Shocking facts when traveling back in time to Egypt.

Touching the heart of ancient civilizations.

Chi Anh (travel blogger, Hanoi) started sharing his travel experiences in 2017. Egypt was a dream destination for Chi Anh ever since reading the comic book "Queen of Egypt". Besides the many wonders, Chi Anh also had some unforgettable experiences on his recent trip to Egypt.

"In fact, many people only know Egypt for the pyramids and the Sphinx, forgetting that these two structures are just two of the countless achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization. Along the historic Nile River, the ancient Egyptians achieved brilliant accomplishments and built masterpieces of architecture," Chi Anh said.

Besides that, some of the famous temples that Chi Anh has visited include: Abu Simbel Temple - the temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II with four colossal statues standing proudly against the test of time, Philae Temple - a magnificent temple located in the middle of the Nile River, Hatshepsut Temple - the temple of the first female Pharaoh of Egypt hidden within the cliffs…

Chi Anh said that anyone visiting Egypt would want to see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – the pyramids – visit the tombs of the Pharaohs, and take a boat trip on the Nile River. But if you stop there, your trip to Egypt will be like a generic essay. And generic essays are everywhere, lacking any unique characteristics. It's better to have something special about your trip.

“Follow a local through the nooks and crannies of Khan el-Khalili market – a repository of Cairo’s finest. Listen to the stories while standing in the heart of it all: the blaring car horns, the bustling crowds, the smog, and then find yourself swept up in the city’s ‘chaos’ without even realizing it,” Chi Anh said.

Surprising facts about traveling to Egypt.

During his trip to Egypt, the biggest challenge Chi Anh faced was finding travel companions. Egypt isn't a popular destination for many Vietnamese people. Furthermore, airfare to Egypt is quite expensive and there are no direct flights. Chi Anh almost gave up because he couldn't find anyone to travel with, but unexpectedly managed to find four people.

Chi Anh added: “The four new travel companions were people I had never met before, each with a different background, and it seemed difficult for them to get along. But they all shared one reason for traveling to Egypt: the 'Queen of Egypt' series from their childhood.”

Besides the exciting experiences, there were also countless harsh realities that Chi Anh will never forget during his journey conquering Egypt. His most memorable experience was being "sold" on his very first night in Egypt.

“You heard that right, we were openly sold right in the middle of the capital. We booked the hotel on booking.com, but when we arrived, we received a call from the hotel owner (we had arranged airport pick-up through the hotel) saying that they were overbooked and would be transferring us to a nearby hotel of similar quality. But that wasn't the case at all; the hotel they 'sold' us to was incredibly old and terrible (old rooms, broken furnishings). But since we were only staying for one night, planning to go sightseeing the next day, and had just taken a long flight, we reluctantly stayed there,” Chí Anh recounted.

Egyptians are quite religious. At certain times, they put aside all their work to pray. That's why you can see people praying everywhere, even on the streets. For example, at the airport, Chi Anh and the team didn't see any staff and thought something was wrong. Upon asking, they found out that the staff were all praying.

Furthermore, the phenomenon of touting and begging for money from tourists is widespread. You can encounter elderly people or young children begging for money from tourists anywhere. In Egypt, this is quite aggressive; if you don't give them money, they will persistently pester you and may even mock or tease you. Hot air balloon tour guides even warn tourists not to give money to children waiting at the landing site upon disembarking. Giving money will cause the children and their parents to rely solely on the money they beg from tourists, leading them to neglect their education and work, negatively impacting their future.

Furthermore, scams happen faster than Fast & Furious when traveling in Egypt. Before going, Chi Anh had heard many stories, but he still couldn't avoid them. For example, the quoted price for a ride might include everything, but then the driver would come up with a reason like "it's only today that the new fare policy is in place" to "extract" a little extra from the tourist. It's worth noting that you should always bargain when buying things and bring instant noodles because Egyptian food can be a bit difficult to eat...

Tipping culture is quite common in Egypt, but it's gradually becoming distorted. If you're satisfied with the service, tipping the server is natural. However, here, many service providers demand tips even when providing poor service, or complain that the amount is too small and ask for more. They consider it a matter of course, even when providing terrible service to tourists.

In particular, 90% of tourists who come to Egypt do so because of the "Queen of Egypt" comic series, and Chi Anh's group was no exception.

“Throughout the journey, there will be some things that might displease you or make you dislike Egypt. But if a journey is only one bright color, flowing too smoothly, there won't be any memories to cherish. So always be prepared for any situation because anything can happen when traveling in Egypt. And sometimes those incidents will be the things you remember most from your journey back in time in Egypt,” Chi Anh shared.

Egypt is truly a dream destination for any traveler, especially for Vietnamese tourists. There's nothing better than witnessing firsthand the brilliant achievements of ancient civilization. These memorable experiences will be even more complete with the company of friends.

“Going into the pyramids together, traveling for over three hours to Abu Simbel, haggling at shop after shop… My trip may be over, but those memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. And I want to thank the new friends I made who accompanied me on my journey of exploring Egypt,” Chi Anh shared.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao - Photo: Chi Anh