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!
