Egypt Day 4

Friday January 14, 2011

Friday was an eventful day but by my travel itinerary it should have been a slow day with an afternoon of free time and rest before my next few days of travel.  Mid morning on Friday after checking out of my hotel I visited a local village that was so empty in Tayoum.  This little village is known for its natural spring and the water that it supplies but they little canals and waterways were so polluted with trash it wasn’t much of a site.  We did run into a local man who lives in the village and he invited us in to see how him and his family live.  It was so neat, this family lives purely off their own little 5 acres of land, and 5 acres is really an exaggeration it’s probably more like 2 but I’m not sure.  It is small.  They have a cow and a chicken coop for their milk and meat then they have fruit trees and a small garden for all other things.  The man and his family farm this small plot of land all by hand and it sustains them!!  Amazing that people still live like this and so pure to me they don’t know the hassle of cell phones and technology I was very impressed by them.  After walking around and listening to the farmer’s tales of living off the land he invited us to sit under this pavilion and drink tea.  It was really nice and his kids were so cute.  The little girl was so shy and it took her almost the whole visit to warm up to me. 

After the visit with the farmer we headed to see yet another pyramid, the Maygum pyramid, named after the area it was built in.  This pyramid was built tower style.

By mid-afternoon we were done with our scheduled activities and then I was off to roam.  The night before Mustafa had invited me to an Egyptian wedding in his hometown of Memphis, right outside Cairo.  I happily accepted and was very excited to see even more of the Egyptian culture.  Since I only brought jeans and sweaters and traveling clothes I didn’t have anything appropriate for a WEDDING!  Have no fear my stylist Mustafa was there to save the day.  We went into, what they call, they new part of town to find a dress and to have a late lunch.  A traditional Egyptian dish that is cheap to make and a favorite is a dish called kushari.  Mustafa new of the best place to get this and took me.  It was so good and at the end there was tapioca.  Apparently that is another Egyptian favorite and Mustafa was so surprised that I actually knew what it was and liked it. LOL My mom had been fixing tapioca for us for years and most people don’t really like it but I love it.  I was SO EXCITED that I got something familiar. LOL After eating we headed out to shop and OMG!! Egyptian style is NOT up-to-date and isn’t really my thing but Mustafa lives there and knows what’s appropriate so I let him pick something out for me.  I think I gave the dress and things to Goodwill as soon as I got home and unpacked but apparently I fit in because everyone was complimenting me later in the night. LOL J I went back to the hotel to get ready and take a short nap before Mustafa picked me up to head to Memphis.  Little did I know I was in a huge learning experience!

Cairo Tower

Downtown Cairo

Memphis

Memphis isn’t much different from Cairo in looks but its just way smaller.  The trash, dirt roads and lack of modern amenities is the same.  We arrived safely and went to Mustafa’s house so he could get ready for the wedding.  As he was getting ready I was introduces and visited with his family and of course drank more tea.  Tea is an all day event in Egypt and by the time I left I had gotten use to it.  I also unknowingly witnessed another family there asking Mustafa’s parents for his sister’s hand in marriage.  Later on Mustafa told me what had been happening while I was in the room and also explained why his sister was so upset.  See in Egypt arranged marriage is still normal and this boy’s family wanted Mustafa’s sister as a wife for him.  They had come to arrange the marriage with Mustafa’s parents.  Her father hadn’t made a final decision yet but it was looking like she would be set to marry this boy whom she knows only from around town but really doesn’t even like.  See she has a boy that she likes and in America would be a boyfriend but seeing she isn’t allowed to date it isn’t that.  The problem with this is that Mustafa’s parent’s don’t approve of this boy because he isn’t going to college and only works as a mechanic and they don’t think he could provide for their daughter and their future family.  So she is forbidden to even talk to him and for sure not see him but Mustafa and their brother help the sister talk to the forbidden lover.  I felt so bad for her when I heard this and even though I love learning about other’s cultures and being open minded I knew right then I wouldn’t ever make it there with such conservative and old fashion methods.  Anyways after Mustafa dressed we said goodbye and he took me to a “salon” to get my hair and makeup did.  Ya’ll I walked out of there looking like I came out of 1989 and not in a good way.  Plus I looked to be about 14 since I had just cut my bangs.  I walked out of there looking like a low rent hooker only in a more conservative dress LOL.  I had a head full of curls and blue eye shadow on.  YES you read that right. 

At the salon...wait til you see the finished product I looked hideous!!!

There are no words....all I have to say is that I am way too nice to change anything about my appearance so I just go with it. LOL

We met up with a load of Mustafa’s friends and headed out to the wedding which to get there we had to take a fairy ride.  The wedding was ok but seeing I don’t speak Arabic and didn’t know a soul it got old quick.  It was fun to see the wedding and how they are similar to ours but this was also a Christian wedding and so the only differences where the cultural traditions. 

The lovely bride and groom.  I didn't know them and they didn't know me. LOL

It was an experience to say the least and I am sure my mom about had a heart attack when I told her where I had gone and most of you think I’m too trusting and all that but I experience the culture in a whole new way.  In Egypt I was an official traveler and not tourist because most things about this trip were not tourist activities.

Egypt Day 3

Thursday January 13, 2011

I was not feeling very well at all come Thursday but I was determined to not let my sickness get me down and stop me or even slow me from my itinerary so I trudged forward knowing that soon I would be able to rest in Dubai and then HOME!  On our way out of town we stopped at a pharmacy to get me some medicine and again luckily Mustafa was there to tell the man what I needed.  It was some strong head hold medicine that made me really exhausted and not so much sleepy but it made me feel very weighted down.  I still don’t know what it was all I know is that it helped me until I left. LOL

We went to The Valley of the Whales which is essentially a dessert full of bones. LOL When I put it like that it doesn’t sound very interesting but it actually is.  The theory or fact or I’m not really sure of which but it goes to say that The Valley of the Whales used to be an ocean and then when it receded the whales and all other oceanic life just dried up.  I collected several sea shells that are so petrified now that if you’re not careful they will just turn to dust in your hand.  We followed the path and read the plaques that told about all the history but really it was just a big hike.  It was so windy and I am really glad I brought along several scarfs for ear and neck protection.  We climbed a huge sand dune that when we started didn’t look that big but by the time we got to the top we could see forever it seemed like and were way out of breath.  My legs were for sure burning and sore the day after this journey.

Entrance to the Valley of the Whales

On the ride back I let Mustafa and the driver listen to my IPod and they loved old songs from like Michael Bolton and stuff LOL.  We stopped by Lake Karon and walked around and even found a waterfall that was created from the spillway.  It was really neat seeing water out in the middle of the dessert. 

By late afternoon we had seen the sites of that area and headed into a small village to eat at a fish restaurant by the lake and then to a new hotel.  My room at the hotel was really big and so homey.  I was so tired and didn’t feel good I took a long bath and headed straight to bed. 

Egypt Day 2

Wednesday January 12, 2011

Every day on my Egyptian journey was packed full of activities and the second day was no different.  I was picked up by my driver and Mustafa after a hearty breakfast and our first stop was the Egyptian Museum.  They wouldn't allow cameras inside the museum but it was really neat.  I saw King Tut's tombe and it was amazing.  There were so many neat things inside that just put you in a state of awe thinking that the people made these things without our modern day technology.  I really have no idea how they did it but it makes it that much more amazing. 

After the Museum we had a bit of time to kill before lunch so we took a felucca ride down a stretch of the Nile and it was so nice.  You were finally able to breathe a bit of fresh air rather than the burnt diesel and dust that covers the city.  The water was relaxing and I got to see Cairo from a different perspective.  

After lunch we headed across the city to the Citadel and the Mohamed Ali Mosque.  No not the boxer. LOL Everyone around Egypt is named Mustafa, Mohamed or some other version of the name for the prophet of Islam.  This was my first mosque to go into and I was really looking forward to it.  I had seen my friend’s pictures of mosques in Turkey and just seen other general pictures and the insides of them look so beautiful with all the mosaics and open space.  The Citadel was very interesting.  Citadel is just another word for castle or fort.  It sat at the top of the hill and overlooked the surrounding city.  This would have been essential in the old days to ward off any attacks and to keep from being surprised.  It was all concrete and much smaller than I remember but was pretty much a small city within the walls.  The mosque that was inside the walls of the Citadel wasn’t one that was still in use so I, as a women, didn’t have to cover my head, hair, and arms but we did get these little surgical booties to put over our shoes to help preserve the carpets and things.  While at this mosque I learned about the different parts that a building must have to actually be considered a mosque.  You need a pulpit type structure for the leader of the prayers to stand, a little niche in the wall that indicated the direction of Mecca and this is the direction that everyone faces as they pray. You also need a fountain or some sort of area that has water so everyone can wash before prayer.  Mainly the big pretty parts of the mosque are for the men.  Women have a similar room for prayer that is in the mosque but they aren’t allowed to pray beside the men.

After visiting the Citadel and adjoining mosque the driver took Mustafa and I to the town center where there are many businesses, the regular townspeople, more mosques, and the Khan Khalili Market.  I as really excited about this because although it is known to attract tourists it isn’t like the pyramids that are ONLY for tourists.  The locals still use this market or bazaar as they call it to purchase goods of all sorts.  There are allies and allies full of different little shops selling anything and everything, a lot of clothing and home goods can be found here.  I don’t buy nick knacks for myself when I go to a different country in remembrance of it because I know that one day I am just going to pack it up or throw it away so instead I like to have the pictures as memories and also a scarf from that place.  This was the only thing I wanted to do in the bazaar besides look around and take some neat pictures.  I knew what I was looking for in a scarf.  I knew that I wanted it to be sort of neutral so I could use it with a lot of things so the first shop we came to had a beautiful Egyptian cotton scarf that I loved.  It was so soft and pretty but the price they were asking, according to Mustafa, was too much.  It was a good thing he was with me to haggle with them because I am not sure what a fair price is and they take him more serious since he is an Egyptian man. LOL I never went back there to get the scarf but I ended up finding one that was just as pretty and just as soft for a better price down a different ally. 

Between shopping and checking out more mosques we would rest at a little café type business where we would drink hot tea with fresh mint leaves and smoke sheesha (hooka).  The shop owner’s son was there helping the dad by delivering tea and refilling the flavored tobacco and he was so cute.  I guess I’m somewhat of a rarity having blonde hair and blue eyes and traveling alone and the little boy was smitten.  He was flirting up a storm and kept asking of a picture so finally I gave in and took one with him. LOL  

After an afternoon of milling around and just soaking in the culture of the town square we headed out to our Nile dinner cruise.  I recognized the area because earlier in the day it was near the place where I rode the felucca.  The dinner cruise was fun although the boat moved so slow you really couldn’t tell you were moving.  The food was really good especially the desserts.  They had these little squares that were AMAZING and I knew what it was.  Pretty much it’s some sort of dessert made from our American Cream of Wheat.  Mustafa told me that in Egypt it is called basbosa.  While were stuffed our faces with great buffet food we were entertained by a belly dancer that encouraged participation and I was one of the lucky ones who got picked L and also a tanura?  Which reminded me somewhat of a Mexican entertainer.  After the dinner cruise ended it was probably around 10 but I was so wound up I wasn’t ready to go to bed to we stopped back by the main square to drink some more tea.  After we had our fill of that Mustafa let me drive his car LOL!

 I was sort of sick of having history lessons so Mustafa took me to a night club.  It wasn’t packed but it was a lot of fun and I got to really learn how to belly dance and see more of a cultural interaction rather than just be a tourist.  It was sort of funny because the driving and the nightclub weren’t part of my tour so we sort of had to go around the driver to accomplish these activities.  According to Mustafa, the workers in all industries compete constantly with each other since money is such a shortage so if anyone ever does anything even SEMI wrong they will be thrown under the bus immediately by someone that they may even consider a trusted friend.  YIKES, sounds like KBR LOL After the dancing it was around 3 am and needless to say I was very exhausted and becoming sick from all the smoke and just the different environment so it was for sure time to head back to the hotel.

So Long 2011

2011 has been a great year and I couldn’t be happier.  I don’t have pictures of all these events but either way here are the main happenings that made 2011 a great year.

• January- left Iraq for good and went on a trip of a lifetime to Egypt

• February- Got settled into my house and used this year to add decorations here and there and went to a PBR event with Heather and Matt
• March- Found a job, ran into Lincoln at the taco shack and we started talking and the rest is history in the making J So far we have been “officially” together 7 months on January 1^st and I don’t see an end in sight ;)

• May- Went to my first Rangers game with Lincoln, Amber, and Mark and loved it, Celebrated Memorial day at the lake with Casey and Kaylynn

 
• June and July- jumped with both feet back into school and Piper got engaged
• August- Amber’s wedding, fall semester of school started

• October- went to a fun Halloween party

 
• November- Thanksgiving, got a gun for my early birthday present, started a better job, and Lincoln and I took some Fall pictures

• Christmas- turned 25, celebrated Christmas with my families, ugly sweater get together

That is 2011 in a nutshell!  I would have never thought that I would be back in a relationship with a great guy who would do anything for me, back to the everyday life of a small town citizen and plugging away at school so soon.  When I thought of 2011 back in 2010 I thought yeah I’ll head home get my house in order and just party it up, travel around, and maybe not have to work so much, and do a little school here and there.  My year hasn’t turned out like I thought but that is definitely for the better.  2011 has been a great year for me and my family and I know that 2012 is going to be full of special moments and unforgettable experiences.  I have a few ideas of what I want to happen this coming year but all good things come in due time.  I am glad to be in good spirits about the past year, the future, and I can’t wait to see what it holds for me and Lincoln.

With the New Year of course come resolutions! 

I only have a few this year that should be easily attainable and I am really looking forward to getting these going.

 
1. Starting January 1^st Lincoln and I are determined to get back into perfect shape.  For me that means lose 15-20 lbs and tone up.  I already have the Insanity dusted off and ready to go.  I’m going to help Lincoln stay motivated to workout with me even when he is tired from getting off a night shift and he is going to help me cook and eat healthier. 

2. I want to try to save money better than I have been.  Even though most of my money goes to just everyday bills and things I would like to cut out pretty much everything but the necessities and hopefully save a bit in the process so I can get back to traveling.

3. Do more activities and dates with my wonderful Mr. Lincoln

4.  Just continue working on myself and my issues…like trust and in turn having that help my relationship with others.

Bring on 2012 It’s going to be a great year!