The pyramids - finally!

Last Friday (in Egypt weekend has started then) we decided it was finally time to visit the pyramids of Cheops., after having lived in Cairo for 5 months now...
Our driver Yahye came with us, it was only a 15 min drive from our house, can you imagine how close they are? Arthur passes them everyday (desperately trying to take pictures, but alas..). Of course the city moves closer and closer to the deserts surrounding the pyramids. But also this has its charms.
As you can see on the this picture you can see the city from the Pyramids grounds



I was amazed to experience the ticket office, it seemed time had stood still here sometime in the sixties.. Although the roads up to the entrance are fine, police checks are done to search for bombs etc, the ticket office was dark and men in (leather) black tried to withhold as much info as they could. No shop or stance with refreshments in sight, so if anybody is up for a career that combines ice, tea and coffee.. this is the place to go!
So, Yahya (don't ask, Arabic names are written in Latin differently continuously) could park the car a bit further and did not need to buy a ticket, which is what we used to have in Turkey in the past also (Arthur always was pushing his knowledge of Turkish to the limits just to sound like a Turk at the ticket booth, to get a lower price of course... the depths this man is willing to travel for money ;) respect).
When we entered the area YeahYeah requested our tickets and for a reason, we were immediately harassed by a man who wanted to see our tickets to talk us into him guiding for us 'at no cost of course, you're free to give later if you want to'. Good trick! Didn't see that one coming, the minute you give him your tickets, you'll be in for a little discussion.
Anyways. Camels, horses, strong wind and good sun made for a perfect environment to see the pyramids. Its amazing. Standing there in front of these imposing buildings really only leads to a status of awe. Especially the Sphinx is a masterpiece, looking like a woman though in the past donned with a beard! That fell off. Ok!
Dus. Perfect two hours spent, also us oYeah willfully and with huge joy chased Femke for two straight hours giving us the chance to walk around a bit, definite worth the visit.

Baby 22 weeks

The Dubai Experience- Jan 2010

Arthur monthly visits Dubai for work and mid January I decided to join him. We had 4,5 days to explore Dubai, let the good times roll! Our family, especially Di Mama's, were very excited about our trip, haha, actually everyone we know in the Netherlands is more interested to learn about Dubai than Cairo. It appeals as Dubai is doing a great job promoting itself on CNN, travel programs, with world's largest this/fastest that/ladida. Soww.. is it worth it?

I think that is a 'yes indeed' indeed.

Its not Disney world as you'd expect. But a well organized, clean city where the government is travelling length to make sure you are enjoying your stay.
Also January was a good time to travel as temperatures are OK, in the mid twenties, there are (very low) lowseason prices and hardly any tourists can be seen.
Femke and I traveled alone to Dubai on Wednesday. The flight was 3,5 hours, quite longer than I would have thought it would be, and the time difference with Egypt is +2 hours. When we arrived at the airport, the stroller was waiting by my side: Femke now weighs 13 kilo's and with my pregnant situation I can't hold Femke in my arms longer than a few minutes!
Interesting to see all these customs officials in their white cloaks, Kandura they are called, and the Guthra their headscarf. Most popular colors of the headscarf are white or red and white checks. Then Egal, a black rope is used to tie the scarf on the head. See here what I mean...

From Dubai jan 2010

Arthur picked me up at the airport and soon we were heading in a new and clean taxi to our hotel... One cannot help comparing everything to Cairo! Taxi drivers in Dubai are usually from India or Pakistan and speak very well English. Actually; only 10% of Dubai are Emirati, the rest of the people mainly are Indian/Pakistani/other working in construction/service industry or enjoying these constructions/services (Europeans, Iranians & Arabians mostly).

Nice trip. It looks like what I expect Florida to be. Even at the beach I felt as if I could lounge for a bit and later take my surfboard out to do some 'sharky dippin'' (one takes a shark..). Very relaxing, nice week out from Cairo and actually I'm considering to accompany Arthur again in March :)


Highlights:
= The fountain light and music show at the Dubai Mall, Femke is still shouting at her highest notes when she sees the video's

From Dubai jan 2010

= The boat ride at the Madinat Jumeirah hotel / souk, great souk, amazing what they build here, very relaxed.

From Dubai jan 2010

= Mercato shopping mall, because of the Venetian style architecture. All other malls looked quiet futuristic

From Dubai jan 2010

= Beautiful beaches, there are public ones and private ones; the latter have more shade as there are trees planted on the beach, and beds and umbrellas available.

From Dubai jan 2010

= The waterfall at the Mall of the Emirates

From Dubai jan 2010

Check out other pics in the presentation slide below...





It was a strange experience though, to see this wealthy city where everything looks perfect, like in fairy tale from the future. Also good to see how modern and tolerant many cultures live together there. Travelling and sight seeing is comfortable, one sees hardly the poor and ugly and dirty side (of which can be found in Cairo everywhere), it is like a large suburb where all cars are new and clean, and people are rich, many restaurants and shops available. Tourists seem to like that for a change, its not cheap for a tourist here, but its not crazily expensive either (think London/Paris/New York)

It was a nice contrast to our next holiday destination early February, to Sri Lanka!