Cairo - Part II

Its been a week since I posted about my Cairo trip.. and I thought I should continue my Cairo journal here and write..

I woke up around 7:30-8 and was so excited because the plan was to see the Pyramids. We headed down for breakfast, and it was a beautiful site.. we sat by the Nile.. it was just amazing :-)
A lot of my friend kept telling me to avoid saying that I was Kuwaiti, I just couldn't... at the buffet, I felt like having eggs, the chef asked me if I was Arab, I said yes... and when he asked what nationality I just couldn't lie, but instead I asked him to guess... he went east to west, north to south with the Arab countries skipping Kuwait LOL. Until he was like "Kuwait??" I smiled and nodded hehehe. By 9:00 we were back in our rooms getting ready and I called the driver to pick us up...

Ahmed I: Hello
Ansam: Good morning, can you pick us up at around 10:00?
Ahmed I: Well, you see... Actually the other Ahmed is your driver, I just picked you from the airport cuz he had some thing to do, so would you mind calling him instead?
Ansam: Sure

Ahmed II: Hello?
Ansam: Yes, this is Ansam............. (telling him the same thing)
Ahmed II: I am sorry to tell you that it will take me more than an hour to pick you up! I was not informed nor prepared
Ansam: But we did the whole arrangement thing from Kuwait to have a driver on call!!!
Ahmed II: I am a bit busy
Ansam: Fine

My friend calls Kuwait about what happened.... after five minutes

Ahmed I: I am gonna pick you up soon
Ansam: Thanks

We wasted our morning waiting until he came around 11:30! It pissed me off big time since we had to call Kuwait to get things done in Cairo! Plus 11:30 isn't really early for us to go around the city :-( The driver did not seem happy about it... he was quiet!

There they are.... the Great Pyramids of Egypt! I always thought that they would be in remote area and that you cannot really see them from the city, I was wrong. As we approach'em, we were stopped by civilians who claimed they work there either as "Egyptologists" or for ticketing. There were also tourist police all over the place. One of those ticketing guys approached us and asked for PASSPORTS!! I was like WTH!? Apparently you are giving entry tickets' prices according to your nationality. So he asked us for any forms of IDs because we did not have our passports, he made it seem like a BIG mistake to be coming to the Pyramids without passport! He examined the IDs like for few minutes and was like OK, since you are Kuwaiti I will charge you EGP4 which is the Egyptian rate, but will have to charge your American friend EGP60... I was like whatever, and paid for myself, the driver, and my friend. He kept telling me "Kol sana wento 6ayebeen" (which literally translates to happy new year) all through ticketing process.... and how he worked hard on getting me the Egyptian rate because Kuwaitis and Egyptians are the same to them... I ignored him, I kept saying thanks.. but that was about it!

We had to go through security to go in while our driver drove ahead and waited for us inside.... I was surprised to read CLEARLY that they charged me just the right amount and there were no favors... It stated clearly there; the price of Fellow Arabs are EGP4... they asked for the ticket and again the guy checking my ticket gave me a "shocked-face" look on how I got the Egyptian rate... I pointed at the sign and smiled! He then stalled me asking me for ID again and asking questions... I went with the flow.

As we entered, we were looking for the driver and we were approached by one of the "Egyptologists" who harassed us rather than offering services. I kept asking him to go away! Under other circumstances I would not mind hiring an expert but since they are so annoying I decided going without them... reason I did that is because when he offered, I rejected it with thank yous... he would just ignore me and get into our car insisting on it which scared the hell outta me! I kept asking him to step out, the driver was asking him that too... my friend also, but he would just come close to my face and try to convince me to take his service...

You want worse? I saw a tourist police and I asked for his help... he came in with some hand gestures (implying tips/money) saying.. "tell me? whats wrong?" DO I HAVE TO PAY EVERYONE to get through it all or what? The Egyptologist looked back at me inside the car and was getting so close to me till I started kicking the chair and asked him to move away from my face!! He finally stepped out of the car!

We parked the car, and walked around but to add to my joy... another Egyptologist came and started talking and explaining things to us.. I ignored him 100% I asked him to leave politely but with no use... he kept walking with us like we have no choice... until I clearly told him that I was not gonna tip him or give him a penny!

The weather was two windy, the Pyramids looked amazing but the place was trashed :-( There are "No Climbing" signs, but you can climb anyway if you tip them :-( I wanted to do more... but the whole atmosphere was not helping! I wanna go again with a male presence or with an Egyptian friend or someone who really know their way around there! I wanna go again where I can have a good time without all those annoying surroundings :-( Its beautiful, its awesome, its the Pyramids for God's sake!

I remember standing in front of the Coliseum in Rome and just thinking about the history... gladiators, lions, people who walked those grounds....etc! I wish I was able to do so with the Pyramids :-( They just wont let you enjoy it... some thing must interrupt and ruin it for you!

Tips:
Bring in eye drops, water, lotion, and sanitizer. It helps a lot.

Domino Effect... Still On

As I was walking out the door towards my car, I saw Isaac (our driver)... I clearly said this to him.

"Isaac, dont make any plans today at around 10:00am. I am dropping my car at the bodyshop in Shuwaikh... So I want you to pick me up from there and drop me to work"

He said ok!

So I went to work and left at around 90:00AM heading to Shuwaikh. I get all the paper work done and call Isaac.

Ansam: Can you please pick me up now.. I am in Shuwaikh?
Isaac: I am in the Coop with your mom
Ansam: WHAT! I told you that I needed you today! I will be late to work!
Isaac: Talk to madam
Ansam: Mom... can you please tell him to pick me up? I dont want to be late for work... Dad can come and get you?
Mom: Sure... we just got in, I will be done by the time hes done with you
Ansam: Thanks :-* OK so let me talk to him please
Mom: OK dear
Isaac: Yes?
Ansam: I am not at the dealership.. I am in the Shuwaikh garage.. OK?
Isaac: Yeah.. I know the place, been there with Sir
Ansam: Perfect.. Thanks
Isaac: You're welcome

15 minutes later... phone rings

Ansam: Are you out?
Isaac: Yeah I am home
Ansam: HOME!?
Isaac: Yes.. where are you?
Ansam: I told you to pick me up from the garage... THE GARAGE ISAAC
Isaac: I did not hear you well I guess
Ansam: I DONT WANT TO BE LATE TO WORK... Come to Shuwaikh NOW!
Isaac: OK

15 minutes later... phone rings

Ansam: Are you out
Isaac: Yes, outside garage #7

I did not pay attention to the numbers, but THANK GOD he came to the right place

Isaac: So you want to go to work?
Ansam: Yes please
Isaac: Which road should I take
Ansam: Any road that leads to Kuwait City
Isaac: Rd 45 or 40?
Ansam: I dont care

*I was not in the mood to talk to him cuz all I was thinking is I wanna choke him*

Isaac: OK

Now I am at work, and the minute I got to my floor...... I threw up :-S

Word Vomiting?

I am a recipe for disaster :-S

I am sure I did upset some people....!

Someone today showed me something and was like I hope "this time" you will say something "positive" about it... WTH!

Another someone said something really harsh to me earlier today :-( Someone I dont even know!!

My dear friend R.O. told me its the Sunday blues... I think its more than that! Its more of 2009 blues.. started with a car accident + health issues in the family + things I cannot say + things I cannot explain + people.... hmmmm who did things that seemed to be simple to them but not to me and its hurting me badly!

Its all those mixed emotions and feelings of the surroundings that are upsetting me badly! Yes I am smiling and my day seems to be going just fine but I am not telling ANYONE what is really wrong! Its killing me, and I wanna deal with it alone... so there you have it! I am NOT fine! I am NOT OK! I am upset and I am feeling down....

HB... I have no idea why the things I say come out like word vomit! You are a special friend to me and I did not mean to bother you in any way or get you in trouble! God knows what you mean to me and how I see the true friend in you! You are the one I can depend on with no fear... I feel like crying just typing those words :-S

Mrs. Doubtfire... I know even if you read this you would not know who the hell I am talking about, but I do feel that you resemble Mrs. Doubtfire (and I do see some Kramer in you too)... See... I am doing it again! Being mean and calling you all that! But you are driving me crazy! I know you are a nice lady but I can't seem to find a common ground for us where we find mutual understanding.. I try but you staring at me sometimes for no reason freaks me out! And it makes me vomit words as well :-S eeeeek!

"Someone" I vented to about what is happening regarding the health issues in the family. I dont know if you know who you are, but you are awesome! I mean it! "You dont just say things to make me feel better" yet you say things and you do make me feel better... Thanks :'-) Oh and you are super funny in your own ways!

And to all my unanswered calls/messages/email please know that I do acknowledge it all but I swear to God I have no time to answer you.....

Oh and many more things I cannot even start to list.....

Salmon Avocado Salad!

I was having lunch at Maki earlier today... my friend asked if I wanted to share Salomon Avocado Salad.. I agreed, only problem is that she do not want it with Salmon or Avocado!

Me: One salmon avocado salad please and I want the salmon avocados on the side.
Waitress: OK.. so just lettuce and crab.. and you want the salmon and avocado on the side, right?
Me: Yes please
Waitress: OK :-)

A while later, another waiter comes..

Waiter: Excuse me ma'am.. but can you please pick between having either the salmon or avocados on the side? You cant have both as sides!
Me: No, you dont get it... I am ordering the salmon avocado salad but I want to have the salmon and avocado on the side and not mixed!!
Waiter: Yeah.. still, you have to pick only one side!
Me: Why?
Waiter: You can only pick ONE side....

The manager was at this time near our table listening... and to my surprise he was the one who sent the waiter cuz he was waiting for me to say "OK FINE" which I was not planning on saying..

Me: OK let me get this straight... I am ordering THE SALMON and AVOCADO salad, I only want those two on the side and not mixed... do you get this part?
Waiter: Yeah I do... its not possible.. errr... hmmmm

The manager calls for that waiter... after five minutes he comes back..

Waiter: OK, done
Me: Thanks!!!

Explanation? ANYONE??

Yawning!

I was reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell and got tired/sleepy/dizzy because of the following...

"Have you ever thought about yawning, for instance? Yawning is a surprisingly powerful act. Just by reading the two yawns in the previous two sentences--and the two additional yawns in this sentence--a good number of you will probably yawn within the next few minutes. Even as I'm writing this I've yawned twice. If you're reading this in a public place, and you've just yawned, chances are that a good proportion of everyone who saw you yawn is now yawning too, and a good proportion of the people watching the people who watched you yawn are now yawning as well, and on and on, in a ever-widening, yawning circle.

Yawning is incredibly contagious. I made some of you reading this yawn simply by writing the word "yawn". The people who yawned when they saw you yawn, meanwhile, were infected by the sight of you yawning--which is a second kind of contagion. They might even have yawned if they only heard you yawn, because yawning is also aurally contagious: if you play an audio-tape of a yawn to blind people, they'll yawn too. And finally, if you yawned as you read this, did the thought cross your mind--however unconsciously and fleetingly--that you might be tired? I suspect that for some of you it did, which means that yawns can also be emotionally contagious. Simply by writing the word, I can plant a feeling in your mind. Can the flu virus do that? Contagiousness, in other words, is an unexpected property of all kinds of things, and we have to remember that if we are to recognize and diagnose epidemic change."

Red Carpet Event

A la Arabian Style!!!!

Random Thoughts!

ONE: How would you feel about someone who is clearly trying to test your stress level! Like testing his/her limits until you burst!? I am kinda stuck in such situation and as much as I try to smile back and be nice... it is still getting into me?? :-S

TWO: How would you feel when someone comes to you with simple-answer questions... and like come to you without being courteous enough to ask...

"Do you have a minute?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Are you busy?"

No... they just come and expect you to drop all for you to be free to help them out!

THREE: And how would you feel when someone ask you to check on something that you agree to check... and in return when you ask them to check from their side on something similar but they say its not in their area! Or they cant!?

FOUR: And how about when you see people taking credit for things you've done... as simple as good deeds, nice gestures, or even some things you've done!?

FIVE: Now imagine all that happen when your....
Stress levels are already SO HIGH,
You have personal problems (related to family health issues), and
You're not sleeping much

I keep on smiling and doing the best I can... I believe in Karma! I really do! So dont mess with me! Oh and I hurt myself while carrying loads of paper, talking on the phone, and holding my bag while going down the stairs...... OUCH!

Accident!

As I was driving North on Gulf Road earlier this afternoon... A white car was swerving between cars.. the driver was a total idiot/maniac and was recklessly driving. Suddenly his car hit another on the same road, but he just sped off! A total hit and run in the day light! Nice! I was able to spot his plate numbers and it was too late for me to stop and aid the other car, so I just called 777...

First time the line got disconnected after ringing more than four times..
I redialed and finally I got an answer... a very "helpful" lady!

777: Hello, how can I help you?
Me: Hello.. I hope all is well, I was driving on Gulf Rd between............ (I told her the story)
777: And?
Me: Nothing, I am just reporting an accident that I witnessed and I have the plate numbers?
777: What do you want me to do with the plate number?
Me: Excuse me?
777: The people involved in the accident should go to the police station!
Me: It was a hit and run!!!!
777: Sorry, but I cant take the plate number and I cant do anything about it
Me: OK! Thanks!!!
777: You're welcome

HUH!!!!!

Argan Oil

I first tried Argan Oil at a friend's house.... and then bought my first bottle from an organic food supplier and been enjoying the "aroma" and taste. I have been advertising it like crazy telling my friends and family that they have to try it and buy it and God knows what! *I am sorry*

OK, so my coworker is Moroccan and I asked him about it and he had this sweet smile on his face... I was like "What?" and he answered "Do you know how it is prepared?" and he kinda explained it to me... I could not wait to go back home and throw the bottle away.. I also HAD to check it online and guess what!! He was RIGHT!

I feel sick... (click here to know how its prepared). I only read the traditional method and my stomach was acting funny on me.. I did not proceed! So please peeps.... tell me, are there any differences in the preparation methods mentioned?

*Barf *

Yahoo!-STUPID-Groups

OK so lately I have been added to stupid yahoo! groups whos members send TONS AND TONS of email messages, most of which are useless and they flood my inbox DAILY on the hour every hour... it not one group that I have been added to, not two, not three... BUT MANY! I am getting sick of this and I dont know who is adding me to those time-wasting groups who would just send stupid useless email messages ALL DAY LONG! Why am I being add to begin with? How is it done? Do people just add me randomly or what? I woke up this morning to find six+ friggin email messages from some stupid yahoo! group about some stupid event happening at Beit Dalia, or a picture of a butterfly, or the most expensive LV handbag!!!! So this is how my day is starting, me in a very icky mood! wonder how my day will turn out to be! Ughhhh!

Happy Bad Mood Day!

Alphabet My Way

My collaborative work ;-)
I was tagged by Grey for a mosaic thingy, but decided to post this instead :-D
Whadya all think?

Is This For Real?

I am not sure where this incident happened... but its in the region!
This is worse than the crayon picture on Intlxpatr's blog!

Blocked!

Yesterday, a couple of hours before I left work... I received a "fwd" email with a Youtube link. I clicked on it, and to my surprise it was BLOCKED! I was like let me try facebook... and guess what? Its blocked as well! Basically, the IT blocked all those websites because they have "no business value". I dont know what else will they be blocking!! Blogs? G-chat?

I honestly dont care, but some times I use G-chat to burst on one of my friends LOL like when I really need to vent!

oh well... c'est la vie!

On another note, tonight is my cousin's wedding..I took the day off to sleep in late and get some energy and rest, I woke up at around 7:00ish! DAMN MY BIOLOGICAL CLOCK!! But the good thing is its now 9:00ish and I am still in bed :-D

I wish I can take few weeks off and travel :-( I am so stressed

Weddings Overdosed!

Solve this equation for me please....

One week of not sleeping well

PLUS

My birthday (getting a year added to my age :-P)

PLUS

LOTS of errands.... so many things, so little time

PLUS

One wedding - last Friday- when Fattooma, Algassar, Yara, and Abdulmajeed Abdalla were there (and that means you CANNOT JUST LEAVE EARLY... NOT an option)

PLUS

Another wedding -Last night- of close close CLOSE family friends, which also means you cannot leave before midnight

PLUS

Waking up early today to go to work



Equals...........??????


HELP!


UPDATES (this will be updated every time I come across a side effect LOL)

* I forgot my login password at work! (I have been using it for about a week now)
* Dad asked for a couple of personal photos of me last week, of course I just remembered today (and despite how I look now after this weekend)... I went and got my picture taken with the blue background and all... I sat next to the photographer and asked him to add lip color and blush LOL and you know! I realized I have 4 black moles on my face! One is really visible, the others are of lighter shades heehee

Eelection Text Messages

I have been receiving text messages till very late last night (or let me say very early today - as early as 4:00AM) I mean what about non-Kuwaitis who cannot vote, or people who are not registered... Its annoying!

Below are some examples of silly ones (I tried to translate it to English in the best way possible so some of it might be lost in translation):

1. Vote for a Kuwaiti like you! (and I say... what about all the other candidates? aren't they all Kuwaitis? Duhhhh!)

2. You are invited TONIGHT -May 17th- for the final Dinner! (and I say: Yeah uh huh sure!! I cant believe all this is over, are you kidding me!! TONIGHT!!!)

3. Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Daughter, and Son! I need you all! (and I say: it kinda reminded me of Halima Boland's silly incident.. I want mommy.. daddy I want my hubby)

4. Your vote count, vote for your sister -Newspaper Name-! (and I say: Now what!!! Newspapers???)

5. I am oppressed so I need triumph! (and I seriously say: WHAT?)

6. Those who do not testify with falsity! (and I say: are you saying I have to vote for you because you are the best Muslim ever?)

7. It isnt just a rumor, but its a "testimony"! (and I say... yes! Sure!!!)

8. My sister, women have the right to at least one of your four votes! (and I say... yeah WOW GO GIRL POWER! even if you dont deserve it!!)


And MANY more!

PS: I keep adding to the list... any funny ones you have, please share!

SNAPS!

I spilled water all over my desk and skirt AND PHONE (but its working fine).... talking about GRUMPY DAYS!!
Also, I decided to snap away!

COPYCAT

Earlier today one of the readers commented on my blog and told me that he read almost exactly the same post as mine "Bon Appetit". I asked him for the link, and checked it out for myself... and OH MY GOD! That blogger did not even bother to change most of it... but added some lines here and there to make it a bit different.... I have saved it in JPEG format so you can click on it and compare! I even commented on her blog... she deleted the whole post! I went back and check and to my surprise she wrote another post under the title 'Carpe Diem'. Now if you check the entry to my blog you will read:

"Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May" is a poem by Robert Herrick. This poem portrays our existence on earth, and that people age as life goes on, and everything becomes boundless. Herrick here urges people to take advantage of youth and energy while they may! The poem is in the genre of carpe diem, to seize the day.

Coincidence?

Fur-ious!

Gesundheit!

God! I hate being sick! I think I am getting sick!
Around 11:30ish my nose SUDDENLY started to get runny and I sneezed... and then sneezed again and again and again! Looks like the flu is around the corner! Which SHUCKS (my new word) big time! I already sound different!

This is SAD!

Sorry the post is in Arabic.
Click on image to enlarge