Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

I first visited this museum in 2005, and I was amazed by it, mostly because how the content which has extreme historical was sporadically laying about the museum. It seemed as if there was too much to display in any organized manner. Having returned, 14 years later, the museum in generally was much more organized and it appeared to be less cluttered. However, the museum seemed much smaller than I remembered it. Next time I visit, if I do, the museum will be in a new location. A much bigger location. I suspect the museum will be much more modern, and less British in style.

Giza Pyramids

My second time visiting these amazing structures. This visit there were far less visitors than my first visit. The pyramids and sphinx never get old! However, this time I visited mid-day. It was a bit too hot to be walking about 85F or 30C degree weather with the mid-day sun beating down. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit once again, since I had a two day layover in Cairo.

Nuweiba, Egypt

We were able to relax a couple of days on the Gulf of Aqaba in Nuweiba, Egypt, before heading back to Jordon. Emma (middle) and Dawn (right) are engaged in a sales transaction on the beach front. Generally, they would say no to the various beach panhandlers, but with this particular lady they though it would be best to purchase something.

Nuweiba, Egypt

Chris enjoying the seaside cabana

Update - Egypt

We’ll be in Cairo for the next few days, and then heading north back through Jordan, Syria and Eastern Turkey before arriving in Iran. While we passed through the named countries on our way south, we still have some major sites to see, like Petra and Jerash in the country of Jordan and Palmyra in the country of Syria, on our trip north.

During our stay in Egypt, we toured through a major portion of the country, including the Aqaba, Sinai Peninsula, Cairo, the Western Desert, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, and Karnak Temple) Aswan, and a far south as Abu Simbel which is near Sudanese border. (See map link below.)

What amazed me most about Egypt is the shear grandeur and age of the temples and monuments. Just seeing them has piqued my interest in the civilizations that built them. I’ve seen some of the monuments and temples in documentaries, but experiencing them in person is something quite different. Seeing Egypt has given me an new founded appreciation for the complexity and sophistication of the civilizations that existed here some 4500 years ago. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t read up on Egyptian history before visiting. However, I’ve been looking in book stores for books on Egypt to supplement my reading list.

(Reading update: I’ve finished four of the books that I brought on the first leg of my trip, and I have four more to read prior reaching Nepal where book supply will be replenished. Traveling in the back of the truck provides an optimal reading environment. )

Felucca Ride - Aswan, Egypt

Ten of us took an overnight Felucca Ride up the Nile to the neighboring northern town. The scenery along the Nile was amazing.

Abu Simbel, Southern Egypt

To impress his power and majesty on the Nubians, Ramses II (1304-1237 B.C.E.) had four gigantic statues of himself hewn from the mountainside, whence his unblinking stare confronted travelers as they entered Egypt from Africa. Located 40 k from the Sudan border, the great Temple of Abu Simbel epitomizes the monumentalism of the New Kingdom during its imperial heyday when Ramses waged colonial wars.

Karnak Temple, Hypostyle Hall - Luxor Egypt

After spending a couple days in the Western Desert of Egypt, we made out way to Luxor in Southern Egypt. The highlight for me was the Karnak Temple. Quote from guidebook "The temple complex of Karnak beats every other pharaonic monument but the Pyramids of Giza" The Great Hypostyle Hall is Karnak's glory, a forest of gigantic columns covering in area of 6000 square meters. The pillars are 23m high and 15m round (requiring six people with out-stretched arms to encircle the girth).

Sign – Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt

The shear age and grandeur of the temple is mind boggling. What is nice is that the structure of our trip leaves a lot of flexibility once we arrive in a city. People who want to see ruins can, people who don't can hang out at the hotel and swim or do whatever. This flexibility allows for ample time to hangout in a temple like Karnak and absorb the surroundings... and "feel the vibe" if you know what I mean. There is no rush.

Hieroglyphics in the Karnak Temple – Luxor, Egypt

Statues to Entrance of Amun Temple – Luxor, Egypt

Ram Statutes in Karnak Temple - Luxor, Egypt

Andy & Yumi - Kong-Fu Fighting - White Desert, Egypt

No real significance behind the picture...just providing you a break from looking at pictures of ruins.

I've been corrected...Yumi says there is significance behind the picture..."it's mortal combat...and its only the beginning...." whatever that means...

Desert Camping – Western Desert, Egypt

Having a multipurpose vehicle allows us to "rough" camp. I think I mentioned it earlier, "rough" camping is when we take a random detour off the road and set up camp for the night. This types of camping saves on accommodation fees, however, often the toilets are cleaner than the hotels we stay. It's a great way to experience the more rural parts of the country including the desert (as picture) and sleep under the desert stars.

White Desert, Egypt

In the white desert, the wind has eroded chalk monoliths into surreal forms called "yardangs". A group of us took a tour of the Western Deserts in 4-wheel drive vehicles and camped amongst the "yardangs".

Desert Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Driving through the desert was great, but the highlight for me was driving through the occasional oasis. Desert oases really exist!!!! I previously thought they only existed in movies or on TV, like when Abbott and Costello got loss in the desert and came upon the oasis with the spitting fish. The oases were similar, but in the oases we visited, didn't have spitting fish, or at least none that I saw.

Group Photo – Western Desert, Egypt

Yi-Ching was the art director on this photo.

Pyramid and Sphinx – Cairo, Egypt

All I can say is everybody should experience visiting the Pyramids of Giza once in their life-time. They are amazing.

Group Photo – Cairo, Egypt

(l to r) Roberto, Sonja, James, myself (with the sad looking headwear), Dawn (difficult to see, with hands over Yumi's head, extending the pyramid theme), Yumi (orange dress), Bob, Yi-Ching, Andy (kneeing), Hazel, Emma and Joanne (missing: Frank, Chris and Jim).

Mike (foreground) and a Pyramid (background) – Cairo, Egypt

I've retired the orange hat (for a little while at least) and switched to the local headwear. But I'm still learning how to wear it properly.