Moment by Moment

Pyramids

chrissygal — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Decided I would go to the Pyramids today, I am in a new hostel called Dahab, 3 min walk from Sara Inn but it is only 25/35EGP single/double, and has a better backpacker atmosphere.. Meaning there are people around. I was craving to speak to a non local who wanted nothing but conversation from me. hmm, and after spending hours and hours of wandering around the city for the past few days I am beginning to think my time in Cairo should come to an end soon. I need to move on.

So I ask the best way to get to the pyramids, meaning the cheapest, Mini bus, local bus or metro and bus. Hmm, direct bus maybe 50piastries (1/2 EGP) another backpacker Akhin hear's that I'm going to Pyramids and asks if we want to go together. 'Why not'. He's german and has spent the last 1 1/2 years cycling around Asia and now is doing the middle east. Really cool guy, and he told me he was gay, so yay no romantic intentions.

We walked to the bus pick up place and searched for our bus, an Egyptian man helped us find the bus to Giza (the city where the pyramids are) and he even paid for our bus tickets. His name was Abdul, a really sweet Muslim man who invited us to his house for chai. We went up to his roof and had a direct view of the pyramids, 'wow'. He invited us to come back at sunset to watch the Pyramid light show. We had our chai, took some pick and then he walked us to a man who does horse and camel tours.

I really wanted to experience the pyramids on a camel, so with both of us being keen we bartered a price. I had my youth card, which is such a good idea to get from STA travel or a student card. So i payed 125EGP for 3 around 3 hours on a m\camel, a tour guide and our entrance fee into the Pyramids area and inside an actual Pyramid. I loved riding on a camel, I made my tour guide go fast - who most of the time was sharing Akhin's camel. I just imagined all the stories of the time when these massive stone pyramids were made, the slaves, kings, Queens. I seen groups of Egyptians running up and down the sand dunes racing their horses and yelling out in Arabic, this was something I would never experience in Australia, and I just soaked it up.

We walked into the middle large alabaster pyramid. Man if you get claustrophobic then I seriously think you should reconsider. To get in it's a narrow downwards walk way with wood steps, it's barely lit and you have to be at a 90degree angle pretty much until you finally get into the tomb. But after the first set of stairs, the airs hot and it's so crowded and you think to yourself 'Ok, i can do this' (I get claustrophobic, the whole time I was amping myself up to keep going, 'I have to go inside and do this' so I told my self I was inside an aeroplane) But then another set of stairs appear 'oh my god'. Finally i get into this area that feels like a sauna, there's absolutely no air in that place and the walls are moist from the heat. But I did it. I went inside a pyramid, I was so proud of myself. There is absolutely nothing inside there, even if I had a camera I wouldn't have taken any pics. I expected something, you know, like even some heirogliphics, nope.

Well after visiting the Sphinx our day came to an end. It was now 4:30pm and the sun would be setting in a little over 1 hour. We went back to the tour company and then had to give our guide a tip. We thought 10 percent was fair, noo that's not enough he tells us. Well deal with it, we already paid for the tour and we are not rich.

We decided to take the Abdul up on his offer and went searching for his house. I could feel we were so close but couldn't remember exactly. We talked to a couple of girls, but we forgot his name and how were we to describe this little Egyptian man. Then suddenly he walks around the corner and apologized to us. He wantd to meet us at the tour company but a relative had just died and he had to help arrange the Janaza (Muslim funeral that needs to be done within 24 hours.) I tell him we can go, but he insists that we stay for dinner and see the light show. He was so kind, he had no one at home to cook so he got his nephew to buy us some Koshery (macaroni, spagetti, chickpeas, lentils and a tomato sauce) and gave us a coke each. We watched the light show, took some more picks and then made our way by bus to Giza and then Metro (1EGP) to Tahrir, the metro station closest to us.

Half an hour later I got picked up by Spring and Mohamed and we went to Garden Cuty (I think that's the name) It's a big shopping complex. We had a hot chocolate and chatted about Islam, future travel plans and music.

Arrival in Cairo

chrissygal — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:33:00 GMT

So where do I begin. I brought a return ticket to Dubai from Australia. I was originally going to then buy a forwarding ticket to Somalia, but as things never go according to plan, I changed my mind and decided to travel the Middle East.

Dubai was going to be an expensive way to start my trip so I brought an one way ticket from Dubai to Egypt and hoped they would grant me a visa on arrival.

I met a Chinese girl on the plane - Spring, who was going to Egypt for business and pleasure. And finally I arrived into Cairo, the first thing I noticed was all the smoking and the proportion of men to women. 'Hmm, this is gonna be interesting eh!" I thought to myself.

I had someone waiting for me at the exit gates,actually a hundred people waiting for anyone really, but for me it was a taxi driver. I said goodbye to Spring, got her Egyptian friend who she was staying with Mohamed's numeber and set off on my lonesome. It cost me 50EGP to get Downtown Cairo to stay at Sara Inn Hostel (60/100EGP single/double).

The traffic is crazy, everyone is doing whateva they want - four cars side by side in a two lane motorway, the fumes are stronger inside a taxi than outside.

So the exchange rate is about AU$1 - 5 EGP.

Finally I arrived at the hostel, no women around, yeah ok, and this American guy Regan comes up and starts chatting to me, really cool and friendly guy. I have some Chai (tea) and go for a walk to find a sim card, pretty easy to do. It is so lively at all times in Cairo.

The next day Regan and I go for a walk around our area, we had lunch felafel, beans and bread with Chai for like 12EGP for 2.. But you can get cheaper.

Then wondering around we met a guy who says he wants to show us an authentic Egyptian museum, very good price. 'Eh, why not' so we follow him and go to a perfume shop in a side street just accross from the actual Egyptian Museum. The old man there decides I loook like his daughter and decides to show me pictures of her wedding she had that weekend. 'Hmm, what do you use on your face?' he asks me. And before I know it, I am sitting down behind his desk and he has all these iols out and cotton wool and is giving me a facial, his assistant brings us Chai and Regan by now has got my camera, laughing at me and taking pics.. Then a slight shoulder massage begins, and I'm standing up and he begins to ajust my back.. 'Ahh, thats enough - Shukran (thankyou)' I say and then hmm, I can sit down again. I get asked if I want to marry him and I politely decline and then descussion between Regan and theold man go on for how much I can be sold for. Regan was very much enjoying seeing me squirm and you could see he was thinkingyou're not gonna live this one down. Regan brought me some oil, 100mls for 100EGP, so kind and we were outta there!

Later i decided to go wonder the city a bit and look for a warm jacket. Maybe even shoes, all I have are havanas and my trusty Birkenstocks. So walking around and Egyptian man asks me where I am from, I try to ignore him and then he helps me accross the road 'I don't need help' I think to myself, but you know what, what harm is in talking to this guy. So I answer and tell him where I'm from and then ask him where a good, cheap place to find jackets is. He ends up taking me around the city, and was a really cool guy, at the time. We end up in Old Cairo, the Islamic centre and are looking through crowded markets tasting different spices, he brought me a scarf, cos I was cold, and also to cover my neck in this male dominated area. We went up to the citadel and the athan (call to prayer) went off from all angles - there are so many Masjiids (Mosques) around. And the sun was setting, I took some pics of Mohamed Ali Citadel and said I wanted to head back to my hostel area.

We had been walking for 3 hours or something by the time we decided to go to a care and have chai. I spent time chatting with this guy, Sameer, talking about Islam and different subjects,then went to After Eight. A little night bar, there was an Egyptian band playing love songs (the next day was Valentine's and the Egyptians were very into that). I met an American girl and some others and ended up having a really fun time. Sameer asked me if I will meet up with him the next day and I said maybe another time - I don't know what I'll be doing. Later the American girl said they were having a party tomorrow do I want to come, I said yes. I was so happy to meet another girl so quick.. When leaving I realised Sameer wasn't talking to me, I asked if he was ok, and he answered I used him. I tell him I don't know what I am doing and then I organise to meet with this girl without consulting him. Whateva mate I say, You are not my husband or boyfriend and I owe you nothing. After him yelling at me for a little while we part ways and decide to never talk again. by 3am I am back at Sara Inn in bed. I survived my 1st day alone in Egypt!