flip-flops and backpack ;)

We arrived in Hurghada bus station and didn’t really know where to stay. Of course there are a lot of touts for hotels, and we chose the one not too far away from the beach and the ferry. They took us there with their taxi and we got a nice room with balcony and breakfast included, for 140 EP/ night. It was a three Egyptian star hotel and our room was really nice and clean tv, aircon ref etc. with the beautiful view of the Red Sea. Still there was light and we decided to look around Hurghada. We went to the city center and found out that it is only “artificial” with bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels and nothing to see. So we walked back near our place and to have  a drink in a small bar on the beach. The beach was nothing special, and when the bill came we had been surprised because we had to pay extra for 5 EP each for just ” viewing, and sitting” there on this “Public Beach”. But the waiter told us they also pay the rent on the beach. So we wondered why it’s called “public” ;). “Nice” trick and sounds like bakshish again ;). In the hotel the people are very nice and helpful and efficient, got our boat tickets to Sharm el Sheik for the next morning without asking any bakshish. Michael’s beer in the bar was normal price and we decided to have dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. We had fresh sea food at last! because we are at the ocean ;).

Red Sea, Hurghada

Next morning, after an excellent breakfast,  actually too much we took the taxi to the port. There Egyptian beaurocrasy and security caught us again. We had to get our tickets stamp before we can enter the harbor area, where photos are not allowed. There are other ferries going to Saudi Arabia and our. After two and a half hours we are in Sharm el Sheik. We met a Korean girl travel by her own (quite brave in an Arabic country) and we shared the taxi to the bus station. There was another Egyptian “problem” because they told us we have to take a taxi to go to Dahab and they told us there’s no bus, only half hour later comes the bus to Dahab, very cheap. They tried to trick us again but they didn’t succeed hehe ;). Through the beautiful mountains of desert landscape of Sinai peninsular, we reached Dahab. There again so many touts for hotels, and we met this young Egyptian boy. “His” resort was quite good and not so expensive, with his pick- up  they bring us to the resort. The resort is really big, clean, with two courtyards, bungalows around and we got a nice bungalow, with private shower for only 90 EP/ night. It’s not near the beach, only one minute away to the beach, actually through another expensive resort to the restaurants. And there are many restaurants and bars along this two kilometers long beach, but their FUNNY MUMMY  restaurant was the best and the most popular in Dahab. On that afternoon, we walked along the prominate with resorts, restaurants and shops, most of them wanted to sell us everything from papyrus to snorkelling equipments. And the restaurants who wanted to over prize us,  we knew that the funny mummy has the fairest price,  so we only had  a drink in other restaurant on the beach, and had dinner later in funny mummy. There we ordered fresh fish, crabs, prawns with fresh salad and rice, and drinks for about 120 EP we went back in our bungalow kaputt  but full and happy

at night in Funny Mummy restaurant

Actually, Dahab town doesn’t have a nice beach. On the town beach there are restaurants till the waves of the Red Sea. The good beaches and diving, snorkelling places are just a few hundred meters away. And Dahab is not a high security tourist place, it’s more for backpackers like us so we really like it because we felt free and safe.

sun set in Dahab

We booked in our resort a camel ride for next day. After breakfast we walked along the beach until to the end of the prominate to a restaurant own by an Austrian. There we met a Swiss woman and gave us some tips on where to snorkel. She is a professional diver for years, and she told us that her grandmother is mixed of Spanish and Swiss and during the civil war in Spain, her grandmother and her family escaped and went to Philippines, she (grandmother) grew up there and came back to Switzerland when the war was over. Small world we say you meet people unexpectedly in travelling.

After lunch we waited for our camels to come in the “city” in the “main street” . They had been on time. Our camel guides are two young Egyptian boys, they introduce themselves with their names so hard to pronounce ;). The older boy’s name is Kahled  and his camel’s name is Ahlusch  and his younger brother’s name is Faisal and his camel’s name is Saidee. Now it’s time for me to ride the camel, my camel is Ahlusch he’s making a huge noise and it seems like he don’t  like me too much ;). So i sat on the saddle of Ahlusch. As it the nature of the camel to stand up it’s very aprubtly and i have to really hold on to the saddle. I almost flew down and i was shouting as Ahlusch went up ;). The people had been looking are laughing at me hehe my first experience of camel riding!

the first time i rode a camel ;)

After an hour or so we reached the “lagoon”. Our “back” was already aching so it was good to have a short break before going back ;). Faisal made some Shai (tea) for us while we are sitting on the beach. Only our mistake is we didn’t know before where would they take us, that we didn’t bring our swimming stuff because it would have been good to swim and snorkle. There had been a lot of fish, and we could do nothing but just to look at it :(  So for next day we decided to come back there or near for snorkelling. Anyway, we had to go back the same way to our place on the camel for another hour. They didn’t ask for bakshish, and because they are also good we gave some tip and thanked them. In funny mummy restaurant, we had another fish meal. Even only sitting on their pillows our “puwet”  (bottom) was aching ;)  after dinner we had to go to a pharmacy to buy baby powder but camel riding was really a very good experience and it’s part of our trip.

Faisal the Egyptian boy, Ahlusch and Saidee, the camels

Next day,  with our butt still aching and legs too, we had breakfast in funny mummy restaurant., then we went to snorkelling and diving shop and rented snorkelling stuff  for 10 EP/ day. We walked along the prominate direction to the lagoon where we went with the camels a day before. It was so hot that day, on the way we saw couple of tourists going also in the lagoon. Where many divers and snorklers going in and coming out of the Red Sea we decided to do the same there. It was an “official” entrance to the reef in the Marine National Park.  Not knowing really what to do with the snorkelling equipment, i went into the ocean and asked some English couple, about “ how”  and  specially where to snorkel. I explained to them that it’s my first time to snorkel and i just learned how to swim. They gave me good advices and tips like i can only go snorkelling until the edge of the reefs where the water is dark and there it goes down really really deep and there are dangerous currents which can take and kill even an experienced diver. Of course, i stick to their advices, otherwise i wouldn’t be here now typing or writing this we heared and read that there are divers and snorklers drowned because they took the risk of going to this dangerous area. First after trying to see something under water, i was a bit disappointed, because there was only some corals and sand. Then i swim bit further and saw my first colorful fish, ” NEMO” !? hehe, then with my small under water camera, i took pictures of fish corals and jelly fish, it was really a great experience for me and then i thought how much more beautiful it must be to go deeper when you know how to dive. But i was very happy, content and proud of myself that i made it! Later, my swimming instructor here ( when we got home) told me that he is proud of me that i have this courage and  it will boost my self confidence after doing this. We send him a postcard then.

After snorkelling we went back to Dahab town and in a small souvenir shop there was a post office and we mailed the postcards and surprisingly all arrived. Egyptian mail is reliable and fast. We organized our ticket to Cairo next day and had our last good fish dinner in funny mummy restaurant. Three days staying in one place, means a lot of packing and the bus leaves early morning next day.

Goodbye Dahab! it was really wonderful experience, the camel ride, the snorkelling, very good sea foods, nice people and cheap beer for Michael ( he said ) so, all in all our Dahab  trip in the Red Sea was amazing! ;)  Later we said, we should have stayed a day or two more.

ang sirenang pinay sa REd SEA ;)

Next early morning, just after seven we had quick breakfast of pancake and shai, put our stuff in the pick up taxi to the bus station. A 10 hour ride to Cairo was in front of us, a very long journey but it’s part of travelling. Through desert landscape and through the tunnel under Suez Canal and the traffic jams in Cairo, we arrived there safely, back in Cairo again but we didn’t know where we are so we took a taxi to the center. Fortunately, the Lialy Pension still had  a room for us. Later, we had our too big meals in FELFELA RESTAURANT.

Today is our second day  in Luxor and we want to see the most famous and biggest temple of Egypt, Karnak Temple. Karnak what we call today was Theben in ancient times, and this temple was built over many centuries. And now comes our story, we rent bicycles for 25EP each ( the bell and the breaks worked so it’s ok although the bikes look old and almost falling apart ) first, we had to manage the traffic of Luxor with a funny experience ;).  At the red traffic light, with the policemen standing there, we us tourists stop bacause we don’t want to cross and have problems. Cars and another Egyptian guy on a bike just go and said, ” you can just go”! so the traffic lights are really only decorations then going through the villages, the only traffic we pass are donkey cart loaded with vegies and fruits.

donkey cart loaded with fruits and vegies near karnak temple

Bicycling over the huge tour buses- parking lot  we secured our bikes near the police station and locked them ( no bakshish, but still it’s safe ) after paying our tickets for 65 EP each we entered this huge temple compound. First there was the alley of Sphinxes. It was in ancient time originated at Luxor temple 7 kilometers away. Nowadays big parts of it is covered by modern city Luxor and the rest is excavated by archeologists. On our way to the temple we saw part of it. It was breathtaking as we entered the main gate of 35m high walls of Karnak Temple. We came to a big courtyard with other temples and some columns. Leading to the courtyard of Ramses III we are amazed by the beautiful pillars with statues. Outside this temple there is still excavation.

me and the Osiride pillars in courtyard of Ramses III

Coming back to the main courtyard, we stood in front of the majestic statue of Ramses II and took pictures of course There was another gate entering the column hall which was really the most and the biggest and we felt so small standing beside them, and those huge columns are about four thousand years old.

michael and me in Karnak temple

These amazing hypostyle hall of columns are still standing after more than four thousand and five hundred years. These columns are 23m high and more than 2m wide and there are about 134 of them. They say it is one of the finest Egyptians architecture. And still the question, ” how did they do that”? and made it. Egypt is magic…

michael and the huge columns of karnak temple

That was the most impressive temple we saw in Egypt. Going further we came to another courtyard with the Obelisk, two of them they built up again from Hatshepsut and other Pharaohs. Parts of other obelisks fell down. There are engravings in the obelisks of the life of Queen Hathepsut. Near the sacred lake from ancient time are the oldest parts, only ruins and almost five thousand years old. From this time of history it’s quite obscure but we saw it. Karnak in Egyptian history is the most important place. The most last thing monuments are of granite which was only found near todays city of Aswan. I wonder how they tranported it to Luxor from Aswan in that time.

me and the Obelisk with cartouche of Amenophis III

After about five hours looking around karnak temple, we went back with our bicycles to our favorite restaurant near the Luxor temple, we had our late lunch and Michael had his beer Stella  ( Egyptian beer ).  We told ” the owner” that we wanted to go to the Red Sea in Hurghada, and he wanted to get us the bus tickets, he said it’s cheap. But Michael said we will go to the bus station with our bikes and we did, and we got our tickets for half price of what he asked. That’s Egypt do it by your own and you get the real price, if somebody do it for you, you really pay a lot more.

Next morning, after breakfast they picked us up with a private taxi and took us to the bus station far out of Luxor. We got our tickets to Hurghada, and the bus is really good and we felt safe for this 350 kilometers trip through the desert.

The trip was quite boring except the last few kilometers through the mountains and along the Red Sea.

Goodbye Aswan, hello Edfu!

It was seven in the morning, we got to catch our train to Edfu.  We had our breakfast in the railway station. Edfu is two hours away from Aswan, then finally we are in Edfu. On the way we saw donkeys loaded with vegetables and fruits and sugar cane that caused traffic ;) we  took the taxi to the the Temple of Horus. Michael bought the ticket for us, it costs 50 EP each, and we have to leave our backpacks to the policemen in the main entrance in the security gate. As we are about to enter, he asked if we can give him Bakshish ( tip) not only for him but also for his friend! So, of course do we have  a choice? Michael gave him 20 EP he said Shukran ( thank you)  and then we walked away to the temple. It is almost everywhere in Egypt that some people are always asking for tip, and it really kills your nerves. But you can not blame these people, their salary is so low, and maybe they also depend on tips. It kills the tourists’ nerves, but it’s part of the game.

 Considered one of the most preserved Egyptian temple, it was started by Ptolemy III and about 2,200 years old. There had been other temples in this site before, but nothing left from these temples not even ruins. It has a huge entrance walls with facades and columns and both sides of the main gate has statues of holy falcon HORUS . It is ( temple ) actually dedicated to the Falcon of Horus.  The statues are made of black granite, guarding the entrance of the temple.

the beautiful sculpture of Horus

Entering the inner courtyard with arcades around and thick columns, we saw the entrance of the main covered temple hall. On the walls we saw that most of the faces of ancient Egyptian bas reliefs had been scratched out by Christians and Muslims later. The huge Hypostyle Hall with the original ceiling was amazingly well preserved and with original colors. The columns which are about 15 meters high and 2 meters wide are really huge! it means i felt so small

me and the huge columns of Edfu temple

After Edfu, we wanted to go to Luxor, but how? After picking up our lagguage, the driver of a mini bus asked us where we want to go?  Luxor,  we said. And we had been lucky, because he’s going there. We agreed after some bargaining for the price. His mini bus is chartered by other tourists but there had been seats left so he had some extra income. Luxor… here we come! ;) 

We arrived safely in Luxor after two hours, he left us in a Hotel with 3 ( Egyptian ) stars. It was ok, so we checked in. For 105 EP a night, with breakfast and a nice view of Luxor temple near to the river Nile and restaurant.

nice arrangement of towels in our hotel in Luxor

We are surprised and amazed as we enter our room,  not that because it is so nice or whatever, but for the arrangements of the towels in the bed so to my excitement i took picture of it so Egypt i can say, and the shape of the towels is like the bird IBIS  ( it was a white bird, can be seen in the fields, farmer’s friend).  We walked around the Luxor temple and until to the center along the river Nile, and found a nice open air restaurant with good Egyptian food. Full and fit again, we walked back to the Luxor temple. We bought our tickets which costs 50 EP each.

First we saw the alley of the Sphinxes which lead from Luxor temple to Karnak temple, about  8 kilometers to Karnak. Parts are excavated, others are under the modern day city. In front of the big entrance gate stands an obelisk. The obelisk is made from pink granite from Aswan, you can find them here in Egypt, and ( stolen) in Rome, Paris and London and who knows where etc..  Before entering the temple complex you pass the huge statues of Pharaoh Ramses II, one of the most important pharaohs that constructed a lot of temples in his time.

the pink granite obelisk with the statues of Ramses II

Inside the temple, we entered the main column hall, the shapes are like buds of Papyrus about 16 meter high and there are about 32 columns. In this part of the temple, the Muslims more than a thousand years ago, built a mosque it’s old but not ancient and looks bit ” strange” inside this magnificent building. Further inside we found a small chapel with Christian paintings on the wall, about a thousand and seven hundred years old. Luxor temple served for ancient Egyptian Gods, the Christians and also the Muslims today. After dark, Luxor temple is illuminated and really looks beautiful.

illuminated temple of Luxor

We found another nice garden restaurant, with the view of the illuminated temple and had a good dinner, we finished the day. Back to our hotel, we are so kaputt ( tired)  and fall asleep the moment we lay our back in the bed.

Already when we arrived in the hotel, we booked an organized trip to The Valley of the Kings and Queens on the west bank of the Nile. We paid 80 EP each plus we paid extra for the entrance fees. In our hotel we had a nice breakfast and something funny happened.  Somebody mixed the sugar with salt for our tea. We told the waiter and he said sorry many times actually it was not his fault anyway. So, they brought us new tea and the waiter got tip.  Just on time our mini bus arrived and we got the best seats which we liked. We went around Luxor city to pick up more tourists from other hotels, like Japanese, Koreans, Dutch and English. Then over the new bridge over the River Nile we went to the west bank.  Our first site to see is the Colossis of Memnon. Standing next to these huge statues i felt so small again just behind the statues there are French archeologists digging for foundations of temples which are just newly found.

me, standing so small beside the Colossis of Memnon

Going to Hatshepsut Temple we passed by a village. Here, ancient and today Egypt meets. The government kicks those people living there out of their place. Because there are ancient graves there and they ( the government) wants to prevent that  ancient and preciuos artifacts are stolen and sold in the black market. Actually, these people lived there for many generations and many of them did exactly this, because they knew the location of the treasures under their houses, that’s what our tour guide told us. Nowadays, because they don’t want to leave their homes, they have to go far to the river Nile by donkeys or small truck to get water, because the government cuts their supply to forced them to go out.  On one side, we can understand the attitude of the government to save the ancient relicts, on the other side the local people have to suffer. No more words about this… it is like this.

We came to the big parking lot near Hatshepsut temple, there’s high security and also later at the entrance of the Valley of the Kings, because in the 90’s some crazy terrorists killed 60 people there. Only with the so called ” Disney Train” we can reach the temple of Hatshepsut.  About 3,500 years ago, this temple was constructed and actually looks like a modern day building like they call it ” type-writer” ( reminds us of the monument in Italy built to Victor Emmanuel II in Rome which they call ” macchina da scrivere” ). Back to Egypt ;), at the foot of sheer mountains, where the temple is situated we walked up the steps to different levels of the temple. With columns and halls our tour guide explained very well the meaning of Hieroglyphs and carvings which shows the history of this  Queen ( most of the Pharaohs had been men, only a few had been women, but they are also called pharaohs, like the last and most famous pharaoh of ancient Egypt Cleopatra).  Queen or Pharaoh Hatshepsut built her magnificent temple there. Near by archeologists found more ruin foundations of other temples and even the rest of a small pyramids which collapsed about 120 years ago during an earthquake.

me at the steps going up Hatshepsut Temple

After visiting this magnificent temple, they took us to the Valley of the Kings. Here the same procedure with all these high security and control and ” disney train”. We have the tickets for three Pharaonic tombs. Only a few tombs are open to visit because the breath, sweat ( humidity) of thousands of people everyday would make the original colors of the bas reliefs fade and maybe even gone. Through deep twisted and steep tunnels we saw those colorful engravings inside the tombs from about four thousand years ago. Unglaublich!  unbelievable! how the ancient Egyptian constructed this for the eternal life of the Pharaohs. I bought the very expensive ticket to see the mummy of Tutankhamen.  He was not an important Pharaoh but he became famous because his tomb was found intact not touched and robbed in the 1920’s.

my ticket for the tomb and mummy of Tutankhamen

entrance of Tutankhamen

If you are interested in the discovery of this most famous pharaohs tomb, you can read in the book by C.W. Ceram titled ( sorry we only know the German name, ” Götter, Gräber und Gelehrte “, there are translations of many language). It is a fascinating book that my husband Michael got his interest in travelling, archeology and history.  Our tourist guide showed us and wrote in hieroglyphs our names. He told us it is a good souvenir from Egypt to have a cartouche in silver. He showed us some example and we find it nice so we ordered one with our names on both sides for only 70 EP.

After looking around the Valley of the Kings, around lunch time they took us to Alabaster factory. We saw how they make vases, statues, and etc. from alabaster, a crystal marble which is found in the mountains. Then we went on to  the Valley of the Queens, not so famous and spectacular so not so many tourists there. We saw inside a tomb the mummy of a baby maybe about four thousand years old. 

It was a very excellent and interesting tour, we went back to the river Nile. We took the boat to the city east side and arrived near the Luxor temple. Late afternoon we finally had our lunch in an open air restaurant. Oh! i forgot… there’s a sandstorm that day so we look like a bit ” powdered” ;)  after   a hot shower, we had dinner in the same garden restaurant with the view of illuminated Luxor temple.

Next day we visit Karnak Temple…

I’ve always dreamed of  seeing  the Pyramids, the Pharaohs and the Sphinx one day like anybody else  ( a dream of mine when i was a kid ) and i did.   Egypt always fascinated me, and never it comes to my mind that i will see those amazing Pyramids with my own eyes.

Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian once noted: ” Concerning Egypt, I will now speak at lenght, because nowhere are there so many marvelous things, nor in the world besides are there to be seen so many things of unspeakable greatness…” ( from the Lonely Planet )

Come with me and join us in our adventure in Egypt. Ride a camel with me, sail with us with the Felucca, visit and be captivated by four thousand year old monuments and we will show you the “secrets” of some  ancient  tomb , enjoy the beauty of the under water world by snorkelling in the red sea, make a real desert safari and see the life of about twenty five million people city of Cairo.

18. 01. 2009 in the afternoon in Cairo we arrived safely in the airport. Took the local bus to downtown Cairo and paid 6 EP. We look around for Hostel and there was so many ” touts” but we are used to it so just say no. We found on the main square name Talaat Harb and check - in to Lialy Hostel, cheap and clean with breakfast and nice people and with a great view of chaotic traffic of Cairo. We learned to “walk like an Egyptian” means, just don’t care about the traffic just go! the traffic lights are like just a decoration. 

CAIRO - the capital city of Egypt, with about more than 25 millions of people and one of the biggest city in the world. ” Salam alaikum! , Welcome to Egypt, welcome home, Habibi!”  ( means friend ). Compare to other city of Egypt, like Luxor or Memphis, Cairo is quite young. In the ancient time, Memphis more than four thousand years ago, is the capital city of Lower Egypt. Luxor is the capital of Upper Egypt. Now, Memphis is just a small village in the suburb south of Cairo, 30 kilometers away. We spent 6 days in Cairo later, after we came back from Bahariyya. That i will write later what we did in Cairo
 

colorful disco boats in Cairo

We stayed just one night in Cairo and next day look around the city and booked the train trip at night to Aswan.  Aswan is about 900 kilometers away south of Cairo and we paid 103 EP for each for first class. It took 14 hours to reach Aswan, and we got our “egyptian style” breakfast the next morning. Short before we arrive, came the train conductor and asking for Bakshish ( tip). For what? i asked, he didn’t do anything and i don’t like his aggresive way of asking. Anyway, we didn’t give  him anything.  And WARNING! don’t order any breakfast on the train, they ripped tourists off with the price, better bring your own or wait until you arrive.  Around lunch time we are in Aswan, and like anywhere there’s problems with “touts”.  On the side street of the Bazar we found a Hotel name Noorhan, clean and cheap with breakfast included, own bathroom with hot shower  for 40 EP you cannot complain.

ASWAN - is Egypt’s southernmost city, a gateway to Africa, Michael and me call it the Verona ( in Italy) of Egypt. The river Nile and the beautiful mountains and sand dunes makes it romantic and it was also considered the popular winter place. For the Egyptians it is warmer than in Cairo or Alexandria. Aswan is located on the East Bank of river Nile. The city is busy with big Bazar open day and night and also restaurants, markets while the other side is just desert with tombs and sand dunes and mountains. The best thing to do when you’re in Aswan is to sail a Felucca and watch the sun set over the hills and islands in the river Nile. That’s what we did

a Felucca in Aswan river Nile

By sailing a Felucca, you must really bargain hard with the owner or sailor, because when they know you are a tourist they really ripped you off with the price. Finally, we found a nice old Egyptian guy and we agreed with the price, 50 EP for two hours. We sailed around the islands and enjoyed  the view of the city Aswan and wait for the sun to set but it’s bit cloudly that day but still we enjoyed it ;)  It was a wonderful experience sailing the Felucca which sails with the wind and the current of the river. That’s how the ancient Egyptian did and also today. Next morning we woke up 3 o’ clock in the morning and had breakfast in the hotel. Our mini van came after a few minutes and then off we go. In a convoy of buses we waited for almost an hour and finally, we go.

ABU SIMBEL - lies 280 kilometers south of Aswan, and from the north of Sudanese border it is only 40km away. It was already 9 o’ clock in the morning when we reached Abu Simbel.  There we saw the great temple of Ramses II.

Michael and the huge statues of Ramses II

Pharaoh Ramses II ruled for a long time and built a lot of monuments and temples which are still exist.  On the 60’s in the last century, German archeologists and engineers move the whole temple to it’s present site. So it will be not under the water level of this new artificial lakes, created by the big dam of river Nile. So, we and other millions of people can still see and enjoy the sight of this magnificent temple and statues of Pharaoh Ramses II. The temple was found by chance by the Swiss Johann Ludwig Burckhardt on May 22, 1813. And the Italian Giovanni Battista Belzoni found out the upper part of a door way and the main entrance on August 1, 1817.

TEMPLE OF HATHOR - still in Abu Simbel, the smaller temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari Ramses II’s beloved wife. In this temple the statues of Queen Nefertari is surprisingly equal to Ramses’ statues, which is not usual because most of the statues and bas relief we saw in Egypt the wife of the Pharaohs’ are small and at the back of the pharaoh holding his knees.

The Temple of Hathor, dedicated to Queen Nefertari

ASWAN DAM - After visiting Abu Simbel, we went straight back to Aswan but on the way to Aswan Dam. It was on the 60’s considered the biggest dam in the world. It is now the main source of electricity in the whole Egypt. We went back to our place in Aswan late in the afternoon and had dinner in a small chicken restaurant around the corner. I ordered extra for ” falafel”  mmm! lecker!
 

Aswan Dam, electric power station for all Egypt

CAMEL MARKET - Next morning, after breakfast we walk just a few kilometers away to the train station from our hostel to DARAW. Just 40 kilometers away to Aswan, Daraw is a small town, with sugar cane fields, palm trees and everywhere you can see donkeys because most farmers use them as mean of transport. We saw a young Egyptian boy driving an Indian style TUK TUK  ( Michael thinks it’s Indian made because he’s been there ).  He told us how much the trip will cost and we agreed with his price. After maybe 15 minutes we reached the camelmarket. There for the first time i saw camels there are also goats, donkeys, sheeps, cows and chickens. The funny thing is that i became sensational there :)  even those simple farmers selling goats, and donkeys have a cellphone with camera. And they wanted to take picture of me and with them together we wanted actually to take picture of them and the animals the boys are posing while i am filming and some are shy. I also caught in my video men that are testing donkeys if they are good for riding and working. We don’t know if they do this for us or for my film or really it’s like this because we are the only tourists there. One of the men asked Michael in his broken english how many camel i am worth! i am surprised and bit offended but then i realized he’s just joking hahaha! i thought he really mean that he want to buy me from Michael in exchange of his camels It was really quite a unique experience for me, the camel market.

camels for sale in camelmarket, Daraw ( Aswan)

KOM OMBO - After camelmarket on the same day, we took the taxi to Kom Ombo Temple just 5 to 6 kilometers away from Daraw town. The temple is situated in a small elevated place above the river Nile. The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris ( and Sedak with a crocodile head). We saw two holy mummified crocodiles, they consider it  God in the ancient Egyptian time. Beautiful Kom Ombo temple is not so famous like Abu Simbel or Karnak Temple so it was really quiet and not overloaded with thousands of tourists. We really enjoyed looking around the temple. The temple was several times on ancient time reconstructed by different Pharaohs to make it more beautiful and bigger. The carvings of Gods and hieroglyphs and scenes like hunting, offerings, death, and more of the Pharaohs who built and enlarged this temple are very well preserved. Even some bas reliefs are still with original colors more than three thousand years old. It is not so “important”  but one of the most beautiful temple in Egypt.

Michael in Kom Ombo Temple

Going back by taxi we went to the train station to go back to Aswan. Waiting for the train, came a young nice Egyptian talked to Michael. He speak good english and didn’t want anything from  us, he just want to talk. Then after about half hour, some civil ” policemen” took him away and bring him in the police station. Twenty minutes later, he came back, and he told us that he was being interrogated by them. They think that he is talking to an ” Israel  Spy “!. Nonsense! he had the problem but not us. Officially, tourists like us, are not allowed to take normal train and transport still we did it and the normal people are really nice and we didn’t had any problems. It’s a security craze of the government which on one side is good, on the other side it’s bit too much. Anyway our train came and took us safely back to Aswan. Here opposite of the train station is the mosque and the church and the people peacefully together no matter what their religion is. At least it’s like this in rural Egypt. That’s what we saw and had been told and should be like this all over. That’s our experience in Kom Ombo train station, so not only the famous temple also the normal life of today.

Michael at the Kom Ombo

Back to Aswan - We had been ready  for  ” five o’ clock - tea ” means good Egyptian SHAI  ( tea- pronounced: chay ). Near our hotel there’s a local tea shop where we drink before and they don’t cheat us ;). After that we walk in the big Bazar and bought some spices, scarf, t- shirts and some souvenirs. Then we had dinner in a local chicken restaurant ( half chicken, salad, rice, bread, falafel and coke ) for just 20 EP. After our dinner, we had another tea in our Habibi’s  ( friend )  tea shop.

our habibi and his chicken restaurant

Aswan the city with this big Bazar, where we actually stayed in for three days, the river Nile and felucca trip around the islands, and the sand dunes’ tombs which is illuminated at night, and around like Abu Simbel, the Aswan Dam and Camelmarket and Kom Ombo Temple and the town, was really worth to travel to.  Of course, there’s still more to see. Next day, we had been on our way to Luxor. On the way, we visited the magnificent temple of Edfu. That will be on our next blog.

ahhhm, guys this is not about our trip to Egypt but i just have to post this one. I can’t help it hihi!  i just want to write about this since my sister allowed me to do so ;)  i am so proud of my nieces Mary Ann Arsenio and Janine Allanigue. Mary Ann,  daughter of my younger sister Maricris. She won a 2nd place in their school’s singing contest just last February 10, and chosen to sing for Strike Revilla ( is he governor or mayor? have no idea ; ) ) only i apologize for some problem in the video, medyo ninerbyos at umiiyak ang sister ko while filming the contest and i was also overwhelmed when i watch the video and i am chatting with them that time my daughter Roxanne asked  ” Oh! Mama, bakit ka umiiyak?” . She have a lovely voice like an angel i’m proud of you Mae Ann, Congratulations! ;)  ( you can watch the video in my profile because i don’t know how to put videos yet here in my blog ) she sang the song of Carol Banawa’s Iingatan Ka.

my niece mae ann (green gown) and other candidate

Congratulations Mae Ann! she got 2 awards ;)

My other niece, Janine Allanigue, daughter of my niece Julie Ann ( she’s graduating next year, business management course)  A day after we came back from Egypt my niece Julie told  me that Janine will join the  spelling bee contest. She told me, ” Ninang, i asked Janine, do you really want to join the contest?” and my niece answered, ” ahhmm, yes Mama, why not?”  I was laughing so hard while Julie is telling me this so the next day we are all waiting of course what happened in the said contest.  Julie said, ” Ninang, 2nd place lang “.  I said that’s not bad, better than nothing. I don’t have yet her picture in the contest, but i will post as soon as my niece Julie upload it then i will change her photo here. Congratulations janine!
 

my niece janine in her school uniform ( not in the mood )

janine, 2nd honor and other two awards ;)

To my pamangkins na di lang mga cütie but also smart I am proud to both of you, I love you keep it up, and make our family proud of you.
 

CONGRATULATIONS! Mae Ann and Janine!

i was trying for many days to post this in my blog but there’s something wrong again in friendster, takes an hour  before i can open my blog.

Anyway, i just want to thank my beloved family for their lovely greetings in friendster and sending me birthday cards and christmas cards (late na hehe ) but i love it thank you i miss you all so much. My 3R, my three wonderful children, i love so much and missing terribly. My cousins sending me sms and also in friendster, you know who you are hehe thank you guys i miss you too. And of course my new found wonderful friends in Salitype Society, you guys are amazing! thank you so much for all your lovely and wonderful greetings, it’s much appreciated.

My birthday, we celebrated it just simple. Michael reserved for five persons a table 2 days before in a Viet - Thai restaurant  and we had a nice meal, talked and drinked and like i told my friends in Salitype my face turned really red after drinking some wine Michael gave me 5 roses because he said he’s my 6th rose, he has an explanation why it’s only five he said, because i am now 36 years old, he said 6×6 = 36 so yeah he’s the 6th rose, hahaha! the mathematician and being romantic in him
 

We had a great time in National Park Harz, we went there afer my birthday a few days ago. The snow always fascinate me, it was magic to see the beauty of snow and not to mention the sledge  riding hihihi! i feel like i was only six yrs. old the kid in me
 

Yesterday we went to Hamburg to get our visa to Egypt. We didn’t have any problems, they took our passport and told us to come back after 2 hrs. and we got our visa. We came back home dark already and we said, it was good it was fast and we don’t need to comeback another day. We called before they say it will take days if we make through mail so better go there personally.

The Harbor in Hamburg was iced! amazing! i never seen like this before, the ships are stucked and only this special ship for ice can go. Took photos and then we came back home.

I will be gone for a month and a half, i will miss you all guys :(  i don’t know what is there in Egypt waiting for us, so guys when we come back i will tell you what we experience there with photos of course
 

My Salitype Buddies ma mi miss ko kayo, but i’ll try my best to find internet cafe there and send you maybe some short messages.

So, this is another year for me, another journey and another experience not just in travelling but in life.

For the moment, let me say goodbye my dear friends and see you soon.

Love,

Maricar, Car, Mama

Michael and I are always not here, not at home when it’s Christmas. We either travelling in somewhere or we are in Camiguin together with my children and mother in Philippines. But this year, everything changed because of Michael’s work, he was the one to take charge of everything when the new equipments come from Berlin. Michael told me we can’t go November but on January, it means we will spend Christmas here. And Schnui and Steffi took the chance to have Christmas somewhere out of Wolfenbüttel this year, they are always here with Mutti on christmas and we said, it’s ok.

christmas with mutti, dec 24, 2008

Mutti prepared something for the three of us for Christmas. It was called Schlesische Bratwurst, with Sauerkraut and  Kartoffelpürree. Typical german traditional Christmas dish on where Mutti grows up. But before we had dinner, we ate some cookies all are homemade, with tea. Then I helped Mutti to decorate her christmas tree. And while decorating, she told me and showed me some of Michael’s and Schnui’s x’ mas deco they made when they are still kids;) she even gave us some to hang in our x’ mas tree.

We are all full and sat down in the living room. Mutti asked me if I know the story of Christmas. I said yes, i know from the bible and in the church. She get a small book, and started to read, it was a story on how Jesus was born that God gave his only begotten son to us, to save us and that’s why we accept gifts from our friends and love ones.

Mutti opening our present for her

We all have some small things to each one, and happy for it. Then suddenly Mutti said,”since it was Christmas, Maricar, can you sing one Christmas song for us” ? I was surprised and look to  Michael and like i was telling him, you know something about this, don’t you?
 

” O, Holy night, the stars are brightly shining…. ”

I finished the song…. and then silence……

I thought i will hear applaused from Mutti and Michael but as I look to both them, they are crying. Mutti had her taschentuch in her face and snipping, michael looking at me with red eyes crying…

Mutti said, “ Danke Schön Maricar”  that was the best of the whole evening, she also said. I was overwhelmed and embraced her and cry too.

At home, i told Michael, ” you and schnui are lucky, you have a wonderful Mother”.  Michael said, ” you too, she’s your mother too”.  I told Michael he’s right, and greet him again Merry Christmas.

Yes! I did it! i got seepferdchen

Whoa! surprises and more surprises coming my way this first week of December. I wanted to blog this last week but then friendster is having problems again so i only had  a chance to post this now.

Last week, Wednesday my last swimming lesson for this year, because they will close all the swimming hall in  winter. After our swimming lesson, my instructor told me don’t go yet because he have surprise for me btw. i can dive now, can swim 100 m although in the certificate they put 25 m hmp! and i can back float now ( teehee) i was so happy when he show me this piece of small paper and telling me, “this is the fruit of your hard work” i ask ” what’s that?” it was  a certificate saying that i can swim now, can dive, back float and etc. i was jumping like a little kid as i heard that hahaha! and i asked is it only for kids? he said yes, but they give this to all beginners like me And then i say, ” Danke Schön!” and gave him a big hug, and Michael is standing there, smiling and of course happier than me

Yipeee! I got Seepferdchen!

But next year i have to work on the “real” certificate, i have to swim about 200 m so they can really say, i can swim. Whew! So, once again guys… wish me luck!

Michael is always up to something, i mean surprises when every 4th of the month comes sometimes i find it weird but he is like this ;)  normally we will just have a dinner in a restaurant or he will cook  for us or together with my in laws. But this time he really surprised me, maybe i can call this ” 3rd year wedding anniversary hang- over” ;) 

” Swing Brother, Swing!”  Louis Armstrong told his musicians on one of his albums in the late twenties. And so he gave the style a name. ( phrases from the program of the concert) Yes, it’s time to swing!  Last thursday 4th of December we saw live ” The Glenn Miller Orchestra” it was wonderful! ;)  Michael bought the tickets 3 weeks ago.

They played more than 30 songs and had only 20 minutes break, the most beautiful song i love is ” Moonlight Serenade”. And the soloist, she’s got a voice. I love when she sings ” The Christmas Song”, the spirit of Christmas is there. The oldest of them all he’s 80 years old already but still he plays the saxophones really good! and he is funny. They are from Holland, Belgium and some parts of Europe.  It’s my first time to see an orchestra, although i saw  some concerts here already in Stadthalle in Braunschweig  like jazz nights and so, i fell in love in this orchestra, they are awesomely cool!
 

our ticket to the concert

As much as i try to avoid not to think about travelling, I just can’t!

Here I am writing this, today my in laws will come for dinner. Michael is busy in the kitchen preparing the dead 1,600 g chicken we bought in the market, just enough for five persons. Poor chicken, later it will be roasted in the oven. and here I am busy with my keyboards but I did my job of course ( teehee ) like cleaning and preparing the table
Yesterday, i acidentally saw a documentation in tv about the ” Bamboo Train Trip” in Battambang Cambodia. Coincidence?! I don’t know. While watching the Doku  I suddenly thought of why not write about those people we met in travelling. So, to dig out all or at least some of the memories from these people, I found myself in front of our cabinets full of my treasures, my travel diaries

my treasures, my travel diaries ;)

my newest diary, we bought this in RAJANA a shop in Cambodia w/ products are made from mine victims

1. I will name her the ” KHMER GIRL “  -   ” Gud mornin Lady!, how are you? I have something for you, it’s for free you don’t have to pay me.”  The cambodian  girl speak to me in her Khmer accent as she speak English. She’s maybe around 7 to 10 years old ( forgot her name ) selling bracelets, rings and etc. that’s made of rattan and  bamboos. She said I can have the ring and i don’t have to pay her, clever she asked me so many questions and with patience I answered them in a broken english so she can understand me. For three days trip in Angkor Wat, she’s always there waiting for us, hoping that we will buy some of her handicrafts. We bought fom her some necklaces and etc. and gave me a ring that she said, her gift for me because I’m a good lady or madam We are aware of and warned by other travellers never to give money to these children, but Michael knew my heart is soft when it comes to children. So, he let me give some RIAL to the girl, she asked me what is thank you in my language, I said Salamat, then she said ” Salamat “ to me with a smile, and I say ” Your Welcome, and take care”.

the ring from the khmer girl

2.MR. JIMMY  - When we went to Penang, George Town  Malaysia, Mr. Jimmy is the owner of the guest house where we stayed for 3 days a man of  more than 60 years of age  arranged everything for us. Our trip to Mallaca and  Koh Lanta  had been easier and smooth bacause of him. And he told us that he lived in Philippines for 7 years with a Filipina wife but then he came back to Malaysia after, and we didn’t ask why. He said, he likes  Philippines it’s beautiful and the people are friendly
 

3. I will call her ” LADY KOH LANTA ” -  In the South of Thailand, Koh Lanta. Where we stayed for 1 week, doing nothing just enjoying the beach. We arrived after a very, very , long journey from Kuala Lumpur to Koh lanta, we started early in the morning and arrived there 10 in the evening. There are at least three ladies in the beach cottage, and one talk to me in Thai,  which I ” somehow get used to it “, but i told her that I’m not Thai, I’m from Philippines, sorry that I don’t understand you. Then she said in a friendly and funny way…..  ” Oh! Solly! I thought yoh Thai, when i see you, I see me! ” ;)  

4. A Kababayan in Florence, Italy - We bought two rosaries in San Gimignano, Toscana, and brought it until we reached Florence. We look for a church that has holy water so it can be baptized before bringing it home. We found this church in the middle of the city of Florence, ” CHIESA di OGNISSANTI “  ( All Saints church ). And there we met inside a fellow Filipino, he’s from Las Pinas, Cavite. After a small talk and short tour inside the church, I lit a candle and pray and then we left the church.

5. FRENCH COUPLE - In the border between Laos and Cambodia, in Stung Streng to Kratie ( Cambodia )  we were waiting together with other backpackers, a French couple and one Israeli. It was so hot that day, and there’s no stores, no shop as in nothing! to buy food and drinks and it was already 1 o’ clock in the afternoon, i’m so hungry and thirsty. More than 1 hour ago, we heard a sound of a ” POT! POT! ” coming, it was a man in a bicycle selling siopao. He’s a heaven sent! the french girl and i walk to where the siopao vendor is. When i was about to pay my siopao and drinks, to my surprised as i look in my money belt i don’t have KIP ! ( money of Laos ). I was just about to go to where Michael is because they also accept dollars, but then the french girl said that it’s ok she will pay for my siopao and drinks. I thank her, and she said it’s ok they also wanted to get rid of their kip.

I would just end for a while with my list here. I consider myself lucky meeting all these amazing people, for they taught me and sho

6. THE BOOK STORE OWNER -  Another person from Cambodia in Phonm Penh i will never forget. After visiting the TUOL SLENG  museum, we look for a book store to buy  a  book of  history of THE KHMER ROUGE . We found in the city of Phonm Penh a small book store, as we are going to pay, the old man i think he’s the owner, talk to me in Khmer. I said, i’m sorry i am not Cambodian, i’m from Philippines. And then he told us about his terrible story with the Khmer Rouge and that he’s the only one who survived in their family during the khmer Rouge regime.  I cannot believe what all he said, his stories are heart wrenching  and i was even more terrified as i finished the book.  

They showed  me what is the real face of  life. They helped me even more to know myself. They will always be in my mind and heart, and cherished them as my treasures forever as long as i live.