tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49569315836083034172024-03-13T07:40:45.322-07:00Asian-EgyptianThis is a personal blog about my winter semester in Cairo, Egypt. Plan to fill this lil blog with my remarkably witty observations about my daily student/explorer life. Yay!aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-72412690983459443212011-10-14T22:44:00.000-07:002011-10-14T22:44:32.094-07:00Who's that Girl? Aryuna Tsyrenova!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Halooo halooo, dear readers.<br />
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I know, I promised you to put up the last, conclusive post about my winter semester in Cairo. Ok, ok, here you go: I spent a semester in Cairo, Egypt, studying Arabic and Arab-US relations, and it was awesome!!!!<br />
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And now to the real reason I am posting here. I would like to make a few statements here and clear some up the confusion, some of you have expressed :<br />
1. My name is Aryuna Tsyrenova, born in 1984, hair is dark BROWN.<br />
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2. Here is a picture of me, so take a GOOD LOOK at my face.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyj-B5uaAb4/ShnkyZc4n4I/AAAAAAAAArs/y7CVUd_abRo/s1600/P4120097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyj-B5uaAb4/ShnkyZc4n4I/AAAAAAAAArs/y7CVUd_abRo/s400/P4120097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Very, very distinctive facial features, vast squama frontalis indicates high intelligence and aversion to any kind of crime, except for being criminally cute (yes, I said that).<br />
3. Plead guilty for stealing a heart in New Jersey at the age of 20 and apples from the community garden trees at the age of 9, that's all.<br />
4. Now take another good look at the picture above - I currently weigh a staggering 127 pounds (at the moment when picture was taken, I'd say, at least 130 pounds), as evidenced by chubby cheeks and the following pic:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q25rGqADkJQ/TdEwCiDD1tI/AAAAAAAABI4/F4nzkJHuhyo/s640/e%252520209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q25rGqADkJQ/TdEwCiDD1tI/AAAAAAAABI4/F4nzkJHuhyo/s320/e%252520209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I weighed 100 pounds before puberty, for, like, a month. Sweet bacteria of Liberia, I wish I weighed 100 pounds, sigh... Whatevs, I have sturdy foundation and I am proud of it! Helps with wrestling, y'know.<br />
PS: I am freaking sweating after five rounds of paintball, and humidity was through the roof that day, hence the face.<br />
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K, bye.<br />
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</div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-53855705532624973202011-01-17T10:32:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:34:54.781-08:00A walk through Islamic Cairo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know how to upload pictures, but apparently forgot how to type. Or I'm just loaded with so much work that I neglect posting. Just today we were laughing with other students in the group that we starting to forget English while learning too much Arabic.Now we have in our little ditzy heads with a mess of escaping English and not enough of Arabic -which leaves us mumbling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let me present to you Islamic Cairo - a historical city, where it all started. The city of Cairo itself, that is. Back in its glory days this part of a city was a military settlement for various conquerors - Fatimids, Mamluks and other dynasties. Still standing and functioning are mosques from 12th century, there are shops where traders from faraway places would sell and buy perfumes, spices and textiles. Rulers of medieval Egypt would build their magnificent palaces, consecrate monumental mosques with minarets piercing the skyline. Wow, I am getting too historical. Pictures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this stucco windows simply amazing, don't you agree? There is so much details in the smallest things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TTQ1oNkwfxI/AAAAAAAAAnw/8wWDx4z1Vqo/s1600/P1100737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TTQ1oNkwfxI/AAAAAAAAAnw/8wWDx4z1Vqo/s320/P1100737.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ibn Tulun Mosque to the left, is incredibly quiet inside because of the large outside yard and enclosing walls<br />
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Visitors get boot covers, that instantly make a James Bond-wannabe security guy look like he's ridiculous. And they sure warm your feet on a cold Cairo morning. Hey, do you also cringe a little?<br />
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</div>Beautiful light patterns from stucco windows.<br />
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The view from Ibn Tulun Mosque, so peaceful. I feel that I should always keep this picture close to me, so that when I get too agitated I will look there and calm down.<br />
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Thousand and one lamp.<br />
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A pic from a vantage point, everyone was squatting awkwardly in that corner.<br />
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Yet another mosque.<br />
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Islamic architecture is so often excluded from the discourse of architecture, or even medieval architecture. Throughout my laywoman life I never thought that mosques could be so beautiful and so smart. I mean, I understand if Belarussian architectural heritage gets excluded (they live in mud huts, you see) for it being so muddy, but Islamic architecture is so rich and way more distinctive than mud huts.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hey to you all! My semester is almost over and I am not sure if I post anything else. I feel like I should, right? Just to finalize it. And we have been to so many places, I absolutely must tell you about. And I will climb Mt.Sinai. And I will post the last one, when I'm get back! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-87335502654393254142011-01-15T01:56:00.000-08:002011-01-15T03:38:13.193-08:00More of Luxor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You already know how people in Egypt are very casual about their riding habits. These boys look like err I don't remember what they are called. You know what I'm talking about - those boys/ lackeys who ride behind the horse-drawn carriage? I caught them on the road to the West Bank of Luxor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TTFd8RqZzNI/AAAAAAAAAnc/TYNz_To0lDI/s1600/P1080578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TTFd8RqZzNI/AAAAAAAAAnc/TYNz_To0lDI/s320/P1080578.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Going back to the temple of Luxor - I believe this is Ramses the Pharaoh who loved and respected his wife so much that he placed her statue in front of his statue. The regular rule of thumb was putting her behind or next to the pharaoh's leg. In case if you do not see what I'm talking about - the midget is the wife and the imposing guy with hands crossed is the pharaoh.</div><br />
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</div>Walking around the Luxor temple. The place was so crowded I was just glad to see less people in this area. Probably everyone was in the "towlet". We were advised to always carry some tissue with us, since toilet paper is a rarity in Egypt's bathroom. Otherwise there is a bathroom attendant monopolizing the toilet paper roll and asking for a pound or two. But even if you are not using toilet paper, give her/ him a pound. They earn so little that every pound is like a fortune to them.<br />
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I mentioned before that I was bored with old ruins and temples and stuff; this guy shares my opinion. He is one of the numerous tourism police officers flooding touristy places<br />
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I can't stop being amazed at local animals. They find food everywhere! Those donkeys were grazing on what seems to be dirt and gravel.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am done with my report on Luxor now. You can find way better and informative pictures and descriptions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soooo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday we were supposed to go through Zabaleen district - one of the most intriguing places I heard of so far. The district bears its name from Zabaleen people - they belong to the branch of Coptic Christians. From the time they moved to Cairo from rural areas their main way of subsisting was collecting trash from the streets of Cairo, taking it back to their district on donkey carts and processing it with their whole family. Some families specialize in aluminium cans, paper, metal or plastic, which they then resell to the middlemen companies. The organic waste is fed to pigs which is their main source of protein. To add to their misery, the city government ordered all pigs culled because of ... swine flu. Now people are basically starving. Oh wait and in the past years the government decided that Zabaleen ways of collecting garbage are not modern enough and donkey carts interfere with crazy traffic in Cairo, so they hired western companies to manage garbage pick up and processing. Many Zabaleen people had to move back to rural areas due to these factors. Fact: western companies recycle up to 20% of garbage (there is no trash separation in Egypt) compared to 80 % that Zabaleen were able to process. Also the trucks of the western companies do not fit in Cairo's many narrow streets and they had to set up garbage bins on wider streets, so the residents have to walk there instead of putting their garbage in front of their buildings. Mane residents are too lazy to walk too far so the garbage just sits there and rot, creating more infections and health hazards. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-54599413263618614472011-01-12T12:51:00.000-08:002011-01-12T12:51:08.841-08:00The most boring ruins in the worldJust let me let it out. Ruins are boring. I assure you that the most exciting, amazing ruin in the world is ruined when you know nothing about it. Well, we were informed about the must-know data on Luxor temples plus a little bit that a regular tourist is expected to know and say when showing pictures to his/her friends.<br />
Personally, lately I have been noticing that works of nature impress me far more than anything that humans can build. Nature does not shove its beauty in your face, it just sits there waiting for you to discover it. People pay tribute to their vanity and desire to amaze the rest of the world.<br />
Enough of whining, picture time!<br />
This is just a teaser for the rest of splendid Luxor - a snap of foggy ridges of Upper Egypt. Funfact: Did you know that Egypt is divided according to the flow of the Nile? Cairo is in Lower Egypt because Nile ends there, and Luxor and Aswan are in Upper Egypt, close to the Nile's origin.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Statues of rams guard the doors to the entrance of Karnak temple. Ram was chosen to be the it animal of the pharaoh who built it, because of ram's ability to copulate for up to ten times a day. Yes, everything is about sex.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TS4Ny1zzMGI/AAAAAAAAAnE/bKzIyY721Kk/s1600/P1080587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TS4Ny1zzMGI/AAAAAAAAAnE/bKzIyY721Kk/s320/P1080587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sex and money. But sex and money are connected in way that people strive for wealth in order to get more sex. So here you go. While shuttled to and fro between various temples and tombs, we stopped to see a masonry souvenir shop. The fella holding an alabaster jar demonstrates the process of working with it. First, the stone is roughly processed to give it conical shape, or whatever shape you want. For the second step the stone is drilled from inside in case if you are making a jar, then polished for a little while and then polished until it's perfectly smooth. But that is not as note-worthy as amazing artistic impressions on the walls. I kid, I kid. I was troubled by the way the workers were treated. The jar-holding fella would yell at and boss around the guys in a totally dehumanizing way, which he apparently thought to be funny and entertaining. See how happy those guys are?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TS4QmORD_lI/AAAAAAAAAnI/se2r7IxfXl0/s1600/P1090662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TS4QmORD_lI/AAAAAAAAAnI/se2r7IxfXl0/s320/P1090662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alright, done for tonight. Wait for more awesomeness and embarrassment!</div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-72831564226920066112011-01-10T10:05:00.000-08:002011-01-10T10:05:04.301-08:00Saqqara and Dashur pyramidsBefore flooding this blog with pictures and blabbing about Luxor, let me revise our visit to other pyramids.<br />
I will just assume that your ignorance level is about same as mine, and you also did not know that Egypt has more than three pyramids in Giza, where all the pictures are taken.<br />
There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt, but the most well-known are these three from Giza: Khufu (also the biggest one), Khafre and Menkaure.<br />
But the oldest ones are found in Saqqara. This is the shadow of the pyramid build in 2630 BC.<br />
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</div> And this is the pyramid itself. Tada! We climbed inside through the opening in the middle.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I missed working out in Cairo, so the ancient Egyptian gods heard me complaining and gave me a workout in a form of crawling inside the pyramid for 20 minutes. Before you climb in, you are greeted by an ancient looking dude in galabiya who will ask for money on your way back. There was not much to see inside. And the smell of sulfur was strong enough to divert other explorers from going further.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TStAu0ai3nI/AAAAAAAAAm0/6rRzL1L0B3c/s1600/P1070537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TStAu0ai3nI/AAAAAAAAAm0/6rRzL1L0B3c/s320/P1070537.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Next one was a pyramid in Dashur, also known as a step pyramid. The tour guide explained all the regular historical chutzpa about how it was built, etc. I remember nothing, and you will not benefit from knowing how tall it is and on what occasion it was built. It is enough to know that anything taller than 20 feet was built to satisfy pharaohs vanity.<br />
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</div> The step pyramid partially obscured by a giant camel's turd and a pretty cloud.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We proceeded to yet another memorable site. Are you excited as I am? Prepare to see Titi Pyramid! Mereruka Tomb! And another tomb!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TStAE8-6ZrI/AAAAAAAAAms/yVl35ALeAu0/s1600/P1070563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TStAE8-6ZrI/AAAAAAAAAms/yVl35ALeAu0/s320/P1070563.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Alright, we are done with the "must-see" part. And here are sad underfed horses apparently eating cement and dust. I hope in next life they will return as the happiest creatures in the world.<br />
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A group of disturbed Egyptians surrounded this building and kept yelling and pounding on the closed doors and windows. Hope this is where the horse owner lives, but highly doubt it. These people have more important things to be concerned with rather than rioting against animal maltreatment.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what we listen to every day on the van while being shuttled back and forth. A sheesha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/449tYWy277g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Promise to write about Luxor in the next blog. And in the next-next one will be a tour of Islamic Cairo - amazing architecture!aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-63969301334681309842011-01-09T12:29:00.000-08:002011-01-09T12:29:35.369-08:00Quick update upon return from LuxorI just came back and have to catch up on so many things so I will be brief. Luxor was ...eh, beautiful? I have never been more tourist-y than here, in Egypt. I took measures to avoid it, like wrapping my phrasebook and travel guide in a Spongebob wrapper and not bringing a tourist backpack with ten thousand pockets. I have to admit that being a tourist from a first-world country on an arranged tour has its advantages: transportation is taken care of, guides lead you from ruin to ruin explaining everything in a perfectly broken English: "and them pharaohs put them cartouches on them necks like zis!". But we were terribly rushed at the sites, since the local guide (not our Cairo program coordinators) cared more about herding us into a souvenir shop so he could make a commission. So for one of the temples we had exactly ten minutes! No time to just walk around and enjoy the views, sigh. I will just get home and Netflix all the National Geographic documentaries.<br />
I will post pics from Luxor about a cross-dressing pharaoh and an ancient gym + more ancient stuff in details soon. Stay tuned!<br />
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PS: Since you blockheads can't live without pictures here is one of the hall in Cairo University where Mr.Obama gave his speech:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSoZS2Rc6TI/AAAAAAAAAmY/NmyRUtqKKbQ/s1600/P1040866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSoZS2Rc6TI/AAAAAAAAAmY/NmyRUtqKKbQ/s320/P1040866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-67557831110327488472011-01-06T13:39:00.000-08:002011-01-06T13:39:08.224-08:00So tired<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Can I say something? I am sooo tired.Today we had a free evening, kinda, so at about 6pm after an islamic feminism lecture wanted to check out a local bar. None of four people wanted to do it when we met at 9pm. Ahh, you wanna hear more about islamic feminism, you say! With all the preconceptions you have in your little ignorant heads, you would say that notion of islamic feminism is an oxymoron. Well, islamic feminism does not want equal RIGHTS for women, it wants equal JUSTICE. Which I still do not get. For a muslim, the most important thing is piety and following the word of god. So you have to follow it, even if you do not like it. Muslim feminists work on reinterpreting the verses of Quran that have been misinterpreted by patriarchal a-holes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Polygamy! Egypt is a secular country that incorporated sharia laws; they apply only to family matters. Sharia is a set of laws, drawn from verses of Quran; basically sharia represents about 20% of Quran. Prophet Mohamed advised men to marry up to 4 women, if they are widows or orphans in order to help them. Still, none of muslim women I talked to, want to share their husbands/ future husbands and would divorce in case of another woman appears. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Random time! There is many super-old cars polluting Cairo streets. I thought this one was a Zhiguli, but it is actually a Peugeot, one of the most popular cars. Egyptians say "Bejo", as there is no sound 'p' in Arabic. Blease leave your comments on this bage if you think that Lady Gaga's bobularity will be over soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSYW2bOXdMI/AAAAAAAAAl8/uSl0C9K36c4/s1600/PC300573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSYW2bOXdMI/AAAAAAAAAl8/uSl0C9K36c4/s320/PC300573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Horse tour guides demonstrating how to ride a horse like a real man.<br />
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Hungry Cairenes at lunch hour. Tip: If you want to tip someone, shake their hand and discreetly slip the money, spy style. Otherwise it is offensive to just openly put it in their hands.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Here is a zebra skinned and painted red for aesthetic purposes.Actually I don't know what animal is that. Do you know? And it is not donkey meat. <br />
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Right next to the meat place is this glamorous store selling chandeliers? They definitely try to diversify shopping experience.<br />
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</div>I've heard they have good silver jewelry here. Send your orders!aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-40918572271606288722011-01-04T16:30:00.000-08:002011-01-04T16:30:29.474-08:00Reflections and things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sabaah el kheir! Morning of charity!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guys, from now on I pronounce this blog to be totally random! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some foreign girls I spotted in Zamalek bar on New Year's Eve. Mini-vuvuzlelas were distributed and actively used. Everyone was dancing and singing all night, not minding the perfumed snow foam sprayed in the air.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Days later we were invited to the house of the guy who helps with arranging our transportation around Cairo and millions of other things. It needs to be mentioned that all tourist groups of more than, like, 7 people, must be escorted by gun-bearing security guard while in vehicle. Another day while in Arabic classes school I needed to get water and was going just across the corner, when my language instructor and school supervisor stopped me and insisted she goes with me. They explained it is done for security purposes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Abduh (million things guy) and our lecturer / tour coordinator have know each other for twenty years! It is so cute to see them call each other habibi and kiss on cheeks, which is how Egyptian friends greet each other. His wife prepared turkey dinner for us! Delicious! I can't say I am in love with Egyptian food yet, but this stuff was so hearty!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOjq-mLJvI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Q4OTLlTUflk/s1600/P1030827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOjq-mLJvI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Q4OTLlTUflk/s320/P1030827.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> We had lunch, left and while waiting for the minivans to pick us up watched cart vendor walk on street and offer bananas and oranges for sale.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOkC71nHSI/AAAAAAAAAlY/efxyVctaCAo/s1600/P1030842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOkC71nHSI/AAAAAAAAAlY/efxyVctaCAo/s320/P1030842.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> We have ten minute breaks between Arabic classes and use it to practice conjoined twins dancing and also to warm up our rapidly cooling bodies. The houses in Cairo are built of stone and have granite or marble floors. Incredibly cold inside (. But must feel nice when Cairo is at its hotttest - up to 40 degrees in July.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOkX176t6I/AAAAAAAAAlc/wyXg5ahFkuM/s1600/P1040848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOkX176t6I/AAAAAAAAAlc/wyXg5ahFkuM/s320/P1040848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Today I went to an old restaurant in Zamalek, it opened in fifties and still retains the aura of those glorious times. You can see European influence in paintings on the walls. The waiters think they are still in the past century and moving with according speed. As everybody says, everything is happening according to Egyptian time, which means who knows when your food will arrive and that tea takes 15 minutes.<br />
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Our tea came in a little enameled pot with fresh mint leaves. Total bill for two was 150 Eg pounds (24 US $), including tax and services. We had two soups, three small apps and tea.<br />
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Haven't figured out what that TNT meant <br />
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After that lunch buses hauled us to Cairo university, one of the most famous and prestigious higher ed institutions in Arab countries. Boutros Boutros Galy was a graduate, among other notable figures. Here Obama gave his infamous speech, which gave hope for change in US-Arab relations. Students of the university were kind enough to come to talk to us on various topics ranging from US-Egypt relations to sexual harassment. That was one heated discussion!<br />
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The university is public and as all education in Egypt is free.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> And a random pic after visiting the Giza pyramids: Mostly there are boys and men selling tourist trinkets, but I saw this little girls follow us for a while with their postcards. Economy of Egypt heavily depends on tourism and the inevitable globalization haven't anyone untouched. That's a Pizza Hut franchize in the background with a pyramid reflecting in the window. I go to buy some snacks in the supermarket around the corner from the hotel, and most of the packaged stuff is either US or European brands: snickers, Trident, clothing, ahh everything! Egypt with its underdeveloped economy is the largest importer of foreign goods.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOmsLMsE3I/AAAAAAAAAl4/_svYT8-2cB0/s1600/PC310690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOmsLMsE3I/AAAAAAAAAl4/_svYT8-2cB0/s320/PC310690.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sabaah el noor! Morning of light!aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-40827272160729584542011-01-04T14:39:00.000-08:002011-01-04T15:40:47.567-08:00Bab Zwayla mosque and pure randomness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello, cats and kittens! Check out this chef de cuisine mastering his kebab skills. We went to this restaurant and waited forever to get our food out. And those who got food were not very adamant about it. Shwarma turned out to be nasty meat with mayonnaise on a hot dog bun. I only got half of my order - foul - which is pretty much refried beans. Meh... I liked the first three spoonfuls, but it was too salty and lacked kick, so I just sat staring at people's mouths. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of this post will not be random! </div><br />
On the nth day we visited Bab Zwayla and its vicinity. It was fascinating to see Bab Zwayla -one of the ancient gates that surrounded area where royals lived. I shamelessly quote Wiki, since my brain refuses to absorb enormous amount of info it gets on a daily basis. "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The city of Cairo was founded in 969 as the royal city of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Fatimid">Fatimid</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">'s Dynasty. In 1092, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badr_al-Jamali" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Badr al-Jamali">Badr al-Jamali</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> built a second wall around Cairo. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Bab Zuweila was the southern gate in this wall. It has twin towers (minarets) which can be accessed via a steep climb. In earlier times they were used to scout for enemy troops in the surrounding countryside, and in modern times, they are hailed for providing one of the best views of Old Cairo.</span>"<br />
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Nowadays the area is populated with the poorest people of Cairo. Esh baladay (~ pita bread) is sold on the street, just scattered on a weaved papyrus platforms. Here is a guy riding with empty containers on his bike.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I say that Cairo is extremely polluted? All the landscape pictures I am taking come out dusty blue color because of the constant smog blanketing the city. I say it just adds to its mystery, like Cairo is hiding its secrets from strangers on this fog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The views from the Bab Zwayla gates were beautiful. You have to be right there to really appreciate the glory of the opening view. Or I should be taking better pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Cairo is called A city of thousand mosques (I am probably totally misquoting), but you can see how thin towers of minarets pierce the skyline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOV5DI6PpI/AAAAAAAAAkk/hP3wT9rBkXA/s1600/P1010748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOV5DI6PpI/AAAAAAAAAkk/hP3wT9rBkXA/s320/P1010748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here is the view from another side. It is touching to see rubble and deep poverty right next to glorious ancient buildings. Regarding garbage. Apparently there is little regulation of municipal services on garbage pickup in this and other impoverished areas, that people just throw their garbage on the roof. They don't take their chances with hoping that garbage will be picked up if left on the street. Also I spotted goats roaming on the piles of garbage. They can be barely seen on the bottom of the pic. Get your looking glasses ready!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOWzRBVdhI/AAAAAAAAAko/S4rMy4_7A8A/s1600/P1010756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOWzRBVdhI/AAAAAAAAAko/S4rMy4_7A8A/s320/P1010756.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A picture of a person simultaneously taking a picture of a person writing this very blog. Yay!<br />
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Adjacent to the ancient gates is one of the most beautiful mosques I have seen ever. Also this is my first time visiting a mosque.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOYqp4QsjI/AAAAAAAAAkw/9MXNN40--WI/s1600/P1010760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOYqp4QsjI/AAAAAAAAAkw/9MXNN40--WI/s320/P1010760.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>A dude self-transporting an ancient rug.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOZLxj0gfI/AAAAAAAAAk0/HoDIijzM27s/s1600/P1010771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOZLxj0gfI/AAAAAAAAAk0/HoDIijzM27s/s320/P1010771.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This niche directs the people to pray in the right direction.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOZpwgw11I/AAAAAAAAAk4/c-xYiyONCEc/s1600/P1010774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOZpwgw11I/AAAAAAAAAk4/c-xYiyONCEc/s320/P1010774.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Some gal sitting on the ancient rug. White patterns also direct towards Mecca.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOaWVpzdUI/AAAAAAAAAk8/if0MJsRuXyI/s1600/P1010779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOaWVpzdUI/AAAAAAAAAk8/if0MJsRuXyI/s320/P1010779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Soon people started coming for the noon prayer. This is the inside yard of the mosque. It is incredibly peaceful to just sit in this quiet sunlit inner yard and reflect on how many people are reading my blog and other vital issues. Of all buildings related to various confessions this was the most pleasant to be in.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOav0UQerI/AAAAAAAAAlA/vGbSVoV57CU/s1600/P1010787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOav0UQerI/AAAAAAAAAlA/vGbSVoV57CU/s320/P1010787.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>And then we left. On the way home we saw: cotton sold in bulk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSObIumu_MI/AAAAAAAAAlE/7Arc-X_J-No/s1600/P1010797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSObIumu_MI/AAAAAAAAAlE/7Arc-X_J-No/s320/P1010797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mom and her little helper navigating bazaar<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSObfolkjWI/AAAAAAAAAlI/n_oA79e0Od0/s1600/P1010808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSObfolkjWI/AAAAAAAAAlI/n_oA79e0Od0/s320/P1010808.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Another mom carrying her child. I see women carrying their kids like that all the time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOb4g5gz-I/AAAAAAAAAlM/ILXwefPu-Ho/s1600/P1010811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TSOb4g5gz-I/AAAAAAAAAlM/ILXwefPu-Ho/s320/P1010811.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ma salama!</div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-60565057517760811252011-01-01T15:11:00.000-08:002011-01-01T15:11:39.162-08:00How to get around Egypt and pyramids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those travelling in the dessert the best way is to hail down a camel. They can go on for up to 4 weeks with no food or drink. Our group was going to see the pyramids and we rented a bunch of camels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-S8xA0VTI/AAAAAAAAAjc/JwDDOlJHkKs/s1600/PC310698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-S8xA0VTI/AAAAAAAAAjc/JwDDOlJHkKs/s320/PC310698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And you get a cute overly smart boy to lead the camel you ride on. When travelling in groups, they would hook up up to 5 camels together in a chain. This guy was leading my camel and tried to chat me up. He spoke English pretty well and I asked if he learnt it in school. - "No, I learn here, from tourists, you know, school of life". I followed up with a totally inappropriate question if he even goes to school at all and why he is working in the morning. "It's holiday, new year.." Duh! It was New Year's Eve. Still I have doubts if he will graduate cum laude. This particular boy plans to continue camel tours so that one day he upgrades to the tour leader.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-iwDZJIDI/AAAAAAAAAkU/nzw0Ggiw8N0/s1600/PC310635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-iwDZJIDI/AAAAAAAAAkU/nzw0Ggiw8N0/s320/PC310635.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tour leader like this tough guy in a fur-lined jean jacket. Another stylish camel leader is riding a white horse in the background. And already familiar to you Yousef has to drag the camels on his feet for about an hour under scorching sun. From time to time the tour leader would yell: Yalla! Hardzha! and boys would start running and tourists's tushies flying up in the saddles. Woohooo scream tourists, yalla-yalla scream little boys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-mhtISc0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/cA_TMj75RvE/s1600/PC310668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-mhtISc0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/cA_TMj75RvE/s320/PC310668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now if you are a regular Cairo-an and poor, you get to commute on a meecrobus. For the sake of saving time the sliding door never closes, plus riders get a fresh breeze in the stuffy, non-airconditioned meecrobus. See that passenger in yellow sweatshirt nonchalantly sticking his foot in the door frame. Another thing is that meecrobuses again for the sake of saving time never stop completely, they just slow down. Riders develop good hopping habits and quick reaction to jump onto a moving vehicle. I took the picture below of a moving meecrobus with a guy athletically hopping in. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-Uc5vUe4I/AAAAAAAAAjg/3SavYQrSk3I/s1600/PC310701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-Uc5vUe4I/AAAAAAAAAjg/3SavYQrSk3I/s320/PC310701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As for personal transportation, Egyptian drive a tuk-tuk. Compact, breezy and doubles as a fun ride for kids. (Irony implied). I wonder how many kiddies like that regularly fall out. Also consider Egyptian habit of driving hectically, often you would see cars driving opposite direction on a one-way road. Little mopeds are also popular and easy maneuver, which they use as an excuse to beeline in a oncoming traffic. These people have no fear!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-WBedM80I/AAAAAAAAAjk/_SJD-98kqVo/s1600/PC310712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-WBedM80I/AAAAAAAAAjk/_SJD-98kqVo/s320/PC310712.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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After the pyramids we were driven (for one mile in opposite direction on one-way) to a traditional Egyptian outdoor cafe. A band of musicians greeted customers at the entrance. As you approach them, they start playing and pointing at the basket in front of them. I gotta say they do play nicely and deserve baksheesh that gets dropped in th basket.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-XcM0WVtI/AAAAAAAAAjo/CUK4epcoGlQ/s1600/PC310713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-XcM0WVtI/AAAAAAAAAjo/CUK4epcoGlQ/s320/PC310713.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We sat down and enjoyed kebabs, but first they brought little appetizers, fried falafel balls, pita breads, cubed potatoes with spices and gibneh (cottage cheese with tomato).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-Zv2_cHcI/AAAAAAAAAjs/lJQWmVjVSFE/s1600/PC310714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-Zv2_cHcI/AAAAAAAAAjs/lJQWmVjVSFE/s320/PC310714.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way back to hotel I kept seeing those buildings that seemed defunct, yet some (supposedly) squatting happens sporadically. See all but a few windows are empty. Egyptians have no choice but to be cunning in all aspects of their daily life. A home-owner does not pay taxes if the house is undergoing construction, so they have construction going on for decades. A completely built house gets another little adjunction, another small cabin added on the roof, etc. So I guess this house is abandoned since there is no construction works in view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-RrBcQnII/AAAAAAAAAjY/UANxBtOaViw/s1600/PC310719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-RrBcQnII/AAAAAAAAAjY/UANxBtOaViw/s320/PC310719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This woman was burning trash for some reason. Can you see exactly what she is doing there? I would guess she was cooking on that fire... And there endless piles of trash, so you even can't see the ground.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-daGo3vRI/AAAAAAAAAkM/nX1dH5o1gz4/s1600/PC310716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TR-daGo3vRI/AAAAAAAAAkM/nX1dH5o1gz4/s400/PC310716.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>to be continuedaryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-65510098457605383652010-12-30T08:02:00.000-08:002010-12-30T08:02:02.945-08:00I bought a ton of tangerinesSince fruit that can be peeled is recommended for tourists, I bought some tangerines from a very insistent dude.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkE74Jtow8DMDUVIJTuMK0afXxSFSX-0uDmtsoOhj07KTt_P-O" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkE74Jtow8DMDUVIJTuMK0afXxSFSX-0uDmtsoOhj07KTt_P-O" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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His power of insistence overpowered mine and I ended up with a little more fruit than I needed. I gave the guy 35 pounds meaning to give 25. When I asked him to give me10 pounds (~ 90 US cents) back, he just threw more tangerines at me, shoved them in my bag and even tried to feed me. I physically resisted and he tried to give me some packaged strawberries instead. I resisted again. Since I don't speak Arabic and the dude did not speak English, he chose to demonstrate how awesome those strawberries were. He sniffed the plastic wrapper and closed his eyes in ecstasy, he kissed it twice and then tried to stick it in the bag again. I still resisted as per coordinator's advice to avoid strawberries. The fruity guy resorted to tangerine shoving tactic. Smart, smart. It is easier to off-load smaller fruit than a whole package. I am off to eat the tangerinesaryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-12539201218002863512010-12-30T07:42:00.000-08:002010-12-30T07:42:46.289-08:00Do you like snow as much as I do?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I like. A lot. Because it makes you appreciate warm weather more. The post-christmas blizzard of 2010 wreaked havoc on the streets and messed up travelling plans and commuting for thousands of people. As much as I hated riding Newark Airtran for hours, I got as much fun. I got a good couple of chuckles at fellow straphangers yelling at each other not to touch the door, because it kept opening and closing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And apparently the Airtran was going anywhere but not where it was supposed to go. That angered a lot of travelers. They would board the train, take a trip to some random terminal and come back to where they boarded. I have to admit that it was hysterical to watch a crowd of more than puzzled French guys emerge from the Airtran 20 minutes later and attack a sad Airtran Terminal worker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> After four hours of riding three different trains I was so relieved to get to Grove street station. And than it took me another four hours to walk home with all that luggage. Yup, all by myself I braved my way through the blizzzzard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRyfZiUfuVI/AAAAAAAAAio/9uh2uCldbso/s1600/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRyfZiUfuVI/AAAAAAAAAio/9uh2uCldbso/s200/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+019.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Almost forgot that I was met by Mr. Snowplower who was concentrated more on taking pictures than on getting me home. I just kid, Sir Snow-a-Lot, you are a distinguishably fine fella.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next day was quiet, sunny and involved a lot of digging</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRynTwibQRI/AAAAAAAAAiw/4rStlysdwdQ/s1600/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRynTwibQRI/AAAAAAAAAiw/4rStlysdwdQ/s320/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But smart people preferred to walk on the road:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRygXekjg6I/AAAAAAAAAis/gQZiz6ypm1c/s1600/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iJnAM5JhtAc/TRygXekjg6I/AAAAAAAAAis/gQZiz6ypm1c/s320/JerseyBlizzardDec2010+033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I hope there still be snow when I get back to Jersey. And I go cross-country skiing around the block.aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-65024762652289359692010-12-29T17:07:00.000-08:002010-12-29T17:07:30.691-08:00First impressionsPalm trees lining the streets and no sign of snow. Yay! Even the mosquitoes bring back the pleasant memories of summer evenings in Jersey. The weather is pretty mild and pleasant, guess would be perfect for a certain hairy specimen I happen to know. One thing that bothers me is this really thick fog/smoke thing hanging in the air. It looks almost bluish in the light and smells of smoke, exhaust fumes and Russian air. Ya know what I'm talking about. Our tour guide assured me that in the morning it will be gone when the sun rises, just like vampires!<br />
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I have taken some pics of the airport, but they are pretty crappy, so here is one offered by Google Images:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Cairo_airport_Terminal_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Cairo_airport_Terminal_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
Not too shabby, eh? Except that when I arrived it was of full of people, and serious looking men who kissed each other on both cheeks upon arrival. Also they have a habit of walking with their hands linked. Imagine Carrie Bradshaw and her girlfriends dashing through the streets of New York. Yeah, so the bearded guys in galabiyas casually strolled like that in the airport. So sweet!<br />
This is a traditional galabiya dress for men:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fortinweb.com/nss-folder/egyptpics/egyptpeople1x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://fortinweb.com/nss-folder/egyptpics/egyptpeople1x.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But mostly I saw men wearing western clothes, a mix of European and Jersey Shore style -acid washed jeans and sport jackets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And people on the street were really friendly explaining how to get here and there. (We searched for some food, you see). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We checked out a little bakery across the street from our hotel and they had some awesome stuff there - tiny cute pastries, pretty cakes, little candies wrapped in foil, oh dear. So long my resolution to lose ten pounds, haha. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh well, I have to force myself to sleep now. Tomorrow is orientation and after tomorrow we get to see the pyramids. </div>aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-91819664762913344482010-12-14T14:31:00.000-08:002010-12-14T14:31:58.862-08:00Sharks Attacks!Apparently, there have been a series of attcks on swimmers in the Red Sea, near Sharm-El-Sheikh and they have been targeting ex-Soviet swimmers. Two were Russian and another from Ukraine. Some have blamed the Russian tourists for feeding and attracting sharks in the area. Exactly, you tell a Russian that you are not supposed to do that and he will do the opposite. Oh well, that is not an excuse. Poor guys have been enjoying a swim, and someone tells that they asked for it. Some sources say that those sharks have been attacking swimmers and divers for a while there. It is just that the authorities tried to cover it up and not let the media pick up a jaw craze. Oh well, I will get a cage and see those corals anyway.aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956931583608303417.post-56127508381142421302010-12-13T15:59:00.000-08:002010-12-13T15:59:53.492-08:00I bought a travel guide and a phrasebook.Both of them are from Lonely Planet. And both of them are so well done. I am already seeing myself thanking their editors in my adventures in Cairo. Somehow going to Cairo and traveling in Egypt immediately associates with an adventure. Seriously, anybody ever thought of going to Prague as of an adventure? More like a snooze fest! Nah, I kid. I am sure that Czech Republic is just as much fun as Egypt. So from time to time I skim through the travel guide and get really excited: feluccas! shish-kebab! Nile! diving! I get so excited that at times I forget that I am actually going to study and continue internship for the most of the time. By the way the first section that I looked up in the phrasebook was "Getting acquainted" or something of that sort, as per advice of my overprotective BF. And I have been diligently repeating on subway a-na mit-ga-wiza, a-na mit-gawiza, ana mitgawiza. You figure what that means.aryunkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07620924741629636977noreply@blogger.com2