egypt Archives

iPhone Friday

The journey may be lengthy, but it’s rewarded with a fantastic Chinese meal in Egypt at China Red restaurant.

As I have arrived in Egypt, I thought there would be nothing better than have this installment focused on my experiences here. Be forewarned that this post is not what you might expect to see about Egypt.

After spending most of the last 24 hours either in airports or airplanes, there was nothing that I wanted more than to feel clean again after a shower. Next on the menu, literally, was to decide on a nice dinner. Staying at the Le Meridien at the Cairo airport, I did have the choice of 4 different restaurants with cuisines ranging from Lebanese to pub food, and Chinese. As I expect to eat plenty of middle Eastern cuisine over the next week plus, I chose China Red, the Chinese restaurant. I was not disappointed!

The atmosphere is great and welcoming and the menu is appealing, as it has focus and doesn’t try to serve everything, the way many American Chinese restaurants do. After I placed my order for a Sakkara Gold beer and some food, I was also provided with a basket of kroepoek…

Kroepoek are deep fried crackers made from a starch and a flavoring, which in this case was prawn. They are very airy, as they expand tremendously during frying with lots of air pockets.

Next I had ordered some shrimp spring rolls, which were delicious…

Of course, they were really hot on the first bite, so be careful; their flavor and consistency was wonderful! I ate these with my soup, which was a West Lake soup…

This is one of those fantastic Chinese soups that has a smooth, velvety feel when eating it and has a great balance of egg whites, tofu, chicken, vegetables, and mushrooms. This chef really understands how to create an amazing combination of flavors with none being overpowering the others.

I completed this meal with a fantastic beef and seafood stir fry, of which I forgot to take a picture; the smell was so good that I dug into it immediately, after which I realized my error.

In total, a fantastic meal at a reasonable price with attentive service. I highly recommend China Red for your next time in Cairo!

Throwback Thursday – 32

In the coming weeks, I will be exploring Egypt, so here’s a taste from last year’s trip.

This week’s throwback is very much focused on some of the upcoming photography that I will share with all of you! During the coming 2 weeks, I will be spending some more quality time in the wonderful country of Egypt, a place rich in history and culture that has always captivated my imagination. I will explore some iconic sites that I have not been to before, including serene landscapes and the bustling city of Alexandria. Additionally, I will return to some of my favorite locations that I have previously visited, where I hope to capture new perspectives and experiences through my lens.

For today, I present you with a throwback to both last year’s visit, and antiquity…

The pyramids of Giza are probably the best-known monuments of the ancient world, standing as towering symbols of a civilization that has long since passed but continues to captivate the imagination of people worldwide. These massive structures, built thousands of years ago, are truly impressive testaments to human ingenuity and engineering skills, showcasing remarkable precision and planning that would astound modern architects. Dating back to a time when simple machines were all that was available, the construction of the pyramids involved a complex organization of labor, resources, and knowledge that highlights the extraordinary capabilities of the ancient Egyptians. Each pyramid, meticulously designed and constructed, served as a grand tomb for pharaohs, reflecting both their wealth and status, while also demonstrating their belief in the afterlife and the importance of preserving their legacy for eternity. The incredible alignment of the pyramids with celestial bodies further illustrates the advanced understanding of astronomy that the ancient builders possessed.

Travel Tuesday

Getting ready to capture Egypt’s landscapes and culture always is filled with more last minute items than I had planned

It is a bit of a crazy week, as I’m getting ready for my trip to Egypt, which will be a wonderful return to this great and ancient country. Even though I think of myself as a somewhat seasoned traveler, there are always many last-minute items to take care of, and they take more time than I budgeted for them. It’s easy to underestimate the little things that can add up and create a sense of urgency before departure.

Amazingly, one aspect of my packing that has turned into a series of multiple repacks revolves around my camera gear. Photography is a passion of mine, and when traveling, I want to capture the stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture that Egypt has to offer. For this trip, I made the decision about what equipment to take with me pretty early on. This includes my Fuji X-H2 camera, a Canon 5D MkIII for infrared photography, a variety of lenses, and extra batteries. However, as I’m guilty of owning a number of camera bags, the real challenge has been deciding on the perfect bag to accompany me on this journey.

The art of packing light seems to be a paradox in travel; the more I try to minimize my load, the more items seem to find their way back in. This balancing act is all part of the pre-trip excitement, creating anticipation for the incredible experiences that await me in Egypt.

After I get on the plane, I will be looking forward to connecting with this interesting pharaoh once again…

So, stay tuned over the next set of posts for lots more from Egypt, where I will explore the rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture of this incredible country. In addition to captivating travel tales, I will also share insights into local traditions, culinary delights, and hidden gems as I come across them.

Wednesday Window – pt 27

A reflection seen through a window on a Nile lock during our recent cruise.

Welcome back to the windows in my small part of the world, or rather one from my travels. This week’s window features a reflection as the key element of interest.

Let’s take a look into the mirror…

This window is part of the control structure of one of the Nile locks that we went through during our cruise this year. From the upper deck of our ship, the reflection caught my eye and provided some interesting lines to play with.

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Travel Tuesday

We explore the beauty of encountering diverse cultures, such as our recent trip to Egypt. Rather than crediting alien influence, we can appreciate the rich mythology and imagination of the Egyptians.

Our travels take us to interesting locations and provide the opportunity to meet with people, learn about cultures and, in general, stand in awe of the world, as we’re speeding through space. This year’s trip to Egypt certainly gave me plenty of opportunity to stand in awe of not only the ancient civilization and its accomplishments, but also the people who live there now. Of course, some of the feats from antiquity make us question how things were accomplished.

Here’s one image that gave me pause for thought…

We’ve all heard the explanation of ‘Ancient Aliens’ to questions about the amazing structures and how they were built, not only in Egypt but many locations on our planet. This stone block at the temple complex at Philae might steer some to that explanation, as does this one…

These are some different looking characters that we don’t expect to see walking around. Still not evidence of early arrivals by E.T.

Egyptians had a rich imagination and mythology, in which many unusual creatures feature. I find that these carvings are not any stranger than three-headed snakes with legs or gods with the heads of animals. They were some great thinkers and they still are!

Travel Tuesday

This week we highlight an image of the falcon statue at Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple from our most recent trip.

This week’s episode features another image from our most recent big trip to Egypt. My wife and I try to aim for a major trip every other year or so, as there’s always quite a bit of planning involved, as it’s not just us. We also have to think about the 3 Cardigan Welsh Corgis and 2 Siberian Forest Cats. So yes, these trips get planned at least a year in advance!

Here’s another image from Egypt…

This mighty Falcon sits by the second ramp that leads to the incredible mortuary temple of the pharaoh Hatshepsut. Part of what drew me to this falcon is the intrigue of the detail of the feathers that is visible in the outer layer of the statue. Much of this outer layer has been lost, but it still provides a sense of what the original look of the falcon was. Additionally, note that there is still a bit of paint visible around the eye. It would be magical to travel back to antiquity and see this statue when it was just installed.

You might be able to tell that I’d love to return to Egypt, just to spend more time at all of the monuments visited and many more… a lifetime might not be enough!

iPhone Friday

In this episode, we’re looking at some ancient graffiti in the tomb of Ramses IV in the Valley of the Kings

Yes, folks, this Friday’s post is another one from Egypt, as there are a lot of iPhone shots from that trip. In the previous Egypt-based post of iPhone Friday from May 16, 2025, we visited Luxor Temple, which was stunning. This week, I’m taking you back to the Valley of the Kings, where we were in another iPhone Friday from May 9, 2025.

Here’s a view from the entrance part of another tomb…

This is the entrance of the tomb of Ramses IV in the Valley of the Kings. What caught my attention here is the graffiti that we see to the right of the cartouche of Ramses. To my somewhat trained eye, it appears to be a Coptic text, which does challenge me to see if I can translate it.

Of course, if you have Coptic skills…please share!

iPhone Friday

In this installment we focus on Luxor Temple at night, a unique atmosphere created by dusk and darkness.

It feels like an eternity since I last posted an image from our amazing vacation in Egypt this year. Of course, time is relative, as the true eternity belongs to antiquity. This time I’m going back to one of the early stops in our travels, the stunning city of Luxor.

Here’s a lovely view…

Getting to visit this temple complex at night is a privilege. The dusk and darker times provide an additional element of mystery and impressive atmosphere. In this view, we’re looking back at one of the colonnades toward Abu Haggag Mosque. This mosque is part of the temple complex.

iPhone Friday

This week’s edition revisits a trip to Egypt, highlighting the usefulness of smartphones for capturing interior shots in low light, especially in crowded tombs.

For this week’s edition, I’m taking you back to this year’s trip to Egypt. As I’ve mentioned, a good smartphone can be really useful for getting interior shots, where the lighting might not be ideal. Especially, when you’re in a crowded tomb, such as the case here, it’s a good shortcut over taking the time for a proper exposure with a ‘real’ camera.

Here’s a look inside one of the tombs…

In this lovely scene we witness part of the preparation for the Afterlife, done with appropriate tenderness. Of course, it’s always good for the pharaoh to get some assistance on the way and have a good relationship with Osiris.

I’m curious how many among you can identify the pharaoh, whose tomb this is. Of course, you could just read the cartouche, or you may have visited it yourself.

Along the Nile – Living pt. 3

We reflect on life along the Nile, waxing nostalgic about ancient features and the more leisurely pace.

In the previous Along the Nile – Living post, I showed a bit of the community aspect of life along the river. This post takes a bit more of a nostalgic look and highlights some specific aspects. There are a number of features that stand out, as we look at the landscape along this longest river.

Here’s one that is rather ubiquitous…

Dovecotes pop up along the landscape in many places, and have a strong connection with both farming and raising pigeons. They go back to antiquity as a means of addressing the need for manure and having pigeons become a staple in the Egyptian diet.

One of the things that I noticed is that along the river, life doesn’t seem to be as hurried…

It was not unusual to see people taking a moment to observe the Viking Aton, as we sailed by at a gentle pace.

And sometimes we even got a bigger reaction…

The lad in the striped shirt came running into the water to share his greetings with us! I figured that it was a slow day for boats that day, as I can’t imagine him doing that on a day when 20-30 boats pass.

Sometimes it felt like we were in a different era…

It was truly nice to unwind a bit and watch the landscape float by.

I hope you enjoyed this more nostalgic look at our journey.

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