowed by bombs

DAHAB, Egypt, Apr 26 (Reuters) For years, the Egyptian resort of Dahab, an idyllic spot on the Sinai peninsula, has been a haven for backpackers and divers looking to chill out, perhaps with the occasional joint.

Three coordinated bombs tore through the beachfront town on Monday night, killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 80, shattering the resort's laid-back calm.

But two days on, residents -- both foreigners and locals -- are determined that the relaxed attitude that gave rise to their ''hippy hangout'' will not be eclipsed.

''Tourists here are our family, they are our brothers and sisters,'' one young Egyptian man shouted to a crowd of holidaymakers assembled on the beach, the mountains behind.

''The people who did this are just evil ... Screw the terrorists!'' the man shouted to applause and cheers from the crowd, which included young Bedouin men wearing traditional robes and cloth headdresses.

Dahab, with its wooden buildings painted with ''peace'' and ''love'' on the side and shops selling incense sticks, is a far cry from the more glitzy resort of Sharm el-Sheikh nearby.

Foreign women in bikinis drinking beer on the beach with dreadlocked Egyptian men are a common sight in Dahab, in stark contrast to Egypt's overall conservative social attitudes.

Egyptian workers at the restaurants and cafes said they personally know many of Dahab's regular visitors and most of the foreign residents -- diving instructors and business owners -- who make up around 15 per cent of the population.

''I would describe Dahab as a 'Beautiful Village','' said Tina Blume, a German diving instructor and long-term resident.

Others agreed. ''Here people of different cultures and religions live together in a real community,'' said Nadja Munchenhagen, who also works in the town as diving instructor.

She said Egyptians, including local Bedouins, and Westerns mixed together on a social and personal level.

''Here you can see a German married to a Bedouin,'' said Munchenhagen. ''Maybe that is offensive to some people.'' ''HIPPY CHICK'' As she spoke, a crowd of protesters, including fully veiled Bedouin women and blonde Western women with braids and tie-dye skirts, walked past carrying placards calling for peace.

''We have such a beautiful thing here. We are going to be stronger than the bombers,'' she added.

Many of the residents said Dahab's cheap accommodation helped attract long-term visitors, which added to the community feel and made the town stand out from nearby resorts, several of which have been bombed in the past 18 months.

The fact Dahab is considered relatively licentious may be one of the reasons it was targeted. As well as European backpackers, it also attracts many young Israeli visitors, another reason, some say, that it may have been attacked.

Foreign visitors said easily available marijuana also added to Dahab's Bohemian atmosphere.

''Yeah, it's hippy. It's a more hippy way of life here,'' said an Egyptian man working in Dahab for the past eight years who did not want to be named, adding he was concerned the resort was getting a bad reputation for easy sex and drugs.

''It's not about business here. We want to be friends with our customers,'' said Abdel Salam Mohammed, 22, a shopkeeper who originally comes from southern Egypt.

REEUTERS DKS PM1615