Egypt day 2
12/10/2009 05:24:00 am
After our lovely buffet breakfast, we headed out to our first pyramid which is the pyramid of Saqqara, first ever built in Egypt. It was build by an 'engineer' called ImHoTep for King Joseph. Apparently, this pyramid has 6 uneven steps because it wasn't intentionally build that high. Took 20 years.
Our next Pyramid, is the Great Pyramid of Giza, which consist of 2.3million stones, so much so that these stones can surround France at 3m high and 1m wide.
We then went to check out the Sphinx that actually guarded the Great Pyramid of Giza, called God of Fear and took a fun Camel ride down from the panoramic area.
Had pizza hut for lunch hehe. As you can tell, fast food is perhaps the cleanest food available. We were advised not to even brush our teeth with tap water...you could imagine how much I was missing my salad and fruits through this whole trip...
Our final stop was the perfumerie factory where they sold oil scented flowers. Served with a drink of our choice, the owner told the story that a long time ago, egyptologist found a tomb consisting of 4 large vases and a papyrus paper intact. These vases contained lily flowers soaked in oil.
He then further explained how the process of making scented oil based on the papyrus in which one does not need to use alot but a mere drop around the neck to last for the whole day. First you pluck the petal, then you squash it with a wooden machine til the oil comes out. After that, it gets kept for 70 days.
This is so much stronger than the perfumes you buy and also they export it overseas to expensive brands in which is mixed in alcohol to 'water' down the smell. So we are pretty much in a place where the 'raw' materials are produced.
We then head back for a shower before heading out to catch our overnight train. Apparently trains were not frequent and ours was delayed by 2.5 hours! Weather got cold really quickly as it was a high of about 27deg and low of 9deg.
Gosh, the night in the train was an experience. Especially when it comes to going to the toilet, where I felt literally like I was in a garbage truck. Bring on the sanitizerrrr...
Click here for the whole picture album and videos too
I just had to touch it...hehehe
Check the pic on the right with dC so tiny, the pyramid is HUGE
Elo Egypt!
Had pizza hut for lunch hehe. As you can tell, fast food is perhaps the cleanest food available. We were advised not to even brush our teeth with tap water...you could imagine how much I was missing my salad and fruits through this whole trip...
Can't really complain about the view eh?That medium pizza cost GP6!
Our final stop was the perfumerie factory where they sold oil scented flowers. Served with a drink of our choice, the owner told the story that a long time ago, egyptologist found a tomb consisting of 4 large vases and a papyrus paper intact. These vases contained lily flowers soaked in oil.
He then further explained how the process of making scented oil based on the papyrus in which one does not need to use alot but a mere drop around the neck to last for the whole day. First you pluck the petal, then you squash it with a wooden machine til the oil comes out. After that, it gets kept for 70 days.
This is so much stronger than the perfumes you buy and also they export it overseas to expensive brands in which is mixed in alcohol to 'water' down the smell. So we are pretty much in a place where the 'raw' materials are produced.
We then head back for a shower before heading out to catch our overnight train. Apparently trains were not frequent and ours was delayed by 2.5 hours! Weather got cold really quickly as it was a high of about 27deg and low of 9deg.
Gosh, the night in the train was an experience. Especially when it comes to going to the toilet, where I felt literally like I was in a garbage truck. Bring on the sanitizerrrr...
Click here for the whole picture album and videos too
