12/31/10

Everyone was really excited today because today visited the sight that we define Egypt by—the pyramids! We went to the pyramids of Giza. First we were all situated on our camels as they tour guides took us through the desert and gave us some background about the pyramids. I loved the experience of sitting on the camel, but I was always afraid that something would spook the camel and it would just take off. Although I could not tell from afar, up close it was very obvious that the desert had been polluted. I felt as if this was the only part of the experience that was a bit unsettling.

Another part of this experience that really bothered me was that the guy who was controlling my camel kept asking me for a tip, even though I kept explaining to him that we had been instructed by our Professor not to tip them individually, that they would get tipped at the end. At one point, he was giving such dirty looks that I felt that if I did not tip him, he might influence the camel in some way so that it drop me or at the very least, scare me enough to think that the camel will drop me.

After got off the camels, we went to the area where the Sphinx was located. As I observed the Spinx, I realized that the nose had broken off and I recalled a scene from the movie “The Prince of Egypt,” in which Moses is goofing around with his brother Ramses and accidently knocks over the ladder of the slave who is carving the nose of the Sphinx, causing the nose to completely break off. I would say that I have never taken as many pictures anywhere else I did at the Sphinx. At the end of it all, we were bombarded by little kids selling inexpensive postcards. I bought a pack of postcards and a set of decoration pieces that resembled the three pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

For lunch we headed to a restaurant (I forget the name), where we had delicious falafel, rice with cinnamon, and mixed grill, which consisted of chicken and beef. The food smelled very similar to the Pakistani food I’m used to eating, but when I ate it, I realized there was a very important difference—Egyptian food was not at all spicy like Pakistani food. What I really liked the most about the restaurant was the environment—we ate outside, there was a live band playing traditional Arab music, and there was also a man who used different colored sand to make shapes in small bottles.

In the evening those who were planning to attend the Naseer Shama event dressed up for the occasion. We met up together and walked down to the El Sawy Center. In the beginning, I was upset that I’d let some of my friends talk me into going to the show because I didn’t think it was going to be good at all. I thought that I would fall asleep as soon as the show started and I would then leave during the intermission. But much to my surprise, I loved the show!! I loved sound of instruments I’d never heard before. The music reminded me of classical Indian music, which my dad and I love. I especially enjoyed the parts where each player would perform a solo with his own instrument—it allowed me to really appreciate the importance and contribution of each instrument.

At the end of the show, I was really glad I went. I couldn’t believe that I almost missed out on such an amazing cultural event. It always amazes me when something turns out opposite to what I expect.

The three pyramids of Giza and our camels

At the Sphinx

Nasser Shama event at the El Sawy Cultural Center