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.

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.

Yesterday we posted a contest for a weekend getaway to San Antonio Texas. Head on over when you are finished here and enter for your chance to win!

On Monday we held a contest to giveaway a $100 gift certificate to Novica.com a leading fair trade artisan website. There’s still time to enter that contest as well so head on over!

Now What do we have for you today?!

Named as one of the Top 70 Travel Websites by Travel and Leisure, Approach Guides is a company that offers downloadable cultural guidebooks.

Since traveling to Jordan, we have developed a soft spot for the Middle East and Cairo is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities we have ever visited.

We have teamed with Approach Guides to offer our readers a free copy of their Islamic Cairo Guide!

There’s a lot more to cairo than just the pyramids.  Explore Cairo’s architectural highlights focusing on mosques and madrasas and the Islamic History of Cairo.

As Travel and Leisure says…”The Raezers are the masterminds behind the downloadable Approach Guides, which are filled with a university course-worth of history and insights for 62 destinations worldwide. WHY WE LOVE IT? The Raezers share our desire for deep, well-researched information on the wonders of the world.”

Even if you aren’t travelling to Cairo any time soon, you will be fascinated and intrigued by the history and background of the city.  I wish I had this guide when we visited Cairo, we would have come away with a better understanding of this ancient land that has survived 8 dynasties. the Umayyad, Abbasid, Ikhshidid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Amluke and Ottoman Turkish to be exact. How do I know this? Well, I read Approach Guides of course.

The great thing about Approach Guides guide books is that they are downloadable for your computer, the iPhone, iPad, Barnes and Noble’s NOOK, KOBO and Kindle. Ebooks are easy to update content and release new additions. Existing customers can download the latest edition for free. So, if you can’t make it to Cairo this year, you’ll be able to update it before leaving on your trip!

Not only do they have guides from the Americas, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, South East Asia, India and China, Approach Guides also provide a wine guide for Italy, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and Spain. Need to learn more about wine? You can download their app for the iPad or iPhone. I may have to get this one for our upcoming road trip through Europe.

What do you have to do for your chance to win the Cairo Guide?

Sign up for our newsletter.

The Planet D puts out a monthly newsletter where we share the best of the month, upcoming events, travel products and services that we’ve used and we offer exclusive giveaways to our subscribers.

We will announce the winner in our next newsletter.

Plus, whenever you sign up for ThePlanetD Newsletter you receive a free calendar filled with 12 of Dave’s favourite photographs that you can put on your desktop, print or do whatever you like with!

There’s nothing to lose, only lots to gain. So Sign up Today for your chance to win this cool book.

Approach Guides is an excellent complement to your regular guide book as it focuses on providing historical, religious, and artistic insights that enhance your travel experiences. I can’t wait to go back to Cairo with The Islamic Cario Guide Book to explore all the places we missed the first time around.

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.

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:

Discovering Egypt was a lot of fun. From Cairo to the Valley of the Kings, Egypt has so much to offer. Weather you are looking for adventure or luxury Egypt has it all. For us our adventure was riding our bikes through the country but when we had time we tried to experience as much as we could. The White desert was a highlight for us as well as taking a Felucca down the Nile river. Beautiful scenery is everywhere and there is so much history it is mind blowing.

The White Desert

The Pyramids of Giza.

The Black Desert!

A Felucca ride down the Nile!

The Valley of the Kings!

The beautiful city of Aswan!

The ruins of Abu Simbel!

Sunrise at the Pyramids!

Sunset at the White Desert!

A Charity Built Well

That was why we decided to ride for a cause. Formerly Foster Parents Plan, Plan Canada is an international organization that works at a grassroots level to help communities in Africa develop a long term plan to improve their living conditions. They give them the means to become self sufficient and to no longer rely on foreign aid.

We are blessed and lucky to live in a country that is so rich.  We have the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world and to see different ways of life.

Cycling in The Tour d’Afrique was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about our cause. It was a large international race that already had followers and a fan base. We easily gained exposure through their website and through media to talk about not only the race, but to raise awareness for our Cause and to direct them to our site and to Plan to find information on how to help.

Poor Community, being helped by Plan

It was an extraordinary experience. Plan is a well run organization. We left for Egypt a couple of weeks before the race started and we had the opportunity to visit a project in Cairo.  Plan picked us up at our guesthouse and we were off to the poorest part of the city. It was an eye opener. There is no possible way we would have been safe to travel to this part of town on our own.  It really was an entirely different world than the rest of the city.We were most definitely in the slums of Cairo.

You can read about our Plan visit in depth at our post Our Plan Project Visit

In 3 months we will be leaving Canada again to travel through Central Asia. Once again, we will be visiting countries that are in desperate need of help. We have not decided yet as to how we are going to give back to these communities, but we do know that we are going to in one way or another.

A School we visited in Malawi

There are so many ways for travelers to give back to communities.

We find that the simplest and easiest way is to write about it. We don’t have the luxury of having instant followers through Plan or the Tour d’Afriques website, but we have worked hard to build our own following with our own travel blog. Hopefully as we grow, we will be able to reach a larger audience and let them know about the social and environmental struggles of the countries that we are about to visit.

Being adventure travelers, we can raise a lot of awareness and gain publicity easily. We can climb for a cause, ride for a cause, cycle for a cause. The list goes on. Newspapers and magazines enjoy hearing about people that have conquered something extraordinary while at the same time supported an organization that is making change in the world.

An Inner City School in Cairo

Travelers can volunteer. Many organizations are looking for volunteers and you have a good chance of being able to help out if you are already in the country.

Teaching English is another way to help. English is becoming a universal language and it opens the door to a world of possibilities for employment. Dave and I volunteered for a night in Cambodia in a small town to help a teacher out. He was from Cambodia himself so his pronunciation of words was off. He stopped us in the street and asked us if we would be willing to lead the class so that they could mimic our pronunciation. Helping out in these remote villages where they don’t have the money or the means for organized western TESL can be a great contribution to the community.

A Child Thrives with the help of Charity

Another easy way to give back to communities is to add a button to your website.  It doesn’t have to be an in your face, give money to my cause hard sell. Simply add an icon in your sidebar linking to a cause that you believe in. It doesn’t cost a thing and you don’t have to do anything else. Visitors will come to your site, read your posts and explore. They may get the urge to click on your charity of choice and investigate or they may not. But no matter what, you will reach a few people and that is all it takes.

There are many ways to help out this world. We are so fortunate to live in a rich country and to have the opportunity to travel the world.  This world brings us a great deal of joy and we feel that the least we can do is to help the communities that enrich our lives so much by giving back to them.

Right now, we are investigating our options for our next trip.

To let people know what is going on can ignite a spark in someone to give. It doesn’t have to be money it could be time. It might not even be fore the cause that you are writing about, it could inspire a person to help in their own community.

Children Welcome us to their Playground

There is definitely no shortage in this world of people that need help.

Do you have any ideas of ways to give back while traveling. Have you volunteered overseas or raised money for a cause? What were your experiences? We are hoping to start a series involving guest writers to talk about their experiences involving ethical travel. If you would like to contribute, send us an email at theplanetd@gmail.com

It was a topic that really made me think about all of the people that I have met on the road and how I have taken so much for granted while I am at home. In an earlier post this week, I touched on the subject, and now, in honor of our post appearing at VelvetEscape and at cheapOair’s blog today, I have been thinking again about the people that have inspired me.

Hard Roads in Ethiopia

Africa was one of our toughest travels to date. We cycled through some of the most brutal conditions the world could throw at us for 120 days.  We would cycle through the desert for 6 days in a row without showering, without cold water and without a comfortable soft bed. We cycled through some of the poorest countries in the world and since we were riding for a charity, we had the opportunity to visit developmental projects to see the work that is being done to help.  We also witnessed first hand the hardships that many people face and the want and need to make a better life.

Upon my return home, I was amazed with the little things.  When I opened my fully stocked refrigerator to to make a meal I thought of the people that I met that don’t even have a refrigerator. As I rinsed my fresh vegetables under my cold running water, I thought about the people of Ethiopia and Malawi that have to walk for kilometres on end to fetch water from the local well; the only source of fresh clean water around.  I think of the people that work in the backbreaking heat tending their crops and the people that can’t just go to the corner store because they don’t feel like cooking dinner this evening.

I can’t deny that I have guilt.  I am not special, I was just born in a rich country given everything that I could need from the day I was born.  I am not a rich person, but living in Canada, you do not have to be rich, to live a rich life.

Dave and I often discuss this idea. Who “up there” decides who will be born in luxury and who will be born in poverty.  When we were in Cambodia, we had a hard time accepting ourselves and felt guilty for being who we are.  The world is not a fair place and travel opens our eyes to it on a very real and deep level.

I am not saying that all people that we meet on our travels suffer.  Many are happy and healthier than people here. We have ended up meeting truly inspiring people through our travels and here are some of the  moments that have touched us the most while we have been on the road.

An artist works at his craft funded through Microfinance

1. In Cairo’s poorest neighborhood Plan Canada took us to see what was being done to help. The people of the inner city were so proud to show us the progress they have made. We visited a micro-finance shop. Talented craftsmen showed us their businesses that they built from the ground up and were now making a living carving beautiful pieces of art and furniture. They had big plans and I am sure that they will fulfill all of their goals.

Gate to Cambodia

2. In Cambodia, we stopped in Kampot and taught English for an evening. The teacher was so proud of his accomplishment. A local villager, he earned 2 dollars for the evening and asked us if we could help him because some of his pronunciations were not good because English was his second language. All we did was help people pronounce words properly, he did all of the teaching, but it was a moving experience.  The pride that everyone felt that evening was unshakable. The students were proud to show off their grasp of the English Language, the Teacher was proud of his important job that was making a difference and their joy and determination rubbed off of us as we felt a certain pride in being able to help in our own small way.

Tea at Inle Lake

3. At Inle lake in Myanmar, we met an extraordinary girl. She invited us into her house and showed us photographs of her mother as as we sipped tea with her grandmother. We talked the afternoon away and she asked for nothing in return.  We were just two people walking along the canal that she happened to want to talk to and our hearts were lifted as we listened to the hardships of her life, but also the dreams that she has and what she has accomplished already.

A quiet moment in Wadi Halfa

4. Wadi Halfa Sudan- we weren’t supposed to be here.  We were simply supposed to get off the ferry from Egypt and move on the next day. But as luck would have it, our support truck was stuck at customs and we had to spend another day in this dried up town on the edge of lake Nassar. It was the next morning when we were walking through the streets that a man invited us to have breakfast with him.  He fed us a hearty meal and kept the sweet tea coming.  As we ate he talked to us of the town. How it was once lush and green and beautiful, but when the Egyptians built the Aswan Dam, they cut off all of the water coming in from the Nile and people ended up moving away.  He was a retired professor in Khartoum and had now moved home to rebuild his life here in Wadi Halfa, people are slowly coming back, but there is a long way to go.  When we tried to pay for our breakfast, he waved us off and that was the first of many experiences in Sudan where people have so little to give, and yet they give so much without a thought.

Dave with students in Malawi

5. Malawi- One of the poorest nations in Africa made famous by Madonna of late. We had the chance to visit a school.  We were greeted with music and singing and smiling faces. This school was a success story in a land that needs so much and the community was so proud to show us their accomplishments.  Their was a well, a soy bean field a playground and several buildings for classrooms.  Teachers and students came out on their day off to give us a tour and talk to us about what was going on.  Children from the village have gone on to university, recieved scholarships and jobs.  Children are monitored for malnourishment and they are not only taught lessons in school, they are taught how to tend the soy bean field and take care of crops. I saw pure joy in the faces of everyone and the success of the community could be felt in the energy all around us.

Check out this wonderful series that has had incredible contributors and we are honored to be included alongside such great writers as journeywoman, MyFolieaDeux and WildJunket, SoloTraveler, Travelogged and AfricaFreak

And find out about travel destinations from other great guest bloggers at CheapOair.

4 Days in the desert and 544km later and we have arrived in Safaga, Egypt. No it is not a rest day, we just rode our butt’s off to get here early to enjoy this little scenic town on the Red Sea. It caused a little bit of excitement to finally be able to take a shower and wash some clothes. The past few days have been very sandy, windy and quite cold at night. We splurged on the $32 U.S. for a hotel room and it is heaven.

So let me update you on our week, because we haven’t spoken to you in a little while….

We left Cairo on January 12th, from the pyramids with our police escort. It was beautiful approaching them during sunrise with the camels in the foreground. It was another brisk morning, so we only stopped for a few minutes for photo’s at the start line and then we were off like a heard of turtles (as my dad would say). It wasn’t exactly a fast pace, we were in a convoy for the first 15km until we hit the highway and that was when we could really let loose. Cars were racing past as we all biked on the side of the road and it was pretty thrilling. Dave almost was hit by a car, thank God I wasn’t there to see it or I would have had a heart attack. We were making pretty good time until we turned off the highway and started our climb into a head wind. We had heard that previous years have been tail winds all the way, but of course the year we do it, it is straight in to the wind. To give and idea, the racers did this stage in 3 hours last year, this year they finished in 6hrs. Ugh. It was a long and difficult day that took me two days to recover from. Only today am I feeling back to my old self.

As for our riding, we both managed to finish day one which ended up being pretty cool. Apparently a lot of people had to take the bus after lunch, or were picked up as it was getting to dark to ride. We made it in in 8 hrs and 3 minutes. But, like I said it took its toll and I had a couple of rough days ahead of me. Dave has managed to do amazingly well, he is making the riding look easy. On day 2, he came in only 20 minutes behind the lead racers. Considering there is a mountain bike champion from Austria, an elite rider who is only one step away from the Tour de France, the Egyptian National Team as well as the other incredible riders that we will tell you more about as we go, it is just cool to be riding along side them.

I have been suffering from terrible chest congestion, and it is a real challenge to get myself out of my warm sleeping bag to ride 100k plus each day, but things are looking up. We had a nice tail wind today and managed to ride 110km in 4.04 hours. Dave has been hanging back with me to keep my spirits high. What an amazing man I have married. Yesterday I had my worst day ever cycling with congestion, sore knees, and of course a really sore bum. But he chatted away and stayed beside me the whole time, I couldn’t believe how much I complained, but he just smiled and said, I love you and made everything better.

I have to say, we have been pretty far in to the interior of Egypt and now we have road from Cairo to the Suez and all along the Red Sea and I can’t get over how much sand is in this country. It really is a country of sand, I can’t imagine what it is like to live here. It was so great to pull up to Safaga today just to see some greenery.

We start climbing hills tomorrow and from what I hear, it is tough. Janet Alexander is back again this year and she is awesome. She is racing ahead with the guys and is amazing. She was winning the race last year, when she fell while walking, not cycling and broke her wrist. She decided to come back and ride the parts that she didn’t get to ride last year and it is great to get the inside scoop of what lies ahead for us. If the wind is at our back, all will be well. Lets hope for the best.

Everyone on this trip is wicked. Great riders and friendly people that are really inspiring me to pull up my pants and ride hard. We have a rest day in two days in Luxor and are looking forward to seeing the Valley of the Kings and taking a Felucca ride on the Nile. Oh life is tough.

We are writing an article for the Toronto Star, so look out for that. We are submitting it in Luxor, so I don’t know when it is going to be published, we will keep you posted. Juggling the internet, articles, photography and video is a little tough at the moment, since all we want to do when we get to camp is sleep, but as soon as our legs are stronger and our seats are broken in, I am sure that we will get better at putting it all together.

Talk to you in Luxor.

We were picked up promptly at our guest house at 9:30 this morning and greeted kindly by Ahmed, Mohamed, and Youmna. During our drive to our first destination, Youmna translated as Mohamed told us of the success that each project has had. We were impressed to hear about the progress that they have made in Egypt.

The population of Cairo alone is 20 million and with so many people, countries like Egypt must rely on outside foreign aid. What draws us to Plan even more is how they not only offer a solution, but make sure that it is sustainable. Before deciding to ride for Plan, (formerly Foster Parent’s Plan) we had always thought of them as strictly helping one child at a time. This is not the case. When a person sponsors a child, they are actually sponsoring projects most needed in the community. Whether it be clean water, a playground or a school. They look for where the aid is needed most and provide it. In the case of Egypt we visited 5 destinations.

Our fist stop was a youth community center. What used to be a polluted pool of water surrounded by garbage and full of disease is now a clean tiled playground where children can safely play football and ping pong while interacting with other children in the community. Inside, there are computers, a gymnasium and a hall for community celebrations. It truly is a success story.

Our next stop was located in the poorest neighbourhood of Cairo. The streets were made of dirt, littered with garbage and the buildings were falling down. But as we approached the school, we were greeted by smiling, playful children who definitely give hope for the future. Plan has built the only school in the neighbourhood. A refuge that tries to keep children from dropping out by creating a positive environment. Plan has provided computers, cassette recorders, school desks and a playground as well as training programs for teachers. They also act as a liason between families and the school board, and educate the community about children’s rights.

This city is gigantic and many of the children never get out of their neighbourhood. The school offers them a chance through field trips to see other parts of Cairo. It can be a real inspiration for them. The head minister of the school was so proud and we were so very grateful to them for letting us visit. Plus we were treated to a stanza of his beautiful poetry. The students were extremely excited to see us and I must say that I think that we disrupted their exams. Everyone wanted to shake our hands and say hello and our spirits were lifted by meeting them. When it was time to leave, all of the children ran down the street following our van, but we had to move on to our next destination.

The CBR – The Community Based Rehabilitation Project is a project that truly touches our heart.

Up until 5 years ago, children with disabilities were shunned by their community. Mothers were struggling with heartbreak and little hope. But the CBR changed all that. Plan started this program and now the people have learned to sustain it for themselves. Plan taught the board members how to write proposals to obtain funding, and with the help of the government, the community and Plan, they will be expanding throughout the country.

At this building, mothers can drop in with their baby’s and toddlers anytime to work on motor skills and speech therapy. As they grow older, they move to a group where 3 days a week, they play games, sports and work on crafts. Because of this project, they are now accepted into the community and are able to help out at home. They are even taught trades.

Last year one child went to the Special Olympics and won gold, something to be very proud of.

The older children play games and we were allowed to watch them play a game of bowling. You could tell by their smiles and laughter that they were having a wonderful time. By playing these games they are learning important skills without even knowing it.

Next we moved on to see some houses and communities that Plan has helped. They have provided plumbing, clean running water and toilets to an area where they used to have to travel great distances just to have a drink of water. Now they have a legal sanitation system. We met a family that gave us pastries and they were so proud of their child who is sponsored by a man from Holland. We reiterate again, this sponsorship is for the community, but the child has the added bonus of being able to correspond with his sponsor.

Our final stop was a business set up through Plan’s micro-finance programs. Struggling families can apply for a loan to start their own business and Plan gives them 24 months at a very low interest rate to pay that back. People who otherwise would never be able to finance a project themselves are now given the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. Once they have paid off their debt, Plan takes that money and refinances another entrepreneur.

The project we visited today was a furniture making business. These craftsman were friendly and proud of their family business. They take their beautiful hand made furniture to the market and sell it to tourists. So the next time you are haggling over a few dollars, remember, many of these crafts are hand made over 15 days by talented and hard working families. We know we will think of it next time.

Our trip today was an incredible experience, we are so lucky as Canadians to have all of the opportunities that we have. People face enormous problems in this world and by doing our own small part, we are hoping that we can at least bring awareness to more people about how much help is actually needed.

We have all heard the rumours that Aid money never gets to where it is supposed to go, but today we saw first hand, the difference that Plan is making in a community that would otherwise have little hope.

Many thanks to Plan and everyone involved who sacrificed their holiday today to bring around to these destinations. The hospitality that we were shown today will stay with us.

We will be online again, on the 11th to give and update of our Nile cruise and Riders meeting. Unfortunately we have to leave our Dahab Guesthouse and go back to the tourist trappings of the Cataract Resort where the internet costs $13 per hour. Here we have wireless for free and we have made good friends with Mohamed and Amir at the front desk. We will miss this place, but we know that we are going to meet amazing people along the way.

White Desert Egpt

About 2 weeks before we left Toronto, we read an article in Mountain Life Magazine about the White Desert in Egypt. It looked like a fascinating place and we decided that we have to go there. Our bike route however, didn’t go near the place because it is situated in the centre of the country. For sure this would be one expensive and long trip, so it was doubtful that we would make it there during the short time that we had before the race.

However, along Dahab Hostel who asked us if we would like to do a 3 day trip to the White Desert for a bargain price of 450e ($80) per person for 2 nights, 3 days, all meals and transfers included, camping in the White Desert, a visit to the hot springs and a 4X4 ride in the sand dunes that we won’t soon forget. How could we pass it up?

It turned out to be a great trip.

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We hopped on our coach for the 5 hour ride into the desert. I knew that Egypt was a dry country, but I didn’t realize just how much of it is desert. The entire country (so far) is sand, sand and more sand.

We made it to Bahariya by 2:30 in the afternoon, we were fed a traditional Bedouin meal of red sauce and potato, with rice, pita and sweet tea. Delicious. Then we were promptly off, right after the guys bought a Bedouin head dress. We travelled through the black desert and climbed a high peak overlooking the amazing desert vista. Black pebbles caused by erosion in the mountains covered the entire desert, turning it to an ominous dark shade. We carried on through a couple of security check points and once we passed through the second one, we instantly entered the white terrain that looked as if a blanket of snow had landed on the ground.

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White monoliths jutted out of the landscape, but nothing compared to our final destination…Our campsite was surrounded by the most amazing rock formations I have ever seen resembling mushrooms, camels and hawks. These pure white and smooth shapes were scattered throughout the area. We were surprised to see that when we touched the rock, it was actually chalk. We climbed atop one of the formations and watched the sun go down.

All this time, our guides were preparing dinner and putting our camp together. Once the sun had set, it was nice to have a warm fire to sit beside until dinner was served at our Bedouin style camp. All that was protecting us was 3 walls of material to block the wind, the front was open to the fire and our roofless shelter revealed the starry sky. Awesome.

We ate our red sauce and potato with rice plus the added bonus of a delicious fire roasted chicken But that was the end of the hospitality. Our guides were done with us, they sat by the fire drinking tea and smoking sheesha while we all sat around the table slowly chilling to the bone.

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Our Guide, White Desert

More guides arrived and they had a grand old time drinking more tea and blocking us from the fire until finally we asked them for blankets so we could go to bed. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a bad sleep. Heavy blankets and sleeping bags kept us fairly warm until a nose, ear or hand popped out from underneath the covers, but to fall asleep under a clear desert sky while being entertained by shooting stars made it all worth while.

We all awoke cold and achy in the dark to witness the sun rise over the white stones. Beautiful.

After a quick breakfast, we packed up camp and made our way back to Bahariya, stopping at sights along the way and by mid-afternoon, we were off 4X4ing in the desert on our way to the hot springs. Our driver was insane, but a lot of fun. He had a brilliant smile and kind eyes and gave us a thrill as we raced through the dunes. At one point we became stuck on a steep incline and I was sure that we were going to roll. After what seemed like forever, he finally figured out his path, and we went tearing off again. The ride was long and full of excitement as people were tossed about and sometimes hitting their heads on the roof. I thought Peru was scary and we were strapped in to a dune buggy, this was crazy sitting in the back of a 4X4 with no seat belts. We made it safe and sound though, laughing from the adrenaline rush and ready to relax in the springs.

Our Jeep in the White Desert, Egypt

That however, was not an option. It makes me laugh to think that this is actually an attraction. A concrete vat with luke warm water running through pipes into a dirty pool. There was not a chance that any of us were going into that. Eww! Instead, we had some tea with the gatekeeper and ate some fresh dates, while one of the drivers fixed his front tire. Then it was back to the 4X4 stopping to climb a mountain, seeing some more sights and then home in time for dinner.

It is now 3 days later and we are back in Cairo, sipping beer on the rooftop patio again working at our free wireless internet in Dahab Hostel. Not bad for $6 a night.

Tomorrow we are off to several Plan Projects, bright and early. We can’t wait to show you the great work that they are doing as we travel down through Africa. Watch for our update tomorrow night.

The White Desert, Egypt

We arrived 1 1/2 hours late on January 3rd, but our driver was waiting patiently to pick us up at the airport. We cannot tell you what a great feeling it was to see our names written on cardboard after 12 hours of travelling. I don’t think that we could have handled trying to find a taxi, haggle over a price and make our way to our hotel with our backpacks and giant bike boxes in tow.

The Cataract Pyramid Hotel was pleasant enough with swimming pool, a couple of restaurants and close to the pyramids, but quite isolated from everything. We made our way downtown to a small guest house in the heart of the city and we feel more at home experiencing the real Cairo, eating local food and chatting with local people.

But before I go on, I have to tell you about our day at the “Main Event,” here in Egypt. The Pyramids.

We have been to Machu Picchu, Tikal, Angkor Wat and Chitzen itza, but there has always been a draw to see the mother of all temple and ruins, the Pyramids of Giza. And they have delivered.

We rode around the massive desert grounds on camel and horseback, checking out the Sphinx and the 3 main pyramids, Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. It was magical. We were so happy that our driver, Iman talked us into seeing them by camel. We mounted our rides at a small shop several blocks from the sight and made our way through the labyrinth of alley ways where we entered the sight through the back door. Three hours exploring the grounds stopping for photos and learning about the history gave us our fill and we topped it off with a nice shot of Turkish Coffee while we were treated to a display of fragrances with hopes that we would buy. Little did they know that we may have smiles on our faces, but we had no intention of buying a thing! Our pyramid tour was now over and on to the rest of the attractions.

Our day today consisted of checking out of the Cataract who is storing our bikes and moving to the Dahab. I highly recommend this place. Quiet, friendly and a fantastic location We walked to the Egyptian Antiquities Museum just a couple of blacks away and had a great lunch a the El Tahir restaurant trying the local dish Kushani, a noodle, rice lentil and onion dish in a spicy tomato sauce. Mmm Mmm Good and even better that it was less than a dollar per person.

We are off to the white desert tomorrow for 3 days, so we will be off line for a little bit, but back with more pictures on the evening of the 8th. On the 9th, we are visiting a Plan Canada Project which we are really looking forward to and we will be posting our photos from the experience that evening. The 11th is our riders meeting and can you believe it, we leave the next day for our 12,000 km odyssey. Man we are psyched.

Be sure to check out our photos in our gallery. We have the pyramids added!