November 4, 2011 - HELLO, EGYPT !!!

The afternoon news on TV today showed some unrest in Egypt caused by radical Islamic groups. Scenes of violence and hundreds of injured citizens in Cairo made me recall my visit there in 2005 when everything was " sweet and dandy, " so to speak.

I remembered having received a brochure from Adriatic Tours which announced a trip to the Holy Land and Egypt for May 9th to May 23rd of 2005. I have enjoyed the excellent quality of their service since the 1990's in more than seven trips to Europe and even to its Eastern sector of Poland, Austria, Hungary and Czeschoslsovakia. Anton Salah, the general manager and dedicated Christian has rightfully earned the esteem he enjoys in the travel industry for so many years. And I echo the applause he deserves! I knew that the trip would be something uniquely memorable.

From my readings, I have known Egypt as a land of superlatives - the grandest pyramids that have stood for thousands of years, the river Nile which is the longest one in the world and the largest temple complexes on planet Earth. It was the visit to Egypt that caused an irresistible desire in my heart to sign up. My unbridled enthusiasm to join a trip which included an ancient civilization in Africa was triggered by two things:

Firstly, Egypt is in Africa and setting foot on its soil would tantamount to my having visited six (6) of the existing seven (7) continents in the world! Wow! True, I am from the Philippines and have had visited other nations in Asia as Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Indonesia etc. I have had the pleasure of being in North America, South America, Australia and Europe. Africa, then will be the sixth continent in the list. I smiled at the thought that Antartica can never find its way in my list. I let loose my ego with the thought that a sojourn to Egypt would be an added laurel leaf to the wreath of my so-called "achievements." Somehow, right after that wishful thought, my heart burst forth in praise and thanksgiving to God Who is the Source of Life and Provision and Who makes everything possible according to His purpose!

Secondly, the itinerary offered another chance to be in the place where Jesus walked, lived and died. My awesome experience in the Holy Land has kept a burning desire to visit it again and again, despite my having been there four (4) times already.

A resounding, "Let's go!" came from my friends when I informed them of the trip with the assurance that it would be a most unforgettable chapter in our lives. Hence, my "balae," Lily de Guzman and her daughter, Presy, Cousin Tina Dizon, Rick and Elvy Tan, Arnie and Sol Sedayao, Fil Pineda and Nitay Caballes made their bookings, too.

The itinerary showed the trip to Israel first before proceeding to Egypt and Jordan. But a reversal of the scheduled itinerary was issued by Adriatic Tours several days before our departure date. We knew that there must be a reason for the change which anyway, did not cause any disappointment since my friends were all "first-timers." It did not bother me a bit at all, too.

The Lufthansa flight from the San Francisco International airport to Stuggart, Germany and thence to Cairo was a tremendously long one. It took fourteen (14) hours! Whew! You can just imagine the weary-laden group of "globetrotters" entering the plush hotel in Cairo, the name of which I have forgotten already.

Upon stepping into my room, I immediately went to the window and my eyes gazed at the Great Pyramids of Giza against the dusk of twilight. It was uplifting! The towering three pyramids stood elegant and statuesque like the nobles in the court of the Pharoah. I remembered the film, "Cleopatra," with Elizabeth Taylor ravishing in her bejewelled Egyptian attire. Then looking down on the streets below, I saw the inescapable sights and sounds of a modern metropolis- the speeding cars, taxis and buses, the neon lights of a myriad colors in the many establishments for the satisfaction of hunger and human pleasure of every kind and a crowd of denizens of distinguisable and otherwise cultural backgrounds. It was invigorating to feel privileged living in today's world! Or is it?

The walk to the pyramids on uneven ground, rocks and sand required strong legs and comfortable shoes. I thanked the Lord for my overall stamina at seventy-five (75) especially my lower limbs which were still carrying me through with reasonable ease. I realized more fully the need to explore exotic and strange places more when one is still strong enough to withstand the rigors of travel. I resolved to encourage my relatives and friends to "see the world" while the usual discomfort of age has not yet set in. I realized, too, that life can really play tricks on the human psyche - while still young, the desire to travel is sharply keen but the needed funds are not available and when one grows much older, the money for adventurous trips around the globe is on hand but the elderly bodies besieged with many aches and pain hinder the fulfillment of lifelong dreams. Ah, the mystery of life!

I stood a few yards away from the tallest pyramid which is the tomb of the beloved Pharaoh Cheops completely awed by the majestiy of its height and perfect symmetry and the symbol it represents as steps to the heavens of eternal life. Belief of the afterworld was outstandingly upheld by the ancient Egyptians. I felt a kindred spirit with them since my Catholic faith teaches that we are transients in this world and that our true home is in heaven where we will spend eternity with God. And that how we spend our life on earth- the use of our time, talent and treasure presupposses where our eternity will be, Up or Down!

Standing under the watchful eyes of "The Sphinx, " the enormous head of a man (possibly a pharaoh because of the headdgear) and the body of a lion, I wondered what thoughts ran within his mind. Several questions ran into my mind, too. Is he to guard the pyramids from thieves or marauders of the vast treasures buried with the mummified bodies of the pharaohs? Or is he the reception commitee of one to welcome the hundreds of thousands tourists who come from all over the worlld to marvel at the monuments of a long-lost civilization? I remembered that Fil and I with some members of the group enjoyed the "Lights and Sounds Show " right at "The Sphinx" one cool night in Cairo. The experience was fitting for my book of memories!

The Egypt Museum in Cairo is a repository of artifacts and extremely interesting things associated with the past. Tutankkamen, the revered Boy-Pharaoh lies in his exquisitely ornate sarcophagus amidst the splendor befitting a king in the museum. An ancient chariot used in those times stands in a corner so inviting that for a moment I felt like climbing up to it, stand royally erect (like a king) and acknowledge the "salute" to a monarch by his loyal subjects. Oh, by the way, did they salute with arms held up high ala- Heil Hitler style or bow their heads with arms criss-crossed against their breasts?

The moonlight boat ride along the River Nile was a most exhilarating experience for me simply because of the beauty and mystic charm of the longest river in the world in the books and articles I have read. The significant role that the river plays in the lives of Egyptians of a thousand generations also engendered my healthy respect for this renown body of water. The dinner served with the soup of lentils and native delicacies suited my taste but the the "belly dancing" that followed somehow affected my innate senses negatively. Somehow, my reaction to the dance must have been due to the information that the dancers who looked like real women were actually "gays." To make matters worse, my antagonistic synergy must have been felt by one of the dancers who kept taunting me directly with exaggerated bodily gyrations while I looked elsewhere. I tried my best to accept the "unfitting" finale of the boat ride as part of the scheme of things. Acceptance of everything one encounters, makes for living less stressful lives.

The visits to the Papyrus Institue was an eye-opener to the intricacies of making paper from the large cactus-like papyrus plant with spindle-sized thorns all over it. The carpet factory afforded some insights to the making of the lovely-spun floor coverings which usually takes months in the making. Even very young girls were adept in twirling the tightly woven threads in the loom. The tiered pyramid of Sakkara considered the oldest of all pyramids in the world was also remarkable.

Our Cairo spiritual tour began in the oldest part of the city. A decade or so ago, the exact date, I failed to note, our Blessed Virgin appeared on top of the Coptic Church. In her apparitions to thousands of people professing God as Jesus or Allah, She made herself visible not for minutes only but for many hours. Against the starlit sky, She manifested herself in radiant beauty the likes of which have never been witnessed before by the spectators who freely spoke of it. Many people including known personalities in politics and the professions attested to witnessing the phenomenon to international media. It was noteworthy that most of these witnesses were Muslims! Inside the Catholic Church, is a large magnificent icon of Our Blessed Mother as She appeared then.

Among the souvenirs I brought home from Egypt was a small plastic bag of real estate - the sand of Sahara Desert. I felt the sand would somehow enliven my sharing of the trip to the Land of the Pharaohs with my children and grandchildren. I wanted to immortalize the memory of the Great Pyramids of Giza among them so that they may be inspired to visit Egypt, after a journey to the Holy Land, of course, in their lifetime. I wanted them to feel the tiny bits of cream-colored sand of the desert - Mother Earth in the vast expanse of arid sand dunes in Africa. I remembered feeling the warm tingly sensation as I dipped handfuls of sand and letting them slowly drip through my fingers. Looking at the heap of sand on my hands somehow etched the mirage of a priceless trophy and its accompanying thrill mesmerizing every nerve in my body - the conquest of the "sixth" continent!

Truly, my rendezvous with Egypt was a " time to remember. "