Being the second time visiting this Middle Eastern jewel gave us the chance to look at it with a different set of eyes. Yes, the pyramids are mesmerizing, but having seen them before, we could look beyond their majesty and take in the atmosphere around us. Instead of gazing out over Cairo, we could take in the polished marble of an abandoned mosque. The library of Alexandria is filled with one of the greatest collections of literature on earth but it is the modern architecture that is so striking. Students hang out in the complex and ponder the challenges of Egypt’s future while we snap shots of its striking design.

Egypt is filled with ancient monuments, but it is walking along the streets and meeting the people that is magical. Egyptians are right up there as some of the friendliest people on earth. As we walked through the streets we were invited into establishments for tea and people greeted us with welcoming smiles. Children approached us to ask where we were from and everyone asked us to take their photograph.

It is a country close to our hearts as the starting point of this great travel journey that we’ve been on for the past few years and it brought back fond memories walking through its ancient passageways. We didn’t have enough time to truly immerse ourselves in this culture, but we will definitely be back.

For now, enjoy these photos of a different side of Egypt.

The Alabaster Mosque's outer courtyard is impressive to say the least

The interior of the Alabaster Mosque is even more impressive.

Sunrise a an abandoned mosque in Cairo, Egypt

A different look at the Library of Alexandria

The sun sets at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt

The Pyramids at night during the light show.

Life goes on in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt

Our trip through Egypt was courtesy of Memphis Tours.

I couldn’t see myself waking up each morning for the next 20 years to put make-up on people’s faces and Dave couldn’t see himself working 18 hour days for the rest of his life on movies that were causing him nothing but frustration as he played the game of trying to squeeze more money out of production managers  that wanted to keep it all for themselves.

Hours were getting longer while salaries were being cut and we were feeling empty and miserable. I remember traveling in Bali a few years before we left the industry and having a panic attack while getting up early to climb a volcano. I had a sense memory of having to wake up in the middle of the night for an early make-up call. I re-lived that feeling of dread I had each day going to my job on set. I didn’t realize how much I disliked my work until that moment and I knew right then and there that I was not going to do that for the rest of my life. Dave didn’t dread his job as much as me, he just wasn’t fulfilled in his life. He knew he wanted something more. He wanted his life to be extraordinary, not average.

Working in the Middle of the Night in the Middle of Winter

That was 2004

We found our way through travel. It took another 4 years before Dave and I finally left the business, but it was travel that inspired us to live our dreams. Dave honed his skills in photography, while I worked on my writing. We took courses and workshops and read as many books and articles that we could to find inspiration. It was a lot of work and commitment.

Intrepid Travel is making things easy for you to change your life. 

For the month of January, Intrepid Travel is daring you to make 2012 a year to remember. Will you accept the challenge? The Big Challenge is a way to push your boundaries and find out what you’re really made of!

I can’t tell you how excited we are to be a small part of this innovative company. When we read about this initiative, we had to share it with you.

They have put together five different categories of challenges to suit any your interest?

The Big Challenges

Challenge your Mind – Escape from behind your desk and get to know the culture of China, Mongolia or Egypt.
Challenge your Body – Put your workouts to the test and climb to Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro
Challenge your Senses – Forget the shopping malls, head out to a bazaar in India or a walk the steps of Tikal taking in the Mayan Culture in Guatemala.
Challenge Your Comfort Zone – Get off the couch and trek to see the gorillas in Rwanda or visit the pagodas of Burma
Challenge your Limits – Follow in the footsteps of ancient traders on the Silk Road or spot Orangutans in Sumatra.

We’ll never forget the first time we did all of these things.

Orangutan at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre

Our jaws dropped as we listened to howler monkeys roar from the top of the temples of Tikal, our heart raced as we reached the summit of Kilimanjaro and we looked on in awe as we witnessed Orangutans swing from the trees in the jungles of South East Asia.

Travel can change a life. We’re not talking about a beach vacation to Cuba, we’re talking about a transformational life experience to witness great monuments of the world, make new friends in a foreign land and ignite your senses as you eat Sichuan Hot pot in China, a dish that is so spicy it will make you giddy as your tongue loses it’s sensation.

Take a Chance

I know that many people are afraid to travel independently or don’t have the time to take on solo round the world trip, and that is exactly the reason we wanted to partner with Intrepid Travel. Their small group tours are the perfect introduction to independent travel and for the month of January they are offering 15% off on one of the above mentioned challenges. Follow this link over to The Big Challenge Page and make the decision to make 2012 your best year ever.

That’s why when you stay in a 5 star hotel, you know you can get sneak away from all toxic air, car exhaust and cigarette smoke. Unfortunately for us, the Intercontinental City Stars wasn’t the escape we needed.

Intercontinental City Stars Main Lobby

Did I tell you a lot of people smoke in Cairo? 

When we first checked in, unbeknownst to us, we were put on a smoking floor. I had already gone to Cairo with a terrible cold that I caught just before we left for Seattle a week earlier. Suffering from sinus pain and a sore throat, it got progressively worse as the week went on. After two days in our room, we couldnt’ take it anymore. We woke up each morning reeking of cigarettes with a sore throat and more congestion.

When we asked to change rooms we found out that there was indeed a non-smoking floor. We were elated to move.

The rooms were very nice looking

Did I tell you a lot of people smoke in Cairo?

Unfortunately for us, nobody abides by the rules and it was just as smoky on the non-smoking floor as it was on the smoking floor. The smoke seeped into our room. I turned of the air conditioner thinking that it was coming through the vents but it didnt’ help. I opened the window to let some fresh air in, but unfortunately, Cairo is polluted.

My cough worsened and sleep became difficult. We had a full schedule of sight seeing ahead of us after speaking at the IOETI conference and I had to get myself up for the challenge of seeing everything that Cairo had to offer.

Revisiting the Pyramids in Cairo

Lucky for us, we had spent a month in Egypt before and visited most of the sights, so as I slept walked my way through pyramids and monuments, streets and boardwalks, all I wanted to do was go to sleep.

Did I tell you a lot of People smoke in Cairo?

The Pool Bar

I just couldn’t escape the smoke. The sheesha bar outside by the pool was going strong, the smoking section in the restaurant seeped into the non-smoking area sectioned off by an invisible line and the lobby was filled with gentlemen in suits chain smoking while they sat in lavish chairs looking important.

The Last Day

On our final day of sightseeing, it was impossible for me to get out of bed. With my cold holding on for dear life and the cigarette smoke and pollutioin amplifying my symptoms I hit the wall. Dave went to the Alabaster Mosque with the rest of the group as I turned off the air in our room, closed all the windows and slathered myself in tiger balm while loading up on antibiotics that I bought at the City Stars mall connected to the Intercontinental Hotel.

With a good sleep in and feeling a little better, I made my way to the one great escape from smoke in Cairo.

The Spa 

Thermal Pool, So Relaxing

I sat in the steam room and then layed down in the sauna. I went back to the steam room and then again to the sauna. It was then off to the thermal pool where I moved from jet to jet letting the pounding water massage my aching muscles. I was starting to feel better.  To my surprise, Dave came back early to check on me and found me lounging at the pool. We joined in on the relax-fest and having already explored the Cairo museum in 2008, we enjoyed the moment of doing absolutely nothing for a couple of hours.

The spa was our salvation. 

Feeling refreshed and nearly back to normal, we joined the rest of our group for one last farewell dinner to where I joked about how it’s a dangerous thing to eat a seafood buffet before flying.

I don’t know if it was coincidence or just dumb luck, but one hour after eating, it was Daves turn to suffer. We were packing for our early morning flight when the fatal words came out of Dave’s mouth…”I don’t feel so good”

The rest of the night was spent with Dave sleeping in the bathroom wrapped up in towels and a robe with his dinner coming out of all ends. Another sleepless night in Cairo for us both made for rough plane ride home. Especially for Dave who suffered over two long haul flights where the smell of food sent him running to the bathroom.

24 hours later and we were back in Canada, curled up on the couch and recovering for 3 entire days from our Egyptian ordeal which caused us to simply skip Christmas day in 2011.

Before visiting the Red Pyramid of Dahshur, I didn’t even know it existed. Our guide Maha told us that it is her favourite pyramid of all in Egypt, so I took her word for it and expected something grand when arriving.

The Red Pyramid of Egypt

Located 40 km outside of Cairo, the drive to the Pyramids seems much longer. The city’s traffic is atrocious, so make yourself comfortable as you relax in your van to watch the scenery pass you by. We’ve cycled through the city during our race from Cairo to Cape Town, but I don’t think that I would ever be so bold as to attempt to drive in Cairo. So hire yourself a driver for the day and set out to explore, they’re quite reasonable.

The Red Pyramid is the 4th largest pyramid in all of Egypt.

There wasn’t a soul around when we arrived at the Red Pyramid and we had the grounds to ourselves free to explore and take in this monumental sight. Located on the huge burial complex of Dahshur, you will also view the Bent Pyramid. Believed to be the first attempt at building a smooth sided pyramid, the Bent Pyramid is an engineering disaster. However, this disaster has managed to last through the centuries and although it looks different than the other pyramids of Egypt, it is still impressive.

The Bent Pyramid has curved sides  but was still striking and larger than expected.

The Bent Pyramid

By the time they finished the Red Pyramid, Pharaoh Sneferu (2613-2589 BCE) got it right and designed the pyramids that we all know today when we think of Egypt.

What is unique about visiting Dahshur is that you won’t find the crowds of Giza. It is simple to grab photos of a people free complex and you can walk around the place in peace and quiet. Except for the men on camels trying to sell you a photograph.

We made our way quickly up the entrance of the chamber. Unlike the Pyramids of Giza, there isn’t an extra charge to enter and there aren’t any crowds. We climbed half way up the ancient temple, (another difference between here and Giza, we were allowed to climb the pyramid) To enter the tunnel down into the depths of the structure.

It was just our group, alone crawling down the four foot high passageway 200 feet into the heart of the pyramid.

The Entrance is Half Way Up the Red Pyramid

The air was filled with the smell of amonia. I thought maybe cats used this place as a litter box, but I didn’t see any sign of them and I wondered if they would be so bold to enter such a cold and uninviting place. It was an eerie feeling going into the temple’s belly but once we emerged from the tunnel, I was taken aback by the large chamber that we entered.

The precision in craftsmanship is astounding and it makes me wonder how anyone could have put together these stone blocks to make such a smooth ceiling perfectly measured and polished. It seems as if there are two separate structures. The crude cut stones on the exterior and the smooth flat terraced slabs of concrete on the interior.

We weren’t allowed to take our cameras in and I kicked myself for not bringing in my iPhone to sneak a photo or two. However, I don’t think that I’d be able to do it justice anyway. Instead, check out these photographs from Guardian.net. It captures the interior perfectly.

Photo by Guardian, Dahshur

After climbing down, we walked around the complex surrounded by desert. We could have spent much longer at the Red Pyramid taking in it’s beauty from all angles. We weren’t allowed near the Bent Pyramid for some reason. I am not sure if it was because we were on a tight schedule or if it was closed, but we managed to see it from afar and grab some photographs.

As far as Pyramids go, I am with our guide Maha, the Red Pyramid is my favourite in Egypt. It is that temple that makes you feel a bit like Indiana Jones as you crawl through it’s tunnels in solitude, smell the dank interior and imagine what it must have been like for the first explorers. If you’re visiting Egypt, make sure to add this to your list along with the Pyramids of Giza, you won’t be disappointed.

This has been a short Christmas season, it seems shorter than usual with Christmas and New Years falling on a Sunday. It seems like the holidays just got started and they are already coming to and end!

We are home for the holidays this year and as we watched the snow fall outside, we started to reminisce about where we’ve been for New Year’s over the past decade. It’s been a very fun ride.

So while we celebrate at home for the first time in a few years, enjoy our trip down memory lane and share your stories of where you’ll be this year and where in the world you have celebrated New Years abroad in the past. 

Thailand

Dave and Deb Dukin' it Out at New Years in Thailand

Last Year this time we were in Studying Muay Thai Kickboxing at Rawai Muay Thai in Phuket. A fun New Years on the beach complete with Karaoke, Lady Boys and a little Thai Wiskey. Not much though, we were all in training!

India

Hussein and His Mother in Udaipur India at New Years

We were staying in Udaipur at the Lakeshore Guesthouse where we grew close with it’s manager Hussain. He took us up to the rooftop of his families building to overlook the magical city at midnight. Fireworks were let off over the Lake Palace Hotel standing proud in the middle of Lake Pichola. It was a beautiful sight.

Egypt

2008 Started Off With a Bang, Cycling a Continent!

We were about to start our ride down the continent of Africa and celebrated New Years on the plane to Cairo. We weren’t really thinking about the celebrations we were missing out on, we were getting ready to change our lives and live our dreams.

Somewhere between Florida and Toronto

Our Home Town, Toronto at Night

We had just spent a couple of weeks visiting my parents in Florida and were going to stop at Myrtle Beach on the way home when we left late Dec. Instead, we decided to drive straight through to Canada ended up crossing the border at Niagara Falls somewhere around midnight. It was raining, it was late and it was depressing. It was that night that we made the New Years resolution to change our lives. We watched an interview on CBC with Ray Zahab about how he is now living his dream as an ultra marathon runner and made a pact to do something like that ourselves. One year later we were in Cairo at the start of the Tour d’Afrique and have never looked back!

Quebec City

The Fairmont Hotel in Quebec City Christmas

There isn’t a more romantic city in Canada than Quebec City. We bundled up in our down jackets, snowboarding pants and Sorrel winter boots to walk around the old city and take in its historical architecture. Fondue, cheese, fresh fruit, wine and hot chocolate made for the perfect getaway after a few days of snowboarding at Mont St. Anne for celebrating New years.

Honduras

Starting our Dive Masters in Honduras

We were ready to take our dive masters and there was no where cheaper on earth to study than Honduras. Hanging out on Utilla for a few weeks was an awesome way ring in the New Year. We made new friends and celebrated together like we had known each other for years. When the New Year came, we said our good byes, never to see them again. But we came away with memories to last a lifetime.

Laos

OK, So We dont' have Photos of Vang Viang, It was 2003 we didn't have digital yet!

We had arrived in Vang Vieng just a couple of days after Christmas. I hear that it is over run with backpackers these days, but when we were there on the even of 2004, things were fairly quiet. We walked down the dirt streets and sat with some locals by a fire. We walked some more and grabbed a Bear Lao on a floating bar on the river and eventually settled in while trying to drown our the blaring music coming from the empty bar next door.

Mexico

Traveling Around the Yucatan in Mexico During the Holidays

There’s nothing like celebrating New Years in the tropics and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Dressed in a sundress for Deb and Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt for Dave we put the cold of winter out of our minds while sipping Margaritas at the beach bar listining to Mariachis serenade the crowd.

So, Where are you this New Years Eve? At Home with your family, somewhere exotic, an awesome party? Share your plans, we’d love to live vicariously!

Happy New Year and See you in 2012! 

This past year was an interesting one. We got to re-visit some places we had already been but more importantly we got to take in some of our dream destinations for the first time. We thought the best way to show you why we loved all the places we visited was through our favourite photos from each country. So sit back with a cup of coffee and come travel with us for a few moments.

Thailand:

Sea Canoeing in Thailand

Malaysia:

Thaipusam in Penang, Malaysia

New Zealand:

The stunning New Zealand Landscape

Jordan:

Petra at Night

Had to put this one in! the Bedouin girl in Jordan

London:

London Landmarks- The Tower Bridge

Brussels:

Prague:

The main Square in Prague

Russia:

The Astrakhan Kremlin in Russia

Kazakhstan:

The uncanny modern city of Astana in Kazakhstan

Mongolia:

Mongolian Traffic

Mexico:

The ruins of Tonina in Mexico

Jamaica:

Grabbing the Catamaran in Jamaica

Egypt:

Alexandria, Egypt

We were recently in Seattle talking with the executives of Expedia.com and while all of them are well travelled and have been all over the world. When we told them they were going to Egypt next, they talked of how it was either their favourite destination or for those who hadn’t been there, their dream destination.

Everyone fantasizes about this ancient land.

We loved Egypt

It is filled with iconic landmarks and remarkable landscapes. It has a rich history and strong culture and it boasts world class diving, incredible beaches and exciting nightlife.

Egypt has it all.

In honour of our current trip to Cairo where we are speaking to the tourism industry about working with Travel Bloggers, we thought that we would revisit our favourite sites in Egypt. We spent a few weeks there before and during our cycling race from the top of Africa to the bottom of the continent and we are so excited to be going back to see more!

Pyramids of Giza

The imposing Pyramids of Egypt

We hired a camel, a horse and a guide to take us to see the pyramids. Weaving through the back streets of Cairo on our trusted steeds, we entered what seemed like a shady opening to the grounds. Are we going to get anywhere near them? Well actually yes!

We road our camels through the desert right up to the massive structures. Our guide urged us to walk up the steps and we weren’t sure if we were allowed or not, but we graciously accepted.

After touring around the 3 main temples, they took us to a high dune overlooking the complex. Yes, we were being scammed and taken to the cleaners by the nice old man that kept layering us in robes and head dresses, but even though it cost us a bit of cash, we couldn’t put a price on securing this photo.

White Desert

The highlight of Egypt for us.

We arranged a $15 a day tour to the White Desert through the Dahab Guesthouse in downtown Cairo. It ended up being an incredible trip. We were told, if there is one thing you should do in Cairo, it is see the White Desert. We listened and it didn’t disappoint.

Giant White structures jutted out of the desert landscape creating incredible formations. Brought on by erosion, these chalky mounds create the illusion of massive mushrooms, eagles and turkeys and even one that looks like a camel.

Experiencing a true Bedouin experience, we camped out under the stars. With just 3 walls made of blankets to blog the cold desert wind, we slept under thick sleeping bags and blankets grateful for the warm tea that our guides made us after our delicious Bedouin meal.

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel, Egypt

Located on Lake Nassar we caught a glimpse of this monument from our ferry to the Sudan.  The staff of the ferry told us to make sure we were out early in the morning to witness this wonder as we passed by.

Originally located on The Nile, Abu Simbel needed to be moved when the Egyptians created the Nile Dam project. It would have been engulfed by water never to be seen again until the government came to its rescue taking it apart piece by piece and rebuilding it high on the banks of the lake.

Built as a monument for Ramses the IV, this would definitely be enough to deter invaders from entering his kingdom.

Nile River Cruise

When in Cairo, you must book a dinner cruise on the Nile. It is here that you can sample Egyptian entertainment such as belly dancing and the Whirling Dervishes. Pass along the cityscape while you enjoy authentic Egyptian cuisine and imagine what legendary heroes and villains floated along these waters over the centuries.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings!

We were all fascinated with King Tut as children and it is here that you can visit his tomb. It is here that you can visit every King of the Pharoahs tombs. Ramses, I-V and everyone else in between were laid to rest here in extravagant tombs filled with riches and jewels.

You won’t see the treasures in these tombs today, but you will see the paintings and heigroglyphics drawn on the walls of these massive chambers that are as big as a house.

The tombs are impressive but the valley itself is even more incredible. I can see why the ancient Egyptians chose this as the resting place of their most important leaders.

Temple of Hatshepsut

The Temple of Hatsheptsut

This impressive temple is dedicated to the female King Hatshepsut . Leader for 27 years, she has a monument to rival even the greatest of kings. Built between 1490-1460BC.

It is impossible to imagine that the Nile reached the grounds of this temple complex and that the area surrounding it was lush and green. Today the desert is dry, but the temple is no less impressive.

Felucca Ride in Luxor

A Peaceful Felucca ride on the Nile

So your Egypt holidays are going great.  You’ve done a Nile dinner cruise in Cairo, now its time to feel the wind in your hair on a sail boat in Luxor. We simply walked down to the river to find ourselves a boat for the afternoon. We walked along until we found a captain we felt comfortable with and negotiated a deal for him to take us out for a few hours.

Sailing along the fabled Nile, I wondered exactly what bank Moses was left on? I don’t know a lot about the bible, but I do know that he was sent floating down the Nile somewhere!

The sun was shining as we lazily drifted pass the cityscape. Camels and goats walked along the river banks and the day was silent as we fulfilled yet another one of our dreams.

Checking off the Bucket List

When visiting Egypt, you will  check of many of those items on your bucket list. For us it was Sleep in the Desert, Sail on the Nile, See the Pyramids and Visit King Tuts tomb. We did it all and what do you do when you’ve accomplished something?

Add to it of course.

We now have a new bucket list that is ever evolving.

This time in Egypt, we’ll actually make it inside the Egyptian museum and take a tour to Alexandria. Stay tuned for more coming from Egypt.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. All we knew was that we had made a New Years Resolution to change our lives and cycling down the continent of Africa seemed like a good start.

The Tour d’Afrique is a 12,000 km cycling race from Cairo to Cape Town. One year after making our New Years resolution toast, we found ourselves in Africa to follow through on that epic promise to ourselves.

Cycling by the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Little did we know that we’d still be on the road 4 years later fulfilling our dream of becoming full time adventurers?

It Wasn’t Easy

The TDA was one of the most difficult experiences of our lives. We went into this race with high expectations; to win, and to achieve EFI (cycling Every Fabulous Inch) In the end, we ended up accomplishing both. Deb was women’s champion and Dave ended up in the EFI Club.

Simplicity

Cycling in Egypt

To this Day, Dave still says that cycling Africa was the best experience of his life. Sure it was difficult, but he loved the simplicity of waking up day in day out for 4 months knowing that the only thing on his agenda was to make it to camp waiting somewhere between 120km to 200km later before the sun went down.  We thrived on riding his bike and entering a state of complete meditation while riding through the ever-changing African landscape.

Contrast

navigating the non-existent roads in Ethiopia

To this day, Deb still says that it was the most difficult and miserable experience of her life. Each day was a struggle as she pushed her body beyond its limits for a solid 4 months. Alienated from the other female riders who didn’t understand her need for achieving success and drive to ride as hard and as fast as she could, she felt emotional and frustrated from beginning to end.

Together as a Couple

Cycling Together in Harmony by Namibia

Luckily we had each other to rely on and Dave sacrificed much of his total overall race time to help Deb make it to the finish line each day. You see the top 4 spots were clearly locked up. With a category 1 racer, a Canadian Iron Man, Switzerland’s Mountain Bike Champion and The former coach of the Finland National Cycling Team taking part in this year’s race, there was little chance barring an absolute catastrophe that Dave could overtake these career cyclists. Instead he decided to focus on the EFI club. By slowing down his pace a bit to stay with Deb, we could ensure staying healthy and strong giving him better odds of cycling every inch of the continent. He never had a sick day, a bike malfunction, a need to step on the truck or hitch a ride, and he always made it in before sun down.

Many people didn’t and each time we took a ride on the support truck if we were racers, we received a 12-hour penalty added to our total overall times.

The Race Explained

The Ethiopian Racing Team Joins Us for a Leg

The Tour d’Afrique was a stage race. Each morning we all left camp at our leisure. The stronger racers slept in and left later while the other riders left at daybreak to be sure to make it in before sunset. The time it took you to get from one camp to the next was recorded and accumulated each day. The person with the shortest time at the end of Africa won.

The beginning was tough.

We had trained hard for a year, riding up to 400 km per week, taking spinning classes and hot yoga, enrolling in a bicycle mechanics course and working out with weights but nothing could prepare us for the absolute torture of sitting in the saddle for 8 hours a day.

It took 1 month before I could finally get on my bike without having the pain take my breath away.

Day 1

The Start of the Race at the Sphinx in Egypt

The fist day of the Tour d’Afrique began at the Pyramids of Giza and we were feeling confident. We had trained hard and we felt prepared for this moment. Our group of 60 people had the pyramids to ourselves and men were just arriving with their camels and horses to take people on tour. We took our starting photo at the base of the pyramids and then stopped at the Sphinx to admire its splendor. One last glance and we were heading down the continent for the next 120 days.

The day was brisk and we started off slow with a police escort stopping cars and helping to navigate through the dense traffic. We weaved through the city until we finally reached the highway and everyone started to break away.

The pace of the leading cyclists was furious.

Representing Canada in the Tour d'Afrique

Thinking we were prepared, we held on to the lead group for as long as we could. My lungs heaved and my legs burned and I wondered how I could possibly keep this up.

I couldn’t

It didn’t take long before I hit the wall and soon I had fallen far back from the pack. I had about 100 km to go by the time I reached lunch and it was there that I reconnected with Dave and a few other cyclists. It seemed that today was taking its toll on everyone.

Traditionally the first day out of Cairo on the Tour d’Afrique has always had a strong tailwind but during our tour, we had killer head winds. Some people joined forces to form a peloton, but Dave and I were so exhausted from trying to keep up with the racers at the beginning of the day, we couldn’t even try to stay with the middle pack.

So we pushed on alone

Alone as Usual While Cycling through Africa

We talked each other through and pushed on throughout the next few agonizing hours. We were in dire straights. If we didn’t make it to camp before sunrise we would lose our chances for EFI on the first day! Our hopes would be dashed before they even had the chance to begin.

The sun started to set and we weren’t exactly sure how far we were from our campsite. During this tour we were given a hand drawn map to follow with estimated mileage. We couldn’t be sure of exact calculations. Camp could always fluctuate up to 20 km from where they said it would be. It all depended on how the driver felt and where the support trucks could find a safe and secure place to park.

Finish Line in Sight

The finish line that we saw at the end of each day

Imagine our elation when we saw the finish line flag just minutes before the sun went down.

We had finished our first day. We were exhausted, scared and overwhelmed with the task at hand, but we had made it through the first day and like so many other situations in Africa and beyond, we could only do it because we had each other. We didn’t have any time to celebrate though, we had to set up camp.

Our camp looked like this each night

It turned out that 1/3 of the riders lost their EFI that day. Many people had to be picked up throughout the day by our support vehicles and many others decided not to push on after lunch.

We were happy we did, but for the next 5 days leading up to our rest day in Luxor, we suffered greatly.

Our butts never stopped hurting, our legs never stopped burning, we felt the fatigue and aches and pains that come along with sleeping in a cold desert with nothing to keep you safe from the wind but the thin nylon tent and a small sleeping bag and because we had spent 2 weeks seeing the sights in Cairo before hand, we were both suffering from an infectious cough brought on by the pollution of the city.

• Are we glad we did it?
• You betchya!
• Did it get easier.
• Yes. By the time we reached Zambia, we were cycling strong and could even stick with the peloton. Dave was keeping up to the top riders with ease and I was getting into camp only a half hour or so after the top finishing guys.

We started to look like athletes and ride like professionals. We no longer cringed at steep hills or desert sands and a 200 km day wasn’t terrifying.

Cycling in the Peloton by the time we got to the end

We grew mentally and physically and while it was tough, we never would be where we are today if we didn’t take that chance and make that toast on New Years eve just a few years ago.

A portrait of innocence in Sri Lanka

While visiting Sri Lanka, we had the pleasure of visiting a small school in the jungle where our tuk tuk driver was donating shoes to the children that he had spent the last year raising money for and had hand made in the Southern Town of Galle. This little girl stole our hearts as she helped hand out the boxes to the other school kids.

A little smile for a picture in Mongolia

Traveling through Mongolia was one of the most welcoming experiences we’ve ever had. Everyone was happy to stop by our camps and say hello. They were excited to have us visit their country and they were interested in knowing why we were there and where we were going. It was the children on horseback that really caught our attention. As young as five or six years old these kids can ride a horse like nobody. They would look after hundreds of heads of cattle and goats while sitting high upon their steed. Whenever we stopped to say hello, they sat proudly to post for a picture. It really makes the perfect portrait.

A picture perfect look of mischief in Burma

In Inle Lake, Burma we  rented some bicycles to ride around the countryside. We happened upon these two boys who absolutely loved posing for us. It was like a fashion shoot on the top of an ox in the middle of a field of South East Asia. They were as mischievous as they were clever and they did not want us to leave.

A Picture of strength in Malawi, Africa

While cycling through Africa, we rode for Plan Canada and had the opportunity to visit a few of their projects on the continent. This school in Malawi is something to be proud of and we were happy to see the good work that Plan was doing with the money they received from donations. This school was filled with healthy and happy children learning mathematics, playing in the playground, eating healthy meals thanks to their garden and received regular check up from the health care workers that visited regularly. We were followed by crowds of children our entire time there and this girl’s striking eyes stood out to us. Carrying her little sister on her back, she never left our side. 

Work starts young in Rajasthan, India

While attending the Shilpgram arts festival in Udaipur, India we were dazzled by this young girl selling arts and crafts at her parents booth. She seemed to know that everyone was captivated by her as she stood still piercing our souls with her intense eyes. When I asked to take her photograph, she gave a simple nod and stared right into the camera. Proud, strong and determined.

The beauty is in the eyes in Fiji

Fiji is an island that seems to be filled with the happiest people on earth. It was during a kava ceremony that this young girl watched on from the door. She sat and enjoyed the festivities from afar but you could see that she wanted to join in. Once the dancing began, Deb went over to her and grabbed her hand and they danced around the circle together for song after song.

The gaze of a child in Black and white in Nepal

While trekking to Everest Base Camp we happened upon this little ham that was doing his best Zoolander poses for us all. He rolled around on a bench laughing and posing as each trekker walked by. He couldn’t stop giggling, but we were patient and waited for the crowds to pass and snap their quick photos. Once he calmed down at bit, he took a look at us and stared innocently into the lens of the camera. After I showed him the photograph, he started laughing uncontrollably again. It was then that we finally knew it was time to move on. This little guy was having a blast basking in the sun.

A young farmer poses for this picture on a roadside stop in Ethiopia

You may have heard about the times that children pelted us with rocks in Ethiopia and you may have heard us complain about how difficult it was to cycle through that country, but it is also an incredibly beautiful place. Life is hard there and even though the kids have an odd habit of throwing stones at foreigners, they are still extremely adorable. Their smiles light up the land and you can’t help but forgive them for trying to take you out as you ride by with that seemingly innocent staff.

We have yet to see Easter Island, Stonehenge, The Acropolis in Athens or the Roman Colosseum. We may never see any of the great structures of Afghanistan or Iraq, however we have seen some pretty spectacular archeological wonders during our travels and we want to share a photographic memory of some of our favourite ruins of the world.

Check out our latest chat on CTVNewsChannel where we discuss our favourite ruins with host Dan Matheson

1.Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan Myanmar

The days were hot that we explored the Temples of Bagan. We hired a horse cart for one day and a bicycle for the next. One thing we remember the most was that our horse cart driver was expecting a child any day now. It was a happy time.

2.Petra, Jordan

Monastery in Petra, Jordan

Having the chance to visit Petra was a dream come true. We had heard about this ancient city but never thought that we’d get there. To have a guide from the Jordan Tourism Board and a Petra official long for our walk through the ruins allowed for us to experience a Petra that many others don’t get to see.

3.Hampi, India

The Ruins of Hampi

4.Giza, Egypt

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

It’s the most famous of all ruins of the world. The Pyramids of Giza don’t disappoint. We saw them by camel and were thoroughly ripped off by the sly guides. We didn’t care a bit as we had just witnessed the mysterious temples that we have seen on movies and television all through our childhood.

5.Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

6.Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal, Guatamala

7.Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

8.Chizen Itza, Mexico

chitzenitza-mexico-ruins

The first archeological site we ever visited. We took a tour from our resort in the Mayan Riviera and enjoyed every minute of our day. We learned about the ancient Mayans, climbed to the top of the main temple and listened to the acoustics of the ball court.

9. Jerash, Jordan

The Ruins of Jerash

10. Tonina, Mexico

Tonina Ruins in Chiapas, Mexico

11. Great Wall of China

the Great Wall of China

Top 5 Things you Must See in Morocco

Morocco is a fascinating multicultural country blended from African, Arab and European influences. It is our closest link to the continent of Africa and a diverse holiday destination. The country offers an incredible amount of history, culture, art and music along with a fascinating geographical landscape incorporating the Sahara desert, the snow capped Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic coastline. There is so much to experience, whether on an adventure or luxurious all-inclusive Morocco holiday, here are five things that you simply must see during your visit:

Visit the Jamaa el Fna in Marrakech

Djamma el Fna at Dusk

A holiday in Morocco is not complete without an extended visit to Marrakech, the Imperial City of Morocco situated at the base of the Atlas Mountains. There are many things to experience in this city, but you should visit the Jamaa el Fna in the centre of the old city. This square is the home of orange juice stalls and snake charmers, dancers and story tellers, magicians and peddlers. It is a kaleidoscope of colours and as dark falls it becomes a food market where you can purchase some of the amazing culinary delights of Morocco and eat them in the chill of the desert evening.

Around the edge of the Jamaa el Fna you will find the souk, the traditional African markets and café terraces. There are also hotels and gardens and a maze of tiny streets to explore. You will find a visit to the Jamaa el Fna an unforgettable experience.

Spend some time at Fes el-Bali in Fes

leather tannery in fes

Fes is the oldest city in the country and the Medina (or Fes el-Bali) is a World Heritage site. There is nowhere in Morocco that has quite the vibrancy and culture of Fes, and in particular the Fes el-Bali, so a visit to it should be an essential destination on your itinerary. It is worthwhile paying for a guide to take you through its maze of streets and to show you the important sites and explain some of its history. Hiring a guide for a half or even a full day is quite inexpensive and an investment worth making.

In the Fes el-Bali you will take a trip back in time, you will find yourself in a place that is unique to your experience and which others have described as life changing. Many of the houses to be found in the labyrinth of tiny streets can only be accessed by drop ladders; you will find Royal gardens, Mosques, the workshops of local artisans, fountains and several monuments; but most of all your senses will be overwhelmed by the variety of things you will experience.

Watch the sun rise on a Merzouga morning

Sand Dunes near Merzouga Morocco

The sun seems to rise very quickly in the desert. First there is the flash pre-dawn green followed by a yellowing of the sky then suddenly the desert sand are set alight by the vivid morning sunlight and glow a fiery red. To experience a desert sunrise is an unforgettable experience and the best place to do so is at the Merzouga sand dunes or Erg Chebbi. Some of these dunes tower over a 160 metres high and support a highly diverse wildlife of flora and fauna. You will find pink flamingos fishing in the lake and many rare birds taking a break from their spring migration.

To make the most of the region why not spend a few days on a camel trip through the desert spending the nights under canvas after watching the sun set behind the dunes and enjoy an early Moroccan breakfast cooked by your guide as you watch the sun rise; you will never forget the experience.

Take in the Colours of the Dades Valley

There is no other place in the world that is quite like the Dades Valley, which translates the Red Valley, though red is not the only colour you will experience. The mineral rich Dades Gorge sparkles in many hues of blue and green as well as white and red.

Many communities populate the valley; these are connected by a long winding road and nourished by the waters of the river that meanders through them. Once these communities were made up of warring tribesmen, but today all is peace and harmony, or at least that is how it appears to the tourist. Drive though and experience the continually changing vista and spectacular views, or if you are brave enough leave the vehicle behind and hire a guide to take you through part the valley on foot.

Relax on the beach in Essaouira

Ramparts of Essaouira

Finally, after the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and Fes and the spectacular sights of the desert at Merzouga and the Dades Valley, our final must see is the beach at Essaouira. This Atlantic coast beach is a favourite of wind and kite surfers due to the often shallow waters. It was once a favourite haunt of Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix, though times have moved on since then.

As well as the beach there is also plenty to experience in the town, which is typical of many small fortified Moroccan townships. At one time it was a very important port, it is still a fishing port, and it was a trading post in 400 BC; it is now a World Heritage City.

Conclusion

These top 5 things you must see are just a sample of what’s available for tourists on holiday in Morocco; in such a diverse country there are so many holiday options available. You might prefer to create your own adventure holiday roaming the desert, or if you prefer the comfort of staying in a fine city hotel then a luxury all inclusive resort might be more to your style. Whatever your choice, you are pretty unlikely to be disappointed as there is so much on offer.

Photo Credits
1:Alexander Dimitri, 2- 4: Bernard Gagnon, 3: Bachmont, 5: Kayaky

There is a lot to say about Morocco, the guidebooks do a good job of filling you in on how to get there, where to stay, what to eat and see, and generally most of what they tell you is true. Although we spent time in Marrakesh, Meknes, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, all with their own brand of charm and interest, it is to Fes that I would return.

For it was in Fès where I had the unique experience of seeing a people who were in complete harmony with today’s modernity and their historical and cultural past.

Getting to Fès, the second largest city in Morocco, can be a long but interesting journey.  The roads have been newly paved, so it’s a comfortable ride where you can see the fertile countryside, the many rag tag villages and towns, and the people who watch impassively as you speed by.

On October 21, 2010, I wrote this in my journal:

“Fès, Morocco: This morning I was crushed by throngs of people carrying bags full of groceries, assaulted by smells I could never describe, stepped in several kinds of poo, almost fell into an open pit, had my foot stepped on by a donkey, cried silent tears when I saw the horrific working conditions of the leather tanners, had one of the most  frightening and expensive experiences of my life, and can say without a doubt that I (mostly) loved every minute of it.

The medina in Fès, the oldest in the world, is a living, breathing, labyrinth of a city, enclosed by a wall which limits its physical size but not apparently its population because 500,000 people live within this space.

It’s interesting that I don’t mention anything further about that “frightening and expensive experience”, and upon reflection, I think it was just too intense and overwhelming to write about it so soon after it happened.

When you arrive in Morocco you know you must leave your Western ways and assumed certainties behind, but no matter how prepared you think you are, nothing prepares you for the carpet sellers.

Abdul, our tour guide, a pleasant, knowledgeable guy, seemed very western to us, despite wearing a traditional djellaba (caftan) and bernousse (cap).

Overwhelming Crowds in the Medina

As he guided us through the medina he gave us a little history lesson and we learned that the narrow, labyrinth street design was a defence against enemy invaders  — anyone entering the medina did so at the risk of never finding their way out.

As is typical in Morocco, exteriors are plain beyond simple and belie the sumptuous and beautiful interiors — a metaphor for the Muslin belief that all beauty lies within.  But still, it was a surprise when Abdul led us through a very small door and we found ourselves in a large room with a gorgeous skylight, its walls covered floor to ceiling with carpets.  Within two strides of our entering the room we are introduced to Mohamed, who seemed to appear from nowhere.

In one complete breathe, he asks – “Where are you from?  Do you like Morocco? What are your names?,  he gives orders to the ceiling for mint tea,  and he yells something to the walls in Arabic.  In 4 seconds two people arrive and simultaneously throw carpets at our feet – a cacophony of colour unfurling before our eyes.

Mohamed scoops up one of the carpets and brings it to my face,  “Can you see the detail in this carpet?  Four women worked on this carpet at the same time.  Look! Look at the stitching, one woman went blind while making this carpet.    If you buy this carpet, you will be helping 1000 people – a whole village!!  Every stitch is done by hand. It is only 6,000!”

I squeek out – 6000 dirhams? ($1,800. Cnd).  No, not dirhams, Euros.  6000 Euros!! That’s $8000 Cnd!

By this time we are surrounded by no less than six people, one person is guiding us to walk on the carpets, someone else is serving us tea, two people are continuously throwing carpets at our feet.  Mohamed is IN MY FACE repeating over and over the value and provenance of the carpets, and Abdul, all pretense of westernism tossed aside, is speaking into my ear – “How much do you want to pay?  4000?  3000? You can trust these people, they have the best carpets in Morocco!!” Then I am separated from Frank who is immediately engulfed by his own team of carpet sellers.

I blurt out, “How can 1000 people be involved in this carpet – I can’t believe it”.

Without missing a beat, Mohamed pushes the carpet back up into my face – “Look at the stitches, look at the colours.  The four women who made this carpet support eight families, LOOK AT THE STITCHES every one made by hand!!  100 people take care of the sheep, 100 people work the land, 100 people take care of the donkeys, 100 people take the wool from the sheep, 100 people spin the wool, 100 people dye the wool.  THE WOMEN, THEY GO BLIND MAKING THESE CARPETS!!  And Abdul keeps repeating into my ear – “Buy two carpets, you’ll get a better deal, two is better, yes, two!”

I shout:  “Two!! How much for two?”  From across the room Frank is mouthing the word “TWO??”

I say, “1000!!! We can only afford 1000 Euros.”  Abdul is by my arm and he has switched sides again to support my efforts.  From the high of 6000 Euros for one carpet, we are haggling over 1000 Euros for two.  Mohamed retrieves Frank who is dragged forward and asked, “What is wrong with your wife, how can I sell two carpets for 1000 Euros.  It has to be 2000 – I am beggaring myself, think of the blind women, 2000 it must be.”  Frank and I look at each other, acknowledging that we should just give in, so he nods his head in assent and is immediately whisked off by Mohamed to pay.

Within seconds, someone we have not seen before takes over the circus and with one flick of his hand, two young men emerge with lengths of rope in their hands.  I’m thinking, “OMG! They’re going to tie me up.”

Our two carpets, both approximately 3ft x 10ft, are expertly rolled and tied up into two 10” x 20” packages by the rope guys.  Again, a flick of the wrist and an old man with a large black marker in his hand appears.  He politely asks my name and writes it on the packages in perfect calligraphy.

And it came to me that Mohamed’s ancestors probably sold carpets along the Silk Road, and that every person in the room was part of his tribe including Abdul.  Their actions were so practiced, precise and aggressive.  Nothing in my past experience prepared me for this onslaught, at one point I feared we would never escape, we would be lost forever in the medina – and possibly thrown down a pit to join the skeletons of those long dead invaders.

Our Grand Cat on our New Carpet

We ended up paying 4000 Euros or $6000 Cnd for two carpets, — it turns out it was 2000 Euros per carpet that Mohamed beggared himself for — and we comforted ourselves with the knowledge we improved the lives of a thousand Moroccans. (I wish)

And as the months and the sting of spending $6000 have passed by, whenever we walk on our gorgeous Moroccan carpets, we are filled with nostalgia for more travel.

Do you have a tale to tell where you greatly overpaid for a product on your travels? Have you ever had a scary situation where you felt out of control? Share your stories with us.

Gail Burgin started her blog during her recent travels through Europe. She shared her journal entries with friends and family while her husband Frank Merino, took the photographs. It was during that time that she realized she developed a knack for writing and has enjoyed continuing on with sharing her stories. We are lucky to have her write about her experience in Morocco with us today.

This guest post provided to theplanetd.com by former SATW President Milton Fullman offers his first-hand observations and photos from the Egypt portion of his trip.  Milton’s personal website is www.lynnandmilton.com.

The Arab Spring, and Bringing Tourism back to Egypt

By Milton Fullman

If I said “Egypt,” what one word would pop into your head?  For me, before the last few days, I would have blurted, “Revolution.”  How could I not?  Reports of the revolution blanketed the news earlier this year.  The world had looked on as the people had revolted.  The images were frightening.  In time, the movement quieted, the cameras left – and most of us moved on with our lives.

What did not change, for many, were lingering images of unrest.  Those televised reports were seared into my mind, as I imagine they were for others.  I failed to realize that the turmoil had passed.

Asked by SATW President Dale Leatherman to represent the organization (along with a delegation of others key in the tourism industry) to visit Egypt and Jordan, I find myself now walking the streets where the revolution took place.  From first-hand experience, I can report that calm has returned.  Attractions and hotels are open for business.  The people here are eager for tourists to return to their country.

Business is back to normal

In search of the new Egypt, I boarded an Egypt Air flight out of New York City and jetted to Cairo.  The journey was comfortable and went smoothly.  That’s always good news.  After a long sleep and a couple of movies, I was in Egypt, the land of pharaohs and the place where the national media had converged to report on the recent revolution.

Society of American Travel Writers and Egypt Tourism Representatives

Delighted that a delegation of U.S.-based media was arriving to survey their country, Egyptian media and tourism officials welcomed us.  In the days to follow, they have shared their views about what transpired in recent months.  Soon after arriving, the group strolled along the River Nile, the world’s longest.  I could only imagine what this ancient waterway had witnessed over the centuries.

Among the historic events was the recent turbulence that had briefly disrupted normal life in Cairo.  The river’s waters still flow as the country’s history is written anew.  Several locals stopped me as I walked along the Nile.  They were friendly and welcoming.  When they heard about our goal of surveying their country with tourists’ needs in mind, they thanked us for visiting.  “Tell them that we want them back again,” an older man said, adding, “Tell them that it is safe; the troubles are gone.”

Perceiving our interest, several people gathered to report news of their role in the revolution.  Their accounts gave a human view of the events, and their warm welcomes assured me that life has returned to normal in this ancient country.

Buoyed by the citizens’ hospitality and concern for their country, our delegation went next to the country’s most noted attraction: the Pyramids.  A light show lit the towering structures, revealing them in, well, a whole new light.  It was amazing – and so is this country that I had not previously visited.

Pyramids of Giza at Night, Light Show

A past president of SATW, Milton Fullman has been a photojournalist for 20 years.  His photos and stories appear in books, newspapers, textbooks, magazines, calendars, and websites.  He also served as Chairman of SATW’s 600-member Freelance Council, co-authored the booklet “What a Travel Writer Wishes You Knew” and was named Photographer of the Year by SATW’s Central States Chapter.

Are you thinking of booking a holiday to Egypt? You may know a little about the Ancient Egyptians and be keen to see the pyramids, but there is so much more to making it a perfect Egypt holiday. Of course the majesty of the pyramids is unrivalled, but why don’t you combine this with some intriguing day trips to get the cultural juices flowing?

Egypt is a magical land full of wonder and intrigue; here are five excursions you just simply cannot miss!

Giza Plateau

What better place to start than the most famous of Egyptian landmarks? The Giza Plateau is home to four stunning pyramids, the Great Sphinx and many smaller pyramids, tombs and causeways. Arguably the most famous of the Pyramids is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, which was built in 2550 BC. It was named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; being the only one still standing.

The Great Sphinx is carved from limestone, stands 66 feet high and is 240 feet in length. It has the body of a lion and bears the face of the pharaoh whose honour it was built in. Representing a guardian figure, warding off evil spirits to protect the pharaoh’s tomb, it truly is a stunning site.

St. Catherine’s Monastery

For those with an interest in religious history and religiously significant buildings, a trip to St. Catherine’s Monastery truly is one of the most exciting excursions in Egypt. The monastery is an Orthodox Monastery located at the foot of Mount Sinai and is below the point where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Incorporated into the monastery is a direct descendant of the burning bush seen by Moses and many other valuable icons.

The site is a sacred for Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but all visitors are welcome. A trip here may well prove a truly unique and spiritual experience.

Photo courtesy of famouswonders.com

The Valley of the Kings

On any trip to Egypt it’s impossible to not become enamoured with the history of the Ancient Egyptian’s, with one of the best ways to evoke your interest being a visit to the Valley of the Kings. Here you’ll find the tomb of the most well-known Pharaoh of all; Tutankhamen. The late discovery of the tomb has made this place world renowned and it’s definitely somewhere where those with an inquisitive taste for the ancient world are drawn.

However, to say that the Valley of the Kings is just about Tutankhamen would be doing it a disservice, as it’s home to the tombs of nine other Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. Don’t worry; you don’t have to be Lara Croft to get yourself there, as daily tours ensure it’s accessible for everyone!

Bedouin Tour

Are you drawn to the desert by its wonder and inhospitable nature? Is that one of the reasons you decided on an Egyptian holiday? If so, there are plenty of ways to explore this intriguing of lands with none better than a traditional Bedouin tour.

Bedouin tribes have wandered the desert for thousands of years and are the best people to really provide an understanding of how people survive there on a daily basis. You’ll be taken out to the desert to meet with your guides before you hop on the back of a camel to see the best spots in the desert. The tour will then finish with a feast under the stars at a traditional Bedouin camp.

Luxor Temple

The Luxor Temple remains one of the most popular sites for tourists to visit while in Egypt. The temple itself in modern Luxor is dedicated to Amun – a creator god fused with the sun god Ra into Amun Ra.

It’s also unique amongst Egyptian temples as it contains the marks on its structure of two different Pharaohs. It is certainly a huge structure with a vast amount to see meaning any trip here will be memorable. Highlights are the avenue of the Sphinxes, the monumental statues of Ramesses and a 25 metre obelisk.

So, what are you waiting for? With all these fantastic excursions awaiting you, a holiday to Egypt may well be a life changing experience.

It was this time three years ago that we started our transformation from working class career oriented professionals to adventurers and full time travel bloggers.

It started out as a New Years Resolution on the eve of 2008.  We were feeling blue after 2 years of working too hard and traveling too little. We were stuck in a rut. It was just after midnight on a very gloomy New Years Eve for us. We were watching TV and luckily a profile of ultra marathon runner Ray Zahab came on the CBC. We were instantly inspired and made a pact to do something extraordinary in the New Year.

Two weeks later we made the decision to cycle Africa and take part in the Longest Cycling Race in the world at 12,000 km.  We trained for the year leading up to the race and dreamed of selling a travel show to Discovery or The Outdoor Network.  We stayed focused on our goal of becoming a part of the EFI club and to win the race.  I was woman’s champion and Dave succeeded in cycling Every Fabulous Inch and we fulfilled our goals for the Tour d’Afrique 2008.

Finish Line in Cape Town of the Tour d'Afrique

While our television career didn’t happen, our adventure travel blog was born and a year and a half later we were back on the road as full time travelers finally living our dream of becoming full time travelers.

And the rest is history.

In honour of our three-year anniversary since the trip that changed our life, we thought that we would share our favourite moments in Egypt.  The first leg of the Tour d’Afrique starts at the Pyramids and follows the Nile all the way to the Sudan.

We wanted to make sure that we had the chance to see everything that the country had to offer, so we left for Africa two weeks early to experience one of our own Egypt Holidays.  We are glad that we did because once we hit the road it was a non-stop race to the finish line.

What we did for our Two Weeks in Egypt before The Tour d’Afrique.

1. Bedouin Safari to the White Desert

Taking a trip to the White Desert is one of our best travel experiences of all time.  A jeep takes you deep into the Sahara Desert where you pass through the Black Desert before Entering the White Desert.  The White Desert is like being on a different planet.  Your Bedouin Guides set up camp as you have the chance to explore the most incredible formations you may ever witness.  Giant rocks pop out from the desert floor forming curious shapes like giant mushrooms, camels and birds.  The formations are made of a chalky substance and years of erosion has carved an impressive sight in the middle of the desert.

2. Hire a Camel to see the Pyramids

A person cannot go to Egypt without seeing one of the world wonders.  The Pyramids of Giza do not disappoint and there is no better way to see them than on the back of a camel.  Hiring a guide and camel takes you to the back of the pyramids away from the tour buses and crowds.  You can live out your Lawrence of Arabia fantasies while exploring one of the last remaining Ancient Wonders of the World.

3. Take a Felucca on the Nile

There is nothing more magical than sailing on the Nile. This mythical river lives up to the hype.  To think of the historical events that took place on it’s banks is overwhelming. It on the Nile that baby Moses floated down the river. Pharoah’s ruled the land and Cleopatra and King Tut spent time on these waters.  To set sail on a Felucca and feel the breeze on your face while listening to nothing but the silence of the wind, you can almost imagine what life was like thousands of years ago.

4. Explore the Valley of the Kings

Burial grounds to the great Kings of Ancient Egypt, the Valley of the Kings is impressive.  A Giant Valley surrounded by cliffs and mountains is the perfect resting place for royalty. Final home to King Tut and Ramses I, III, IV, it is filled with large chambers buried under the mountains.  While you are out at the Valley of the Kings, make sure to stop and see the temple of Hatshepsut. It is considered one of the most impressive monuments on the planet and what is unique is that this temple was made for a female king.

5. Visit a Charity in Cairo

A community in need in the heart of Cairo

When we cycled through Africa, not only did a portion of our funds go the Tour d’Afrique  Bicycle Foundation, we also raised money and awareness for Plan Canada. We have the honour of visiting an area of Cairo where no tourist ever goes.  This is the poorest part of the city, but with the help of Plan, microfinance  projects are being funded for craftsmen and artists, running water has been brought to the community, children with disabilities are being taken care of and integrated with society and people have hope for the future.  It was an uplifting experience to see and meet people that have so very little welcome us into their homes with warm smiles.

We saw so many things during our time in Egypt. The Luxor Temple, the Cairo Museum, Abu Simbel and we  camped on the Red Sea. We sailed along Lake Nassar all the way to Sudan and still have so much more to see in Egypt. But this trip before the Tour d’Afrique has made a great start.  It changed our lives and we will never forget our the beginning of the trip that changed our lives.

New Years Resolutions

Have you ever made a New Year’s Resolution that changed your life? Do you believe in New Years Resolutions and if you do did you follow through?  This resolution that we made on New Years 2008 was our biggest ever and we fully believe in making new goals and seeking new opportunities every year.

This year we made a new resolution to get ourselves back into Tour d’Afrique shape. We have started our Muay Thai training camp and you can read all about it next week.

We posted a Twitter Question before writing this post to ask people if they make New Years Resolutions, here are the responses that we got.

• SaritaAshley I personally don’t like the New Year’s resolution bit. I don’t understand why we can’t live our whole life like that everyday.
• EvannRachel I think they’re a good thing. People need that date change sometimes to get started on something new. It’s motivational.
• Nomad_Student I think making resolutions on Jan. 1 just because of the date is silly. Make them when you’re feeling resolved to do something!
• backpackingww Good intentions, but it shouldn’t take a new year to want to make a change!

On Facebook we posed the question and here are the responses:

6 More Great Places in Africa

The African continent enjoys a vast and ever-changing landscape from lusciously fertile jungles through to the hot, arid desert. If you are visiting anywhere in Africa or better yet traveling through, there are some breath-taking places you won’t want to miss out on. Below are the last six great places to visit in Africa.

Egypt’s Valley of the Kings:

For a period of about 500 years between the 16^th and 11^th centuries BC it was in the Valley of the Kings where the tombs for Kings and all other nobles were constructed. Found on the West bank of the river Nile near Luxor this impressive valley is not only majestic because of the 63 (approximate) royal tombs in the area, but because of the expansive landscape. Most of the tombs are said to hold priceless Eqyptian antiquities (some of which have been stolen over time). It was in this valley in 1922 that the intact tomb of the great historical figure Tutankhamun was discovered.

Namibia’ Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert:

Image by www.freemages.co.uk/

This huge clay pan enclosed by magnificent sand dunes is located in the Namib Naukluft Park. Some the massive sand dunes are an unbelievable 300 metres tall and are often referred to as the highest in the world. When it rains, a rare occurrence, the Sossusvlei fills with water and the resultant turquoise lake remains for long periods as the clay layers allow very slow water filtration.

Egypt’s Karnak Temple Complex:

This is one of the most impressive and largest temple sites around the globe. It is a conglomeration of three main temples and several smaller temples (which sadly are in ruins). The Karnak Temple Complex is also located near Luxor which is home to other impressive sites. It is the only main temple area open to tourists and the general public.

Botswana’s Okavango Delta:

This delta is often incorrectly referred to as the Okavanga Swamp. It is the world’s largest inland delta, and covers an area of 17000 square kilometres. Thousands of years ago the drying up of the Lake Makgadikgadi was the cause of this unique water feature, and it has attracted explorers and tourists ever since. The Okavango River drains its water onto the Kalahari Desert plains in Botswana and forms an intricate and awe-inspiring labyrinth of inland lagoons, lakes and islands – the Okavanga Delta.

DRC/Rwanda/Uganda’s Virungu Mountains:

The chain of volcanic mountains that make up the Virungu Mountains lies on the border of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Their spectacular beauty is due to their luscious and fertile slopes. They are also the only remaining home of the severely endangered mountain gorillas. They are home to other interesting animals such as Chimpanzees, forest elephants and the okapi (a mammal similar to the giraffe but with much shorter legs and neck, they have stripes down their legs).

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater:

The world’s largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater measures 19km across, 600metres deep (from the rim of the crater to the floor) and has a total floor area of 260km squared. A giant volcano exploded and then collapsed on itself around three million years ago to form the colossally remarkable crater. It is considered a “natural enclosure” for wildlife – many species are found on the crater floor.

Bio:

“Jade Scully is a copywriter, blogger and online marketing enthusiast who has published her work on a series of online publications and websites including Leeulekker who provide a range of travel and touring information for southern Africa travelers.”

The African continent enjoys a vast and ever-changing landscape from lusciously fertile jungles through to the hot, arid desert. If you are visiting anywhere in Africa or better yet traveling through, there are some breath-taking places you won’t want to miss out on. Below are the first 6 great places to visit in Africa.

Egypt’s Abu Simbel:

Historically moved from their original location the two temples at Abu Simbel are an impressive sight to behold. They were carved out of the sandstone cliff near the River Nile over three millenniums ago – during the reign of the great Pharaoh, Ramesses II. The temples were built to honour the Pharaoh and the Egyptian Gods.

Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro:

This is not just an afternoon hike up Table Mountain; Mount Kilimanjaro (Kili as it is affectionately known) is the highest mountain in Africa, and at 19340ft its not surprising that summiting this impressive mound is a difficult and sometimes grueling task. The highest peak, Uhuru, can be reached by those with a moderate to high level of fitness, and if you can summit you’ll be able to say you reached the point of the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

More on Mount Kilimanjaro – Mount Kilimanjaro, How Hard is it to Climb

Zambia & Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls:

The thousands of tones of water gushing downwards is the site of the “largest curtain of falling water on the earth”. Victoria Falls is a grandiose waterfall on the Zambezi River at the Zimbabwean-Zambian border. The “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (smoke that thunders) columns of water spray can be seen from miles away and the sound elaborates to visitors just how powerful the water-flow is. On the Zambian side there are relatively-safe natural pools to swim in so don’t forget to bring your costume (and your camera of course).

More on Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls Adventures, Top 5 Adventures in Victoria Falls

Egypt’s Great Pyramids at Giza:

The Egyptians have such a rich and decadent cultural history, and the Pyramids are an important cornerstone in that regard. The triangular architecture of the Pyramids has become the icon most famously synonymous with Egypt, and most of them (there are over 100) were built as tombs to preserve the mummies of Pharaohs and their family-members.

More on Pyramids of Giza – Great Temples and Monuments of Egypt, Discovering Egypt, A Photostory

Namibia’s Fish River Canyon:

After the Grand Canyon of America, the Namibian site of the Fish River Canyon is the most spectacular in the world. With a 160km ravine which measures at about 27km wide and 550 metres deep in some places the Fish River flows in the belly of this giant spectacle. Here you’ll enjoy wide open spaces that allow you to breathe the fresh air easy and take in the vast scenery.

More on Fish River Canyon – Last Day in Namibia, Final Stretch

The Maasai Mara and Serengeti’s Wildebeest Migration:

Arguably one of the most amazing natural events in the world, the Wildebeest Migration is an impressive movement to witness. The migration takes place among the open plains as hundreds of thousands of the magnificent wildebeest and zebra move towards greener pastures. The mass movement is a tense journey for the herbivores as they are followed closely by various predators hoping to benefit from the stragglers’ weaknesses.

Photo credit for Migration: UpHaa.com

Bio:

“Jade Scully is a copywriter, blogger and online marketing enthusiast who has published her work on a series of online publications and websites including Leeulekker who provide a range of travel and touring information for southern Africa travelers.”

The Bicycle Factory has teamed with Cadbury Canada to raise funds to build 5000 bicycles for school children in Ghana.

As we all know, bicycles are great for your health and for the environment, but in places like Africa they are a valuable mode of transportation.   A bike gives people access to health care, school and other vital life services that they otherwise wouldn’t have to walk to.

The Bicycle Factory’s aim is to build 5000 bicycles for the people of Africa.  All you have to do is enter UPCs from your favourite Cadbury products on their Facebook widget or at theBicycleFactory.ca.

Each UPC equals one bike part and it takes 100 parts to build a bike. With a goal of 5000 bikes that’s a lot of parts, so let’s get to work and eat chocolate!

For Canadians.

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The Bicycle Factory promotion is for Canadians.  So let’s show the world just how big of hearts we have up here in the Great White North.

About the Bikes.

The Bicycle Factory is doing a great job of reaching their goal, They have already built 1,661 bicycles.

The factory puts out single gear cycles with coaster brakes and a sturdy rack and basket on the strongest frame available. Each one comes with a lock and a basic repair kit, allowing owners to make basic repairs independently, if needed. The bikes are specially designed to hold up to life in Ghana and suit the needs of the Ghanaians.

Need Some Incentive?

Maybe chocolate eating isn’t enough for you. Maybe you are watching your waistline and need a little nudge to go out and eat a Caramilk bar. So, how about an opportunity to go to Ghana?

Once lucky builder and their friend will be flown to Ghana to help distribute the bikes. This 10 day trip includes airfare, hotels, transfers and spending money. But most importantly it will give you memories to last a lifetime.

What do you have to do?

Enter your UPC code at either the facebook fanpage or their website The Bicycle Factory. Every UPC is an entry, so the more you enter, the more chances you have to win.  And you have the added bonus of donating more parts because as you know, each UPC is a part of a bicycle.

What are you waiting for? Head on out to the nearest corner store and buy a Dairy Milk Bar, a mini egg, some gum, a Caramilk or any of your favourite Cadbury products and then head on over to facebook and give a kid a bike in Africa.

You will be changing a life.

ELIGIBILITY

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY – The Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in the Province or Territory in which they reside at the time of Contest entry.Notwithstanding the above, this Contest is not open to employees of the Contest Sponsor, its respective divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotional agencies, contest suppliers and judges, members of their immediate families (parents, siblings, spouses) and those with whom they are domiciled.
2. HOW TO ENTER – To enter the Contest, you must first register by completing the online registration form at www.bicyclefactory.ca (the “Contest Website”) during the Contest Period. All fields on the registration form must be completed unless indicated as optional. After registering, you can enter the Contest by submitting a valid UPC code from the wrapper of any participating product of Contest Sponsor (including Canadian labeled Dentyne*, Stride*, Cadbury*, Maynards*, Trident*, Bubblicious*, Certs* Chiclets*, Clorets*, Jersey Milk* and Halls*, but excluding some seasonal products) with a net weight of 18g or more (“Participating Product”) and submit as instructed. Limit of five (5) unique UPC entries, per person/day during the Contest Period. A full list of Participating Products is available on the Contest Website.No Purchase Entry: UPC codes can be obtained without purchase by copying down the code from a Participating Product.By entering this Contest, you agree to be bound by these Contest Rules and the decisions of the Contest Sponsor and Contest judges, which are final and binding.

One day while we were cycling through the Sudan, we cam across an eerie site.

Dead camels were strewn beside the highway buried in the desert sand. Their decaying corpses littered the desert for several kms as we cycled by.

We had heard that as camel caravans walk through the desert some camels are not strong enough to make it. They are left to be engulfed by the great Nubian Desert sands.

Another theory that we heard was that when a camel dies in a nearby village, they are brought out to the desert and buried here.

Whatever the case may be for the “Dead Camel Highway” it made for a unique and memorable moment when a man and child rode by on their donkeys without giving us a second glance.

Bedouins ride through a Camel Graveyard in the Sudanese desert

Just spending the time browsing through the amazing photo’s at National Geographic and seeing different perspectives and compositions really inspires. So I hope these photo’s inspire everyone to go out there and take in the beauty that this world has to offer.

After all National Geographic’s tag line is “Inspiring people to care about the Planet”.

TOLEDO, SPAIN

National Geographic's Toledo, Spain

Dave Bouskill's Toledo, Spain

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA

National Geographic's Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies, Alberta

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, USA

National Geographic's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Dave Bouskill's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA, INDIA

National Geographic's Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Dave Bouskill’s Taj Mahal in Agra, India

THE WHITE DESERT, EGYPT

National Geographic's White Desert, Egypt

Dave Bouskill's White Desert, Egypt