Thursday, March 22, 2007 3 pyramids and a Sphinx By Dorothy Bangayan The Unlonely Planet
THE pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt utterly overwhelmed me. It was more than anything I have ever encountered and I cannot describe to you such a feeling until you have seen it, too.
We reached the Giza Plateau after passing through the city where sidewalks are strewn with locals -- women laying pita (their staple bread eaten with hummus, beef or chicken) on the sidewalk floor, men smoking sheeshah (a water pipe for smoking) outside cafes, and vendors selling their scarab beads, perfume, carpets and a variety more.
As we went on further, the market scenery changed to square mud brick houses overlapping each other, squeezed between buildings, all enveloped in a thin layer of golden dust.
The pyramids tower over us, tons of smooth limestone layered in remarkable precision to form triangular tombs.
There are three great pyramids. The largest and oldest, also known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World is the Pyramid of Khufu or King Cheops. It stands at 137-meter high.
To get to the tomb's entrance, we had to climb over huge stone blocks. Entering the tomb was not an easy feat either. Entrance was limited to 300 people in a day and we were not able to get tickets. Just as well, our tour guide "Hadidi" said, since literally "crawling" inside is not for the faint-hearted and the tomb-like smell will stick to your skin for days.
Nearby are two more pyramids of son Khafre (Chephren), and grandson Menkaure (Mycerinus), each generation's pyramid built smaller than the one before him as a sign of respect.
This is also the best place to ride a camel in Egypt. After haggling from 100 down to 30 pounds (equivalent to 300 pesos), you can get a camel and a guide.
Riding across the desert against the periwinkle blue sky and with the pyramids as a backdrop is like living out the Arabian Nights!
Reaching the far end, locals will force on you open bottles of coke in exchange for a few pounds. Our guides offered to take our pictures. Just make sure they take lots of shots because we found a whole bunch of photos of the camels only!
Standing a few minutes ride away from the pyramids is the Sphinx, a statue of a winged monster with a head of a woman and body of a lion. It is said to be guarding the pyramid of Khafre.
Archaeologists say that the sphinx's face is that of King Khafre's during which the Sphinx was constructed. The nose, half gone, was rumored to have been damaged by Napoleon's army.
Truly a of wonder of the world. (Email author at wandergirl28@yahoo.com)
How to get there:
Quatar Air, United Emirates and Gulf Air offer competitive airfares to Cairo. For tours, you can contact Meteor Tours at +639189125177 or email meteortoursph@gmail.com. (Manila base) Look for Ligaya Tabirao. Egypt visas take three days processing at the Embassy.
