The original limestone casing on the Pyramid of Khafre
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
Friday, April 07, 2006
The pyramids from afar
The pyramids from afar
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
Busloads of tourists were piled up at one lookout point, but I hiked out into the sand on my own to get this photo.
The pyramid of Khufu, the largest, is the one in back on the right side. The pyramid of Khafre is the one with the lighter-color on top. The pyramid of Menkaure is the large one to the left. The three smaller pyramids are named the "Queen's pyramids".
Entrance into the Great Pyramid of Khufu
Entrance into the Great Pyramid of Khufu
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
You pay out the nose at the pyramids, but then again, they are the pyramids. I used my student discount card and got in for half price. I went inside the Great pyramid, the oldest one at Giza (2600 BC), and the largest one in Egypt (146.5 meters). Cameras are forbidden inside.
You first start in a carved hallway that is like any other tunnel, but then you come to slanted ramp that goes up the pyramid at a 20 degree angle. It is quite low and narrow, about 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet. They have laid down a ramp with 2x4 steps which are a bit tricky. This ramps goes up for about 100 feet until you come to an opening. This opening also has a ramp at the same angle, but the ceiling opens up about 25 feet high and the walls are about 10 feet apart. This continues for another 100 feet. At the top, you crawl underneath two massive blocks to enter the tomb chamber. The chamber walls are pink granite and sitting on one end is an empty sarcophagus.
There were a couple other tunnels that were gated shut, but I don't know where those tunnels led. It was pretty cool crawling through these tight spaces.
Abu al-Hol, the Father of Terror
Abu al-Hol, the Father of Terror
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
I prefer that name to "the Sphinx". Abu was getting a facelift this morning, so he wasn't looking his best. Supposedly this was carved from mostly one piece of limestone; limestone that was left over from the construction of the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
The Nile cutting through Cairo
The Nile cutting through Cairo
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
The city bus took me across the Nile. This was my first look at this area. There were a lot of massive hotels along the Nile.
The pyramids at Giza
Today I got up early (still three hours ahead of local time) at visited the great pyramids at Giza, a suburb southwest of Cairo. I took a city bus and got there 30 minutes before it opened and before any other tourists. To give you an idea of how few independent travellers there are here: I was the only tourist on the city bus, but within half an hour after it opened, there was a line of tour coaches creeping up to the pyramids.
The pyramids were amazing. We were driving through a suburb, when suddenly I saw one of the pyramids looming in front of me. It was a wierd feeling seeing them, sort of like seeing the Angkor temples. These were built four and a half thousand years ago.
Tonight I am headed down to Aswan on the overnight train. I have signed up for a five-day tour that will take me on a the Nile river from Aswan down to Luxor.
The pyramids were amazing. We were driving through a suburb, when suddenly I saw one of the pyramids looming in front of me. It was a wierd feeling seeing them, sort of like seeing the Angkor temples. These were built four and a half thousand years ago.
Tonight I am headed down to Aswan on the overnight train. I have signed up for a five-day tour that will take me on a the Nile river from Aswan down to Luxor.
Sufi music in Peshawar
This is the Sufi music I sat in on while in Peshawar. There was a lot of hashish in the air.
Music at the Regale Internet Inn in Lahore, Pakistan
The Regale Internet Inn in Lahore is one of those places where you will meet crazy travellers. It is "the" place to meet other travellers to get info or trade books. Malik, the owner, has little concerts on his rooftop every week. The music isn't really my scene, but it was fun watching thebackpackers smoke hashish and suddenly jump up and start dancing like tribal people. This is just a short clip of the music.
Golden Temple at Amritsar
This shows the people walking around the Golden Temple. You can hear the singing or reading of their scripture. It's a very cool place.
Night traffic in Amritsar
This is the evening traffic in Amritsar. I was in the back of a large autorickshaw.
Goose-stepping border guards
The show at the border is the marching procession of guards. They find the tallest guys on both sides of the border. They have hats that make them even taller. Anyways, this is a short clip of them goosestepping to the gate.
Cheering crowds at the Wagah border crossing
This short video gives you an idea how patriotic everyone is at the closing of the Indian-Pakistani border.
Autorickshaw ride to Pahar Ganj backpacker ghetto in New Delhi
This is a short video showing the street scene around Pahar Ganj in New Delhi. It is right outside the New Delhi train station so it is especially chaotic.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Midan Talaat Harb
Midan Talaat Harb
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
This is the downtown area of Cairo, and what I think is the most European. At night clothing and electronic shops open up.
Minarets in the Islamic quarter
Minarets in the Islamic quarter
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
I walked to this area from the downtown "European" area. There were a lot of old mosques and remnants of the Citadel from the 12th c. Besides that, there were a lot of tourist shops selling hookahs and t-shirts.
Serving up kushari
Serving up kushari
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
This is a blend of rice, pasta, black lentils, fried onions, and tomato sauce. A bowl cost about 40 cents. Very delicious.
Egyptian Museum
Egyptian Museum
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
I showed up just past 0900, along with all other tour groups in Egypt. Holy cow. The museum was more crowded than the metro train. They were all in massive tour groups that hogged all the exhibits. It didn't matter to me so much, because the museum actually SUCKED. There were no informative signs or placards, so it was like walking around in a big warehouse. I didn't learn anything.
I did get to see the mummies, all dried up and three thousand years old, and the golden "head piece" they found on King Tut's mummy.
The museum collection is huge, but it didn't mean anything to me. Oh well.
City bus in Peshawar -- interior
City bus in Peshawar -- interior
Originally uploaded by bastchild.
As interesting on the inside as it is on the outside.
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