(Egypt) The last night in Africa

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[13/12/26~30 (D+852) Egypt/ Cairo] The last night in Africa

I’ve arrived in Cairo which is my last city in Africa. There are ancient Egyptian Pyramid and lots people in Cairo. What would my last night in Africa be?

Cairo

Yesterday it was Christmas, but it was so quiet, because it is Muslim country. And in my life it was the most peaceful day in this date. I don’t believe god that I missed this peace at this date. Hahaha. Maybe every year I have to come to Muslim country around this season to spend quiet day.

Today my friend Mostafa from GBI Egypt team is going to Pyramid with me. But unfortunately we got a car accident. Some car crashes our back. We don’t get a serious injured, but car’s bumper is broken. Oh.. I am so sorry about it.
I think Cairo is the worst city for the traffic in my experience. 95 % of cars don’t turn signal but just move. Although the road is three lines, I can see five lines.

 

Cairo

Some place in Cairo is like grey city..

 

Egyptian pyramids

Oh is this Pyramid I’ve seen on the photo? I think it is better to see photo of Pyramid then with my eyes. Haahaha.

 

Egyptian pyramids

Anyway it is something huge.

 

Egyptian pyramids

And mystery?

 

Egyptian pyramids

We take the camel for fun. But when camel moves there is not much fun, because it is uncomfortable. Hehehe.

 

Egyptian pyramids

The entrance fee is 80 pounds and entrance of inside of pyramid is 40 pounds (Total 17$). But at the inside there is nothing to see. The inside of the bigger pyramid is more expensive.

 

Egyptian pyramids

Anyway it is good experience to look around Pyramid with the camel.

 

Egyptian pyramids

It is built in BC2500. Almost 4500 years ago.. it is much older than other temple I visited.

 

Egyptian pyramids

Smiling camels. I did laundry my long pants that I didn’t have other one. But I think it is okay ,because I am with a local man.

 

Egyptian pyramids

Yawn

 

Egyptian pyramids

It is said that the top was covered by the gold.

 

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Do something fun..

 

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Seven wonders of the world

 

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids

A sphinx is a mythical creature with, as a minimum, the body of a lion and a human head.

 

cairo runners

The next day I’ve meet GBI team again.

 

cairo runners

cairo runners

Every Sunday there is a marathon of 10 km or 15 km.

The community is called Cairo runners.
https://www.facebook.com/CairoRunners
Already 162 k people likes it in Egypt. It is so impressing to see their eager for running.
I guess many people over the world think that Egypt is too dangerous and always there are demonstration and people dying.
No..No..No..
There is not only one story. There are thousands of stories. Here is one of stories I have.

 

cairo runners

GBI team is the security guy for Cairo runners. They block the road for runners for a second. It helps to realize and teach the drivers that the road is not only for a car, but for people as well!

Photo is from – https://www.facebook.com/GBIEgyptTeam
Photographer – Mostafa

 

cairo runners

Smoke or pollution?

 

cairo runners

Always full of positive energy in GBI

 

cairo runners

Long time no see

Photo is from – https://www.facebook.com/GBIEgyptTeam
Photographer – Mostafa

 

cairo runners

This is Egypt as well. It looks different from your TV? Right? I think to watch TV (News) is one of the ways to be brainwashed.

Photo is from – https://www.facebook.com/GBIEgyptTeam
Photographer – Mostafa

 

Cairo

Bread

 

Egyptian food

Worthless bread at outside

 

Egyptian food

It is Egyptian food, but it is similar to Sudanese food as well.

 

Cairo

Today we hang around the city. Like above the picture, there are many old cars in Cairo.

 

Cairo

That white one is mini bus.

 

Cairo

The life of Africa, Nile River

 

Cairo

There are many tanks in front of Egyptian Museum. During revolution of 2011, the museum and some of ruins were damaged and stolen.

 

Cairo

It is prohibited to take photo. The museum is too old and insecurity. I guess if I want to something from Museum, I can take and put it on my pocket.
It is said the Museum is too old. Now they are building new Museum which will be the biggest Museum in the world. I am so excited for it.

 

Cairo

Egypt has too many ruins to keep it. They put many of them to storage room.

 

Cairo

This is the famous place, which is called Taharir Square. It is the place for 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
I was wondering about Egyptian politic on August 2013, because press said 2,000 people were killed by the government. I tried to research to find out which one is real devil. But it was almost impossible to get information. Information I got from Korea is only the fact who killed and who were killed.
I’ve asked Egyptian what is going on while staying in Egypt at this time. Of course, I asked first “Is it rude if I ask about politics?” All the time they said “It is okay. We love talking about it.”
So here is short information I got.
– There was a dictator with a military junta for 30 years.
(Army is really strong in Egypt. They run all of gas stations. )
– People couldn’t stand anymore, so they did revolution on 2011.
– Finally they kicked out a dictator.
– They got a chance to vote the president. It was their first time to have President Election.
– There were two major candidates. One was the side of dictator. The other one was Muslim brotherhood
– Although they didn’t like Muslim Brotherhood, they voted for Muslim Brotherhood, because they didn’t want to see dictator side again.
– But Muslim Brotherhood was not the smart one; they made economy and many things worse.
– People demonstrated and kicked out Muslim brotherhood which people voted in legal.
– Muslim brotherhood and people were angry and demonstrated.
– The government shoot them and almost 2000 people were killed.
– Now the government is really going strict. They say if somebody is involved of demonstration, 5 years charge in jail. If somebody is Muslim brotherhood, forever in jail.
– Some people say now government is doing well because they control demonstration down. It will bring tourists back.
– Some people say their government is going back to the past. No more freedom. They’ve killed already too many people as well.

When I talk with Egyptians, always this word is included.
‘After revolution’
“After revolution, economy got crisis, tourists don’t come again and no more safe.”
“After revolution, everything is crazy”
“After revolution, we can’t make money like before”
“After revolution, people don’t care about other people.”
After revolution………..After revolution….After revolution..
It sounds so weird… why? Why? Revolution makes everything worse?
Revolution should change the situation better. But here worse is. I am so sorry about this.
I am very interested about politics and I usually support the demonstration if they fight against wrong thing.
As caring about human right so much, I am so sad to see Egyptian situation.
One of Egyptians says to me it is like to cut Hydra’s neck. If you cut one, there two comes out more.
I don’t think revolution which they did on 2011 was worthless. I believe Egyptians need the time to adjust the democratic. I hope they cut properly all of head of hydra.

 

Cairo

One of my favorite parts in Egypt is snack. It is so cheap, but even tasty. One is only 10 cents. If I am in US, it would cost $1.

 

Cairo

Cairo

Cairo

I though Egyptian food is so unique. But I realize the food is very similar to other country like Turkey or Sudan or etc..

 

Egyptian food

It is Kebab. Oh!

 

Cairo

Cairo

Cairo

Touring in the city

 

Cairo

Friend says if you want to have tasty kushari, you must go to kushary restaurant where they cook only kushary.

 

Cairo

Cairo

Cairo

It is my first time to visit mosque. Of course, I wear long pants and scarf. My friend goes to pray. It is so quiet.

 

Cairo

Cairo

This coffee shop is very famous, but we don’t know why it is famous.

 

Cairo

There is lots of texture. I ask friend “all of them are made in Egypt?”
“No.. maybe made in China”.
Ho..
Clear.
If you want to see the world, go to china, then you will see everything.

 

Cairo

Lights store

 

Cairo

Old Islamic

 

Cairo

Antigua

 

Cairo

It is made by hand.

 

Cairo

Market is really interesting place. Thanks to a local friend, Mostafa, I don’t need worried about harassment. I am sure if I am alone, I will get harassed too much.

 

Cairo

It looks she is praying. But true thing is she is taking the photo of her son.

 

Cairo

The religious place is so quiet always.

 

tanoura show

tanoura show

We visit Tanoura Show which is Egyptian dance.

It is just incredible and unbelievable that they keep turning turning turning turning turning and turning turning almost for 30 minutes………… What is in your brain? How come you can keep truing around?

 

tanoura show

tanoura show

tanoura show

tanoura show

tanoura show

tanoura show

tanoura show

I enjoy so much play. It is one of the best thing I’ve seen.

 

From 1:30, you can watch people keep turning around.

 

Cairo

I can’t remember where I buy it. Anyway the picture and true stuff look so same. Finally there is no liar!!!

 

Cairo

I can carry two 23 kg luggage for free with Saudi Arabian Airline. I have to throw away to make lighter. One of stuff I should give up is repellent for mosquitoes. I’ve worried about Malaria before. But I didn’t get much chance to be bitten by mosquitoes that it is almost new one. Only fleas and bed bugs have bothered me so much for one year in Africa.

 

Cairo

Many countries in Africa have different plugin. Now I will give up two of them from the left.

 

Egyptian money

I didn’t have paper of 200 pounds and 50 pounds.

 

Cairo

Actually pyramid is nothing to Egyptian I guess. It is just like the picture. It is just located between Apartments.

 

Cairo

Construction and Pyramid.

 

Cairo

I got many help from Ayman from GBI team member as well. He organized some interview as well. I had better interview with newspaper.
(I don’t know where I can see it.)

 

Cairo

The second one is I got interview with TV. It is not the major broadcast, but only one English channel.
Here are my excuses.
Um.. I had never got script that I couldn’t understand his question a few times because of my poor English and being nervous. :'(
There was no such a NG. It was kind of LIVE TV.
I was on interview for 30 minutes, and 25 of them were on air. I cut 5 minutes by Sonyvegas, which I looks dumb. hahahaha.
Actually just before this one, I had an interveiw with news paper. I spoke so much better than this one.
I do hope I can speak much better at the next time which I’ve never known when it will come.

 

Oh…… don’t watch it………. hahahahahahaha..
The picture he asked about where it was taken,… Actually it was in Paraguay in South America… ahhahaahhaaha.. …………….jajajaja….

 

Cairo

The night is getting dark, and everything in the city is getting brighter.
It seems I have to ready to leave Africa.
When I was in Latin America, it was really hard to decide to come to Africa. I was considering going back home because of money, being afraid, tiring and things.
But I wanted to try. I was not sure it is possible to cycle as a solo woman in Africa. But I wanted to see what is going on.
Always trying is good.
So I came.

 

Egypt-Cairo081

Unlike my expecting, cycling in Africa was easier. I’ve never sick seriously. No rob or no any worse story.
Even I cycled much better than when I was in Latin America.
Frankly speaking, I have thousands of emotion about Africa. I wrote it here, but I just deleted it. I will keep biting my tongue for now. I need to be calmed down for now.
Anyway here is one thing sure. I had cycled from South African to Egypt – 10,615 km (6,250 mi). Yeah.. Good job.
I survived!!
It is time to go to Europe. Let’s go to Europe.


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1 Comment
  1. You are amazing. Hope you have a safe and fun trip in Europe. Good luck!

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