Newsletter #8 - 19 December, 2003
Hi there,
"Christmas is coming": It has been a long time since we sent out an
update and I'm sure you're all saying 'Christmas is coming'. It's one
week away and we've had Christmas trees in shops here for ages,
almost three weeks now!
"A picture is worth a thousand words": Since we last wrote, we've
done a large proportion of the generic tourist in Egypt things. So,
check out the pictures on the website of some of our experiences. A
nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, seeing the enormous pyramids at
Giza (no photos of inside), admiring Saqarra step pyramid, catching a
train to Alexandria (the awesome library, fresh air and sea view),
seeing flooded roads after two days of rain in Cairo, bargaining at
the Khan el Khalali market, riding a horse in the desert, climbing to
the top of Mt Sinai (3hrs up, 2 hr down), squelching through our wet
hotel room puddle after a storm in Dahab, swimming in the Red Sea and
overtaking on the country roads.
"Welcome to the Hotel California": We've been very privileged to have
many visitors stay with us in the last few months. Josh's parents
came, Nick and Marianne (a couple from St Martin's), Sam (school
friend of Jo's) and Tim (Josh's brother). Their presence has inspired
many of the tourist experiences we've had recently. It is also great
to hear news from back home and to know that they can take back more
informed pictures/ideas/concepts of what we're doing here.
"On the road again": Within ten hours, we'll be on a flight to
Switzerland to stay with some family friends of Jo's. The Tanimuras
lived across the road in Artarmon and are now living in Geneva. We
hope that two weeks in a completely different setting will be
refreshing and relaxing as well as a great way to spend Christmas.
"Food, glorious food": Due to popular demand, I'll include another
cuisine story from Egypt. We've eaten four times in the last two
months at a fantastic restaurant in Zamalek. Across the main road
from where we work, the atmosphere and decor is classic, the food
cosmopolitan and with a three course meal under A$10, La Bodega is a
great way to spend a dinner with friends. It was mentioned in a
recent article in the travel section of the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Fantastic flying machines": Well, we haven't tried any out-of-the-
ordinary flying machines, but our list of different modes of
transport in Egypt now include microbus, autobus, horseback, felucca,
cruise, walking, donkey cart and train. The donkey cart ride was just
down our street with a tray full of very large pot plants for our
flat.
"Where you from?": This common question asked of us at tourists sites
has had many people guessing. Not once has anyone picked Australia
for me (Joshua), but I can add to my current list Sudanese, Egyptian
and Aboriginal.
"Eight days a week": Work for us both has had its ups and downs.
Unfortunately the Tukul Crafts manager had to be let go recently, so
in the interim, I've taken on some different responsibilities. One
highlight was the large Christmas bazaar last week. I was
warned/urged to take twice as much as normal and yet the end result
was sales about eight times our average! Though a long day, it surely
seemed worth it.
"We wish you a merry Christmas": We hope to enjoy our first white
Christmas, but where ever you are, may it be a time of festivities,
fun and rejoicing in the birth of Jesus.
Thanks,
Josh'n'Jo
Email me - joshua at kuswadi dot com
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