The Travels of Anthony Adverse
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Below are the 7 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Anthony, man abroad..." journal:
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04:43 pm
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Home again, Home again, Jiggetty Jig...
After 19 hours of travel, two trips through security, two trips through customs and two twenty minute cab rides, I'm home. Tired, content, and home.
We woke up ridiculously early (read: 8:00 am) to try and book a dune buggy expedition, but failed due to a whole lotta people who didn't quite savvy customer service.
After a couple hours, we pulled ourselves out of bed (again), got dressed, got to packing and then took a taxi ride down to the Emerites Mall to jump on the slopes of Ski Dubai. It rocked.
Earl and I stalked around the mall for a bit (it's GIGANTIC), and after getting lost for an hour, we jumped in a cab and made for the hotel to check out.
I'm sore from skiing, tired from travel and extremely happy. It was a great trip all around, and I'm glad to have done it. For now, however, I'm glad to be home.
There will be more posted on the trip, but for now, here's some images that I was lucky to have captured.
( A picture is worth...a lot... )
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05:59 pm
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Dubai...not just for the rich...well...mostly...
Just a quickie to say that I'm still alive, and have a much more reliable internet connection.
I've not been posting because 1) I've been having battery issues, so there's been no taking of the laptop to the wireless restaurant in Cairo; 2) We had way too many things going on for me to sit down and get an entry done; and 3) I can't get it out fast enough.
That being said, I'm going to continue to jot down thoughts, stories and whatnot from our trip after I've gotten back, Stateside. Be on the lookout for 'em.
As for me, I'm going to be slightly hungover in the am. It's been an insane day. We were just getting up about 24 hours ago to get on the plane. We got in from dinner and clubbing about an hour ago. Earl's out cold, snoring, I'm downing water and reading and responding to email, and we've both been enjoying the wonders of Dubai's club scene.
To wrap up, really quickly (before I pass out on my keyboard), We ate at the only 7 star restaurant in the world in the only 7 star hotel in the world, the sail-shaped hotel Burj Al-Arab. It was Earl's birthday and he wanted to celebrate in style. So we had drinks on the 27th floor, had foie gras and all the trappings; later Earl had 50 year old Scotch.
We hit a club off of the Palm Island and between Earl and I, we made friends with a buncha folks, didn't pay for like 18 Kamakazi Shots (I'm NOT exaggerating) and turned down two very gorgeous Ethiopian "Working Girls" who were trying to convince us to "come back to their place."
It's been a full night.
Tomorrow, we're going to do that thing where we sleep a lot. A LOT. Hopefully, I'll be posting some more tomorrow (with pictures included) about the fun in Cairo, Luxor and beyond.
Also, be sure to read the menu for prices when you travel. There's something quite frightening about seeing the numbers 8500 next to a shot of scotch...even if your exchange rate is 3.5 to the dollar....
Now, blessed sleep...and trying to make sure we can go sand dune snow boarding on Friday (yes, you read that right...)
Current Location: Dubai, UAE
Current Mood:  sleepy
Current Music: The Chills--Peter, Bjorn and John
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04:01 pm
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Up, Down, West, East, Out...
Earl and I awoke this morning to what must have been the most fool, stoned, blind rooster. He began his crowing around 2:30 am, and kept on well past our leaving the room at 4:45.
With only four hours sleep under our belts, we followed one of the Balloon company managers through the streets near our hotel to a bus--which took us walking distance to the ferry dock. We boarded, got a light breakfast and waited for all the really tardy British tourist groups to arrive.
Breakfast here consists of coffee or tea, a sesame bun, olives, goat's cheese, bread and butter. If you're lucky, there's jam. This seems to be the universal all over Egypt. If you want something better, you have to speak up very quick, very loud and well before they give you the service (read: bill).
After a quick cruise across the Nile, we landed on the West Bank and piled into a bunch of waiting mini-buses. We made cozy with a family of Londoners, and took a twenty minute jog through farmland, a ruined temple to Ramses II and some mud huts.
Making it there, we were informed by the calm captain for the trip that weather conditions weren't right for a safe take-off, a pleasant trip, or a safe and successful landing. Indeed, the wind was blowing hard to the north east. There had been a sandstorm that had travelled down through Cairo to us and had left the air thick with dust. Visibility was crap, and we really didn't want to come down in the Nile with a 1 ton basket and fifteen people flailing like bloody murder. We'd wait and see if things got better after the sun came all the way up.
They didn't.
The trip was cancelled and we were poured back into the vans and ferried back East, but not before being treated to the balloon ground crew dancing and singing in the morning breeze.
Someone pulled out a drum. Someone else a banjo like instrument and everyone began singing and clapping, dancing and chanting. It was a highlight of the morning and more than made up for the dissappointment of missing the flight. Also, there was something great about all the Nubian men calling to me and Earl "Cousin! Cousin! Come, dance! You are same color as us! Nubian Cousin!"
Africa, man. LOVE IT.
We got back just in time for our tour of the Valley of the Kings to begin...
THAT was an absolutely great time. One which will be chronicled in an entry to follow.
I'm off to freshen up at the hotel, and ready for our 10 hour train ride back to Cairo, where I'll post more.
Cheers!
Current Mood:  cheerful
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06:29 pm
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One Night in Luxor
"Allo!" As they say here on their mobile phones.
Just a REALLY quick update, as this is costing me 5EG for the time and Earl still needs to get online.
We're currently sitting in Luxor, staying at a hotel right next to the Nile. We've been exploring the East Bank temples today, and tomorrow, we get to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Also, there shall be an incredible sunrise Baloon Ride over all of Luxor.
It's going to be a full day, tomorrow. But tonight, it's going to be an easy time. Mainly, because we have to be up and out at 4:30 am.
I'll write more soon, and hopefully post a video or two in the next couple of days. I'm going to take the 10 hour train ride tomorrow to do some writing, so y'alls can keep up!
Now, off to dinner at a local restaurant (if we can find it).
Earl is looking at me funny again, but he has reason; we need to get reservations for a restuarant in Dubai, and we have to make them now, or we don't even get onto Palm Island.
Cheers!
Current Location: Luxor, Egypt, accross from the Winter Palace
Current Mood: happy
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07:41 am
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Where the Streets have no name...no, really...there are like no signs in half the places...
Just a quick check in before I'm off again!
To summarize:
Stayed out really late at a club that didn't get *started* until 3:30am.
I've been mistaken for an Egyptian like five times today. Amused and delighted!
Awoke with no sleep, got up for tour of the most beautiful Mosque in all of Cairo, Papyrus art shopping at a government sanctioned shop and a grand tour of the Giza Pyramids on Camel back.
AMAZING.
Going to a a dinner and show cruise up the Nile in a few minutes.
I'm tired, dusty, sweaty and totally happy.
Going on a trip to Saqqara to see the pyramids there tomorrow early AM and then to the British museum followed by a train trip down to Luxor.
It's a full weekend.
Now, to shower, refresh and cruisin' the Nile!
Current Location: Cairo, Egypt
Current Mood:  accomplished
Current Music: Cairo Radio...
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12:34 pm
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A Flight, and a Night.
I'm currently sitting in the restaurant and wi-fi cafe of The Windsor Hotel (http://www.windsorcairo.com/), Cairo, Egypt. It's like a throwback to the 1930's, nodding heavily at Casablanca or Indiana Jones.
I'm trying very had not to be to be all puppy dog excited.
I overslept a little bit yesterday, which resulted in my running around like a toilet tissue salesman at a Tijuana Ex-Lax Convention. Needless to say, Earl arrived at my house long before I was ready. Mom grabbed us a quick lunch while Earl relaxed, my dog whined and I tried to take up every plug in the house with rechargeable electronics.
Around 1:15pm I threw the last of my sundries in my bag, we shouldered our gear and piled in Mom's car. We made it out with plenty of time to spare with everyone mocking my usual last minute antics.
"You need to stop doing things at the last minute."
"You need to keep the dog away from me in the morning, so I can sleep."
"Well, I've been packed for two days."
"That's because you thought we were leaving on Tuesday."
"You got everything, son?"
"Yeah..."
"Passport?"
"Yeah..."
"Wait, where's mine? Oh, here it is. I changed my pockets...whew...scared myself. Got my atm card there, too. I'll just take out the cash when we get there..."
"Do you think I'll need mine? I brought cash."
"I'm going to just put everything on plastic, unless I need to."
"Oh, SHIT!"
"WHAT?!?!?"
"I left the damn battery for my camera in the charger...It's still plugged in...at the house."
"Well, crap."
Needless to say, it was a bit of a downer for me. All that, and me without a camera. In Egypt. On a HUGE trip. Damn.
We pulled up to the airport after a few minutes and there was a quick discussion to see if Mom could rush home, get the battery and get back before we had to make it through security. She dashed off and we headed to ticketing.
We were greeted by a lovely, Black, French Stewardess (who we'd later see on our flight). She steered us to the agent in a thick, warm, francaise accent. It was going to be full flight. After about ten minutes, she found us two seats together and we were off to security.
...Where we were recognized by one of the TSA agents as Survivors. In fact, it was the same TSA agent who recognized me before my trip to Austin for Kirkland and Jeanne's wedding. Small world.
After a couple of quick calls to mom, Earl and I opted to forgo the battery (she wasn't going to make it) and just get through security, get to the gate and search out new camera gear once closer to our destination. There was also that whole "Well, *I* have my camera" thing from Earl, as well.
Our flight, of course, was delayed.
After about forty five minutes waiting (Mom *so* could have made it), we boarded the plane ("Bonjour! Bienvenue!"), oggled the lovely flight attendants (seriously...Does Air France have a Supermodel requirement? I mean, even the "ugly" ones were gorgeous. Like, straight up, old school, sell your little brother for a shot at the prize HAWT), and promptly passed out.
Years passed. The universe was created and destroyed. There Will Be Blood repeated four times. Earl slept through a quarter season of Prison Break on his DVD player. Some old lady went to the lavatory eighty five times (including the one time she fell in Earl's Lap). I got to practice my French. BUNCHES.
We arrived, unscathed, hunted around the airport, found our gate (Charles de Gaul is Ginourmous) and sat. Our flight was delayed (an ongoing theme), and we had time to kill.
So we walked. And Walked. And Walked.
And, Lo. There, before me was a Virgin Electronic Store! Convenient, well stocked, with--Canon Batteries! But, NO! No chargers. Damn. So, I just went ahead, spent the credit (cash? You mock me, sirrah!) and bought a nice, cheap digital cam. Cheap being 139 EUR...I opted to pay in US (202 $US) and came out a little ahead. This improved my mood, greatly. CAMERA!
Finally, completely geared up, we made our way to our gate...to find that our flight was boarding...and moved to another gate...on the other side of the airport.
Can I just say, it is amusing to watch Earl try and run in flip flops.
We got on board in time, the final boarding call sounding over the loud speakers ("Monsieur Cole, Monsieur Robe-een-soon...please report to gate 57..."). We got into our seats and...promptly passed out.
Four hours later, we arrived--CAIRO! City of Life! City of the Ages! City of ten zillion cars...
Our hotel sent a driver for us, a 57 year old, former airforce helicopter mechanic named Sayaad. Sayaad began giving us a little tour and dropped us in front of our hotel in one piece.
And now, Earl is looking at me like I'm crazy for typing so much. He's eager to get up and out and discover nightlife (and I can't blame him). I just needed to get this down, now, before it fades away like so much dust from my shoes.
I'm in city that is older than most of the world's greatest nations. I'm in a city where most people look like me. It's not unlike coming home and still feeling completely alien--something that I've only experienced once, in Fiji.
Tonight, we are going to explore where the old world meets the new. Tomorrow, we explore the old world, The Pyramids at Giza. And from there...well, I'll let you know as I do.
PAX
Current Mood: thankful
Current Music: Something by Shakira being piped in...
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10:17 am
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The Trip Begins...
This is exciting and nuts and crazy and great!
In a few short hours I'll be jumping in an airplane, flying to France, jumping on another airplane and heading to Cairo, Egypt! While there, I'm going to run around doing a bunch of amazing stuff, hopefully remembering to take lots of pictures, a few videos, and making a crap-load of memories.
After that, it's onto another plane, a four hour trip and four more days in the glorious city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While there, it's the attack of a whole lot more cool stuff, swimming in the ocean, skiing indoors, enjoying the city nightlife and taking dune buggies down the sand.
This is going to be nuts, fun, and a grand, grand, grand adventure.
I'm going to try and take you all along for the ride with me.
Current Location: Compton, CA
Current Mood: excited
Current Music: "Absolute Beginners"--The Jam
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