Egypt Encompassed

This photo essay chronicles my travel through Egypt from late May through early June of 2005. I joined a Geckos Adventures group in Cairo on May 21, 2005. Starting there we journeyed to the major oasises of the western desert, south to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, and finally across the Sinai peninsula to Dahab. Egypt is a vast country to experience with a longer history than most. This series of photographs will fail to do justice the country's scope and history. Nonetheless I aim to provide a meaningful portrait of Egypt's variety and beauty.
Giza The most famous structures ever built by mankind are almost certainly the Egyptian pyramids. Although there are several pyramid sites throughout lower Egypt, the pyramids at Giza represent the archetypical design known the world over. The tallest pyramid, that of Cheops (Khufu), stands nearly 150 meters tall and appears as the pyramid furthest back in the images Pyramids of Giza II and III. Although well represented in this and any other work on Egypt, photographs do not do justice to either the size of the pyramids or the incredible amount of work required for their construction.	Pyramids of Giza I
Pyramids of Giza II	Pyramids of Giza III
The Pyramid of Chefren	The locals very aggressively try to sell souvenirs at the Pyramids. More importantly a camel ride through the desert around the pyramids can be had very affordable rates. The only downside of the whole Pyramid experience was the amount of litter surrounding the pyramids. I feared for the well being of my camel's feet at times because of all the rubbish. I ventured inside the pyramid of Chefren. The shaft one must descend is awkward due to its height but its slope is easy. After descending a fair distance the shaft angles upward. So the entire shaft has the shape of the letter V. No photographs are allowed inside the pyramids. The reason most likely is because nothing remains inside the pyramid. At the end of the awkward walk one finds an empty room with smooth stone walls. Nonetheless the novelty of standing inside the center of a pyramid is well worth the journey.
Sphinx & Chefren Pyramid	Sphinx & Cheops Pyramids
Sphinx Tail	I decided to include a picture of the Sphinx's tail because I have never noticed a published picture of it before. The first time I knew of its tail was when I walked past it. The Sphinx is one of the world's famous monuments, but seems like a small sideshow when experienced next to the pyramids. While I was wandering alongside the Sphinx a tour group leader was talking to her group attempting to dispel the myth that the Sphinx's nose was shot off under orders from Napoleon. According to her the blame lies with an Islamic zealot from centuries ago who defaced the Sphinx for religious reasons.

1—The Taj Mahal [in Agra, India]. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is beyond description, especially on a sunny morning with a little dew from the nearby river. A mausoleum, on the banks of the Yamuna River; it took 22-years to build, and 20,000 laborers. The riverfront is most inspiring. And the Town of Agra is worth a visit. There of course is a love story behind this monument, and you will have to seek it out if it interests you. If all I had seen was the Taj Mahal, on my trip to India, it would have been worth the long voyage. [*l997]

2—Giza, or more important, the pyramids of Egypt. We often only see three, but there are four worth ones noticing; the pyramid of Djoser, the oldest of the four pyramids, a stepped pyramid; in the sense of, one layer built over the other. This is northwest, and in the Saqqara site; I personally liked the tomb or pyramid of Cheops, north of Memphis on the plateau of Giza; among the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Sphinx gives the pyramids their mysticism, and even magic I do believe. One could not claim its famous status without the other. [*l998]

3—Borobudur (Largest Buddhist temple in the world ((built 760 AD): of Central Java; made of dark volcanic stone, on a natural mound.This site has square and circular terraces, and a top Stupa. It is almost magical. It stands almost 150-feet high, and its square base is 373 feet each side. Designed by Gunadharma; it does have a calming atmosphere, even more so than the Tor of Glastonbury [or Avalon]. Very few places in the world have this calm effect I do believe; Mary's house on the hill of Ephesus has, along with a few other locations throughout the world. [*1999]

4—Easter Island [land of the Moai]; the whole island is an outdoor museum. Many things happened when I arrived on this little island in the Pacific. A spirit filled Island if I had ever seen one. Much more than Maui, or even Malta; it is considered the most isolated island in the world. Some of the statues on the island go from 9-tons to 90-tons. And you have a few craters on the island to venture to; but Rapa Nui, the original name for Easter Island, has some 600-statues to look over so rent a jeep. Some of the statues are up to 33-feet tall. They are all about the island. The dogs run free and the horses run free and so do the spirits; and so did I, on this island, annexed by Chile. [*2002]

5—The Great Wall of China. The wall is some 4000-miles long over mountains, deserts and plains. I walked up and along its great walls outside of Beijing, feeling its ancient touch of empire. It was built to keep the barbarians out, some sections date back to 221 BC. Even Genghis Khan crossed over these walls, in 1211 AD. The Ming emperors rebuilt the wall on a larger scale in the 1400s. I loved seeing the Great Walls of Troy, but these took my breath away, they go and go and seem never to stop. Matter-of-fact, it can be seen from outer space. [1996]

6—The Acropolis of Athens; in particular the Parthenon; if I go back to Greece, I would like to see Crete, and Knossos, I've left so many places out, I'll never get to them; but I've seen the best of the best; and the Acropolis is the best. After reading Mary Renault's entire book on Greece—for she was my inspiration to go, I went. And each morning I'd walk down by the Acropolis, eat in a local café, and gaze at the beauty of the Acropolis on the hill. This site dates back 5000-years as far as being inhabited; with its many temples, and a fine museum right on location. [*1995]

7—Macchu Picchu [the Lost City] there is so much to say about this site, one does not know where to start. This is perhaps the last ancient remains of the Inca civilization of the Andes. There are many dates put on this site, and if one looks it over, you have stones from three different periods I believe, dating back to 2500 BC, to 1250 BC, to the 1400s [AD]; the town of Cuzco remains above it, and a beautiful city it is. Macchu Picchu is 70-miles north of Cuzco, at a height of 9,000 feet; most people do not know, Cuzco, the town is higher, 12,000-feet, so bring something to help you adjusting to its height. I suggest oxygen; or see if a hotel has it there. [*l999]

8—The gladiator's famous home: The Colosseum of Rome. Where gladiatorial played the death game with wild animal hunts; this is the biggest of the Roman amphitheaters. Quite the complex system, with underground passages; you got to go across the street up to a small park, look through the fence to get a good, full picture of it. Or I suppose you could just walk down the street and get all the traffic and other buildings in the picture to. I got to go back and see Pompeii now, a site I've longed to see, but I had to see this first. And you can't help just gazing at it as you walk here and there, it is Rome to me. [*l997]

9—Stonehenge—a few miles from Salisbury, megalith stone giants you could call these earthworks here, or heel stones. This stone circle dates to about 2500—3000 BC. It reminds me of Mystery Hill, in New Hampshire, also called, the Stonehenge of America; but of course, has a more powerful appearance. I get the same haunting feelings from here, as I got from Gaza. As if they were fraternal twins. They are said to come from the same time period. Something tells me both the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge, and even and Mystery Hill, all belong to a later time. If only you could touch it [the stones at Stonehenge], it was fenced off when I was there, but I've heard lately, they were taking the fence down; about time; it takes 90% of its magic away. Everyone suffers because of the destructive habits of a few. I went nonetheless, and have to live with 10% of its magic, good enough. [*l998]

10—Angkor Vat [Palaces of the Gods]. Another giant complex: you have within this area, Phnom Bakheng, Angkor Thom [the great city of the Jayavaman VII, inspired by a great Hindu myth], Bayon, Ta Prohm [where trees grow around the ruins, as if they are hugging them]; Ta Som, etcetera. It is a masterpiece of Khmer art and brilliance in building. Surrounded by a huge trench; Angkor Vat, is also spelled Angkor Wat. The food in Cambodia is great, and the people kind. Stick with a guide though. While in Cambodia, I got to go on/in the Mekong River, which was a delight to see, and its fishermen with their nets, and so forth. [2000]