Giza
So for the first day, me and Hussein, the second oldest of the 4, went to go see the pyramids in Giza. Okay so the pyramids was nice. The Sphinx was beautiful. Camels were cool. Duh. You can read that in any backpacker's blog. Here's what I experienced.
Hussein, me, and the old man
On the train ride there, we met an old man who was sitting next to us. Hussein and him starting (Egyptians ALWAYS talk to each other, NO ONE is a stranger), and for some reason, he got off at the same station we did (El Giza station) and started walking with us. "Is he coming with us" I asked Hussein. Then he said "No, he's just showing us the way there". I thought it was like India where he was going to ask for tip at the end, and I told that to Hussein, but he laughed and said Egyptians aren't like that. And like he said, when we got to the pyramids, the old man didn't ask for anything in return and just disappeared. Come to think of it, we should of tipped him..sorry old man.
The Tour
There isn't much to say about the tour. I expected there to be much more explanations and writings about the past like museums, but it was actually just a walk in the park (but in the desert). Our tour guide didn't really say anything throughout the tour, so I only tipped him 10 Egyptian pounds (which I read on the tour guide book that was the right amount) but he started demanding for more. So we got in a small argument. I told him I'll be more than happy to take back the offering, then he walked away. It's probably a technique they use to get more out of tourists. I mean, may as well try right. So regarding the tour, it was a good experience riding the camel and getting to see inside pyramids, but the service itself wasn't the too great.
It was also interesting because the pyramids are located right next to the city. So when you approach the pyramids and the sphinx, you can really hear the demonstration that is going on in Cairo right now. So I was on the camel, in Giza, enjoying the pyramids, with the historical protest in the BGM. What an experience.
The Little Driver
Something interesting was the bus ride from the train station back home. In Egypt many people use the Microbus, which is the same as the Matutu in Kenya. Basically there's a van that sits about 10-12 people and follows a certain route. You choose whichever van (bus) that passes by your destination. So anywhere, since Hussein is 17 and can't drive yet, we used this quite alot the past couple days. Getting on the bus, I doubted my eyes when I saw the driver.
He's like 8.
But he was still yelling at people to pay up the money, honking at other cars to move out the way, and speeded through the streets well over the speed limit. The (legal) driving age in Egypt: 18 years old.
Drinks
There are several drinks sold on the streets that I've enjoyed in Egypt. I think I tried the major 3, but I see other ones I'll try it. My favorite I think is the kasab, which is a sugar cane juice. I've seen in India and Kenya as well, but it was my first time having it, and it was so good that I've been having it everyday.
Second is erk soos, which is licorice. Its difficult to explain what it is..but I think the Egyptians prefer this over Kasab because I see it more on the streets.
The third is Sobiia. If anyone's ever had the white Sobe (I think it was the coconut flavor), it's very similar to it. It was good, but I'd prefer Kasab.
"Clubbing" in Egypt
After getting back from the pyramids and having lunch, we rested for a while (Hussein slept and I was looking up places to go in Cairo). Around 6pm, Hussein woke up and asked me if I wanted to go to the club.
...the what? First of all there's clubs in Egypt? Second, Egyptians don't drink alcohol. Third, you're 17 years old. All confused, I made him explain to me throughly what he meant by this "club". Turns out the neighborhood/community the family lives in has a large club-house style place where kids can go to play (aka the "club"). Easy to say in words, but this club is HUGE. I mean, if someone told me it was a medium size amusement park, I would believe it. It has food
courts and all kinds of restaurants inside, shops and malls, pools, basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, tracks, and even arcades. The only thing missing was a mascot (kids were even walking around with balloons and popcorns). So anyway, Hussein took me there because I said yes when he asked if I wanted to play soccer there. So yes, I played football in Egypt! I was also able to make some friends there.
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