Vietnamese girl travels 2 yrs 25 countries

Vietnamese girl travels to 25 countries with US$700

 VietNamNet Bridge – With only $700 in her pocket, Khanh Huyen traveled to 25 countries in Asia and Africa. In two years of travelling, the Hanoi girls learned how to cook many dishes, row, hike, act in films and write.

Khanh Huyen in Egypt. Photo: NVCC

After graduating from the high school for gifted students of the National University of Hanoi, Nguyen Thi Khanh Huyen decided to work immediately without studying at college. 

When Huyen was tired of work her job in Malaysia, she flashed the idea to travel to some countries. However, the trip lasted for two years, taking her to 25 countries.

"When I was young, I used to say to my mum that I wanted to travel around the world. At that time she only smiled and though that I told a joke. I also thought that was my outburst and I could not do it. But it is amazing that I had such a long journey," Huyen said.

In May 2010, Huyen left Malaysia to some countries in Asia and Africa. She stayed in India for four months, then three months in Nepal 3, another three months in Israel.

In two years travelling over different lands, Huyen always looked for ways to save money for the trip. As a member of the Couch Surfing network in the world (sharing accommodations), Huyen was provided with free accommodations in the countries she visited by other members of the Couch Surfing network. They also helped her integrate into local communities to learn about their lives and culture. 

Huyen was also willing to sleep at bus stops, on the street, and on the beach as long as they gave her the sense of security. She even slept in police stations several times.

"Once I slept on the beach of the Red Sea (Israel). The weather was very hot during the day but it was very cold at night. I had to wear all of my clothes in my backpack but I was still cold. In Nepal, I had to sleep at police stations several times. I had to be very patient to explain for local people that I was traveling. Perhaps I looked naïve so they had compassion for me," Huyen said with a smile.

She regularly walked, for up to 40-50km a day, or hitched a ride because according to Huyen "hitchhiking is very simple. I stood on the road to catch people for a ride." 

Once she hitchhiked a truck in Ethiopia and overslept in the car. The car took her 200km over her scheduled destination. The driver dropped Huyen in a strange city that she had never heard of its name. But Huyen found out that this was a very interesting place after a few days discovering the city.

She traveled from one place to the other. When she was out of cash, she found a job to do. In India, she starred as a popular actor and played in commercial ads. In Nepal, she participated in organizing parties for a club. She wrote for a website in Israel, worked in a casino in Tanzania... 

Huyen said that these jobs did not require in-depth knowledge, just a vivacious, dynamic, bold person. These simple works were paid for the hour, immediately, so she still had time to explore destinations.

"Each passing day I had different memories and different experiences. In two years, I learned many things which are as important as the knowledge that I learnt for 12 years at the school," Huyen said. 

She said she learned many things such as designing websites, making a film in India, Buddhism in Tibet, rowing, hiking cooking dishes from different countries, making jewelry from recycled materials and others.

Khanh Huyen and her friends in Africa. Photo: NVCC.

Travelling alone but Huyen never fell sad because she could quickly make friends with local people. 

"When I was sad, I went to the market to find local people to get acquainted with them. I never stayed in hotels. I always tried to stay with local people," Huyen said. 

On a bus in the evening in India, a young man invited Huyen to stay with his family for one night. But Huyen stayed there for a week and learned how to cook Indian cuisines learned about the culture, customs of Indian people. The family presented her gifts when she left.

In her journey, Huyen met accidents and risks. She had a motorcycle accident, causing leg fracture and she had to stay in Nepal for a month to care for the injury. She experienced persistent illness in the winter in the Himalayas. She was snatched, pick-pocketed and was nearly kidnapped.

At the border of Kenya and Somalia in the evening, a group of young people pressed a knife to her neck and robbed her backpack. Although she chased after them and shouted for help, people around did not help her. At that time, she fell helpless, resentment, and very alone.

"The trip really helped me mature. Situations taught me how to live independently, comfortably, strengthened my adaptability and endurance. I have become bolder and stronger after the journey," Huyen said.

Talking about her experience in preparing for the journey, Huyen said that the most important thing is preparing a good health and anticipate any circumstance that can happen on the road.

When she returned home with sunburned skin, ragged hair, her mother was poignant, but she assured about her daughter's self-reliance. 

"Vietnam youngsters were wrapped carefully by their families so they are disadvantaged compared to their friends in other countries in the world. In many countries, young people are always facilitated by their families to travel," Huyen said.

Huyen plans to visit South America for a year. She is also building a tourism portal, wishing to turn it into a Lonely Planet site for the Vietnamese. She is also about to release a book that she wrote about her experience in the journey.

Translated by Minh Phuong

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Vietnam latest news - | Three shark species attacked swimmers in central Vietnam: study

Vietnamese scientists have identified three shark species that have attacked people at least ten times off the coast of Binh Dinh Province's Quy Nhon Town from 2009-2010.

According to a report released by the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute on July 13, a pigeye shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis) attacked Nguyen Quang Huynh on July 18, 2009 causing a deep cut in his foot. Huynh was swimming some 150 meters off shore.

A blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) attacked Mang Duc Hanh on January 9, 2010 when he was swimming just ten meters from shore. Hanh suffered severe injury in his hand.

Meanwhile, the graceful shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides) may be responsible for eight other attacks.

Vo Si Tuan, deputy director of the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, who led the research team, said the sea off the coast of Quy Nhon Town is the natural habitat of several tropical sharks that often search for food near the shore.

“The Quy Nhon Bay offers easy access for sharks to swim near the shore,” he said.

Tuan said nearby lobster farms have also attracted hungry sharks to the area while the El Nino (from July 2009 to June 2010) increased the water's temperature and solidity causing many sharks to mistake human beings as prey.

The report proposed solutions like moving lobster farms farther away from beaches and creating a protective the swimming zone enclosed by a large net.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), the 79 unprovoked attacks of 2010 was the highest total since 2000, when 80 attacks were recorded. 

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“The number of shark-human interactions occurring in a given year is directly correlated to the amount of time humans spend in the sea. As world population continues its upsurge and interest in aquatic recreation concurrently rises, we realistically should expect increases in the number of shark attacks and other aquatic recreation-related injuries,” it said.

As in recent years, North American waters had the most unprovoked attacks in 2010 with 32. Elsewhere, 14 attacks occurred in Australia, eight in South Africa, six in Vietnam and Egypt, with a single incidents occurring of the coast of the Bahamas, Brazil, Fiji, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Solomon Islands, Canary Islands, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.

Surfers, swimmers and waders were the recreational groups most often involved in shark attacks in 2010 as those involved in snorkeling, scuba diving and those using inflatable rafts and inner-tubes were less likely to become victims of shark attacks.

On Revolutions

Chris Guillebeau

February 24, 2011

On Revolutions by Chris Guillebeau

On my first overseas trip in several months, I made it to Libya, Afghanistan, and even (briefly) Kish Island, Iran.

It was a tiring trip, as one might expect, but also a timely one. When I booked my flights, I didn't exactly plan on revolution breaking out across the region; apparently revolutions are not scheduled in advance.

Let's start with a story.

During an extended interview with the Iranian immigration authorities ("Please have seat, sir") I was more nervous than usual in such settings. My two interrogators kept asking the same questions over and over. "Which company you work for?" I tried to tell them about the Travel Hacking Cartel -- "Have you guys heard of Frequent Flyer Miles?" -- but they just looked blankly at me.

The officials took my fingerprints multiple times. ("Right thumb, mister. Left finger, mister. Right thumb again, mister.") One of them did lots of database typing while speaking about me in Farsi to the other. Meanwhile, I was sweating it out in my plastic chair. I thought about the American hikers, imprisoned for eighteen months and counting due to allegedly trespassing across the border. (Many reports say they were kidnapped by Iranian guards while still in Iraq.) What if something like that happened to me? I had prepared nothing in the event of such a contingency.

Finally, my Iranian immigration friends determined that a real spy would have a better cover story than I did, so they set me free to explore the island before flying back to Dubai. ("Please do not miss your flight," they said before I left the airport. "Oh, don't worry about that," I said. This was one flight I wasn't going to miss.)

So while I was momentarily fearful and struggling to explain my occupation without using the word writer, I was also aware of the obvious: if this is what I have to worry about, privileged Western traveler that I am, with my U.S. passport and American Express credit cards, how does it feel to actually live in a place where the state rules by fear? This, sadly, is the reality for most people in Iran, in Libya, and plenty of other countries around the world.

***

People sometimes make comparisons between the struggle for freedom in places like Egypt or Tunisia with various protests in the democratic world. We certainly have our share of problems where I come from, but these comparisons are quite a stretch. If you don't like your leaders in the U.S. or any other democracy, well, just give it time and they'll change. I didn't like George W. Bush very much, but I had no fear that he would fight to hold onto power and stick around after his time was up. If you don't like Obama, the same holds true -- the clock is always ticking down to a determined end date. You know exactly how many days our leaders have to go, and no one worries about anything different happening at the end.

Besides, presidents in America don't really affect our individual lives that much. I'm free to do and say what I want most of the time. We can all use the tools of modern technology to communicate with people without censorship. If you want to publicly protest something in America, you can do that too, and the government will even send out police to protect both you and any demonstrators who oppose your views. I don't think they would send mercenaries with sniper rifles to kill people, which is happening in Libya this week.

In terms of my travel quest, it was good to get these countries off my list -- Libya, Afghanistan, and Iran all being more difficult to travel to than Switzerland. I jokingly called it an "Axis of Evil" trip, and I enjoy the disorienting nature of traveling in such places. I could write long posts about getting an Afghan visa, having my flight out of Kabul canceled for three days, sleeping on the floor of Sharjah airport, and so on. Perhaps I'll do that at some point, but these things seem trivial at the moment.

One of the rules of careful traveling in dictator-controlled states is to avoid discussing politics. But under the surface, you'll find that people discuss politics all the time -- you just have to know how to listen. Until recently, it wasn't wise to show up in Egypt and ask, for example, "Hey, what do you guys think of the man who has ruled your country for 30 years?"

But if you ask, "So how are things going here?" the response will likely be some form of complaint about the government. You'll hear about how half the population makes $2 a day despite billions of dollars in grants from the U.S. and Europe. You'll hear, when you listen carefully, how everyone knows the state is corrupt, but no one feels any power to create change.

Of course, people complain about the government pretty much anywhere in the world, but again, the difference is that in "our" part of the world, the government doesn't engage in hunting down its own citizens, murdering them in the streets in an attempt to retain absolute power. I think that's a pretty important difference.

Therefore, if you had asked me six weeks ago whether anything would change in the Middle East and North Africa, I would have said "Not anytime soon. This is just how it goes." But look and see what's happening! The whole story is yet to be written, but at least in some places, I was obviously proved wrong by thousands of brave people.

***

We use the word revolution too flippantly, because real revolutions involve great sacrifice. Those who dare to express themselves are placed at real risk -- not only the risk of violence and intimidation, but also the likely possibility of failure. Last year there was a "green" revolution in Iran, where everyone on the outside cheered on the protestors and dutifully changed their Twitter avatars in a show of digital support. Yet the revolution was ultimately unsuccessful, and the same people are still in charge.

The recent cases of political uprising appear to be different, at least in some places like Tunisia and Egypt thus far. I hope there will be others. But just remember, this kind of uprising involves uncertainty for everyone, and clear consequences for some of the brave people who participate.

To anyone around the world involved in creating real change in the face of violent opposition, I'm sure you have better things to do than read my blog. But I'm also fairly sure you have more courage than me. So if you're out there, I haven't changed my avatar, but I'm awed at your willingness to risk so much for something your country desperately needs. Peace be upon you.

Ancient Egyptian Town Found Using Radar :

Radar imaging in Egypt's Nile Delta has unveiled the outlines of a buried city that was the stronghold of foreign occupiers some 3,500 years ago, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities announced Monday.
Discovered by a team of Austrian archaeologists in Tell el-Daba in the northeastern Nile Delta, the ruins belong to the southern suburban quarters of Avaris, the capital of the Hyksos kings who formed Egypt's 15th dynasty.
Known as the “rulers of foreign countries” (probably of Asiatic roots), the Hyksos infiltrated Egypt and came to dominate the Nile valley for over a century during the Second Intermediate Period (1664-1569 B.C.).
From their strategic capital, Avaris, these foreign rulers are credited with introducing horse-drawn chariots into Egypt and controlling the lucrative trade routes with the Near East and the Mediterranean world.
Using a combination of geophysical survey and excavation techniques, the Austrian archaeologists led by Irene Forstner-Müller investigated approximately 2.6 square kilometers (1 square mile) of the ancient buried city.
The resulting computer-generated images showed a very detailed layout, complete with houses, streets, cemeteries and palaces.
The team has also identified temples where the Hyksos worshipped the god Seth, a possible harbor area and a series of pits of different sizes whose function has not yet been determined.
“Using special scientific survey to locate such a city is the only way to gain a better understanding of such a large area at one time,” Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said in a statement.
Avaris was then captured by King Ahmose I (ruled about 1570-1546 B.C.), who ended the Hyksos rule and founded the glorious 18th dynasty, which included pharaohs such as Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.
Picture: Color satellite image with radar imaging in monochrome showing the outlines of streets, houses and temples buried under the modern town of Tel al-Dabaa. Courtesy of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).

World's Best Tourist Attractions -

The Acropolis. The Eiffel Tower. The Great Wall of China. Sometimes, following the well-worn path really is the best way to appreciate a destination. Sure, we roused your ire with our recent coverage of the World's Worst Tourist Traps, but we also know there are some sights you just can't miss. You may still end up waiting in long lines, but there's a reason why the best tourist attractions are worth the wait.


Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The view of Athens from atop the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, makes a visit worthwhile; and seeing the Parthenon up close is a much different experience than seeing it in a photo. The €12 admission fee (about $15 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) grants you access to several attractions, including the Acropolis of Athens, the north and south slopes of the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora of Athens, and more.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
As one of the most visited sites in Italy, it's no surprise your first encounter with the Colosseum (site in Italian) will involve greetings from trinket peddlers, followed by long lines and a hefty ticket price—€12, with a €3 surcharge during exhibitions (about $15 and $4 U.S., respectively). However, once you enter its walls, it's easy to imagine yourself back in 79AD, amongst crowds of up to 50,000 people cheering on gladiators—a feeling even a Russell Crowe movie can't recreate.
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Tchotchke sellers, long waits in ticket lines, and flashy lights that go off on the hour are all major turnoffs, but the Eiffel Tower still manages to hold all the romantic charm you'd expect. When Gustave Eiffel began construction for the 1889 World's Fair, Parisians saw it as an eyesore. Now this iconic 300-meter iron structure is synonymous with the City of Light. Taking the 1,665 stairs is cheaper (€4.50, or about $5.50 U.S.), but if you expect to get to the top you'll have wasted a lot of energy. The views are spectacular from any part of the structure, but if you've traveled all the way to Paris, you'll likely want to wait a few extra minutes in line, and spend a bit more money (an elevator ride to the top costs €13, or $16 U.S.) to take in the expansive views from the very top.
Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Constructed in the 1400s, the Forbidden City is a literal tourist trap, surrounded by 10-meter high walls and a 52-meter wide moat. It lies in the center of Beijing, north of Tiananmen Square, and now houses the Palace Museum, which has around one million objects. Expect to pay between 40 and 60 yuan (about $6 to 9 U.S.), depending on the time of year. Around eight million tourists visit the halls, gardens, and pavilions that were once home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors. With that many visitors, the grounds are easily packed, and there's even a Starbucks, creating an unfortunate juxtaposition between the past and present. Nonetheless, the 72-hectare complex is worth a visit to see the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, and there are several different routes you can take, depending on what you want to see and how much time you have to spend.
Great Wall of China, Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan, China
It's impossible to appreciate the magnitude of the Great Wall of China without actually seeing it in person. Most tour groups head to the portion of the wall closest to Beijing, the Badaling section, as it is the most well-preserved, but there are numerous places along the approximately 5,500 mile wall where crowds are much thinner. Access to the wall varies, depending on where you visit, but you can expect to pay around 40 to 50 yuan (about $6 to 7 U.S.), or a bit more for extras such as cable car rides and crossing bridges. More suited for serious hikers, the Jiankou section has no admission fee, no one trying to pawn off goods, and is open 24 hours. Locals charge around 5 yuan for parking. Portions of the wall are in disrepair, but the Mutianyu section offers 22 watchtowers, and is the longest fully-restored portion of the wall open to tourists. It features easy walking conditions and fewer crowds. If you're up for more of a challenge, you can hike the seven-and-a-half-mile portion between Jinshanling and Simatai, or run a marathon.
Machu Picchu, near Aguas Calientes, Peru
There are several ways to visit Machu Picchu, and you don't necessarily have to get into shape to do it, but a four-day trek on the Inca Trail may be the most rewarding. If you don't want to exert yourself quite as much on vacation, a train runs from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes for about $98 round-trip. From there, buses make the remaining eight-kilometer hike up the mountain. The bus costs around $14 round-trip and takes about 30 minutes. The 20-minute walk from Aguas Calientes to Puente Ruinas is the alternative, followed by another hour march up the remaining two kilometers to Machu Picchu. The cost to visit the site is almost as steep as the climb (S/128, about $45 U.S.), but is worth it if you take the time to walk around and explore.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana
No trip to New Orleans would be complete without a stroll down famed Bourbon Street (and maybe a pint of beer or two). If you stick to people watching, you may escape with your wallet intact. However, chances are the bars and souvenir shops lining the street will be next to impossible to avoid, and you'll find yourself lured into one, or several, of these establishments, if only out of curiosity. Stick to bars that aren't frat houses, such as Preservation Hall just off Bourbon Street, which often has live jazz music; or Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, which is said to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the country.
Pyramids of Giza, Giza, Egypt
There are more than 100 known pyramids in Egypt, but Giza is home to some of the largest, including the famous Great Pyramid of Giza, or Pyramid of Khufu. Unfortunately, modern developments (including fast-food chains), have crept up on the site, and tour buses unload thousands of visitors each year. Still, the fact that a formation completed around 2550BC with around 2.3 million blocks of stone is still standing is an impressive testament to the ingenuity of the Egyptians, and a feat to behold in person. The cost to enter the Great Pyramid is E£100 (about $18 U.S., extra fees may apply for photography), and tickets are limited to 300 visitors daily. At nearby Khafre's Pyramid, entrance costs E£35 (about $6 U.S.). Smaller pyramids lie to the east of the Great Pyramid and are free to visitors. If you throw in a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza (E£20), the fees start to add up, but the price is worth a peek thousands of years into the past.
The Acropolis. The Eiffel Tower. The Great Wall of China. Sometimes, following the well-worn path really is the best way to appreciate a destination. Sure, we roused your ire with our recent coverage of the World's Worst Tourist Traps, but we also know there are some sights you just can't miss. You may still end up waiting in long lines, but there's a reason why the best tourist attractions are worth the wait.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India Built out of love by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions each year. However, with an area covering several acres, there's more than enough room to avoid the crowds. Materials for the creation of the mausoleum were brought from all over India and central Asia, including rare, semi-precious, and precious stones used in the inlay work. The 500 rupee toll tax, plus 250 rupee entry fee (about $11 and $5.50 U.S., respectively) won't buy you any of these jewels, but will cover admission to Fatehpur Sikri, as well as several other monuments in and around Agra. There are special night viewing tours (750 rupees for half an hour admittance; must be purchased 24 hours in advance) five nights per month including the night of a full moon and the two days before and after, with the exception of Fridays and month of Ramadan. Viewing the Taj at night is a great way to escape the often unbearable daytime heat, and the way the moon lights up the white marble will have you wondering why you ever doubted visiting.
Tower of London, London, United Kingdom
Since other major attractions in London are free (British Museum, National Gallery, Tate, etc.), it's worth spending the money on a visit to the Tower of London. You can spend hours roaming the grounds and buildings that make up the complex, so it's best to arrive early to avoid the crowds that are sure to arrive later in the day. Hit the crown jewels first, so when you want a second look across the moving walkway you can take one without having to wait in a long line. Be on the lookout for stone graffiti, carved in the walls by prisoners held in the tower. Booking tickets online results in a slight discount (£1, or about $1.50 U.S off admission), otherwise expect to pay £17 (about $25 U.S.). Take advantage of what your ticket includes, and make time for a Yeoman Warder guided tour and talk. Have questions? Ask a Yeoman Warder or the Jewel House or White Tower wardens. Visitors looking to see the four other historic royal palaces (Hampton Court, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, and Kew Palace) can purchase a ticket for unlimited entry to all for £41 (about $61 U.S.).

Built out of love by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions each year. However, with an area covering several acres, there's more than enough room to avoid the crowds. Materials for the creation of the mausoleum were brought from all over India and central Asia, including rare, semi-precious, and precious stones used in the inlay work. The 500 rupee toll tax, plus 250 rupee entry fee (about $11 and $5.50 U.S., respectively) won't buy you any of these jewels, but will cover admission to Fatehpur Sikri, as well as several other monuments in and around Agra. There are special night viewing tours (750 rupees for half an hour admittance; must be purchased 24 hours in advance) five nights per month including the night of a full moon and the two days before and after, with the exception of Fridays and month of Ramadan. Viewing the Taj at night is a great way to escape the often unbearable daytime heat, and the way the moon lights up the white marble will have you wondering why you ever doubted visiting.

Wandering Through Chaos: A Brief Look At The Hectic, Eccentric Side Of Egypt

It goes without saying really, that the array of images that come to one’s mind when the topic of Egypt is introduced in any conversation, regardless of context, begin with the dazzling burial mask of Tutankhamun and the pyramids; followed closely by the Sphinx, the cliffs that engulf the Valley of the Kings and the sun-drenched columns of Karnak.

Like the golden arches are to McDonald’s or the red and white logo is to Coca Cola, the pharaohs and their lavish lifestyle riddled with gold are to Egypt. It is this immediacy of an association of a sense of eternal magnificence, opulence and extravagance that contemporary culture has with Ancient Egypt and its pharaonic culture, once you’ve thrown in a camel or twenty and a few thousand stray but tamed cats that is, your desire to visit Egypt is justified. I understand.

Oddly enough, the eerie silence and grandeur of the monuments and the overwhelming sense of ancient Pharaonic omnipotence they bestow will more than certainly be overshadowed by the cultural and social interactions you will undeniably face. Your time in Egypt will present you with a myriad of all kinds of delightful, hilarious, hair-raising realities. The fact that McDonald’s has home delivery by way of a motorised scooter and that the population of Cairo alone in itself surpasses the entire population of Australia, suggestively makes for a wonderfully chaotic adventure.

The safest roads you will ever come across…

…are not in Egypt! The first thing you may note upon your arrival in Cairo is that there are no road rules, no lane divisions, no warning signs and an apparent lack of any need whatsoever for your driver to indicate his intentions; in fact, any if not all decisions made by your driver will be gestured by a toot of the horn rather than indicating; do not be alarmed if no indication whatsoever is made, acting on impulse whilst behind the wheel of a car is seemingly the way forward on an Egyptian road. Thus you will find yourself at times one of 10 people crammed into a taxi that seats 4, often 7 cars abreast in what seems a 3-lane road and if you have an accident, an “oh well keep driving” policy applies.

For your own safety as a wandering pedestrian, happily lost amongst the steamy haze of exhaust fumes, simmering spices from the markets, the busy buzz of horns and chants from the rooftops of the minarets, keep a lookout for women sitting on the back of motorbikes ducking in and out of traffic and or hopping up the pavement, the women grasping the driver with one hand, their child in the other; take time also to appreciate the men sprinting up the middle of the road, briefcase in hand in an attempt to catch the bus which oddly enough, rarely stops to pick passengers up.

If you find yourself still breathing (oh how you will hold your breath!) or with your bottom lip intact and not bleeding upon your arrival at your hotel as the taxi more-than-likely mounts the pavement and clatters to a halt, nothing need more be said but congratulations and welcome to the land of the pharaohs!

To the ladies:

Girls! Be on the lookout too for local children, particularly within the Aswan night market – a veritable social hub and source of pride for Egyptian locals and thus definitely worth a visit; lovely, adorable, innocent-looking children. Warning: they have been known to be so brazen as to not only give you a cheeky pinch on the derrière, but punch your male travel companion (an essential tool when in Egypt) where it hurts in the hope that his arm that was protectively wrapped around your shoulders, will drop in agony to care for himself, allowing said children the chance to swarm around you, latch on and run like the wind with you helplessly in tow.

Fear not, at the end of the day they are children…your manly man will catch up and save the day. Note: make sure your travel companion is fit and able to barter with children for your freedom! My advice: once the kidnap attempt is quelled, buy them a toy from the local toy store; they’ll disappear happily into the night …without you.

As a woman you will by way of what you wear and where you wear it, be made perhaps more aware of the cultural differences within Egypt itself. In and around the major cities, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, normal summery attire is to an extent, accepted as you will find yourself a foreign wanderer amongst millions of foreign wanderes. In the more remote regions however, do please cover up; not only as a mark of respect for Egyptian culture and way of life, but to also save yourself from constantly being an object worth trading 50,000 camels for!

Bakshish?

NOTHING is free in Egypt. Consider bakshish (a tip) to be demanded of you at least 100 times a day, be it in the form of cash, a kiss or a look up and down accompanied by a suggestive wink. Learn to say no. Learn to run.

Example: “Oh lovely lady, this camel ride at the foot of the pyramids, for you…free!” Yes, fear not, the local ‘tour guides’ are not lying. It is free… to get on the camel. To get off the camel however, prepare to whip out a wad of Egyptian pounds..

Big Pyramid…little camel…get on if you dare!

Example: Police official guarding the roped off, more secluded side of the Great Pyramid at Giza, Cairo: “Shakira! Shakira! (indeed… if you have blonde hair and a fair complexion as I do, there is no need for confusion. It is in fact you they will be talking to!) Would you like a photo ON the pyramid?” This is asked in all sincerity and is accompanied by a gleaming white, endearing smile as the policeman lowers the rope without waiting to be granted permission and casually takes your camera from your tight grasp. He will then hoist you onto the lorry-sized ancient building block. Fear not, he will return your camera.

Note: You are actually able to legally and at your will, traverse the first three levels of the front face of the Great Pyramid, albeit along with one trillion gazillion ‘bazillion’ other tourists. The temptation to accept the offer of the kind policeman is overwhelming and the photo-finish of you, just you, alone, on what is perhaps the most wonderful monument in the world, is truly and utterly priceless. The only hitch, if you accept the policeman’s offer to scale the pyramid on your own, unless you run at high speeds upon your decent fortunately without chase, you will have to pay bakshish!

The Egyptians as Hosts:

I don’t think I have ever come across such a welcoming, hospitable, friendly group of people as the Egyptian locals. All are willing to welcome you into their home, show you around their town or city, feed you, clothe you, take a photo for you, be in a photo with you and some even offer to drive you from A to B; regardless of where ‘A’ and ‘B’ may be. Declining their hospitality or any delicacy they may offer you can be considered offensive, as the Egyptians find a great deal of happiness in your willingness to join them in all that they do whilst in their country.

If you find yourself sailing down the Nile on a felucca or wandering by way of camelback in Dahab, do stop at a wee Bedouin village should you see one; more often than not the residents therein have little been exposed to westerners and the experience of watching the children mimic anything and everything you do is a moment you will never forget. If you plan to do this, maybe have a collection of lollipops, bracelets or something equally as enthralling to hand out to the kids; again, seeing the pleasure in their faces, despite their inability to understand what you say as you hand them a little gift and allow them to take you by the hand and show you around is a moment priceless in itself.

Egypt: A chaotic wonderland.

Egypt is thus not worth visiting simply for its infamous monuments, tombs and mummy collection; it is an enchanting world you should totally immerse yourself in. Why not buy a Galabiya – a traditional Egyptian smock – and wander the streets, meet people, try the food, allowing the echoes of the chants that resonate from the peaks of the minarets evoke goosebumps all over your body, smell the smells, feel the sticky warmth engulf your body and truly feel at home. Everything and everyone in Egypt has a charming innocence about it/them. The best way to truly appreciate a place is to walk or bike-ride through its streets and become an invisible observer of its daily hectic existence. So go on, visit this ancient city, a land of seemingly limitless tracts of arid desert bordering a narrow ribbon of fertile, overpopulated, enchanting and unforgettable land; the land of the pharaohs, Egypt.

more inf0-->>>Wandering Through Chaos: A Brief Look At The Hectic, Eccentric Side Of Egypt | BootsnAll Travel Articles

Egypt’s traffic up 35% in three years; local start-ups attacking Egyptair monopoly

Coping with the growth: Cairo International Airport, which is operated by Fraport, saw the commercial opening of its state of the art third terminal in April last year. The shiny terminal, which alone has a capacity for 11 million annual passengers – or 75% of the airport’s total traffic – houses the national carrier Egyptair and its Star Alliance partners, and still leaves room for growth.

Data has been released showing that passenger numbers increased by an entire 39% in the two years from 2006 to 2008. The growth has been somewhat higher at Egypt’s other airports than Cairo during this period. In 2009, the global financial turmoil showed in a total decline of nearly 3% against the previous year, in spite of Cairo traffic growing slightly. Still, the market has grown considerably during the latter half of the last decade and the 2009 total is 35% higher than that of 2006.

Source: EHCAAN

A total of 12 Egyptian airports (with more than 5,000 annual passengers) offer international services. Only half of them – Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Alexandria (El Nouzha) and Marsa Alam – do, however, offer more than ten daily international flights.

The Mediterranean city of Alexandria is currently served by two airports, the old El Nouzha Airport (ALY) and Borg El Arab Airport (HBE), previously a military airport that is undergoing major renovations. Later this year, El Nouzha will be closed for commercial traffic and all airlines serving Alexandria will be concentrated to the new Borg El Arab.

Source: EHCAAN

The top three airports in Egypt dominate the country market, with 82% of traffic. Domestic services make up 19% of the airports’ traffic, leaving the majority for international services.

Source: EHCAAN

The seasonality profiles for airports in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada closely follow each other, with multiple peaks in April, August and October/November caused by the two resorts’ ability to attract tourists to its year-round warm climate.

Both airports are still dominated by charter traffic. The shares of passengers arriving on scheduled services only amounted to 7% and 18% respectively in 2009. These numbers are, however, four times as high as they were three years ago. Examples of new scheduled carriers are the two European LCCs easyJet and Norwegian, which both began serving Egypt in 2008.

Saudi biggest country market; 747s bring Russian tourists to Egypt’s resorts

Source: OAG Schedules iNET for w/c 22 February 2010

The largest international market for scheduled traffic to Egypt is from Saudi Arabia. As shown in anna.aero’s recent analysis of the Saudi market, Egypt is also the largest market for the neighbour country on the Arabian Peninsula. The market to the former colonial power, the United Kingdom, ranks second from the Egyptian side. anna.aero recently reported this country pair as one of Britain’s fastest growing.

Notably, Egypt is served from Russia with larger aircraft than other country markets, resulting in a gap between the frequency and capacity shares. The average aircraft size is 320 seats for this week’s traffic, in part caused by 747s being operated on 23 flights into Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.

Egyptair still dominates, but local rivals slowly emerging

Source: OAG Schedules iNET for w/c 22 February 2010

At 52% of the Egyptian market, the state-owned airline Egyptair, which anna.aero analysed in July 2008, still dominates. It has long been the only Egyptian airline to operate scheduled flights. Liberalisation is, however, slowly being introduced to the market.

Last year saw the launch of AlMasria Airlines, which now operates domestic flights as well as to Kuwait and Libya with its two A320s. This year, the establishment of Egyptian scheduled airlines continues with two announced start-ups. Nile Air will commence operations to regional, Middle Eastern destinations with two A320s. From 2012, its nine ordered A321s will start being delivered, allowing for a rapid expansion.

Sharjah-based LCC Air Arabia is also in the process of setting up a low-cost airline in Egypt, a local joint-venture similar to its Moroccan enterprise Air Arabia Maroc. The airline Air Arabia Egypt is expected to launch in April this year, establishing a base in Alexandria, from where it will serve domestic and international destinations.

Louvre attracts 8.5 million visitors in '09

More than 8 million people visited the Louvre Museum in Paris last year, in addition to millions more who stopped by the traveling shows of the Louvre in France and around the world.

Temporary exhibits, including shows about ancient Egypt and Venetian Renaissance masters attracted 8.5 million art lovers, the same number as 2008's record-breaking total.

Another 3.5 million visited the traveling shows, like one exhibit on 18th century European paintings in Tokyo and Japan.

Egypt mourns 'headscarf martyr'

The body of Muslim woman, killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion, has been taken back to her native Egypt for burial.

Marwa Sherbini, 31, was stabbed 18 times by Axel W, who is now under arrest in Dresden for suspected murder.

Husband Elwi Okaz is also in a critical condition in hospital, after being injured as he tried to save his wife.

Ms Sherbini had sued her killer after he called her a "terrorist" because of her headscarf.

The case has attracted much attention in Egypt and the Muslim world.

German prosecutors have said the 28-year-old attacker, identified only as Axel W, was driven by a deep hatred of foreigners and Muslims.

'Martyr'

Medics were unable to save Ms Sherbini who was three months pregnant with her second child. Her three-year-old son, was with the family in court when she was killed.

Axel W and Ms Sherbini and family were in court for him to appeal against a fine of 750 euros ($1,050) for insulting her in 2008, apparently because she was wearing the Muslim headscarf or Hijab.

Newspapers in Egypt have expressed outrage at the case, asking how it was allowed to happen and dubbing Ms Sherbini "the martyr of the Hijab".

Senior Egyptian officials and German diplomatic staff attended the funeral in Alexandria along with hundreds of mourners.

Media reports say Mr Okaz was injured both by the attacker and when a policeman opened fire in the courtroom.

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MGM MIRAGE and New Giza for Real Estate Development Company announce agreement to Include MGM near Egypt's famous pyramids-16 June, 2009

MGM MIRAGE and New Giza for Real Estate Development Company announce agreement to Include MGM near Egypt's famous pyramids

MGM MIRAGE and New Giza for Real Estate Development - an Egyptian company building a luxury, mixed-use community near the base of the famous pyramids - today announced plans to develop the MGM Grand New Giza. All equity funding for the development will be provided by New Giza for Real Estate Development. MGM MIRAGE will provide management services and brand fees through MGM MIRAGE Hospitality.

Conveniently located 40 minutes from the airport on the outskirts of Cairo, the 550-room MGM Grand will provide spectacular views of the city of Cairo and the famous pyramids of Giza. It will be connected via electric train to the new and highly anticipated Egyptian antiquities museum, currently under construction.

"The New Giza community presents an opportunity for us to be part of an extraordinary new master-planned development near Egypt's famed pyramids," said Gamal Aziz, President and CEO of MGM MIRAGE Hospitality. "Our partners share our focus on luxury, excellence, customer-oriented design and unparalleled service. Together with this spectacular location, this new resort will quickly become a tourism and conference destination that is both in high demand and fully reflective of the MGM Grand brand."

The New Giza development marks a new beginning for luxurious, master-planned communities in Egypt. Built over 1,500 acres of land, it will incorporate elegant homes, three resort hotels, lavish restaurants, shopping malls, all-inclusive sporting facilities and a high-end golf course designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb. Built on graded elevations, approximately eighty percent of the 2,500 villas and townhomes will enjoy all-around views of Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza. Developed as nine individual neighborhoods, the community will be surrounded by endless greenery, parks and lakes.

"We are delighted to have the MGM Grand anchor our hotel and hospitality sector in New Giza," said Mahmoud El Gammal, CEO of New Giza for Real Estate Development. "MGM's reputation for quality living, dining, entertainment, spa and nightlife offerings will provide the amenities, excitement and energy that reflect the lifestyle of this unique development."

MGM Grand New Giza is currently under design, and the resort is anticipated to open in 2013.

A nephew of mine lives and works in Paris. He, his wife and his children... | Travel | Wichita Eagle

ED NOTE: I've been intuned to this life style of travel for my family, friends, partner since I was 25. Now 64, I can truly say "You only live once" I've adopted this life style and plan to explore the World, until my legs no longer carry me. Join me???
nephew of mine lives and works in Paris. He, his wife and his children take frequent vacations each year of a duration that would be regarded as scandalous in the United States. They sign up for cheap charter flights to islands in the Mediterranean, check in to modest, all-inclusive, beachside hotels lacking TVs and telephones, and spend several weeks together as a family. They do this not only in the summer (the entire month of August), but often during school vacation periods in the winter, jetting to such places as Luxor in upper Egypt, or Morocco, or Bulgaria. The children, who attend public schools, are frequently taken by their public schools on free-of-charge, overnight excursions to Switzerland or the French Alps.
Despite all this leisure, my nephew and his wife are regarded as highly productive employees of the firms for which they work, and their children excel in school. At the ages of 10 and 14, they study the kind of texts that U.S. college students encounter in their junior and senior years. The children have had exposure to more foreign countries and cultures than most Americans enjoy in their entire lives. They are multilingual. The 14-year-old is presently reading Rousseau's essay "On the Origins of Inequality."
According to a study published in Gadling.com (yes, I occasionally --though rarely -- sneak a look), the French enjoy an average of 35 days a year of paid vacation. They sleep an average of nine hours a night, an hour longer than us, and also spend two hours a day on eating -- twice the time Americans spend eating.
In our public policies toward travel and vacations, we really need to heed the lesson that these highly sophisticated people are demonstrating for us. Rather than averting our eyes, we need to think hard about the lifestyles that other people have adopted. And the first practical step we need to take is agitation in Congress for a federal law mandating a minimum of three weeks of yearly paid vacation for every American worker.

A nephew of mine lives and works in Paris. He, his wife and his children... Travel Wichita Eagle

Egypt pressured to end underground organ trade

CAIRO - The poverty of Cairo's slums forced a young couple to sell nearly everything they had. When that wasn't enough, each of them sold a kidney.
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The clandestine predawn operation in a small private hospital ended with the husband and wife being dumped semiconscious into taxis - the payment for their kidneys tucked into their clothes, they say.

A year later, penniless once more, they are too weak to even move around their apartment. They cannot afford follow-up care, and they spend much of the day in bed in a dark room.

"If anyone had made clear to me the danger, I wouldn't have done it," said Abdel-Rahman Abdel-Aziz, gaunt and looking older than his 24 years as he lay in bed beside his wife. He pulled up his sweat shirt to show the scar from the operation.

For years, word has spread among Egypt's destitute that selling a kidney - sometimes for as little as $2,000 - can be a quick way out of debt or to keep from sinking deeper into poverty. At rundown cafes, they are hunted by middlemen working for labs that match donors and recipients, many of whom are foreigners drawn to Egypt's thriving, underground organ trade.

Egypt is one of a half-dozen countries identified by the World Health Organization as organ-trafficking hot spots. Under international pressure, other trouble spots such as China, Pakistan, and the Philippines have outlawed organ sales and barred foreigners from undergoing transplants.

Egypt, however, has long ignored the problem, experts say. Transplant surgeons working to stop the global trade fear that foreign patients finding it harder to go to Asia could flood into Egypt in search of organs.

Egyptian officials are finally showing signs of action. One key problem has been that Egypt does not have a law regulating transplants, only weak doctors' union rules that bar sales but are largely self-policing and ignored.

Now, a draft law is expected to be put before parliament in the next few months. The law would ban the sale of organs, prohibit transplants to foreigners, restrict operations to public hospitals, and impose sentences of up to 15 years in prison and $180,000 fines for violations.

Egypt's Health Ministry has also begun cracking down. In recent months, authorities closed two private medical centers in Cairo and arrested doctors, middlemen, and lab workers for violating doctors' union rules or other charges, said Abdel-Rahman Shaheen, ministry spokesman.

"We must admit that we do have a problem with organ transplants," Shaheen said.

Crucially, the draft law also allows deceased donations, limiting the need for living donors. Past attempts at legislation have failed partly because of religious and cultural resistance to taking organs from the dead, though many other Muslim countries allow deceased donation.

There appears to be consensus on allowing deceased donations, but debate continues over whether the law should let doctors use brain death in determining whether a potential donor has died, as most other nations with transplant laws allow.

The brain death standard, rather than heart and lung failure, makes more organs available and is necessary for heart and full liver transplants.

Grand Sheik Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's pre-eminent institution, last week endorsed a brain death standard. But a powerful group of lawmakers opposes it, saying it opens the door to abuses.

Save Money in an Exotic Destination: Top Three Tips for Cheaper Egypt Holidays

Egypt holidays are as popular as ever. Egypt is a divers' heaven, legendary snorkelling country packed with wonderful sea life. Water sports score high and the country's thriving purpose-built resorts are renowned for their excellent facilities. Not to mention the pyramids, Cairo and more camels than you can shake a stick at.

London, England (PRWEB) March 1, 2009 -- But in today's wobbly economy can you afford a long haul holiday in an exotic place, complete with the risk of unforeseen expenses and the need for lashings of spending money? The short answer is 'yes'! An exotic destination needn't be an expensive one. Use a combination of resourcefulness, patience and lateral thinking and you can save a small fortune.

Holiday price comparison website http://www.beatthebrochure.com reveal their top three tips for saving money on Egypt holidays.

Top tip number one: Shop around. Let the internet find you the best value holiday clothes, sun lotions, hats… squeeze the best value out of every single thing you take with you. It all adds up.

Most importantly of all, shop around for the cheapest Egypt holidays online. While your local travel agent is probably wonderful, they won't have access to the entire package holiday market. And buying online invariably nets you excellent discounts on brochure prices.

"We use unique data search and retrieval software to track down the lowest cost holidays from a raft of major suppliers including Thomson, First Choice and Thomas Cook." Says a BeatTheBrochure.com spokesman. "If you find cheaper Egypt holidays in any brochure, anywhere, at any time, we want to know about it!"

Top tip number two: DIY. Instead of eating out, buy fresh local foods and enjoy picnics. Don't spend a fortune on entertainment, just chill out. Buy local wines and lounge around watching the world go by. Rediscover what real relaxation's all about. Walk a lot and take in the scenery. Read books. Sit in the warm sea. Think. Keep life simple, pared down to the bone. Holidays needn't be active. And chilling will save you a load of cash!

Top tip number three: Experience life without shopping, our national pastime. You might be surprised how much pointless shopping you do without even consciously realising it, buying stuff just for the sake of it. Give shopping a rest on holiday. Buy the stuff you really need but nothing else. Lie on the beach and enjoy your Egypt holidays to the full without so much as sniffing the inside of a shop.

How much do you think you can save on your http://www.beatthebrochure.com Egypt holidays by shunning shopping, making your own entertainment and doing a spot of very effective online research? BeatTheBrochure recommends that you suck it and see!

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Cable breaks disrupt Internet service in Egypt

CAIRO (Reuters) - Breaks in three submarine cables in the Mediterranean off Italy disrupted Internet and international telephone services in Egypt on Friday, officials said.
The disruptions reduced the country's Internet capacity by about 80 percent but technicians were restoring some capacity by diverting communications traffic through the Red Sea, said a Communications Ministry official, who asked not to be named.
Residents said Internet service was either non-existent or very slow. The gravity of the outage varied from area to area and according to the service provider.
Several residents said it was impossible to call the United States but calls to Europe appeared to be going through.
In January, breaks in undersea cables off the Egyptian coast disrupted Internet access in Egypt, the Gulf region and south Asia, forcing service providers to reroute traffic.
The International Cable Protection Committee, an association of submarine cable operators dedicated to safeguarding submarine cables, said on Friday it was "aware of multiple submarine cable failures in the Eastern Mediterranean area that may be affecting the speed of Internet communications on some routes."
It said in a statement on its website it did not know what had caused the problem or what was being done to fix it.
Stephan Beckert, an analyst with the U.S.-based telecommunications market research firm TeleGeography, said if the three cables in the Mediterranean were cut and were completely out "it would be a fairly significant outage."
"It is going to cause problems for some customers. It's certainly going to slow things down," he said, adding that he did not believe financial institutions would be hit hard.
"Generally speaking we find that they are extremely painstaking about making sure that they have redundant capacity," he said.
A New York Stock Exchange spokesman said he was unaware of any disruptions in trading. Exchanges CME Group, and IntercontinentalExchange said they had no disruption in their trading on Friday.
(Reporting by Jonathan Wright in Cairo, Jim Finkle in Boston, Juan Lagorio and Elinor Comlay in New York; Editing by Dominic Evans)2008 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Reuters content is the intellectual property of Thomson Reuters or its third party content providers. Any copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. "Reuters" and the Reuters Logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies. For additional information on other Reuters media services please visit http://about.reuters.com/media/.

Comprehensive ties with Egypt get refreshing

A number of accords, including those on oil and gas and tourism, between Vietnam and Egypt were signed at a business forum in Cairo on November 9. The business forum attracted interest from hundreds of leading industrial companies, importers, exporters and goods distributors from the two countries. It was held on the sideline of a two-day meeting opened on the same day by the Vietnam-Egypt Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade-Investment, Cultural, Educational and Scientific-Technological Cooperation. The meeting recognised major progress made in economic cooperation this year with bilateral trade revenues expected to almost double last year’s figure to 200 million USD. Minister of Industry and Commerce Vu Huy Hoang and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Fayz Aboulnaga, who are heads of the respective national sections of the Inter-Governmental Committee, pledged to provide their partners with the best available conditions to fully tap each other’s potential and boost all-round cooperation between the two countries in the years to come. During his stay in Egypt, Hoang, who was a co-chair of the Inter-Governmental meeting, paid a courtesy visit to Egyptian Prime Minister A. M Mohammed Nazif and handed over President Nguyen Minh Triet’s personal letter to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. He also met with senior Governmental officials such as the Ministers of International Cooperation, Oil and Gas and Investment, to discuss measures for stronger bilateral cooperation. In all the meetings, the hosts reaffirmed their determination to promote comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.
(Source: VNA)

Pakistan bypasses Vietnam in search for “sex”

Pakistani internet users typed the keyword “sex” more than the citizens of any other country in the first months of 2008, “pushing” Vietnam into second position, according to Google Trends statistics.


The statistics on Goolge Trends

This result also brings Pakistan into the top position in searching for “sex” on Google in general, followed by Vietnam, Egypt, India, and Indonesia.

However, Google Trends statistics reveal that the most popular language used in searching for sex-related content is Vietnamese.

“Sex” is now used very often on the mess media in Vietnam rather than Vietnamese words with similar meanings like “tuoi mat”, “tinh duc”, “khieu dam”.

In the early months of 2007 and especially in September and October, searches containing the word “sex” coming from IP in Vietnam were at the highest level on Google.

In 2005-2006, Vietnam was not among the top ten countries searching for this word on Google but in January 2007, Vietnam climbed to fourth and then third position (March, April, May and June), and claimed ascendancy in July 2007.

(Source: VNE)