Ok, so I have been very lax about posting new things, so i will try and start at the start.

A few weeks ago we had an american couple staying here who were quite nice, we ended up goign to a few sites with them and all that jaz, was actually quite good.

In addition to that, about a week and a half ago, we went to the tempels of dendora and abedos. They were fantastic!

Both of them are more or less still free standing, and in some places almost as impressive as the Pyramids themselves. There are lots of interesting bits and pieces, such as the zodiac art inscribed on the ceiling of the room on the roof af dendora temple. Both tempels have lovely streams of light that filter in from small holes, giving them a sort of elderich effect. Its quite beautiful, I recomend them both to those who have the time to travel there.


About a week ago, nat and I went swimming in Luxor, at one of the Hotels that has a pool. It was a great day, had heaps of fun, got slightly burnt but nicecly taned. Went and destroyed the excercise with KFC after. Came back to the hotel to find they were closing it.

Not where you thought I was going? Let me explain. There is a village on the mountains here, bunch of ald houses and that. Small problem is that they were built on a bunch of old tombs. Government wants them back, so their soloution is to force the people to trade in their big family home for several small council houses. The error is that the people dont exactly want to move. Or they want more new houses than they are getting. The government decided to get the owner of the hotel to apply pressure to the people to move. And they apply pressure on him by threatening to close the hotel. As soon as the people decide to move, everyone here buggers off. Next day, next problem, same deal. But thats all over now.

That asside, I have been goign to an archeological lecture every Saturday night, which as at the very least interesting for one thing or another. And we have been going to parties, wedding receptions and out to peoples houses for dinner.

All in all its goign quite well here, I just need to find some more constructive things to do with my spare time.

Well, in Luxor now, there was no internet in the hotel in Cairo, so I couldnt get on, hence the massive swell of posts now.

The last days in Cairo were the most impressive, but it was hard for them not to be given that we went to the Pyramids. they are Huge, like, really, REALLY big. I cant believe people actually climbed them when they weren't more polieced, they are like man made mountains pokeing out of the desert. We walked arround for a bit and then climed inside the biggest one. what a climb. 45 degree angle and about half way up in a tiny tunnel to the burial chamber, not enought Oxygen in the air and trying to fight against the tide of fat old tourists comming down in the other direction. You couldnt take your camera inside, but there isnt much that is photo-worthy. You cant capture the experience on film.

After that we walked arround abit more, and saw the sphynx, which is tiny compared to the pyramids, but still big. This was taken (17 photos) neer the sphynx.

After that was the other pyramids and tooms arround Cairo, also good. Then out to the markets again (open this time)

A coupple of days later We cambe by train (if I come back here with more money im flying, i dont care that its way more, its worth it) and now I am in the (thankfully) quieter Luxor.

All is well, Will keep things up to date. Adding a Photos page soon, if i dont get sick of using the computer

Ben

Cairo is wonderful. This is being written on day...4 I think. So far I have been to 2 mosques and the Egypt Musem, as well as the biggest market in Africa, although most of that was closed when I went.

First up was the Citadel, a fantastic complex which looks out on most of Cairo. It was a clear day (the day I arrived), clear wnough that I could see the Pyramids from where I stood. There is so much of Cairo, all the way as far as I could see was Cairo. No tall buildings like Sydney, perhaps 25 stories at the maximum, but it stretched on and on and on.

We went to the mosque at the Citadel, a first for me. You need to take your shoes off to go inside, which you would think yould be a pain, but it is actually a relief. It was HUGE. They dwarf even the biggest cathedrals in Sydney or Melbourne, one big room with a vaulted celing, decorated with patterns and paints, and oh so many lights.

The next day was a trip to a mosque in Old Cairo, I think. This was not enclosed, but made even the Citadel look small. Think the pillars in the dwarf city in Lord of the Rings and you might be able to get what I mean. I did take some photos. Also we went to the small museam next to the mosque, which was converted from an old house.

Yesterday was an event really. Looking for the glassblowers in Cairo, near the walled city (we didn't actually find them unfortunatly) and then accidentally wandering into Khan-al-Kalaily (not sure I got the spelling right) which is the biggest marker (souk) in Africa. It was early so most of it was closed as we walked in, but it was still beautiful. We wandered arround for a few hours went back to the hotel, and then went back to the market and had a mixed grill for lunch. It was like the best food at a lebonese resteraunt I have ever had, and Nat said that it wasn't all that great. Fantastic.

Today was the Musem. Unfortuantly you cant take photos, or your not supposed to, and so I dont have anything to show you all, but it was great. We spent 3 hours there and didn't take it particularly slow. The artifacts on the bottom floor were impresive, huge statues of vari-colored stone, as well as some of the original archetectual designs for the musem. However, I highly recoment you go arround the bottom floor first, before you are overawed by the treasures on the top floor. And such treasures they are. Almost the complete set from Tutankarmans tomb, from the full burial caskets to all his jewlery, minatures of boats and thrones, statuetes of the gods and more.

And thats just the beginning. There are collections of mirrors from other tombs, as well as their statues and statuettes. Scarcophgi in droves, artifacts from Rome and Greece that are likely the product of trade and the Roman occupation. So much. We spent almost 2 hours traveling along one side of the square that the top floor makes.

And then there are the mummy rooms. It cost double again what it cost to get into the museam to get into the mummy rooms (for students), but it was worth it. There are no treasures or artifacts, just the preserved remains of some of the most well known Pharos of Egypt, and the only really well placed and detailed information cards(mostly because the guides are not allowed to 'guide' in these small rooms). The mummies look like stone statues, if stone statues were incredibly deaitled, shrivveled and had teeth, fingernails and hair.

After walking so long our feet were tired and sore, so we left and sat at a coffee shop and had sheesha, then came back to the hotel. There is not much else for me to say, other than the weather is devine here (as far as I am concerned), and crossing the road is a large scale game of frogger. It is fun, everyone should visit if they get the opportunity.

Pyramids are tomorrow, I can't wait.

Siangapore Airprort is wonderful. I type this sitting in the burgerking at Terminal 1, however it will be until I get to Cairo until I post it I think. The airport is just wonderful, containign almost as large a range of products, if not stores, as most shopping centres in wither Melbourne or Sydney, and it is beautifull here. Plants and waterfeatures, large open spaces and even at 10pm (local) it is teaming with people of many races.

The flight was uneventful, one minor bout of turbulance, and that was all. Watched Fightclub, some how appropriate and you will understand what I mean if you watch it again in the mindset of being on a plane.

Minor shocks so far: Ashtrays in the armreasts on the plane, which I should have expected, the 747-400's are aproaching 20 years old if not more. Not that the age showed elsewhwere. Announcements in chinese at the airport, just odd given that I have never realy heard any language but english over a PA system. And lastly, the number of cargoships in the water coming into Singapore. Serioulsy, I have NEVER seen that many ships in the one place. I made out a distinct 15 at a quick count, and saw pleanty more ship lights in the light mist.

I went outside briefly, thinking to have a glass of coke in the cactus garden only 20m away from me, but it was sooo muggy outside. Never felt anything like it, short of actually being in a sauna. It is crazy hot, I had fogotten I was in the tropics here.

Moving from T3 to T@ is proving to be a small adventure in itself, I still have, at the time of writing, 2 hours until I have to be at the gate, 3 until my plane leaves, so I decided to walk instead of taking the skytrain. This is taking me through T1 (where I am now), and I walked to te opposite end of T3 earlier. The whole place is beautiful, and so large I think Melbourne airport would fit in a single terminal here.

Until I get to Cairo, happy sleeping.

Ben

As I type this, a milestone has passed. There are now less than 24 hours until my plane is schedualed to depart. Packing is complete, just the final things that will go in my carry on luggage to settle and im good to go.

One becomes quite nervous at this point, nervous enough infact to refer to oneself as 'one'. This flight for me breaks three personal reccords; it is the longest flight i have ever been on, it is the most money i have ever spent on somethign for myself and it will take me further from Australia than I have ever been. In addition to that, it will double the number of countries I have visited. How exciting.

Not particularly looking forward to the farewell at the airport. goodbyes are rarley plesant, and this one will contain large quantities of tear prone family members. Joy. Oh well, the things we do for those that birthed us.

At this point there are two major thoughts that are dominating my mind, leaving all others a wimper in the background. One is the image of meeting nat outside Cairo international, and the other is bizzarely the hope that the Singapore Air website was accurate about the onboard facilities. Funny how that works.

Despite not being a desendant of the actuall gypsys, i think the name applys. I aquired it in a conversation with a pair of complete strangers. i actually kinda like it, and on closer looking into it, I found out that the word is derived from the latin word for Egyptian. How appropriate.

In other news I had a fantastic goign away party at mums, more fun than perhaps any other family gathering ever. Alcahol may have played a part, but well....it allways does.

Today is packing day and I am thus far 0% packed....still trying to decide what exactly to pack really. Its not as easy as you would think. Honest.

Also thinking of writing an article for the website outside of the standard blog/tutorial/minor update thing. Will see how it goes

Ben

OK its getting late,  but i needed to put this in.

Got an insipron mini 9 today and its fantastic.

more to come

Well, I decided since the news page is getting used more for tutorials and the such, I would make a dedicated Blog page.

Travel preperations are going well, I have luggage, tickets and a hard drive for all the shit on my computer. About 200gigs of shit to be presice.


And tomorrow is cup day. The first time in 3 years i get to celebrate it, stupid sydney. Havig a BBQ at kym,s should be fun!

Caio