Cairo via Dubai ( 20 Dec to 27 Dec 2006)

I know it is bit odd for me to write of my sojourn to Cairo especially when it done in Dec 2006, however, I have to admit this is certainly one of the most captivating experiences I had ever come upon. (At least for now). Even the journey from the airport to the hotel was an experience by itself as Cairo city was steeped with history with many of its buildings and sidewalks filled Christian, Islamic and ancient Egyptian influences.

At Day One, with the aid of a tour guide, we headed down to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquties. At the front of the museum, we were greeted by a pond filled with Blue Lotus Flowers and a patch of papyrus plants in the middle. In ancient Egypt, the leaves from the papyrus plants were used to make paper (In fact, it was claimed that the Egpyptians was the first ones to invent paper) whereas the Blue Lotus flowers growing on the pond were placed into wine during feasting in order for them to get high.

The relics in the museum held truly amazing Egpytian treasures including mummies, sarcophagus (Tombs used to placed the mummies) ,hierogliphics inprinted into stone/paper,ancient Egyptian jewellery, etc. In fact, the most famous artefact in the museum was the tomb and treasures King Tutakhamun. As you are aware, every archeologist whom has excavated the tomb of King Tut at the Valley of Kings in Luxor someone died an unnatural/cursed death. The items in the excavated tomb was truly ostentatious, the sacorphagus was gilded with gold and the jewellery buried with him was just simply dazzling.

And should you examine the hieroglific drawings on the sacorphagus in detail, you would realize how brilliant the Egyptians are: the drawings were all in symmetry and every space in between the drawings were all spaced out equally.

As the day turned to dusk, our tour guide brought us to the Nile River for a relaxing dinner cruise. During the cruise, we were entertained by ancient Egpytian dances including belly dancing and a dance where this guy could twirl his skirt using one hand and make it into a canopy/umbrella whilst savouring the night scene of Cairo right outside our ship.

At Day 2, we headed off slightly outside Cairo to the Great Pyramids of Giza. The journey to point zero was done via riding a camel/horse. Our journey was without lots of shrieking and shouting as many were not accustomed to bopping up and down the desert on a camel, not to mentioned sand blowing into your eyes when the sudden gusts of wind blew at our direction.

When we reached the pyramids, we were at awe at the sight of such a marvellous invention. Quick summary,the Great pyramids of Giza consists of three pyramids (And 3 smaller ones for the queens) and is believed to be constructed around 4500 years ago. The largest pyramid is the pyramid of Khufu and is touted to be the only remaining Seven wonders of the World. The ancient Egyptians believed that death on earth was the beginning to the next wrold. The embalmed body of the king would be entombed within the pyramid to protect and allow the transformation into afterlife and a place among the Gods.

Adjacent to the Great Pyramids is the famous Sphinx; a monument which consist of a body of a lion and head of a man. The nose had been snipped off, rumoured to be accidentally chiselled off by Napolean during his French campaign in Egypt from 1798-1801.

We had the opportunity to visit one of the tombs that was recently excavated by the officials, and the experience was just surreal. The body has been transported to the Museum of Antiquities and what remained was the sacorphagus which had to be built from underground using the limestone available as the entrance to the tomb was too small for the sacorphagus to be transported into the site.

At night of Day 2, we were entertained by a light and sound show which used an array of lights and sounds on the Great Pyramids/Sphinx to depict the history/stories of ancient Egypt.

On Day 3, we decided to head down to the famous Khan El-Khalili Bazaar. Well known for its medieval Egyptian atmosphere, the bazaar was bustling with activity. The labyrinth-like streets were filled tourists and locals browsing through the large array of shops and side stalls selling unusual oriental souvenirs, handmade crafts,
sheeshas, clothing, and so on. According to a few travel books which I read previously, it is recommended that you buy the belly dancing costumes as prices here are reasonable and there are many varieties to choose from.

We ended the bazaar experience in a cafe, sipping Egyptian tea and getting a puff of Apple flavoured sheesha before heading off back to our hotel.