Sleepless in Cairo...

Conned at the Cairo Airport lobby!

- This person (whom I later discovered was a tout) came up to me as soon as I came up from the plane and asked if I've already have any transportation to go to the city. It was still before the immigration, there was a 'Ministry of Tourism' tag hanging from his neck, and I thought that since I'm not out in the arrival hall yet, and that ONLY authorized personnel should be allowed in this area, he must have been a real officer and I told him that I don't have any transportation to the city yet. He then asked me to follow him and I did. He lead me to a booth at the airport lobby manned by a fat lady. The 'officer' and the lady talked something in Arabic, and she suddenly asked me to pay 95 Egyptian Pound (EP)! I told her that I've read that it only costs around 30~40 EP by taxi to the city centre, but she claimed that the hours are already late. Whatever...I'm tired and would like to get to the hotel asap, so without thinking much, I gave her the money, knowing quite well that I'm being ripped off.

The 'officer' than took me to meet a man who introduced himself as Hussain and told me to board his 'taxi' (which looks every bit the usual run down Nissan Daihatsu car) and he sped all the way to the city. 

In 25 minutes, I was at standing in front of my Hotel. I paid Hussain some tip (called 'baksheeh') but he insisted on more. I was getting tired, sticky all over because of the time spent on the plane, and don't exactly want to end my first night in Egypt, haggling over tip with a local, so I just paid him another wad of EP! This time, Hussain smiled and gave me a flying kiss!

Room

-I checked myself in, and after another set of 'baksheeh' I was sent to my room. First impression? Well, the room's quite decent, I guess. The view? Nothing much to write about. The toilet's condition was so so. After settling down, I went straight to the check in counter and asked for a copy of Cairo's map. I plan to walk to Mahattat Ramses tomorrow morning. Have to sleep well tonight, coz I'll have an early start tomorrow.

-Can't sleep too well. Maybe its the excitement. But, I also believe that its really noisy out there on the street! So many cars honking around, and its already wayyy past midnight!!! I've no idea why people/drivers have to honk all the time... Finally, after lots of tossing around on the bed in the middle of the night, I managed to get a wink. 

                                                                                                 ....to be continued 

egypt trip (12th to 20th May, 07)

Okay. I realized that it might be a bit late to update about my Egypt Travel that happened last year, but I figured out that one of the reason why I wanted to have a blog is to share my travel experiences, so here goes...

12th May, 2007

Day 1

Checked-in at Singapore's Changi International Airport. As usual, I felt that the airport was a little bit 'cold'.

Now I am at the waiting area! Still can't believe that I am finally going to Egypt! I've been dreaming of this trip for years. Finally, I've found the courage to actually put it all into motion. I am still in doubt though, unsure if the whole trip will turn out the way I planned it to be since this is to be my first experience travelling alone!

Before boarding the plane, I called up Ed and discussed (more like got him excited) about the prospect of going on another week-long trip by train on the Trans-Siberia Express from Moscow to Mongolia's Ulaan Bator. Am seriously considering this idea. At least, I've something else to look forward to if I made in back from this Egypt trip in one piece!Hehe...

Scribblings while on the plane

- The plane flew over Singapore harbor. Saw the sun setting in the horizon. What a beautiful sight.

- Plane made a turn nearby Batam Island and entered Johor skies. From the looks of it, the plane is currently flying on the Western coast side of Peninsular Malaysia. I can get a clear view of the Straits of Malacca from my window seat. Then, something familiar caught my eyes! It was the winding Muar River, the old and new bridge, and of course the majestic Ledang Mount!!! Its actually the first time I've ever saw Muar town from above.

- Currently, the plane is flying over KLIA!!! Can see clearly the airport and its periphery. Dirgahayu Malaysia...

- Oh, the plane is only half full. There wasn't many people around. I can see rows of empty seats. The seats next to me were also empty. Better make good use of the situation. I'm free to snap pictures and scribble my thoughts some more!Hehe...

- The plane is currently flying along side West Coat Peninsular. Its already too dark outside the window to actually see where I am now. As I was wondering, the Captain announced that the plane will soon be flying over Phuket and will make a turn straight to the Bay of Bengal.

- According to the flight info on the monitor, flight time to Cairo will take around 8 hours and 45 minutes. Local time in Singapore, 19:02. Local time in Cairo is 14:20. Meaning theres a 5 hour time difference between Singapore and Cairo! I didn't know that!!! Guess I was too engrossed with planning for the journey itself, that I overlooked all these small information. Made mental note to read Cairo's Lonely Planet book that I brought with me.

- Plane currently flying over the Bay of Bengal! Turbulent here and there. Cabin crew stops serving hot drinks. The plane bumps every now and then. I strapped myself to the seat as firm as possible. 

Cairo, finally! 

- After hours being cooked up in the plane (we arrived 35 mins late due to the turbulance at the Bay of Bengal), I finally arrived at Cairo International Airport. The airport wasn't anything much to talk about. Old and dirty. (well, to be fair the Egyptians are building a new Terminal. Wonder how this new terminal would be like) 

- There wasn't a single smile as I approached the big, bulky (ahem) moustached guy sitting behind the Immigration Dept. "Malaysia?", he asked. I nodded.  "Why you come to Egypt?", he added. Err, isn't it obvious?? But of course, I didn't say that part out loud. "Travel", I replied  and put forward my best smile, but received no reaction. He didn't even look when I answered. He kept on going through the pages on my passport, flipping and staring hard at the pages. Whatever...I didn't endure 8 hours of plane trip to be turned back at the gate...but eventually, the guy stamped my passport, returned it to me and off I went out into the arrival hall. (?, I was too small)  I double checked my passport, identified the stamp with the date of entrance. It was all in arabic!!! Cool!!! Something different.

                                                                                                          .........to be continued