Egypt

[Eedj]

Salam alekum

I'm off there in a week and a half....:hidban: and getting excited now.....

I've learned some basic Arabic and will be learning a bit more....shokran to all those who've helped with that btw.

I'll be visiting Cairo by shuttle bus and Luxor by plane from where I'm based in Sharm.

I've got the basic stuff sorted....my wife is taking stuff that will cover her shoulders, legs and head when not at the beach/pool, I've got shorts that go past the knees. Got to pick up rehydration salts and plenty of suncream.

Any tips on places to visit, things to see, places to eat, useful phrases, etc. would all be most welcome.

Jazakallah Khair! :up:

[saladin1970]

Salam alekum

I'm off there in a week and a half....:hidban: and getting excited now.....

I've learned some basic Arabic and will be learning a bit more....shokran to all those who've helped with that btw.

I'll be visiting Cairo by shuttle bus and Luxor by plane from where I'm based in Sharm.

I've got the basic stuff sorted....my wife is taking stuff that will cover her shoulders, legs and head when not at the beach/pool, I've got shorts that go past the knees. Got to pick up rehydration salts and plenty of suncream.

Any tips on places to visit, things to see, places to eat, useful phrases, etc. would all be most welcome.

Jazakallah Khair! :up:


Make sure you stay at the grand hyatt as the saudi owner has banned all alcohol, and so his business is slightly suffering.

[bitter_sweet]

Salam alekum

I'm off there in a week and a half....:hidban: and getting excited now.....

I've learned some basic Arabic and will be learning a bit more....shokran to all those who've helped with that btw.

I'll be visiting Cairo by shuttle bus and Luxor by plane from where I'm based in Sharm.

I've got the basic stuff sorted....my wife is taking stuff that will cover her shoulders, legs and head when not at the beach/pool, I've got shorts that go past the knees. Got to pick up rehydration salts and plenty of suncream.

Any tips on places to visit, things to see, places to eat, useful phrases, etc. would all be most welcome.

Jazakallah Khair! :up:

theres this place in luxor...this olden temple..where the pharoes used ta do ther stuff...and on top theyv built this mosque. its stunning at sunset cause the suns glitterin off the dome, an tha adhan, an u can see this old history temple...an all of that...

oh...u also gotta visit alexandria...thers sallah-uddins citadel ther:)

[Eedj]

Make sure you stay at the grand hyatt as the saudi owner has banned all alcohol, and so his business is slightly suffering.

So I read! I don't mind if a hotel in a Muslim country wants to do that as it's their decision and I respect that. It certainly wouldn't put me off visiting somewhere if they don't serve alcohol.

I must admit I do drink (I'm non-Muslim) but pretty rarely.

I do have a glass of wine with a meal (but I'm told it's £15-18 a bottle there so won't be doing that often!!). Plus it's so hot, I don't want to dehydrate myself too much....

I have been told to try the sheesha bars there instead of going to nightclubs and it seems a relaxing way of enjoying an evening...

[Eedj]

theres this place in luxor...this olden temple..where the pharoes used ta do ther stuff...and on top theyv built this mosque. its stunning at sunset cause the suns glitterin off the dome, an tha adhan, an u can see this old history temple...an all of that...

oh...u also gotta visit alexandria...thers sallah-uddins citadel ther:)

:up:

I'll look out for the stuff in Luxor. Don't know if I'll get the chance to Alexandria but I'd love to. Depends on money and time as we're only there for nine days!!

[Al-Nasser]

i can recommend loads of places in Cairo and Alexandria

[Eedj]

i can recommend loads of places in Cairo and Alexandria

Excellent...Cairo would be good as we're going there for a day or two, many thanks!!

[.: Anna :.]

have a good time :D
we were there a couple of months ago, just in cairo. some nice places there are al azhar mosque and to hav a look around that area, and ibn tulun mosque, beautiful buildings :up:
btw citadel is in cairo aswell, not in alex like someone said...
about the arabic try to speak egyptian dialect bc if u speak only proper fusha there are some ppl who actually wont understand it, to the extent that they dont know what u are on about :smack: so u have to egyptianify it sometimes to make the communication work.
oh and one final thing, sometimes ppl will try to ask u really crazy prices... so dont just agree to that, only pay them what u want to pay. for example jst tell the price u actually want, and if they dnt agree it walk off & some ppl will run out the shop after u cos they just want u to buy it, so dnt let ppl rip u off.

[Al-Nasser]

actually there is a citadel in Alexandria....right on the beach

http://www.ask-aladdin.com/qaitbay.html

[.: Anna :.]

oh okay but is it salahuddin ayyubi one, bc that is in cairo aswel. so there are two?? :confused:

[Al-Nasser]

no...the one in Alexandria was built by Al-Ashraf Qaitbay

the one in Cairo (which is bigger) was built by Saladin and was expanded as far as i know by Muhammad Ali (the 19th century great ruler of Egypt)

[Rouz]

have a good time :D
we were there a couple of months ago, just in cairo. some nice places there are al azhar mosque and to hav a look around that area, and ibn tulun mosque, beautiful buildings :up:
btw citadel is in cairo aswell, not in alex like someone said...
about the arabic try to speak egyptian dialect bc if u speak only proper fusha there are some ppl who actually wont understand it, to the extent that they dont know what u are on about :smack: so u have to egyptianify it sometimes to make the communication work.
oh and one final thing, sometimes ppl will try to ask u really crazy prices... so dont just agree to that, only pay them what u want to pay. for example jst tell the price u actually want, and if they dnt agree it walk off & some ppl will run out the shop after u cos they just want u to buy it, so dnt let ppl rip u off.

Completely agree with this! I come from an egyptian family, but as soon as we open our mouths they can tell we're not from there. So be careful, never give up haggling!

[.: Anna :.]

yeh ppl also thought i was egyptian til i opened my mouth, but im not :p even in umrah alot of ppl were guessing "r u egyptian?" lol

[Rouz]

yeh ppl also thought i was egyptian til i opened my mouth, but im not :p even in umrah alot of ppl were guessing "r u egyptian?" lol

Aw, It's nice to know i generally blend in though when i go there :p
You can speak arabic fluently cant you?

[bitter_sweet]

oh okay but is it salahuddin ayyubi one, bc that is in cairo aswel. so there are two?? :confused:

when we visited last year, i think we visited 3 or something in cairo, alexandria, luxor..e.t.c....i think there may be more than 3 aswell...dunnow though...

[.: Anna :.]

Aw, It's nice to know i generally blend in though when i go there :p
You can speak arabic fluently cant you?

i wdnt say fluent :(

[Eedj]

You've all been very helpful. I really can't wait to go now! I love architecture (having lived in Swindon for two years, aaaany architecture looks good!! lol) and I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the mosques, etc. in Cairo, as well as the ancient buildings.

Everyone I know that's been have said that the people are incredibly friendly so I'm hoping they'll have patience with my awful arabic! :D

[greenshirt]

many people in egypt know english so it should not be a problem. when i was in egypt, at the time i did not know a word of arabic(not even salaam!) and i got through the country fine. :)

maybe you will convert to islam while there. i know 3 people who reverted to islam while visiting a muslim country. lol, but i also know dozens that did not, so i can only pray!

i think most people have pretty much given you the good info! check out the pyramids, enjoy the site-seeing, enjoy the beaches, and have a great time! the people are very friendly. do not forget to buy from street vendors.. many people who are street vendors are poor people trying to provide for their families. do humanity a favor and help some people!

enjoy!

wa salaam

[Al-Nasser]

don't get scammed

respect the Islamic sensibilities

be careful where you take photos

ask the Taxi driver about his fees before you step a feet in the Taxi...whatever price he give you divide it by two and start bargining

Cairo in night is 100 times more glorious and even better the crimes rates are very low.....as for Luxor it's even lower

please don't wear shorts......it won't hurt feelings....sometimes in summer we go out wearing shorts.....but tourists wearing shorts do really look dorky

don't get scammed buying souvenirs

in two weeks the weather will be so damn hot.....consider that

don't drive in Cairo unless you are a real gladiator

that's all i can remember for now

[Rouz]

Oh i will also add..when taking into account heat temperatures, its actually hotter than the temp says because of the extreme humidity, which makes it 10 times worse. Particularly Alexandria, the humidity there is horrible, i think in Cairo it's a bit less though.

[Rouz]

i wdnt say fluent :(

InshaAllah you will be in the future :)

I need to really brush up before i go to Egypt this summer, i hardly every speak it so i get rusty :(

[Eedj]

many people in egypt know english so it should not be a problem. when i was in egypt, at the time i did not know a word of arabic(not even salaam!) and i got through the country fine. :)

maybe you will convert to islam while there. i know 3 people who reverted to islam while visiting a muslim country. lol, but i also know dozens that did not, so i can only pray!

i think most people have pretty much given you the good info! check out the pyramids, enjoy the site-seeing, enjoy the beaches, and have a great time! the people are very friendly. do not forget to buy from street vendors.. many people who are street vendors are poor people trying to provide for their families. do humanity a favor and help some people!

enjoy!

wa salaam

I usually try to buy from the street vendors wherever I go and I've even been advised to take pens (apparently, a lot of the kids prize pens above all else!!) !! I'll take some of them too!

don't get scammed

respect the Islamic sensibilities

be careful where you take photos

ask the Taxi driver about his fees before you step a feet in the Taxi...whatever price he give you divide it by two and start bargining

Cairo in night is 100 times more glorious and even better the crimes rates are very low.....as for Luxor it's even lower

please don't wear shorts......it won't hurt feelings....sometimes in summer we go out wearing shorts.....but tourists wearing shorts do really look dorky

don't get scammed buying souvenirs

in two weeks the weather will be so damn hot.....consider that

don't drive in Cairo unless you are a real gladiator

that's all i can remember for now

If the weather's that hot, I may just have to still wear shorts!! I'm not American though so know how to dress well...:up::D I won't wear them beyond the beach normally anyway to be fair.

Thankfully, I can't drive but I've heard about Egyptian roads and I'm quite happy I'm not driving!!!

Lots of the guys and gals on here have been kind enough to let me know what's expected of me in a Muslim country.

Oh i will also add..when taking into account heat temperatures, its actually hotter than the temp says because of the extreme humidity, which makes it 10 times worse. Particularly Alexandria, the humidity there is horrible, i think in Cairo it's a bit less though.

I'll pack plenty of water too then!!! Cheers!!

[Abu Muslim]

Any tips on places to visit, things to see, places to eat, useful phrases, etc. would all be most welcome.

Jazakallah Khair! :up:

wa3laykum salaam. Loads of places to bisit achully, go to Mount Sinaai, that place is too buff tabarakAllah and is also a nice hike up the mountain. Also as others have suggested go to Salahuddin palace thing in Cairo.

Places to eat are pleeenty are prices are really good compared to UK so that bits easy but they might try ripping you off on street and taxi rides so make sure you have none of it.

This is a pic I took of Mount Sinaai, also know as jabal Musa..beeyotiful.

http://www.dhikrullah.com/abumuslim/DSC07685.jpg

[Eedj]

wa3laykum salaam. Loads of places to bisit achully, go to Mount Sinaai, that place is too buff tabarakAllah and is also a nice hike up the mountain. Also as others have suggested go to Salahuddin palace thing in Cairo.

Places to eat are pleeenty are prices are really good compared to UK so that bits easy but they might try ripping you off on street and taxi rides so make sure you have none of it.

This is a pic I took of Mount Sinaai, also know as jabal Musa..beeyotiful.

http://www.dhikrullah.com/abumuslim/DSC07685.jpg

There are bedouin trips there so I may just do that.

I'm cacking myself over haggling as my numbers aren't so good in arabic...lol...may just resort to a Bruce Forsythesque 'higher' or 'lower'!!

[perfectpearl]

don't get scammed

respect the Islamic sensibilities

be careful where you take photos

ask the Taxi driver about his fees before you step a feet in the Taxi...whatever price he give you divide it by two and start bargining

Cairo in night is 100 times more glorious and even better the crimes rates are very low.....as for Luxor it's even lower

please don't wear shorts......it won't hurt feelings....sometimes in summer we go out wearing shorts.....but tourists wearing shorts do really look dorky

don't get scammed buying souvenirs

in two weeks the weather will be so damn hot.....consider that

don't drive in Cairo unless you are a real gladiator

that's all i can remember for now

lol that made me laugh :D

Just watch out when crossing the streets. Its really scary but be brave. :p Egypt is so different so make the most out it if you are not already there. :up:

[Eedj]

I fly out on Sunday and arrive in the early hours of Monday so will pack some extra food for when I arrive!!

[Ebony]

Have fun :)

[Eedj]

Assalam Alekum

In Sharm today. Did Luxor & Karnak yesterday.

Thanks for all of the tips folks. Having a great time.

My wife did get more respect than the rest of the tourists yesterday for covering up in the city areas of Karnak and Luxor.

The people are very friendly, the hotels are great, the weather is great. I'm getting harassed by the street vendors. A lot. Even when I'm being firm but polite. I wasn't brought up to ignore people and be impolite but when people take no notice of your polite refusal, it drives me crazy!!!

Karnak and Luxor seemed fairly poor areas so handed out lots of baksheesh there though to the kids.

People are impressed when I use Jazakallah Khair rather than shakron too, which is nice, and my Arabic is getting better apparently, though it's classed as 'Muslim Arabic'. Told them that you guys taught me most of it and gave them the web address!!

[Al-Nasser]

very good

will you go diving in sharm?

[Eedj]

very good

will you go diving in sharm?

Snorkelling definitely!

[Al-Nasser]

scuba diving is what i am talking about

you will be missing a lot if you don't go scuba diving in Sharm

http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/redsea/sharmop.html

[Unique Muslimah]

very good

will you go diving in sharm?

It's all about Khaleeg Na3ma..:hidban:
:outta:

[Treasured Soul]

I sooo want to visit Egypt ... but I dont know any Arabic :(

[Eedj]

I sooo want to visit Egypt ... but I dont know any Arabic :(

To be fair, a lot of the people out there speak very good English, Russian and Italian (shows us monoglots up a treat). I wanted to at least learn a little before I went and it was appreciated (hence I speak a little Greek, Italian, French, etc.).

It's a country of contrast, beauty and in some cases, extreme poverty. Very low crime rates, very friendly people, and many bargains to be had.

Some of the shop-keepers gave me 'local rates' for stuff at the end in the supermarkets for learning the language. They said if I sound and look like a local, I should pay local price.

There was a problem at the hotel with some Palestinian guys though unfortunately. They treated the staff and everyone else at the hotel with utter contempt and they were asked to leave after two days. They smashed a bottle of vodka in the family pool one morning too...not nice guys. The Russians are horrid people, the Italians, Somali, Egyptian and Sudanese who stayed at the hotel were great.

Thanks again to the tips from all of you....I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted to, so I'll definitely go back at some point.

Again, my wife gained a lot of respect for covering up when we went to Cairo too, and many of the other women on the trip bought something to cover their arms and shoulders later on when they noticed how much better my wife was treated for dressing modestly.

At the end of the day, you can spend plenty of time getting a tan at the hotel or beach and you're not going to be any less tanned for wearing a wee bit more when in other public areas.

[Ebony]

Good to know you enjoyed it :D was the weather bearable? Would you recommend it to others? Anyting youd do differently?

And with regards to the harrassment from street vendors; its just how they do business. Usually you are best ignoring them if you arent interested in their products.

[xris]

things not to do.Go to the museum in cairo when the tourist rush is on and dont go into the pyramid if you dont like being enclosed.What you must do is be generous to the egyptians they all live on very low wages.I made a friend for life because i paid for the waiter to fly and see his new born daughter.He had been extremely good to me when i was ill and it was lovely to return his kindness.The egyptian people are wonderful, they are the best thing about egypt.

[Eedj]

Good to know you enjoyed it :D was the weather bearable? Would you recommend it to others? Anyting youd do differently?

And with regards to the harrassment from street vendors; its just how they do business. Usually you are best ignoring them if you arent interested in their products.

I can't ignore people unfortunately and I know that they have business to do so I politely told them no instead.

The weather is bearable but do as the locals do and go indoors during peak heat periods of the day.

I'd recommend Egypt to anyone and everyone. I stayed at Sharm Holiday Resort too and that was fantastic. The reviews of the place went between 1/10 to 9/10 when I read before going but I'd give it an 8.

I'd probably like to have spent more time diving/snorkelling but you have to make some compromises and there's sooooo much to do, you'd struggle to fit it into two weeks!!!
things not to do.Go to the museum in cairo when the tourist rush is on and dont go into the pyramid if you dont like being enclosed.What you must do is be generous to the egyptians they all live on very low wages.I made a friend for life because i paid for the waiter to fly and see his new born daughter.He had been extremely good to me when i was ill and it was lovely to return his kindness.The egyptian people are wonderful, they are the best thing about egypt.

I enjoyed the museum and can imagine it'd be a crush during peak times of the year. I also second the point about the pyramids being very confined but I knew about that before going.

The average wage seems to be between 600-800LE (£60-£80) but that depends on how much of a non-Arabic language you speak when working in the tourist industry (they pay you less if your English/Russian/Italian isn't so good) so I agree with tipping the guys and girls out there as much as you can. Food prices have been on the increase too to make things a little harder. Don't flash money around and don't waste food as it's taking the mick. Nice touch as well Xris, I can imagine it was appreciated.

I stepped in a couple of times to stop people being abusive to locals (and to stop the Palestinians having a go at the bar staff for not pouring bigger measures). As much the vendors drove me crazy, I knew that they were just trying to put food on the table.

[Cartman]

make sure you protest hosni mubarak

[.: Anna :.]

glad to hear u had a good time :up:

[Eedj]

make sure you protest hosni mubarak

Why? He was broadly well liked when I was in private conversation with Egyptians (and they're the ones that count).

The people I met in Cairo particularly seemed to like him.

They're the ones that count.

[Eedj]

glad to hear u had a good time :up:

Shokran Anna. :D

[Cartman]

Why? He was broadly well liked when I was in private conversation with Egyptians (and they're the ones that count).

The people I met in Cairo particularly seemed to like him.

They're the ones that count.

hosni mubarak = dictator...who arrests members of the true party of the people, the muslim brotherhood

[xris]

hosni mubarak = dictator...who arrests members of the true party of the people, the muslim brotherhoodi dont think its appropriate on holiday to make your feelings that clear.

[Eedj]

hosni mubarak = dictator...who arrests members of the true party of the people, the muslim brotherhood

Hosni Mubarak = a leader that has guided the country through difficult periods and is seen as the right man for the job.

Statistically, the Muslim Brotherhood wouldn't enjoy great success at the ballot box (according to independent voting monitoring bodies - though I would like to see them at the elections without supression so this could be borne out). They are linked to Hamas and IAF in other countries. They are actually banned in some Arab countries.

Perhaps the perceived lack of trust in them is because the original credo included the line, 'jihad is our way'.

They would have been likely to have been stronger at the recent elections due do the food price rises, but I don't see how they would have improved the situation in that regard as they don't seem to have any coherent political or economic strategies to improve the country.

[Al-Nasser]

the Muslim Brotherhood did great in the 2005 election

they did great under pressure and forgery by the secular elite

in my place the brotherhood won the two seats......shattering the myth that only the poor would vote for the Islamists...this was so unacceptable as this is the district where 90% of ministers and the big names of the ruling party live......so they forged the results without the least of shame to take one seat from the Muslim brotherhood candidate (a female) and give it to some ruling party monkey

[Cartman]

Hosni Mubarak = a leader that has guided the country through difficult periods and is seen as the right man for the job.

Statistically, the Muslim Brotherhood wouldn't enjoy great success at the ballot box (according to independent voting monitoring bodies - though I would like to see them at the elections without supression so this could be borne out). They are linked to Hamas and IAF in other countries. They are actually banned in some Arab countries.

Perhaps the perceived lack of trust in them is because the original credo included the line, 'jihad is our way'.

They would have been likely to have been stronger at the recent elections due do the food price rises, but I don't see how they would have improved the situation in that regard as they don't seem to have any coherent political or economic strategies to improve the country.

ROFL ROFL ROFLCOPTER

[Eedj]

the Muslim Brotherhood did great in the 2005 election

they did great under pressure and forgery by the secular elite

in my place the brotherhood won the two seats......shattering the myth that only the poor would vote for the Islamists...this was so unacceptable as this is the district where 90% of ministers and the big names of the ruling party live......so they forged the results without the least of shame to take one seat from the Muslim brotherhood candidate (a female) and give it to some ruling party monkey

Fair point. I didn't say that the elections were fair, I'm just saying that there are independent observers who say that they would be unlikely to win an election, even if the underhand way they're prohibited were cast off.

I'd prefer that to be borne out in a fair, democratic election though.

The problem I have with the MB is that they want to unite the Arab nations under one government but they don't have consistency of policy across those nations anyhow. They seem to espouse peaceful democracy in some countries and jihad in others...it leaves me confused to be honest...