From Mt. Sinai

I'm nearing the end of six days in Dahab, on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula. It has ranged from a lot of work, to relaxing on the beaches and making my way to the crystal blue water for a refreshing dip.

The work portion of it was doing the trek up Mt. Sinai. Most of the tours are meant to have you at the top for either sunset or sunrise. I opted for sunrise and didn't book the trip until only a few hours before we left, at 11:00 p.m. I didn't get a chance to sleep or nap before I went on the early morning hike. This wasn't going to be a big deal though, because from what I thought I read in the lonley planet, this wasn't an extremely difficult hike..............that wasn't true.

It was about 4 hours to the top or a trail packed with tourists, touts and camels (and camel poop), no larger than most hiking trails in B.C. As we got to the top weather started to play a factor as well, as it usually does at high altitudes, "just not in a place like Egypt" said Kevin to himself.............Wrong again, before the son came over the horizon, it was about 0-5C with a strong wind chill. My light jacket wasn't cutting it. Luckly for me, blankets were being sold to the ill prepared, so I was fortunate enough to be able to bundle up in one, as everybody else who brought ski-jackets with them to Egypt........who does that anyway......actually were the bright ones.

The sunrise was amazing! We were above the clouds and the sun came through them almost like it would out of a mirage. I've got pictures..............you'll see them! The hike up was great to, as we had great illumination from the full moon.

The relaxing portion of Dahab was today, when I slept in, went for a swim in the Red Sea and sat on a patio by the ocean with book and a few beverages. It was top shelf.

Other highlights include having an Egyptian barber give me a shave. I've got the beard happening, he just had to clean up the neck, and apparently I asked him to pluck my ear, cheek, forehead and nose hair as well, which he did. The English guy that brought me to his shop couldn't stop laughing at this. Unfortunately there are no pics either, as we did it on a whim and I didn't have my camera with me.

Not much more happening for me as the trip winds down. Going into Jordan tomorrow to see Petra which is an ancient city carved out of rock, I hadn't heard about it until I got here, so I don't know much, other than it gets high praise from a lot of the tourists out here. The following day I catch a bus back to Cairo to catch a few sights I have yet to get to there before I catch my flight back home.

Look forward to sharing the stories in person then,

Kev

Little bits of info

Sorry about the previous post, it's just been occupying my mind (among other places) the last few days. I think I'm over it now.

Here are a few things before I head to the airport to head off to Siani.

- Fuse is getting short with some of the touts in town here. They don't stop! I'm also an easy target because I'm traveling alone. I went from police Arabic, to rude Arabic to rude English and now I'm uttering words under my breath in English while not giving them the time off day. My latest thought on that though is although I don't need what they are offering, should I not consider it something charitable or a tithe to use their services......mostly fellucas/cabs and little token Egyptian stuff.

- Spoke with a Christian fellow as I waited for a train in Cairo said Islam was destroying Egypt. He is a trained doctor who isn't allowed to practice or continue his education because he isn't a Muslim.

- I'm off to Dahab on the Gulf of Aqaba. Depending on how that goes I may head up into Jordan for a few days. As a Canadian I can get a visa to go into Jordan on the ferry.

I'm done for now

Kev

IBS

I had it.......I hope it's gone.

My lost marble

I got up the yesterday morning hoping to do a few "adminstrative things" before I went off for a final day to catch a few more spots in Cairo. I had to buy my train ticket to Luxor, use the internet, purchase a flight to Siani and get some cash. All went well until I had to get some cash.......

Despite a few re-assurances from friends who had been to Egypt and the Lonely Planet, it appeared as though accessing money would not be a problem via the local ATM's. This is why I didn't bring to much cash either. So I got up early and made my way to the Nile Hilton where they had an HSBC ATM among others. I attmpeted to put my debit card into the machine and it wouldn't even go 1/2 way in. I'm not off to a good start here!

But not a big deal, there is a row of 4 ATMS, so I'll move onto the next one, from an Arab bank. Got all the way to then end where the machine spits out your moeny and I got the "We don't recognize your financial institution" screen. While still composing myself, I did the same thing to the neighbouring ATM and got the same screen. This made me real nervous..........however because it was 8 in the morning and rush hour doesn't start until 10am here, I figure I would try to talk with an agent when the bank opens. So I did the rest of the business that I needed to and made my way back to the Hilton. I tried the ATM's again and they were a no-go, but there was a bank in the hotel that was open.

Before I turn the corner to go in, all I hear is a woman loosing it on the cashier and I'm hearing words like "call Canada" and "my bank said it was okay". I'm thinking I'm not alone here, somebody else is having the same problem. So I just sit and watch her to see how she handles it and she gets nothing. She then see's my Candadian bag tag and smerks to me, "it's not going to work for you either"....is that a challenge????

I hand my visa over to the clerk and his first swipe gets nothing, he then adjusts the connection to the back of the machine, swipes again and out comes my money. What a huge relief. I thought I would literally be spending the rest of my vacation on the beach and fishing with my hands as I Was down to my last $30 in cash.

A few other things of note:

- Was told that I look like an Egyptian, as the beard continues to grow

- Saw coptic Cairo yesterday, which was stunning! The purity of some of the early depections of Christ were amazing!

- The travel size stick of deoderant I bought is actually anti-persperant......Ive got nothing to help the fact that I haven't showered in about 26 hours now.

- Took the night train last night and I'm in Luxor now, staying at a $3/night hostel.......had to do it, as I learned that the ferry to Siani is rather unpredictable so I puchased a flight from Luxor to Siani.

- The sun goes up at 6am and down at 6pm every day here.....wierd when it's dark by 7pm and still hot out......I'm sure those back home can relate to the darkness thing.......

Kev

Hut iz yur nam?

Got asked that question over and over by the kids at the pyramids yesterday (What is your name?).......real cute when the kids ask, but annoying when the touts and vendors ask. I'm realizing the vendors all start out friendly, but in the end they want something and that is where the conversation stops.

A few highlights from the pyramids yesterday at the pyramids:

- Taxi from the subway to pyramids raised the price on me when we got to the pyramids. I left the original price of the cab on the back seat and walked out.

- Continue to be told one thing by the touts here, but end up doing the other and I seem to be okay...........haven't had any problems yet.

- Climbing the pyramids is forbidden, but was hailed over to a quiet area by the police who pointed up the pyramid, looked and pointed at his wrist like there was a watch there and said one minute. I declined, the years of people doing this has taken it's toll.

- Rode the single hump camel yesterday. Quiet humorous, and I'm satisfied now that it has been done.

- After a day in the sun at the pyramids, I got back to my hotel and took a quick nap at 5:00 p.m. Problem is that the nap didn't end until 2:00 am. So I was in bed for about 13 hours before I got up.

I'm on to luxor tonight on the sleeper train. Which will be nice. I'm enjoying the haggling and bargaining, but it is getting tiresome. As a result, I may forego the few days I Was hoping to do in the desert and head right to the beach resorts on Siani.

Unlike Korea when I had time to elaborate on all that went on, I don't have the same luxory here, so the blogs are short and sweet, hopefully when I get home I can expand further.

Kev

The water goes in but also out!

Hate to break it to the blogging world, but that is my biggest struggle right now. I'm staying hydrated but am struggling to find decent places to "remove" the aqua. Often has me "race walking" back to my hostel. Just so you all know!

Hit up the Egyptian museum yesterday.............very disapointing. For the amount of history that is out here, there was a severe lack of information. A lot of cool stuff, but I had no idea what it meant. One spot I would have and should have had a guide help me out.

anywho, breaky is ready and I've got to get out to the pyramids today an ride my camel!

More to come later

Mornings with.......Al Jezera?

Yep, that's right got up this morning had a 1.5L bottle of water (to quell a potential headache) a cup 'o tea and a few pieces of the complementary breakfast bread and enjoyed it all as I watched the morning news on Al-Jezeera. Just saw a lot of Arabic going across the screen and a few pictures of helicoptors.......no idea what's going on in the world, other than there seems to be a lot of un-happy Egyptian drivers as all I can hear are car horns out there!

Anywho, I haven't even been here a full 12 hours yet and the adventures have begun. My flight landed at 2 in the morning, I was tired and looking forwawrd to being picked up and into my hostel ASAP. Before I go there I had to brave the Egyptian customs line-ups, exchange my cash and grab a visa..........about 45 minutes. So much for having an advantage of not checking bags........right dad!!!

As I pulled into the customs area there were a bunch of egyptians with signs holding names. Good, I know where my ride will be. However I didn't see my name, which was fine, I assumed I'd be meeting mine at the exit to the customs area which I could see as I was waiting in the customs line.

Still didn't see my name anywhere and so as I cleared the customs hall scanning the boards for a "Kevin Dueck" I had about 7-8 cab drivers zero in on me and see a sucker. This wasn't a surprise to me as I knew this was expected, so I politely declined there assistance and made my way over to the phone......I was going to let my hostel have it!

Couldn't figure out how the phones worked and in order to get back to some of the help desks or hotel area's I had to cross the path of these touts again. They were on me and in a moment of weakness I took one's help. So he brought me around the corner and I immediatley became suspicious. He took the elevator and I wasn't about to go into an elevator with a strange and large egyptian man, so I took the stairs.....he was probably offended, but I didn't care, I didn't like the guy anyway. He brought me up to his office where his "friend was sitting. I gave him my hostel name and he said he would call them and they were on the phone.....He said he was with the Sara Inn, so I asked his name. "Mohhamed". I replied with a Mohoammed who? What's your last name?"......"Ah ah ah, I "suggested" he wasn't with my hotel as I knew the last name of the guy who had my reservation. He said your right..........I hung up the phone and left the office and provided "a few words" for the attempted service........I was about to get scammed into a hostel I didn't want.

So I met a taxi driver and explained my predicament with hand gestures and wit the help of his broken English I think I got the point across. I told him I still wanted to stay with my reservation, as I didn't want to be scammed into being brought into his "commisioned hotel." He said that was fine. This is where the bartering begins. I got the price I wanted, it took me a couple "walk away's" to do it, but I did.

Forgive me.........I'm going to cut this short as I'm getting a bit ancy to get out in the town.........

He took me by a couple of the places he had cards for, stopped about every 5 minutes to get directions, but we made it. I got into my hostel real tired and crashed.

About 3 hours later, I got up and here I am writting about it.

On the slate for today.........a trip to the Egyptian Museum, purchase my train tickets and a bunch of time to just realx and get over the jet-lag.

I wish there were pics I could upload, but those will have to wait until I'm home

all for now

Kev

Rode a Camel Lately?

Well, actually I will!........I'm off on a solo trip to Egypt for a couple weeks to see the Pyramids, Ride a camel, Smoke a sheesha pipe, Drink coffee with Egyptians, Climb Mt. Siani, Sail the Nile and Swim in the Red Sea among other things.

I'd expect a few cool stories and experiences to come as a result, so Kev's travel blog re-opens from the road. The blog will replace mass e-mails and unfortunately I doubt that I'll be able to upload photo's until I get back, so you'll just have to mentally picture me in the Middle Eastern/African heat for a couple weeks...........

More to come when I get there..............