Gracy Bee

Egypt 6th April

Posted on February 8th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places.

Flashback 6/4/06

Today we will embark on a 10 hr train journey from Cairo to Luxor. We met 3 Korean guys on the same train. Shame didn’t ask for their names. Hope to meet them around in town. They will be staying in Luxor for 4 days, and 3 weeks in Egypt. 3 weeks!!!!! Well, they can afford that since they are on 1 year out from Uni. *envy*

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Egypt 5th April

Posted on February 8th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places.

Flashback 5th April 2006

Today we arranged to go to see the pyramids. Not sure about the public transport to go
there, we decided to go by booking a day taxi to bring us to 3 places:

1. Pyramids of Giza
2. North Saqqara - Step Pyramid
3. South Saqqara - Dahshur Pyramid

We set off at around 9am after breakfast. One thing: the traffic was horrifying! There are 4 lanes of cars on the 3 lanes road! Our taxi driver, Moses was a very experienced driver and we actually felt safe. hehehe

As we were travelling on the motorway, we can see many residential buildings along the way. There is one thing that I noticed. The buildings are either half-built or very sparsely decorated. And they have no roof. Are they too poor to finish building the house?

The view of one of the pyramids came into my view. OMG. Even from a far distance, the pyramid looked like a giant triangle standing oh mighty in the desert.

 

The Sahara Desert

When we reached the destination, we were talked into renting either horse or camel to visit the pyramids. It was expensive, but it spared us a lot of energy walking through the sands and the vast area. (I admited I’m lazy, ok? )

 

 

On a camel

It was a magnificant warm day, perfect for desert visiting. The winds were surprisingly very strong that nearly blew off my hat away.

My jaws dropped when I came nearer to the pyramid of Khafre. The feeling face 2 face with the pyramid was different when looking at pictures. I felt so insignificant when i stood side by side with it. Also, it was a pity that the pyramid of Khufu’s tip has fallen off, the evidence of erosion. Nonetheless, standing in the midst of the serene silence in the vast desert sea made me ponder even more about how they actually built this magnificent structure nearly 3000 years ago.

I’m right at the bottom
of the Great Pyramid

We also went to visit the Sphinx. I tried to figure out where the Sphinx is. Guess what. The Sphinx look so lost and is like a kitten amongst the Pyramids! I was amused and frankly disappointed to see that. Still a pity that it was under reno so we can’t get close so we took pix from the outside and the back of it.

 

^^^^^^

After 2 hours, we headed off to North Saqqara - the Old Kingdom’s capital to see the 1st stone pyramid - the Step Pyramid. It is evident that it was very badly eroded but no less magnificent. From afar, we can see other smaller pyramids older than the Step.

 

 

With Moses

We didn’t stay there for long and headed to South Saqqara. But on the way our driver told us to visit a store. The book has warned us about operators teaming up with each other and tried to earn comission. So we suspect this is the case. Well, it really was, where he tried to extort nearly 650% of the normal retail price of an alabastar ash tray! *sweat*

^^^^^^

After that, we went to see the Red Pyramid and the Dahshur Pyramid. Seriously, I don’t know these existed till I visited Egypt. These two were erected before the Famous trio (Pyramid of Giza). So they were even older! We tried to climb the Red Pyramid, 65m up and then 65m inside down. It was hot and stuffy inside. I’m lucky since I’m pretty small, so I fit into the narrow corridors of the pyramid nicely. hahahaha…For the very 1st time I had a last laugh when other people struggled to get in. This pyramid was unused and therefore empty. But it was the structure that supported the Pyramid that wow me. It was like inverted steps that is soooooooo precisely cut. They can actually do that 4000 years ago!

 

The Red Pyramid

The Dahshur Pyramid was the first model they argued, to try to make smooth sided pyramid. What is unique about this is that the original limestone lining is still intact at the bottom, giving us a rough idea how it might have looked like 4 decades before. But we couldn’t get close due to renovation. A pity.

 

 

Dahshur Pyramid. Notice the limestone casing?

That end our Pyramid’s journey that still left me bluffed. I saluted their superb engineering skills and intelligence.

^^^^^^

It was around 3pm in the afternoon and we decided to go back to the Museum, to sit down outside and enjoy the breeze. When we left, XC realised that he left his camera behind!!

Panic Panic Panic!!

We rushed back to the museum and THANK GOD it was still there. Now I understand why the locals weren’t allowed to be in there. If not, his camera would be long gone!

We decided to wander further into the area that we lived in. We are right in the centre of downtown. The city area was bustling with people and cars, and their dazzling shop display. One caution though, when people tried to approach you and recommend something good for you, ignore them at all cost. These annoying ‘friendly’ people tried to earn commission off you. Dinner, I decided to try somewhere in the restaurant. We ordered a roast lamb andrice. But very costly. so no more restaurant food. Need to cut budget since 2 days in Cairo nearly overshoot our budget.

End of the day

Today is a lot more organised as we gradually know our surroundings and the local’s behaviour. Feeling more upbeat about our trip. Now looking forward to Luxor, our next stop. Felt headache and tired.

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Egypt 3rd/4th April

Posted on February 7th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places.

Flashback: 3^rd April 2006

The day finally arrived. We are geared up to go. Great, my luggage is 19kg. *gasps*. Actually not my clothes leh…but all my comestics, hair dryer. Hehe….need some facial and physical maintenance also~

We left home at 12pm to go to Birmingham Airport to catch 1705 flight (KLM) to Amsterdam and transit to Cairo.

Flashback: 4^th April 2006

Finally reached Cairo at 0105. (oh yea, very awkward hour). At this time, all I want is to go through the customs and catch the taxi to the hotel and sleep. It was my turn finally. But it didn’t go smoothly as I have expected.

At the customs

Officer: What is your name?
Me: XXX
Officer: Where do you come from?
Me: Malaysia.
Officer: Malaysia?? (looked confused, turned to his colleague and talked, keep pulling his face)
Me: (oh dear~~~~~) I have my Malaysian IC with me.
Officer: (took it from me, but not convinced) You sure you from Malaysia?
Me: YES (getting impatient)
Officer: (reluctantly stamped my passport)
Me: Thanks (phew!)

Now is my housemate’s turn. Then I heard a commotion. I looked back. That same officer signalled me to go back.

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Egypt Preparations

Posted on February 6th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places.

I went to Egypt this April with my housemate XC. This is how it come about.

FLASHBACK: LATE FEB

XC: shall we go on hols to Egypt this coming Easter hols?
ME: (jumping with joy) really? You wanna go?
XC: yeah, heard from my friend is really a nice place
ME: OK!

It turned out that XC’s good friend just came back from Egypt and told him about the trip that got XC’s interest. As for me, I have always wanted to go, but can’t find anyone to go with me. Finally there is a chance. YIPPEE!!

For the next one month, I embarked on the mission to plan the itinerary. Since it is our own trip, I planned from the possible transportation to the hotels to the attractions to the time needed for each. Gosh never knew it can be such a tiring process since it is a country so different from us and a total alien to me. Perhaps I am one big worrier and hence the ‘tiredness’. I turn to the Rough Guide, Egypt, the travellerpoint and my cousin for help since he has been there before. (Thanks, SY).

 

FLASHBACK: MARCH

Condition of the country: A desert, dry weather, HOT, no clean water

Bearing that in mind, now I have to prepare to buy the stuffs needed for the trip.

So I started to get what the books recommended: dehydration salts, sunblock, adaptor plugs, hats, sunglasses etc. Also get some new clothings (what I wear in England not suitable for Egypt leh – what a good excuse to go shopping!!) Just a bit kiasu precautious about it.

We look around to find the cheapest air fare possible, since under tight budget. In the end we ended up with STA travel. The airfare at the time was £285 each. So expensive! Heard that if travel from Europe, is nearly 30% cheaper, Geez. XC need to apply for visa, and thank god it went on smoothly.

Date set: 4^th April 2006.

Flashback: Last 2nd week of March

Looking forward for the holiday break. Guess what? I got a flu, not juz a cold. A FLU that come down with fever!! Aaaah…that is the last thing I want to have! aaaargggh!!!!!I just pray and hope I would get well fast so that I’m fit to go on hols!!! Water, water, herbal teas, medication, cooling pad for fever etc etc…anything will do to keep my illness at bay.

At last, fever subsided after 3 agonizing days but with still a blocked nose and sore throat, ah . J is kind enough to give me his pills to eat, something to gain my antibodies and health before I went to Egypt. (Thanks, J.)

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Yet another

Posted on February 6th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

Having written about my culture shocks in the previous 2 posts, I can’t believe I have more to write about!

1. I’m surprised to find out that the same banks of the different branches are not, hm…how should I say, united? I mean for the current account for eg, I can only take out money from my respective bank branch and not the other of the same bank! OK~~~ That is strange. While overseas, even if I opened a bank account in X, I can still withdrawal/ deposit in branch Y hundred miles away!

2. Some people I noticed, don’t like to queue and would jump whenever possible. What is first come first serve? They don’t seem to understand

3. Some people working in certain companies just can’t be bothered with their work. C’mon, don’t you know that after sales service is just as important? Is not for you to play around. If you wanna play,  go to Disney land.

4.  Some people, I’m afraid, don’t take seriously about what they say. I mean they say it only and DON’T MEAN IT! dung, because of that, my plans are ruined not 1 time BUT 3 times.  Talking about promises? Neh, you need to read their underlying messages. Why make it so complicated?!

5. I’m rather dismayed with the lack of choice of travel guide books. I mean why only 97% Lonely Planet guides books? and they cost nearly whopping RM 95!!  ok la….is about the same if you convert back to £, BUT think about it. For £20, I need to pay £12.50 and able to get some changes. Here for the same RM20, is not even enough that you need to fork out extra RM75! Cheaper eh?

Ok ok…enough of it…ARGH

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I became an ‘Ou Ji Khour’

Posted on February 3rd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

My ancestors are from Putian City in Fujian province in Southern China. Our language is called Putian Hua, more commonly known as Heng Hua. Well, they were and still are very proud of their dialect that any other Putianan who don know how to speak the dialect are instantly labelled as ‘Ou Ji Khour’. Just like me.

^^^^^^

I have met one of my many distant relatives. As he knows that I’m my father’s daugther, he instantly wanna test on my dialect ability. My hearing didn’t fail me BUT the words coming out from my mouth failed me. MISERABLY.

He: Ah….Ou Ji Khour!
Me: …
He: (speaking in a language I understand. FINALLY) You must learn how to spreak heng hua you know. Not many people know how to speak anymore!
Me: *grinning*

^^^^^^

I know relatively little about my ancestors and dialects. But what I do know is that our dialect belongs to a minority group in Fujian and my grandfather and late great-grandmother are proud of their traditions, family name and language, and needless to say they favour boys more than girls (I’m the exceptional case :)). We all have our generation name, eating Longevity noodles (nope, not the thin types you find in supermarkets and noodle stalls but the thick long and salty type) during CNY etc etc. So if I ever come across someone’s names with our surnames, generation and SPEAK the dialect…I tell you, he/she is 99% related to us. GOSH……MY FAMILY IS HUGE!

^^^^^^

Out of interest, I decide to look for more information online. Ah…our dialect’s roots come from Tang Dynasty! NOW that is interesting! My mother told me that I used to understand Heng hua due to the influence from my greatgrandmother. Since I left for Spore, my interaction with the dialect has diminished. Now I want to relearn the dialect to serve as a communicating tool with my grandparents.

I can say I’m proud to be a Putianan but I need to brush up my Heng hua skills! Aiseh…cannot be NATO (No Action Talk Only) ah!

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