The Final Stroll in Egypt

Continues from The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt

The afternoon that we had reached Cairo after the trip to Aswan and Luxor, we went out in search of a restaurant for lunch.  Though it may sound show off to many people, we were fed up with the five star cuisines that pampered us on the previous eight days. Our Kerala palette craved for some spicy taste.  We headed to the Egyptian restaurant Felfela suggested byAli.

We walked under the mild rays of afternoon Sun. The streets were in shades and a lot of college students roamed around. As we reached the Hoda Sharawi Street, there were at least five restaurant boards with the same name. However, we were lucky enough to get into the correct restaurant after so many inquiries.

The restaurant was decorated in the theme of a garden.  Though meat was prominent in the menu, they had a wide variety of Vegetarian dishes also to serve. We ordered a vegetable casserole and a spicy mousakka. Food never tasted better in a foreign land.

After the comfortable lunch, we came back to the hotel to take rest. Since our departure is scheduled only for the next day, we decided to take a stroll across the banks of the Nile. It was the day of Eid. The footpaths were crowded and there were a lot of activities going on.  

Since being irritant to the crowds, we chose a lonely bench from where we can watch the Nile and admire the fireworks. However, the bench was already occupied by teenage lovers who were busy in exchanging intense Eid greetings.  I just wondered, this is not a European country, but a well known orthodox Muslim country! Do such public displays of affection happen here too? Well, love knows no restrictions...

Khan el-Khalili market

Chandeliers

On the day of our departure, we decided to take a final stroll in the streets of Egypt.  We were guided to the famous Khan el-Khalili market that was once known as the Turkish bazaar. The market seemed to be an ethnic market with a lot of shops selling Egyptian antiquities. We shopped for souvenirs and other tit bits. Time was running faster in Khan el-Khalili. We finished our visit at a road side open cafe. I really don’t remember what we had for lunch on that day, since I was caught up in the beauty of the magnificent chandeliers in the opposite shop!

Yes, eight days became a memory to cherish in our life forever. We felt all refreshed and together as we boarded the flight in the evening. As I heard the announcement for landing at the King Khalid international Airport, I was excited! After all, nothing is better than homecoming even if it means home in a foreign land.

The End

The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt

Continues from The Valley of Workers and Colosssi of Memnon  
 

Yes, Our Egypt travel is at the end. Nariman dropped us at the cruise by afternoon. After a refreshing sleep and hectic re-packing, we were soon ushered to the cozy train. Sleep lulled our eyes and the golden rays of the Cairo Sun were already upon us as we woke up.

Ali was ready to welcome us back at Cairo. We again re checked into Hotel Nile with the view of Egyptian museum. We settled down, laid back and realized with a sweet pain that our visit is over at Egypt. Even if we visit another time, so many things would have changed! Even the freshness in our eyes to the country would have faded.

As I looked out the streets, I realized that some of the best parts in the trip include a few strolls in the various streets of Egypt. This travelogue would be incomplete without any mention of them.

Aswan

On our first evening at Aswan, we took a leave from the cruise and went out to explore the city life. Horse carts were luring the tourists all around. We walked to the nearby Aswan market that sold spice, Nubian antiquities, souvenirs and jewellery.

The vendors were smart enough to spot us out us Indians! As we proceeded, many of them started to call out their familiar Indian names, “Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit etc.” We were fascinated for sure.

We entered a shop that sold Papyrus paintings. The price was on a higher side and we satisfied with two small pieces. As we paid the shopkeeper, the shop assistant started praising my eyes, “Mehabooba, you’ve got such beautiful eyes.” Never in my life, anyone has told my eyes were beautiful and I never felt so. I thought the old man to be crazy. However, it turned out that he had expected some tip from us and was spreading his net for that.

The night was young and pleasant in the market. We spent almost three hours in the market. We hired a horse cart to come back. As we galloped through the Aswan streets, the breeze seemed sweeter than ever.

Luxor

Karnak Temple at Night

On the eve of our departure from Luxor, we wished to take a final look at the Luxor and Karnak temple in night lights. We hired a horse cart and reached the temples. The majestic temples looked deserted and silent in the night life. The umpteen lights seemed to have failed to light up the vast areas. The scene was sad and eerie.

On the way back to our cruise, two sign boards caught our attention-Luxor Museum and Mummy Museum. We postponed the visit to the Luxor Museum for the next day. (It didn’t happen after all!). We got into the Mummy museum that charged a less price as the entry fee. The museum had mummies of many animals, leaflets on the history and procedure of mummification, latest samples on the attempts of mummification and the mummy of a priest in the Pharaoh period. 

It was a very good museum compared to the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. However if you are so keen to view the mummies of pharaohs, there is no other option but to visit the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. All these mummies looked same and ghastly to me...

Continues in The Final Stroll in Egypt

Papers, Perfumes, Pavement and Passenger

Continues from The House of wonders, Culture and Generations-Egyptian Museum

Well, we’ve reached the end of the first day in our Egypt tour. Now only three things have left behind-Papyrus, perfumes and the passenger train to Aswan.

At first, our guide took us to Papyrus shop, where they methodically show the papyrus formation.  I remember repeating the method of Papyrus making for my history exams in school days. Here, in this shop, I decide to enjoy the show, leaving behind its intricacies. (For those who wish to know more about Papyrus making, here is a useful link ).

The Papyrus stems looked similar to a wild bush grown in the coasts of Kerala. The Papyrus plants were artistically potted in many places of the shop. Beautiful paintings designed in fine Papyrus sheets adorned the walls. There were many paintings in different hues and shapes. Most of the paintings were taken their inspiration from ancient mythologies. (I learnt later that you can see only the side face of the portraits in Egyptian paintings.)

The Egyptian jewellery section in the first floor was famous for delivering pendants with own names in hieroglyphics. However we had a constraint for the money and got a silver pendant with Shreya’s name in it.

My head was bustling as we headed to the perfume shop. All I wanted to do was to sleep than continuing the trip.  Yes, at times we have no choice but to continue the rhythm. 

As expected the perfume shop was filled with fragrances but, thankfully not to the painful state. We were seated on cushions with a perfume consultant to attend us. I never knew that perfumes are there for other purposes than body care. For example, fume a drop of lotus fragrance in water for peace; a drop of rose extract for harmony; apply the rose extract for confident beauty; vanilla can serve as a welcome; papyrus and some other extract for physical pleasure etc. It was like sitting in Tilo’s¹ shop in California.

Even 100 ml of these specially brewed perfumes were highly expensive. We bought the smallest bottle of lotus extract and still fume the drops at home on special occasions. Trust me; the fragrance is as rejuvenating as said.

Though we bought the smallest bottle, our consultant was very friendly and jovial. After having the hibiscus tea offered by him, we came out. There was still 2 hours prior to our departure to Aswan. It was time for our guide to leave and he showed us into the Four Seasons mall where we can take refreshments. As we bid good bye to him we really felt like parting with a friend.

Enjoying the Evening Nile

The refreshments at the Four Seasons really did me good. It was then; we wanted to explore the evening life at the Cairo pavement. We stood at the banks of Nile and sat on the benches, just to see the foreign lifestyle flowing in front of us. We felt so relaxed and in high spirits of the day that passed.

Soon our driver came along with Ameer to take us to the Cairo Railway Station. Curiously the station looked similar to the ones we see at Bangalore. Sreejith smiled at my comparison and said, “Let’s see.” 

Metro trains in high speed passed us as Ameer told about his family, the party they are having at home etc. Our train came on time and Ameer left us with a wish that he would meet us again after 5 days. 

We entered the train and I was just felt myself in a movie. The door opened to a corridor with red carpet. We were ushered into a private room with a small cupboard, fixed bunk beds, wash basin and a lavatory. Wow, I have never traveled in this much luxury before.

However, I never had much time to marvel these. My feet was tired so as Sreejith’s! After a quick Egyptian dinner, we were ready to drop down. Shreya wanted to play but, we first put her to bed. I don’t even remember touching my pillow that I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

1.    1.   Tilo is the protagonist in Chitra Divakaruni Bannrjee’s novel The Mistress of Spices.  Tilo helps the customers to find love, harmony, peace and joy in life with the different qualities of spices.

Continues in Into the Lap of Nile

The House of wonders, Culture and Generations-Egyptian Museum

 Continues fromInside the Pyramids & In front of the Sphinx

It was time for lunch as we finished our visit at the Pyramids. Our travel guide took us to the nearby local restaurant and helped us to choose from the menu. The unfamiliar flavours started rumbling my already churned stomach.

Still, we hadn’t finished our day trip. After the lunch we headed straight to the Egyptian museum containing 120, 000 items from Egyptian ancestry. The museum was very close to the Hotel Nile where we had stayed till the morning.

Built in 1831, relocated to Ezbekeyah Garden, Boulaq, Giza and finally to Tahirr Square in 1902, the museum remains as the largest of its kind in Egypt. Since photography was prohibited inside the museum, we left it at the counter. We passed the entrance adorned with water lilies and Papyrus plants.

The huge hall was full of activity with tourists from various countries and their guides. Before seeing anything I asked our guide for the directions to the restroom. There, I had to climb many wide stone steps on the right to reach the required room. I threw up and felt relieved after that.

Our travel guide has already started explaining by the time I returned. Again, the initial stories went above my dizzy head. He must have noticed that and gave me a riddle to solve about Queen Hatshepsut and her successor. I tried it and failed. He smiled at my confusion, “You’ll learn it before you leave Egypt. Queen Hatshepsut’s temple is in your travel list."

We had finished many artefacts in the ground floor, before our guide led us to King Tutankhamun’s collection. On the way he said as an apology, "It takes days to explain on each artefact in the museum. Sorry that I am showing you the tip of an iceberg."

The first thing I noticed entering the first floor is three huge golden tombs. Our guide explained that King Tutankhamun’s Mummy had laid inside these tombs while discovered from the Valley of Kings. However, many artefacts from the tomb were stolen not late after his burial. What we see as magnificent is only a part of many other things that were stolen apart.

The famous mask of King Tutankhamen sat in a glass chamber next to the tombs. The mask is made of 11Kg of solid gold and believed to represent the actual face of the King. Guides were not allowed inside the chamber of King Tutankhamun’s personal belongings. We roamed the room by our own wondering at the beauty, precision and price with which the artefacts were made off.

As we came out our guide just asked, “How was it?” We were speechless. He told, “The day King Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered, the man behind the exploration-Howard Carter- was also stunned. He heard to be said that of the day of days it was the most wonderful that he had ever lived through, and certainly one whose like he could never hope to see again”

Indeed! Who can have many such days in one life?

After the visit at many artifacts we reached the session that anyone wish to see on their visit to Egypt-the chamber of Mummies. Again, the room was restricted only for tourists and our guide instructed us about them. There were about nine mummies on display including the last found mummy of Queen Hatshepsut.

We entered the room with so much anticipation. Personally, I was imagining beautiful mummies in golden colour. I have never been to a mortuary before and quite shocked by the row of mummies in glass chambers. Mummies of nine Pharaohs over the centuries lay in claret wraps. They looked so ghastly and I didn’t feel like looking at them again. Yet, they were the world famous mummies and we had paid E£250 just for this!

On a close look again, I couldn’t help admiring the medical aids employed in preserving these bodies over the centuries. The teeth of the mummies were white and intact. The black hair of mummies looked black and alive like mine. Yet, I was feeling cold and nightmarish in the chamber of Mummies.

We came out after half an hour spent at the Mummies' chamber. Our museum trip was at the end, leaving out many artefacts, their stories, histories and secrets. As I came out, I looked up at the museum’s roof. “Yes, held your head high. You’ve all rights for it. You not only preserve a culture, become home for wonders and host millions of visitors but; also stood as a mother for a country who constantly admires their roots.”

Afterword: On one morning show of January 2011, I immediately recognized the gates of Egyptian museum at Cairo. Yes, they were the days of Egyptian revolution 2011. The news said that looters broke into the museum and destroyed some artifacts including two mummies.  I saw military wagons, black fumes and the burnt out road, where I had once casually walked! There was a pain in my heart for sure... All I could do was to pray for the good people whom we had met in that journey and who never left a contact for us to pursue...

Continues inPapers, Perfumes, Pavement and Passenger

Pyramids, Pyramids, Pyramids & Pyramids.........

 Continues from Citadel of Saladin

We headed straight to the Pyramids of Geiza soon after our visit at the Citadel of Saladin. On our way to the Pyramids, our guide told us the interesting history of the Pyramids. We were very much interested with the descriptions and asked him whether these three are the only Pyramids in Egypt. He smiled and answered: ‘Let’s see!”

We were hoping to stop at the garden through which we had gone for previous night’s light and sound show. Instead, we stopped at a desert with no shade even for an ant. We realized that this is what night and day can play to you in a desert. Our guide took the tickets to the Pyramids asked us to follow. 

At first we stopped near the Great Pyramid of Giza, also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops. Built 4500 years before (Even before Jesus Christ), by the great Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu, the Pyramid still stand as the largest and oldest of the Egyptian Pyramids. 

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Standing in front of the tallest man made structure over the world, our guide told some interesting tales about it. It seems, Khufu’s adviser Hemon is the man who designed the idea of pyramids. The average estimate is that it must have taken almost twenty years to construct this Pyramid. Therefore the construction must have begun during the lifetime of Khufu itself.

The construction of Pyramids was done with the casing stones, which were quarried to the spot through the Nile. In the Stone Age, it’s unimaginable to take away such an action since each day they had to install approximately 800 tonnes of stones. I couldn’t quite understand when our guide mentioned that the construction of Pyramid happened from top to bottom than from bottom to the top.

Can you locate the two chamber doors?

There are two chambers inside the Pyramid dedicated to the King and his favorite Queen. The King’s chamber is at the center of the Pyramid and was amassed with treasures. The treasure is now put for show at the Museum and the chamber is empty now.  It seems, originally, King Khufu’s chamber was designed to be at a lower chamber. But the proud Pharaoh might have changed his mind and moved up his burial chamber higher up in the Pyramid.

The Queen’s chamber is adorned with some shafts which were explored by scientist for further treasure. However they didn’t dare to break in, since many of the shafts might be supporting the entire structure of Pyramids. However, a German engineer Rudolf Gantenbrink used a crawler robot by name Upaut 2 to crawl in the shafts in 1992. The robot stopped at a limestone door. Soon, National Geographic society created a small robot and let him go through a small drill in the discovered door. The second robot found a larger door behind the first one. 

When we had visited, our guide told that the doors must also be a trap to prevent robbers from robbing the treasures. The entire structure might come down with the destruction of any of the doors. However, the project continued by Djedi team in 2011 and using a micro snake camera, they found out some hieroglyphs in red paint, ornamental structures etc.

Can you spot us in front of the Entrance?

We went near the Pyramids to be photographed. Even one stone was higher than us and had the width more than three of us standing in a row. As we climbed up and stood before the entrance to King’s Chamber, we felt at the top of the world. The ascend was quite tiring since it took a long way than looking from beneath.

Owing to this unique construction many people believed that the Gods must have aided the construction of the Pyramids. Scientists have another explanation that they must have created by some natural eruption.  However, we were convinced of its creation under the magical hands of men who were determined, hard working, dedicated and above all part of a wonderful creation that would be proudly marveled by generations to come.

Continues in Inside the Pyramids & In front of the Sphinx

Citadel of Saladin-The Proud Minaret of the City

 Continues from A Night at Cairo!

Our travel guide/Egyptologist was scheduled to meet us by 8am at the hotel lobby. We woke up duly in accordance with the alarm at 6 am. After the delicious buffet breakfast at the Hotel restaurant, we were ready for our guide. The view of Nile was so majestic and we hardly realized that time got slipped to 9am in our watch. It was then that we got the call from our Egyptologist.

Sreejith teased him while keeping the phone “You were supposed to come by 8 am, right?”

“But it’s only 8 am now, Sir!”

It’s then that we realized that the time in Egypt is one hour behind the K.S.A time.

It is so pity that I don’t remember the tourist guide’s name at this time. He was the best among his lot followed and very friendly too. He suggested us to watch the Citadel of Saladin, which was not there in our itinerary but one of the eminent minaret¹ in the city of minarets.  We readily complied. 

The citadel of Saladin is situated at Mokattam hills overlooking the famous limestone quarries of the Cairo. On our way to the Citadel, our guide explained the past glory of the citadel with its fresh breeze and best views of the city. However as Cairo grew, it started to grow to the outskirts too. The earlier place for public cemetery, on the way to the citadel is now dwelled with houses. The citadel is now a preserved historic site for visitors. Well, this is not only the story of Cairo but of all major cities.

In front of Alabastor Mosque

We reached the Citadel of Saladin within half an hour. Built in the years between 1176 and 1183 CE; the citadel stand as the proud token of its constructor’s glory. Though resembles Tipu Sultan’s palaces and Mysore Palace of India from outside, the citadel has a quite unique view inside. The most attractive area was definitely the 200 years old mosque with Alabastor roof. The mosque is also known as alabaster roof for this.

As we approached and looked up, the silver shining of the Alabastor roof changed to silver blue under the grey clouds. Built in 1528, the mosque is the first of its kind to be built in Ottoman style² in the country. It seems Sultan Mohammad Ali had brought the architect Yousf Boushnaq, a Turkish man to construct the mosque in the style of a Turkish turban.

Just as in Indian temples, we had to remove our foot wares before entering the ablution area that leads to the mosque. Only thing is that we can carry foot wares in our hands. At the same door, I saw Muslim women covering the foreign ladies in green cloaks. I thought it to be custom and approached them. They asked me to proceed since I had covered my shoulders and knees.

In front of the Ablution Fountain

The courtyard with the ablution area looked so magnificent.  The courtyard with the ablution fountain was covered with pillars roofed with small domes. Our guide told that the structures are called the riwaqs. An elaborate French clock was there across the north western area of the courtyard. It seems, king Luis Philip of France presented it to Mohamed Ali in exchange for an Egyptian Obelisk. Our guide added with a grin that the clock never worked properly since its arrival.

We went near the ablution fountain to take some pictures. The magnificent octagonal shape was adorned by 8 pillars and covered by a large leaded domed canopy. The floral motifs on the small dome inside the main one looked so natural with authentic ornaments. Yet we still hadn’t marveled the real architecture. Our guide led us inside the mosque soon.

The Chandeliers beneath the Dome

The first that caught our attention was an array of chandeliers. They were hanging beneath the magnificent green coloured domes. Our guide informed us that there are totally 365 chandeliers, which were lit as oil lamps in the old days. The central dome and the surrounding half domes are designed in the shape of Turkish turban courtesy to its architect. A glittering and enchanting chandelier hung in the middle of the mosque. It was again a gift to Egypt by King Louis Philippe V of France.

The Holy Shrine

We sat on the red carpet marveling the artistic creation and cool ambience. The holy shrine at the end of the mosque was restricted to enter. In the old days, the priests/ Sheiks first entered the shrine through a path covered with pure gold. There was also a similar path near to the shrine made with limestone. The main shrine was made in old pure gold and indeed spectacular in view.

Mohamed Ali's Tomb

At the right side of the entrance is the tomb of Mohamed Ali.  Usually, there is no practice to have a tomb inside the mosque. However upon Mohamed Ali’s wish, his successor King Abbas I transferred the original tomb inside. Here, Mohamed Ali rests in peace inside the white Italian marble tomb, decorated with floral motifs, pointed and glided inscriptions. Even after his death, his soul must be proud of the umpteen visitors that marvel his creation.

We came out of the mosque after half an hour of entering it. There was a vast view of Cairo at the exit of the mosque. We didn’t have time to visit the carriage museum and the palace since we had to head straight to the Pyramids of Geiza.

Shreya Getting Dressed Up

On the way out from the citadel we stopped at the instant studio to take the picture of Shreya as Egyptian princess. She loved the deck up and happily went with the photographers for the shooting. As a policy, we were detained from taking her pictures by own camera. However, as the girls hoisted her in the backdrop of the mosque, many foreigners crowded around to take the shots. Lights flashed around her from numerous cameras.  Well, that was a happy scene. Who wouldn’t like to see their daughter as a princess and in limelight?

1. Minarets: More information  

2. Ottoman Style: More information

Continues in Pyramids, Pyramids, Pyramids & Pyramids.........

A Night at Cairo!

Continues from Pyramids Tell a Glittering Tale... 

After the light and sound show at the Pyramids, we headed straight to the closest Duty free shop. I hadn’t allowed Sreejith to stock drinks from the Airport in the hope to find pubs and local hangout places. However it had turned out that all the pubs would be closed in Egypt during Ramzan period. 

Our expedition to the nearest duty free shop took one hour drive from Hotel Nile in the hectic Egyptian traffic. As we reached the duty free shop, I was surprised to see pictures of Aishwarya Rai outside the shop. It seems Egyptians consider her more than their native beauties on these days.  Definitely I felt proud to watch the admiration for the Indian beauty.

In the duty free shop, we showed our identity proofs as suggested by Ameer. It seems natives are never allowed to have drinks in the country. I suggested Sreejith to take Malibu, the world famous drink of Caribbean. I don’t know what prompted him to take my advice. We packed our purchase and headed back through the tiring traffic.

A View of Cairo Tower Across the Nile

After our dinner, we put Shreya to sleep and waited at the balcony to watch the city. The city was thriving with night life. We could breathe in the excitement in the enthralling night life on the streets. The Nile reflected the golden rays of lights from its shore. The Cairo tower glittered with blue rays across the waves. Though the Cairo tower has lost its prominence as the tallest tower in Egypt during 1960s, it still retained its charm.

Sreejith fixed the drink as the cool breeze from the Nile took us to contemplation. I sipped the drink along with Sreejith. “Phewww.........” we exclaimed together. The drink tasted so bad for us as a mixture of coconut water and pineapple juice. I had never tasted anything bad as that. Well, the world famous Malibu turned out exactly opposite to our taste.

Sreejith was quite distressed with this. He made it clear that I should finish the drink fixed for me. “Quite difficult,” I thought. Down, the city life was flowing in full vigor. We silently sat and admired the scene. At one point we wondered, “How much they are making out of their history, ancient stories and culture! Will India be ever able to so such systematic planning in tourism?”

Cairo at Night

The night was studded with blue and silver stars. Divine the delight to draw the night air from the Nile; from the luxurious cruises on its dark distance, from the quiet glittering sky overhanging all. Sreejith finished his drink and went to bed. After some time I slipped into the bathroom and poured the drink through wash basin. The next day, we would be going for Cairo tour. I wanted to wake up healthy and merry.

Continues in Citadel of Saladin-The Proud Minaret of the City

Pyramids Tell a Glittering Tale...

Continues from Egypt-The First Glimpse of the Magical Land

Our short nap in the hotel room didn’t for extend more than an hour. We were so excited to watch the Pyramids, the world famous monuments. We waited for little Shreya to wake up from her sleep to go out.

Shreya must have shared our excitement and she woke up soon in enthusiasm to go out.

As we got into the car, I was expecting to reach some deserted desert area that houses the Pyramids. Our car stopped in front of a gate in the middle of the city. All of a sudden, we realized that we are at the gates of the Pyramids grounds.

The Great Pyramids of Giza/Pyramid of Khufu/Pyramid of Cheops stand in the middle of the desert surrounded but the bustling city of Cairo. We took tickets for the light and sound show at 6.30 pm. There were two other shows at 7.30pm and 8.30pm in Spanish and Arabic language.

We were soon ushered to the ground with theater style seats. We took seats in the third row from the front for a better view. The dusk was dark adorned by the starry sky. Except Shreya, both of us were not prepared for the chilly wind in total contrast to the Egyptian hotness in the day. However, all through these, we were very excited to see world’s one of the eminent wonders.

The First Glimpse of Pyramids

As the initiation for the show, the outlines of the three Pyramids appeared in green floodlight. The crowd was uttering the ‘Wow’ in whispers. Our first view of the giants! There they stood as the grand royals over the centuries. We were truly humbled by that unique view.

 The impressive voice of the commentator lead the audience through the short history of Egypt, its culture, dynasty and unique stories. The commentary was made more interesting with the still images projected on the wall of the temple.  The Pyramids started to get flooded with colored lights and the image of the people on a Felucca over the Nile hooked into my mind.

We had earlier guessed that the three Pyramids are those of the King, the Queen and their Son. But it turned out that they are the Pyramids of King Khufu (tallest one), his son King Khafre (who was humble to build his pyramid smaller than his father) and King Menkaure (King Khafre’s son who was also humble to build his pyramid smaller than his ancestors). Though the smallest, King Menkaure’s Pyramid, seemed to have possessed more riches than his ancestors. Also, Egyptians still respect King Menkaure more than his forefathers.

 After some time, the show started to get drag. It was made more tedious for us with little Shreya’s cranky cries.  Sreejith took her our when all our pacification failed. The narrative started to go through the legends and secrets of ancient Egyptian history. Finally, the Sphinx came to live in the colorful light and the powerful voice. 

Sphinx

“For 5,000 years I’ve seen all the Suns that man can remember, come up in the sky. I’ve seen the history of Egypt in its best glow. As of tomorrow, I’ll see the east dawning with a new flame. Through the ages, I received many names through the people who came to me in adoration. Generations bowed before me and I’ll be here watching over you!”

I was captured by this poised dialogue and the majestic view. In my mind, I uttered “I too bow before thee.” I don’t know how the last word came to my mind in Shakespearean language. But, I believe that when we see great things in life our mind can get minimally influenced by them.

We couldn’t get any good images of the show due to darkness. But, still we were happy. We soon headed to a duty free shop to buy something that we had missed in Riyadh.

Continues in A Night at Cairo!

Egypt-The First Glimpse of the Magical Land

The exotic culture of Egypt, a land with 5,000 years of history, innumerable tales, wondrous architectures, exotic landscapes, large museums and beauty etched with its name would entice anyone who has got a travel bug. Well, the situation has changed recently owing to its political scenario. However, we were lucky to visit the land of Nile in 2009 during the pre-winter period of September.

 After months of planning, two hours travel from Riyadh, co-ordinated tour package and itinerary for the eight days vacation; we were in complete excitement as we reached the Cairo Airport. As scheduled, our tour co-ordinator Mr. Ameer was waiting for us at the Airport. Immigration, customs and conversion of money made easy with his assistance. The sun was hot as we came out of the Airport.  Soon we started towards hotel Nile where our accommodation was arranged for the day.

Our car started to inch through the dense traffic on Cairo roads. We were surely away from the Bangalore traffic blocks for some time and got used to the flowing traffic in the wide roads of Riyadh. After a while, I started to get impatient to reach our destination. Ameer smiled patiently at my impatience and explained that Cairo is the largest city in the African continent with 16^th place in the most populated metropolitan area in the world.  I kept listened to Ameer’s descriptions and relieved of the traffic jams.

First Glimpse of Nile

It was noon as we checked into Hotel Nile. Our lunch was not included in the package and Ameer left us with suggestions of some good local restaurants. We got into our nicely furnished room with the unique view of Nile. Fresh fruits were arranged in a vase with Egyptian artistry.  The bed was decorated with Egyptian paintings on its head. The paintings, cupboards, drawers and even the curtains had a touch of Egyptian scenes on it. Well, sitting in this room and looking across the Nile that glitters under the hot sun will give you the feel of the place that you are in.

We were so tempted to stay indoors than exploring the city in the hot noon. Bout our time was less and the city was so enticing. After getting fresh, we came out by 2pm. As we started to walk, the charm started to wear off a little. The roads were dirty and smelling like local Indian roads. 

As we passed some local people greeted us once or twice. We wished back but didn’t stop to talk to them. We felt that people are so friendly and cheerful in Egypt. On the way, an old man joined us to show us the restaurant. But after a while he insisted us visiting his antique shop before going to the restaurant. We suddenly sensed the Egyptian marketing technique and got rid of him. He showed a face and left us.

Cairo & Nile-another View

After an hour’s walk, we came back to the hotel and decided to have their buffet. Our appetite had gone down considerably by the walk. As we sat and watched the aristocratic decorations in the restaurant, we never knew what all to expect in the menu. Luckily the food turned out to be flavorsome for us.

As we waited for the bill, I looked at the group sitting across our table. Four middle aged ladies on a vacation. On overhearing a bit of their conversation, I could make out that they were long lost friends reunited once again, away from their families. I then thought of five of us-Poonam, Priya, Anurupa, I and Sharon-in that age. Will we have the same bond of friendship to reunite again in that age, away from the families? As of now, I cannot anything without Shreya and Sreejith. But may be in that age, who knows? After all, we were together when we were single and shared a bond.  That friendship had strengthened us in our present relationships. Though in distance and busy in own lives, our bond lies underneath. Surely, we’ll have a reunion of some sort at least in old age.

My contemplation was broken with the arrival of dessert. Soon, we retrieved to our room for a short nap.

Continues in Pyramids Tell a Glittering Tale...