Pyramids in the Daytime

Today was a gorgeous sunny day, and we got to the site before it got too warm which was perfect. As we turned onto the road to get to the site, there were all these guys in the road, blocking up, yelling at us. Ali said it was because they wanted to be our tour-guides. He yelled out his window in Arabic at them, and they got SUPER confrontational, starting kicking the car and banging on the window. It was intense- even with Ali being Egyptian, they still treated him like he was a tourist! We eventually make it up to the site and much to my surprise, again, there was hardly anyone there! We drove right up to the gate, got our tickets, and get this- drove right onto the site! You just drive around the site on the rough run down roads, and drive form Pyramid to Pyramid- even two big tour buses were doing it! If you don't have a car, you can rent a horse, or a camel with a guide. With all the majestic grandeur of the pyramids, you don't really get to "smell" the area. There was horse and camel dung everywhere. I mean everywhere. It was disgusting. I had heard that the picture of the pyramids was always shot from one side as to hide the truth of Cairo being directly behind the other side, and it is true! The one side; blowing sandy desert, the other, a rough looking city skyline. We did end up getting a guide because Ali said he felt really bad for all these guys- they have no work. It was ok, I felt a bit rushed as he was power walking around the sites, then wanting us to get Camels' to the far smallest pyramid- a total add on "he knows a guy who has the best camels..." So we did get them, and I got a complimentary head scarf as they all thought I'd get sunburned. All was going good till we finished and the guide came up and told me "200 Pounds and I'll let you down" (egyptian pounds is the currency). I looked at Ali who told me not to pay. Then the guide stated yelling at him in Arabic and he looked away! LOL- I was like- "Ah, Ali- Can you help here??" And the guy insisted that I needed to pay, "250-300, it was worth it". Looking around, I was like; fine. I gave him the 200pounds, and then he said "no- I told you 300" then Ali did step in and so did the other guide, and finally he brought the camel down. The thing that made me so mad was that I was going to give me 200 pounds just because we did have a good tour- but now, he made it all ugly. Blah. We got back to the car, and headed across town to the new hotel we're staying at now for the work Visits. I have some great photos of the city I'll post later.

Pyramids Light Show

Wow. This was amazing. I asked the front desk if they had any trips going to see the show, and of course they did! So they set me up with their tour guide, and it was only $20 including transportation, and get this- FRONT ROW seat! AH! It was awesome! I ended up going with a young couple from Switzerland who were super nice. The show started at 7pm, and lasted an hour. During the show, they told different parts of the history of the site, the Egyptian rulers, a little about the Rosetta Stone and how it unlocked the language, all while changing colors on the pyramids, and adding cool holographs to illustrate things like the Sphinx. I love this camera I have because it was pitch black and everyone around me was complaining that they couldn't get their pictures to come out, and mine were turning out fine- just a bit blurry on some.

View and Pool

I got some good pool time in today as my "tour guide" Aly isn't able to meet me till tomorrow to see the Pyramids. Gorgeous weather, only in the low 80's, really sunny. As you can see from the pictures- no one at the pool! There aren't very many tourists here as you can imagine with all that is being said on the news, so lucky for me I guess. The hospitality is so great here because tourism is so down- they really do appreciate those who make the journey and stay at their hotel. As you can see from the pics- I am super close to the pyramids site!

Giza, Egypt

So long time no post. As I was sitting in the airport yesterday, I realized why I haven't been blogging; because this amazing journey I've been on is almost over! If I had been blogging the count down I would have realized how quickly it's all going to be over. Luckily, I have 2 trips left before I move back; Istanbul next week annnnnd: Cairo! Yep, I'm in Egypt this weekend for 2 days of sightseeing, and then 2 days of work to see our 3 new stores that opened last week. I missed the openings because our company didn't want me to travel, so I had to wait for the approval, but on the positive, they have been doing fabulous, so it will be good to see them a week after opening to see if they still look good. The direct flight was only 3.5hrs from Dubai, and luck was with me because I got a complimentary upgrade to Business class!! Quite a good surprise, and a great "last trip" on emirates, as I'll be flying Turkish Air next week to Istanbul. I had arranged for an "on arrival service" to the hotel as I was traveling alone, and was a bit nervous as everyone has been terrified of me coming here. It was great- as soon as you get off the plane- they are waiting on the tarmac with your name on a folder. They take you right to customs, get your visa for you, take you through passport control, take you through security, and customs, and then take you to the car waiting outside the door. All for only 40 euros. Such a good deal- I would highly recommend because I would never have figured out the on-arrival visa, and imagine how chaotic the baggage claim area is in the US- well there is only ONE belt in this airport and there was three different planes that arrived at the same time. It was out of control- luckily my guide elbowed his way in to get my bag. My driver was awesome- got me all the way across Cairo in 30 minutes. How'd he do it? going 140-160 Kilometers an hour and driving like Mario Andretti! It was horrifying. The highways are not well maintained, or made; have huge drops, sharp curves, and gigantic potholes. Atop all of that- there were cars just stopped on the far lanes having a smoke break, buying fruits at the roadside vendors (on the highway!!), and the accidents- my goodness- there were accidents every few miles! I was texting Daniel as the first 10 minutes I was in the car and had to stop as I started to get car sick from all the up down, over, up down, and traveling at the speed of light. But again, great that it only took 30 minutes :-) As we got off the highway, it has gotten dark, but I could see the two gigantic pyramids as the sun had just set! Then I noticed that we were not on a paved road- or at least- it wasn't paved anymore. Dirt roads, large piles of garbage on every corner, people walking everywhere, cars parked up and down and around. As my driver must have seen my horrified look on my face he said "yea, we don't have rules here for driving, parking, or really anything. There isn't garbage pick up- eventually someone starts it on fire." I was so glad once we got to the hotel. It is really nice- under renovation, so there is some old parts still. I am in the new wing which looks just as clean and nice as any hotels in Europe. The pool is super nice, clean, and has amazing views of the two pyramids. I am going to the "Light show" tonight which everyone here has said I have to go see. I don't know if it's a tourist trap, or what, but even my Co-worker Aly who is Egyptian said I need to go see it, so I'll post some pics tonight when i get home.

Bangkok for the Day

Today was not about the big sites, but rather seeing the city as if I was a resident. Metro, walking around the city to the malls or parks, and trying street vendor food. I know- what?? Street food. Well those of you that know me know that this was a farce. As I walked out of my hotel this S-10 was sitting out front with the "restuarant all'a truck bed", and I fully accepted that I will leave Bangkok without trying the truck/street food. Sorry for those of you who wanted a story about how a chicken foot was in my eggroll or that the chicken curry had a full head in it. Because these would have been the stories- I saw them on my walks today. (As I shiver about the things I saw today). For the high heat of the afternoon I went back to the hotel and tried to get a tan and relax a bit. The pool area was great- clean, nice loungers, but the pool was FRIGID! And it was a salt water pool, which was annoying because you have to shower before laying back down or you end up being sticky like when swimming in the ocean.

Metro system is great- quick, but cramped. Lots of people take the metro as traffic is horrendous in the city. The metro tracks are double decker in most of the downtown area- which means they are mammoth concrete structures. I was walking down the walkway and saw this perfect moment where the tracks show all the way up and the traffic below. As I snapped my photo there were 5 other people next to me snapping the view. I am a trend setter :-) - I saw this Monk sticker and was like "How is no one else taking a picture of this!!!" and then after I snapped the picture I noticed a real REAL Monk in the orange wraps sitting down the train starring at me! AH! Caught!!!! By a real monk!! What are the odds that the first time I see a Monk I'd be taking a ironic picture about him. So no, there will not be any pictures of me with a Monk on this trip. On a side note, can you imagine this sticker in Rome- but of a Cardinal, or a Nun, LOL, I would definetly be taking a picture of that sticker too.

Grand Palace Details

This green temple was the showstopper for me. The green and gold was so rich looking.

The "less shiney" doors picture was a different temple right when you walk in. It was decorated with mirrors- I don't know how that would have been done back back then, but now they are pretty dulled down, and not so reflective.

Bangkok Day 1 (continued)

The Grand Palace complex was stunning. Absolutely unreal. I had not read in advance anything about it, therefore was told I couldn't enter till I got pants (I had on shorts since it was 92 and muggy today), luckily the locals take advantage of this, and have these lightweight cotton pajama pant type pants that all the tourist were throwing on over their clothes. (On a funny side note- I saw a guy in the Bangkok airport wearing a pair of these- and I was like "omg- he is just a mess!" and now I have a pair of my own!" LOL). So when you see the one picture of me below, DO NOT by any means think I willingly bought these at a store, and said "yes- this is the most appropriate look for the day"- I have not gone Grey Gardens on you.

The level of minute detail on all the buildings was unlike anything I had ever seen. I took over 100 pictures just on the outsides of the buildings. When the light hits all the metallic chips, and jewels, it really shimmers. Many of the temples' had "windchime" like bells at the edges of the roofline, so the palace grounds have a nice musical chiming all day long. The entry to the palace was only 500BHT ($15) and was so worth it.