Blogs from Lower Egypt, Egypt, Africa - page 107

I have to start on an official note. It appears that some people were not happy with my last blog. I recieved a few emails and messages from citizens and regular visitors that obviously didn't undertand what my last blog was all about. Dispite the title of my last blog being Worst first night... EVER!!! I was no way implying that I disliked the city with a pasing glance (I never do that), the religion or the people. I was discribing my experiences. When I said at that point I wasn't liking it, I refering to my situation of being in a bad mood and taking it out on the city, unfair maybe, but not to be taken too seriosuly. By using the word wailing in reference to the midday prayers, I was in no way ... read more

Had a hellish time at the Indian Consulate today. Long story short, they weren't able to process our visas within the standard 4-day period and weren't the least bit apologetic for it. We only have 2 weeks in Egypt so don't have the luxury of time to play lapdog to a soul-less, lumbering government official. We sought an explanation to which they took offense and immediately became uncooperative. On the rare occasion, I can be a right bastard when tickled the wrong way-- in this case, getting shafted by a government agent and STILL receiving a frosty attitude. Un-niceties were exchanged, squinty cold stares were traded (for me the squinty part was easy) and they even resorted to name-calling ("this man, he is arrogant"). So in the end, despite paying the full $65 US for the ... read more

Damietta - Cairo ได้เดินทางเข้าเมืองหลวงของอียิปต์ซะที.... (ก่อนออกมาก้อดิ้นรนใส่เลนส์จนเสร็จ) ไปไหนมาไหนก้อซื้อของตลอด รุ้สึกเลยว่าของหนักขึ้นทุกที (นี่ขนาดยังไม่ถึงจุดซื้อของที่ระลึกที่ใหญ่ที่สุด อยุ่ที่ไคโรอะนะ) เหมารถแทกซี่กันไปอีกตามเคย ตามที่เคยไปโน่นไปนี่มาเป็นประจำ ถึงไคโรก้อค่ำๆแล้วละ พักบ้านน้องคนไทยอีกคน (ที่อียิปต์มีเครือข่ายนักเรียนไทยเยอะ เยอะกว่าที่รัสเซียซะอีก) พักผ่อนกันนิดหน่อยแล้วก้อไปเดินเที่ยวอียิปต์ยามค่ำคืนกัน ... read more

Before I came to Cairo, everyone warned me of how busy this city was, how easy it is to get the sh*ts and how amazing the pyramids are... well they were all right about this place. I have never been to a busier city, the roads at midday are as busy as the ones at 3am. Forget New York, London, Paris, Cairo is the city that never sleeps. Car horns do not take a rest, the sounds of prayer time ringing out loud from the mosques, and the laughter of children makes this city one that is full of life. The pyramids are an awesome sight, however the getting through security is a task of absolute determination. There is shouting, beeping, pushing, bribes taking place, horse and camel guides chasing you to the entrance. However once ... read more

The first day we all headed off to see... SURPRISE the Pyramids! Turns out they are practically in the middle of Cairo. Well sort of... After heading to bed early and not being able to sleep (Turkish coffee?) well after my overwhelming previous day several wake up calls ensued. It started with the cat in the hall way, followed by the roosters, the call to Allah at 5am, needless to say I was up when they actually phoned me to get up and go and see the Pyramids. We went on a bus trip with the most boring Egyptian in Egypt. During his droning commentary that went on all day, and required a microphone for a bus load of 7 people, he took all the interest out of some of the most interesting history in the ... read more