Egypt

Egypt... Where do I start? I have learnt so much over this week about ancient Egyptians. It's amazing. Their religion and their intelligence is out of this world (for a bunch of people that started hangin out in around 3150BC). It's hard to swallow or imagine.

These people made shoes, beads and jewellery that look exactly like what we sell in the shops today... Exactly.

The colors they used on the walls of the tombs and temples are still there today, which means they have remained vibrant for longer than 3000 years. 

That means those pyramids have remained stable for the same amount of time. What? How did they know, way back then, to build a wall on a 52 degree angle and how did they actually enforce that?  (I suggested a long piece of string, but apparently thats ridiculous.)

The ancient Egyptians had over 700 gods, and their temples and tombs are scattering Egypt today, still standing even when the Nile used to flood.  Abu Simbel had to be moved up the river bank 100 metres.  How do you do that successfully?


As for current Egypt, well, everything is dirty (from the smog and dust), everything smells, the men are disgustingly rude and in your face. But really, who gives a s***. Egypt is an awesome place. Cairo is beautiful when u get past all that.

It is a funny place though. No one obeys traffic rules, lights, or lanes. Cairo is in constant traffic congestion, like every minute of every day is peak hour. They built a bridge that's 47Kms long and runs around Cairo.  You can see people jump on and off their public transport busses in the middle of the traffic - there is no point to pull over if you are already stopped.

Retail shops are open until 2am. Food shops all night. There are 78 million people living here. Everyone has a satellite for their TV, which means that every building has a mountain of satellites on the roof.

You will find it hard to buy a beer here, and if u do find one there's a good chance it won't be cold, which is ridiculous cause it's so freaking hot here. Everyone (I mean all the men, cause most of the women are to be in the house) just smoke on their sheesha all day.

The toilets are rank but I don't even care anymore. The Egyptians don't use toilet paper, they wash their ass with water that comes from a hose, so there is constantly water (and i assume stool) all over the floor of any given toilet. I would like to know how you avoid your pants whilst cleaning up.  I won't try it.  Sometimes I still have to flush my used toilet paper - sorry Egypt, but it stinks.

Most jobs take 5 Egyptian men to complete and if you need change on a purchase, they won’t have it.  They will have to go and find another Egyptian that has some.  When you walk like an Egyptian, you walk like it's hot - you barely lift your feet and you go s l o w.  It usually takes a while to get your change. 

The markets are sometimes rough, sometimes fun. Depends on your mood maybe. Some of the men are relentless. "ooooh very pretty, where from... G'day mate. You come inside, look. 10 pounds..... 5 pounds.... look, for free. No hassle" and so it goes on, as far as they want to chase u. My favorite was "How can I help you spend your money?"  Sometimes you aren't even at the market and you get it. Sometimes they won't leave you, even after you sternly say no. Usually this is the kids, I guess because they have no idea about how to read peoples tones and expressions.

Everyone has been sick here.  I drank half the Nile whilst swimming of the side off the Felucca and got some nasty stomach bugs.  Nothing that my best friend anti biotic couldn't deal with.  It wasn't as bad as when everyone ate too much Koshary and had it coming out of all ends (I got a mild dose of that too).  Don't let me deter you though, Koshary is yu-um (I mean, we are willing to get sick for it!!).

Prayer was haunting the first time I heard it. It was dusk, and we stood outside a mosque. We instantly stopped taking photos, letting the sound fill us. Goose bumps grew and my breathing became deep and slow. I looked around and there were still people going about their business. I'm not sure why I thought it would stop traffic (it mostly is stopped here anyways). I wonder if religion here is similar to in my world, and is losing followers. From where I stand I can hear another mosque start prayer. There are two whaling voices in the air, both sound quiet different. We soon find out that this will happen again at 9:00, and every day, 5 times a day. The moment is gone. We will hear this constantly for the next 2 weeks.

Egypt is a jaw dropper.