Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible!"

Before this year, I'd never really given much thought to travelling to Egypt. The pyramids, while they sounded cool, didn't really excite me, and what else could you do in a desert?

Walking like an Egyptian!

I am glad that I have an open mind and listened to friends when they told me exactly how amazing a trip to Egypt would be!

It was an idea that was kind of thrown around the dinner table at Jade and Jayson's one night with Nic and myself. It was only when Jade said that Travel Talk had a two for one offer that I actually really considered it. I jumped online when I got home and saw that it was too cheap to pass up on, the most expensive part being the flights, even they were reasonably priced.. Who wants to visit a country in turmoil I guess.. The decision had been made, Nic and I were going to Egypt! This was either going to strengthen our friendship or end it.. Time would tell I guess.

Before the trip I had spoken to a number of friends who reinforced what others had said, that it would be a trip of a lifetime. They also kept mentioning a felucca, whatever that was...

The night before the trip it was decided that I'd sleep on Nic's couch as the night bus departed from just outside of there at 3am... Joy... About midnight I finally retired to the delightful pleather couch with a sleeping bag and tried to sleep.. At 2:00 I heard voices and someone stumbling with a key at the front door. It was ok though, it was just Nic's housemate on his way home from the pub, he knew I was here, it'd be ok, they'd go straight to his room and leave me sleep for another hour right?

...

Wrong.. Thanks Bel for the wake up call- he then dragged me off the couch and made me sleep on a mattress on his floor so some of his mates could have some "privacy" in the lounge.. Basically I was woken from my slumber so they could bang....

The journey there was pretty uneventful, stopped over in Vienna (? gargh can't even remember now) and then on to Cairo. First thing I noticed upon exiting the airport was the heat. Wow, something I hadn't experienced in so long! Sunglasses were required. We headed to the hotel with two girls off our flight who'd also be joining us on the tour. Was absolutely speechless when I first saw the pyramids in the distance.. The hotel was pretty incredible, massive pool, bars, green grass. Heaven.. The WiFi connection had a lot to be desired but that was ok too...

The first thing we did upon arrival was head over the road to the little old lady selling bottled water. This was an experience in itself.. Me being blonde, stood out like dog's balls, so we were heckled, bellowed at, tooted even before we left the hotel compound.. The traffic was pretty crazy.. They have road rules in Egypt like they do everywhere else, but the guide put it quite simply that these were only "suggestions". Any who, we made it back alive somehow and went to cool off in the pool. We had some group meeting that night, and I must say I was a little surprised at the penis/vagina ratio... Lots of girls...

The tour group!

 

The first real day of tour was Pyramid Day! We went first to the step pyramid built by King Zoser in 2700 B.C. Pretty bloody old if you ask me.. From here we went to The Great Pyramid of Giza- the largest and the oldest pyramid in the world. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely in tact. It is believed to have been build over a 10-20 year period finishing in around 2560BCE. It's original height of 146.5 meters made it the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3800 years. I also learnt that with the stones used to build The Great Pyramid of Giza, a three metre wall could be built around France or a line which stretches two thirds of the way around the equator :) Pretty cool huh!

Happy Camel

After that we jumped on the bus and drove up the hill to panoramic hill for a few cliché photos before CAMEL RIDES!!! Yeeee Haaaa! I possible got stuck with the "most experienced" camel (meaning he was old as all hell) and I affectionately named him Jack. The experience of riding camels across the desert, with the pyramids in the distance was quite surreal, couldn't wipe the smile off my face! From here we visited the Sphinx- wowsers! I am not even going to begin to explain how unbelievably amazing it was, you have to see it to believe it.

At the end of this day I thought that was it, pinnacle of the trip, couldn't get any better than this. And again, am happy to admit I was wrong...

Spent the next few days wandering around tombs and temples and deserts and 5 star hotels and perfume shops and restaurants and beer. Which brings me to my next exciting stories...

An optional extra on the tour was a Nubian dinner- basically we went to a home of a Nubian family - They are the African Egyptians, for a meal or authentic Nubian food and entertainment. We jumped on a boat and sailed down the Nile. My new friend Rach and I has the best seats in the house, we were able to watch the sun set and enjoy a few quiet beers. The food was incredible, I got to hold a crocodile, apparently they keep them as pets, I think it was just a tourist ploy though to be honest, they weren't domesticated in any way, shape or form. It was the journey home that was epic. Most of us climbed to the top of the boat to enjoy the stars and the fresh night air. Captain Honeymoon came up to get us and we all went down and were greeted with Nubian entertainment. Loud drums, loud singing and lot of loud laughing. Possible a warm up for what the next few days had in store?

Rachel and I relaxing on top of the boat on the way to the Nubian dinner.. Best seats in the house.

 

The next day I was about to discover what the felucca was... I wasn't sure what to expect. Sailing down the Nile on a boat, with no motor, no kitchen, no toilets?

 

We were lucky, only 14 of the 24 people on our tour were doing Felucca, this meant we could all be on the same boat. I boarded the boat and claimed my spot on the mattressed floor, complete with mini mouse pillows and sheets. Before we set sail we enjoyed our first felucca prepared mill.. Falafels. Yum! If this feast was anything to go by, I was going to have a GREAT time regardless of the toilet situation! Within about half an hour of being on the boat the water was calling me, I had to get in! And I didn't even need to pee!!! So, in I jumped. Holy shit I was swimming in the Nile, who'd have thought that that would be something that I'd ever do?!? Not me, that's for sure!

 

After a few hours sailing we docked at our port for the night. The three boatmen went to work setting up our lavish bathroom facilities (basically they dug a hole, put a little chair over it with a toilet set and chucked a tent over it), started cooking our tea and all the while kept the boat of us entertained with an array of activities! Bedtime came, and without actually saying a word, people just found a spot and drifted off to sleep. On the first night we didn't have blankets, we just had a makeshift wall put around the boat (think hammock material). Slept well. We had a leisurely morning, an amazing breakfast of omelets, cheese, this amazing tomato and fetta stuff and chocky biscuits.. The Nubians certainly knew how to brew a decent cuppa!

Just hanging out in the River Nile

 

We set sail again and the day was very relaxing. We played cards, listened to music, swam, napped... It really was what dream are made of! We had a few docks throughout the day for toilet stops and lunch but our final stop was something else. The sun was setting over the palm trees in the background as we pulled up to a sandy patch of land. On one side was a bunch of locals playing a game of football, and to the other was farmland. Animals tethered (poor things) and farmers working the crops. It was here that I took a minute. I stopped, blocked out all of the sounds around me and appreciated me and what I was doing. Life really couldn't get much better than this.

Me taking some time out.

Tonight the crew joined us for a meal, apparently this doesn't happen often. Was something else. We had a bonfire and more Nubian music, fun and games.. As trees were scarce and it was dark, to go to the toilet you'd just wander a little way away from the group and drop your dacks... Really was something else. Slept really well that night and woke up the boat sailing and was lucky enough to watch the African sun rise over the River Nile.

 

It was sad to leave the boat. I made some truly wonderful friends that I can't wait to share more adventures with in the future. Today was one of the hottest days I have ever experienced. 47°... It was a dry heat, with not shade for respite. Today was the day we wandered around one of the largest, and probably spectacular temples in Egypt.. Due to the heat I can't remember much :/ The icy-poles were tasty though.

 

The coolest historic sight visited would have to have been the Abu Simbel Temples. Still don't know how they managed to move two temples 65 meters higher and 200meters away from the rising dam, but WOW! This sight, blew my mind!

Abu Simbel with the amazing Zizu!

 

The rest of the trip was a whirlwind of amazeballs.. Our tour guide Zizu was something else, really added to the experience! Much better than the disaster of Turkey! Egypt is probably the coolest places I have ever visited. Can't believe that I was sceptical. Recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen!!

The tour group!

 

 

 

We toured a mosque.. These are the outfits that all women have to wear.. We looked lovely..