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History See other History Articles Title: Exploring Egypt Whether you are a history buff or compulsive traveller, Egypt’s ancient civilisation and exotic culture will take your breath away. There are very wonderful things to be seen in Egypt, are there not?” wrote Agatha Christie in one of her classic mystery novels, Death on the Nile (1937). The book and movie, released in 1978 (starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot), made an impression on me, then a naive 15-year-old. Egypt, one of the world’s greatest ancient civilisations. Two decades later, I finally set foot in the land of the Pharaohs as a guest of Contiki Holidays (a company specialising in vacations for 18- to 35-year-olds) for a nine-day Egypt and the Nile tour. Led by tour manager Sherif Abou El Wafa, our trip included Cairo, the capital, historical hot spots like Giza, Aswan, Luxor and Abu Simbel, and rounded off with a cruise on the Nile, the world’s longest river. Our cosy group of 20 travellers, ages ranging from 19 to 35, met for the first time at the pre-tour briefing. They included college students and professionals from Australia, US, Canada, South Africa, Korea and Japan. Most of us were first-time Contiki travellers while a few were Contiki trip veterans. A freelance guide with 16 years of experience, Sherif, 40, an Egyptian from Cairo, has been running Contiki trips for 10 years. He dished out useful tips on how not to get ripped off by touts and shopkeepers, techniques for haggling in bazaars and safety tips, especially for female travellers. Since Egypt is a tipping society, each of us forked out US$25 (RM88) to contribute for baksheesh (tips) for the entire trip. A great way to begin our tour was at the pyramids of Giza. A world-renowned landmark, the pyramid of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus sit in the desert of Giza, a mere 45-minute drive from downtown Cairo. Pyramids are tombs built for the ancient Egyptian kings known as Pharaohs. “Ancient Egyptians believe the sun’s rays breaking through the clouds look like a pyramid,” explains Sherif, who has a master’s degree in Egyptology. “They got the idea of making the tomb look like a pyramid. The sun’s ray is like a ramp. When the Pharaoh dies, he uses the ‘ramp’ to reach the Sun God. “ “To date, archaeologists have found 118 pyramids in Egypt but the most perfect and biggest of them all is the pyramid built by Cheops (Khufu), a ruler from the 4th Dynasty (2600-2487 BC),” says Sherif. Known as the Great Pyramid, the 147m tall structure is the first of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World and the only one still standing. More than 4,500 years ago, about 100,000 workers painstakingly stacked up two million limestone blocks over 20 years to create a pyramid with a precise 51° slope on four sides. “Yellah! Yellah Habibi . . .” (Let’s go my dear/sweetheart . . .), Sherif called out each time we reached our destination. Framed by clear, blue skies in the cool February climate, the imposing pyramid looked as though it touched the sky as you look up. Some of us paid EGP100 (RM62) each to enter the tomb. For about 15 minutes, we became Indiana Jones as we stooped and clambered up steep ramps and narrow, claustrophobic tunnels to reach the inner chamber which houses the sarcophagus. On busy days, there is a long line of tourists waiting to get in. Only 200 tourists are allowed into the tombs per day . Some of us rode camels across the desert from the second pyramid, Chephren, to the famous Sphinx, a sculpture of a lion body and a human head which symbolised the Pharaoh’s strength and wisdom. It was deified as a form of the Sun God.
Poster Comment: Click on link to read rest of article... I've been reading about the Great Pyramid at Giza since yesterday, it's one of the most bizarre things I've ever come across. Simply put it should not exist for so many reasons.
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#1. To: Diana (#0)
The Great Pyramids are fascinating.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 KJV
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