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.

Bangkok Day1

Wow, what a day. I started with a walk around the hotel's neighborhood when it was still nice and quiet. I got a city map with the all the metro lines and away I went! My goal was to see the Grand Palace which is the biggest royal complex in the world- bigger than Versailles if you can believe that (or so they say). I could have taken a taxi, but wanted to experience the city so I took the metro which was super cheap- only $1.09 each way! I then had to take a water-taxi to the palace complex which took another 30 minutes but only cost $5.00 for an entire day pass up and down the river.

Thailand!

I got on a plane today and 6hrs later, I was going through passport control in Bangkok. Last week I realized that I only have 8weeks left in Dubai and that started me thinking- what if?? I have been living by the motto of "no regrets" for a long time, abused it sometimes to validate ridiculous purchases, but this instance was one of real "no regrets" moments. I have never thought of going to this part of Asia, but then in Kuwait the operations manager was telling me how wonderful it is, and I had to go. I went home and every day looked at the airfare and hotels for 4 days, sometimes multiple times through the day, but every day I said "no, not going". Then I realized that if I don't go now, i'll never go. It was only 6hrs to get to Bangkok- I looked up how long it would take to get there from Columbus, and it would take 40hrs travel time!!!!! I'd have to fly Columbus to Denver, Denver to SanFran, SanFran to Tokyo, Tokyo to Bangkok, plus all the times for the layovers, and then the time changes... So when I realized that I hit the BUY button. Bangkok is another 3hrs earlier than Dubai, so when i arrived it was already 7pm and dark, so not much sight seeing on the plane as we landed. The airport was a breeze to navigate, everything is in English and passport control was only 5 minutes- no fee for the Visa on Arrival, and I was at the baggage racks in no time. Much to my shock as the driver opened the driver's side rear door for me- I was like "oh- this is how you do it here??" and I see the drivers seat moved up to the very front of the car- and I laughed- and thought "ha- they are tiny here, but that is ridic!" Then as I sat down I realized they drive on the other side of the road! LOL I was imagining this little guy sitting in front of me squished up against the steering wheel- ha, awe, I felt ignorant. It is an odd feeling sitting on the other side of the car, and having the "fast lane" be on the far right of the road- I don't think I have ever sat in a car that the driver was on the right side. My hotel is ok, it's my first time staying at an ALoft Hotel. It's in a busy part of town, lots of tourists. I didnt' see any westerners the whole drive into the Sukhumvet neighborhood, then we turn down the street of the hotel and they there were! It's like a ghetto of white westerners in this one little area. One the one hand, it's comforting, one the other- it's not "really" bangkok. All the restuarants are "Aussie Pub" "British Food" "German Beerhaus", and they go all they way down the street. Being that it was already so late, I just had a beer, and walked around the streets of the hotel. I'll head out tomorrow to see some of the historical sites and get to see the real Bangkok!!!

Kuwaits New Mall (continued)

The pictures are of the main avenue, and the court that connects the old and new mall. The main avenue looks like a big mainstreet- disneyland esq. Because it gets to be 125 degrees in the summer, they had to build a huge glass roof with shades to keep the sun back and keep the place air-conditioned. Pretty cool- a first for the middle east.