Great tips. Thanks Aude, it's lucky for me to get your tips before the departure (tomorrow).
On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 2:18 AM, Aude <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have been in Egypt for over a month now, living in Cairo, as a student. > Since arriving, I have traveled around the country, including Sinai, > Alexandria, and will be in Luxor this weekend. With people arriving soon > for Wikimania, I'd like to take the opportunity to share advice and > experiences as a female. > > Language - > > English is widely spoken in Egypt, and you will get by just fine if you > don't know any words in Arabic. Though it's good to know a few basics in > Arabic: "shukran" - thank you; "aywa" - yes; "la" - no; "la shukran" - no > thanks; "kwayis" - okay, good; "low samaht" - please, excuse me; "asif" - > sorry (said by a male)/"asifa" (said by female); "hina kwayis" - here is > good (useful in a taxi for saying where to stop); "mish fahim" - I don't > understand; "betikkallim ingleezee" - do you speak English? > > Arriving- > > I found it unusual when arriving in Cairo, when we had to walk down stairs > (out of a jumbo-size Boeing 767) and onto the tarmac. We road a shuttle bus > from there to the airport terminal. Go ahead and exchange some money in the > airport - best to do before going through customs. Getting through customs > and immigration was quick and easy for me, though I obtained my visa in > advance. > > Safety - > > * I feel extremely safe here -- safer than I do back in the U.S. Crime is > not much of a problem at all. Also, there is a strong police presence > everywhere. In Sinai and other places, there are checkpoints on the > highways. Most of the time, our tour groups have been completely on our > own, but we had police accompany us a few times. > > * There is some harassment on the streets, but it's mainly words. Knowing a > few things in Arabic helps (e.g. "la shukran"). It helps to walk in groups, > but I have walked around my neighborhood and other places on my own without > problems. > > * For the most part, Egyptians are very welcoming, especially with tourism > so important to the economy here. I even have some friends here who are > Jewish, who are getting along fine here. > > Getting around - > > * The biggest difference between the U.S. and Egypt (and elsewhere in the > Middle East) is that traffic lights are pretty much lacking here. In a few > spots, there are traffic lights and/or police controlling traffic. To cross > the street, it's like playing the video game "Frogger", hurrying across the > street when there is a small break in traffic. Also, when riding in a taxi, > the taxi driver may go quite fast and it takes getting use to the manner > that they drive. > > What to wear - > > * I brought lightweight long/half-sleeve blouses, pants (linen or other > lightweight material), and long skirts. At the last minute, I tossed a > t-shirt in my luggage before I left the US. I'm so very glad that I brought > a t-shirt, and really wish I brought more short sleeve tops. In the area of > Cairo where I live (Zamalek), as well as around the university and many > other areas, it is acceptable to wear short sleeves. Same goes for > Alexandria (Bibliotheca and other areas), which is located along the > waterfront. > > * If you are going to see the pyramids in Giza or other such sites, anything > goes for clothing. It's not a problem to for women to wear a tank top/or > t-shirt and shorts. Such attire was also absolute acceptable when I was in > Sharm el-Sheikh (in Sinai) and in similar locations. > > * For all places, sandals are completely acceptable for women. You will > even see women covered in hijabs who are wearing sandals. > > Shopping - > > * In Khan al-Khalili (Cairo) and other markets, the vendors are aggressive > in wanting you to come into their shop and buy. As well, the crowds at the > markets can be overwhelming. > > * Bargaining - The prices that vendors tell you are way overpriced and you > need to bargain. For example, they may want 50 LE (khamseen) for a scarf, > but you can get it for 10 LE (ashrun) or not more than 20 LE (ashreen). To > get out of bargaining and move along, you can say "hagee tania" which means > "I'll come back another time". Pretty much all the vendors will know some > English, but a little bit of Arabic can help. > > * Khan al-Khalili is located in Islamic Cairo section of the city, which is > more conservative. It's good advice to dress more conservatively when going > shopping. To visit Al-Azhar Mosque, women should also wear a scarf. > > Despite having to put up with all this, it is definitely well worth it to > visit Khan al-Khalili or other such places for shopping and souvenirs. > > Taking a taxi - > > * Prices - Taxi is a cheap and easy way to get around. It's one flat price, > no matter how many people are riding in the taxi. There are no meters. > You set the price, and it should be fair for the driver. If you don't know > what the fare should be for a particular destination, then you should ask > someone (hotel concierge, staff at the dorms, at Bibliotheca, etc.) what's a > reasonable price. 5 LE is a fair price for a ride from Bibliotheca to the > downtown area in Alexandria, since it's not far. I don't remember for sure > exactly how far the dorms are, but I think 5-6 LE is reasonable, since I > don't think the dorms are far. I paid 10-12 LE to get from BA to the other > end of the corniche in Alexandria. > > * Getting a taxi - If you are going really far (e.g. downtown Cairo to the > Giza pyramids), then you should agree on a price before getting in a taxi. > For most places (medium and shorter distances), do not discuss price before > getting in. Just say your destination and the driver should agree to take > you. A few times, before or once getting in, the driver has asked me about > price. If that happens, you can say your price. If they don't agree, then > find a different taxi. Really, price should not come up. > > * Paying the driver - When you arrive, everyone MUST GET OUT before paying > the driver. Once everyone is out, then the person with the money should > give the driver the money through the window. Then everyone needs to walk > away. Most of the time, the driver doesn't argue with me/us, but sometimes > they will make a fuss and demand more. The thing to do is keep walking > away. You gave them a fair, reasonable amount. As a tourist, maybe you can > give the taxi driver a tiny bit more to avoid an argument. > > * You do not need to tip the driver. Just give them the fare. > > Eating - > > I think most meals are provided at Wikimania, but when you are on your > own... > > * Koshari (dish of macaroni, rice, lentils, and sauce) or tamiyya (falafel) > make a good cheap meal. A falafel sandwich can be had for 1-2 LE each, and > koshari meal w/drink for 7-10 LE. Fast food places (e.g. McDonalds, > Hardees, KFC, Pizza Hut) are available most everywhere, though these are not > cheap meals by Egyptian standards. A meal at McDonalds will cost ~30 LE > ($5-6 USD) or more. A meal at a good sit-down place (American style cafes, > and other types of places) will cost a bit more, but I think the prices are > comparable or slightly cheaper than in the US. > > * I been fine eating the food here, though felt slightly ill after eating > salad in my university cafeteria. It might have been the tomatoes that were > not great. I have avoided salad at other places, though did get salad at > McDonalds which was fine. Some caution about eating raw fruits and > vegetables is a good idea. Cheap tamiyya and koshari have all been fine. > > * Alcohol is not difficult to find in Egypt. Stella and Sakara are brands > of beer that are available here. There are plenty of bars and clubs around, > as well a hotel bar is a definite place to find alcohol. > > * Restaurants will include a service charge directly on your bill, but you > should also leave a tip. > > Bathrooms - > > * Western-style toilets are available pretty much most places, though some > places (e.g. Islamic Cairo), you might find a squat-style toilet. When I > arrived at the airport in Cairo, I had some difficulty figuring out how to > flush the toilet. There is a knob on the toilet lid that you pull out and > then push back in when finished with flushing. Some toilets just have a > button to push. > > * It's a good idea to carry some toilet paper or tissue with you. Toilet > paper is usually available most places I have been, but not always. In some > places, there is a staff person manning the bathrooms, who will give you > toilet paper for bashish (tip). In some places (e.g. rest houses/stops on > the highway), you will need to pay 1 LE or another amount to use the > bathroom facilities. In places like McDonalds and other restaurants, as > well as hotels, and certainly places like Bibliotheca, you don't pay to use > the bathroom and they have toilet paper. > > Sightseeing - > > I have been to the Pyramids in Giza, Sakkara, to Alexandria, to Sinai (St. > Katherine's and Sharm el-Sheikh) and will be in Luxor this weekend. I don't > have a lot of spare time to organize these better, but I have quite a few > pictures now posted on Flickr of Alexandria and other places in Egypt: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmf164/ Let me know if you want sightseeing > suggestions or advice. > > Questions - > > http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aude - I have posted all this > on my Wikimania user page. Please feel free to ask questions. I'm sure I > missed mentioning some things. > > -Aude > > -- > Aude > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > > -- KIZU Naoko http://d.hatena.ne.jp/Britty (in Japanese) Quote of the Day (English): http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/WQ:QOTD _______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
