Written 21st/22nd June 2011.

"Salam" from Egypt! What a fab few days I have had already, to sum this place up words like crazy, mental and amazing spring to mind.

I have just arrived in the Bahariya Oasis after 2 days in Cairo and Giza. When I arrived in Egypt I was met at the airport by Osama who treated me like royalty! I got to my hotel at about 7am and then hit my bed over looking the Nile before meeting the people on my tour, Bree and Sarah from Melbourne! They have just been on a tour of Europe and are heading to Russia after this. Mario, our tour leader, took us to TGI Friday on the Nile where I had my first "Tour Experience", smoking a Seesha! After a few puffs I was a pro but don't really get the idea! In the evening we went to a VIP club! VIP meaning it was a very nice place, apparently usually full of celebs, but you know, we were the only people there! We had a good laugh and I sampled the local Stella and again failed at the Sheesa smoking! On the way home with Joe, Mario's mate, we squashed 7 of us into a tiny tiny car! Despite going at 120km sat on top of a gear stick, weaving in and out of cars on the crazy roads this was ok, although terrifying! It only got worse when we went trough a check point near Tahir Square and were pulled over! After a search, kind chat with the scary guards, somehow Mario talked his was out of it and we all piled back in! At the end of the first day im somehow alive, not in jail and still awake!

The next day I felt pretty rough! 6 hours sleep in two days is not good! We met Nadine, who was our guide for the day and first we visited the Saqqara Pyramid. This is slightly different to the 'normal' pyramid as it in built is steps. This is the oldest stone structure in the world! Then we went to the original Papyrus Paper Museum and were shown how to make the paper by stripping, soaking and layering the plant. I bought some with the Hieroglyphic Alphabet on to use at school and already thinking more baggage space is needed! After lunch I then got the see what I came for! The Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza! They are sooo cool! The great pyramid is not actually the one that appears to be the highest. It's the one without the final few stones. The other pyramid that looks the tallest had to smaller because of tradition, however, the cleaver king who built this one built it on higher ground! Smart! We then went into the Menkaure's Pyramid… We climbed down this steep path to find an ancient man, who just said over and over, "one rock, no mortar, granite from Aswan, mind head!" Down there it was just empty rooms, it was harder to breath and you weren't allowed to take pictures. But… see me if you would like some J This was such a good day! We had loads of pictures doing stupid things, the best ones were jumping ones, and I purchased my first postcards for the FG! The Sphinx is kind of dwarfed by the pyramids and is not in too good condition. It was great to see this at the sound and light show in the evening where I got some amazing pics using my trusty, although as I will tell you later, not so trusty tripod! Another highlight of my first sightseeing day was a visit to my tour leaders house! His mum made us afternoon tea and we just chilled, although is a block of flats 10 times worse than anything in the UK, there is something to be said for having a room overlooking the Pyramids!

Time to move on, we had an early start at 6am and travelled into the Bahariya Oasis, followed all the way by my GPS tracker! We stopped over an amazing view and this is where the tripod failed! Sorry dad, you now have a camera with a pretty big dent in it as the wind blew it over! Luckily onto the tarmac though so no sand! It's all working fine, Phew! I have just got back from a tour around the Temple of Alexander the great, and we stopped off at a new museum with a load of mummies in it! Some of these were only found 6 months ago! We went down into the tombs of Zed Amun Iuf Ankh and Bannetio. These all have beautiful carvings and painting in! Then we had some free time so the girls and I went off to explore! We hiked through the Oasis, saw a bull and ran back! The evening was spent eating some pretty dodgy looking meet after watching the sun set on the roof! I have just woken up after a good nights sleep, the first using my net, and all is good! Off to sleep in the desert tonight!

Ma a'salama (Goodbye) Love to all, Tom x