Some years ago, I sold off all of my real estate and used the profits to go on my life long dream of traveling clear around the world.
First stop was Japan then on to Korea, Hong Kong and The Philippines. A friend of mine in The Philippines talked me into taking up residence in the P.I. I lived there for 7 years until I got "itchy feet' again.
After touring Indonesia and Thailand, I booked passage to Egypt.
When I travel, I never book a tour group. I absolutely hate feeling like a sheep in a flock, being herded about according to THEIR schedule. So, from Bangkok, I booked a hotel within sight of The Giza Plateau and the Great Pyramids.
Upon arriving at the hotel, I was delighted that I could clearly see The Pyramids. I spent the 1st 2 days crawling around the pyramids and on the 2nd day I bought another required separate ticket to go inside The Great Pyramid of Khufu. Inside, the air was rather close but I pushed on upward until I was finally stand in the Kings Chamber.
Next stop was the old Museum of Antiquities in downtown Cairo. I quickly discovered that one day was no where near enough time and I returned for a 2nd day.
After that I booked a taxi service for one day, to drive me to Saquarra and Memphis and The Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. Dare taxi driver wanted me to stop at numerous hieroglyphic "museums". Ha. Just another rip off place. finally I had to put my foot down and tell him that he would go where I wanted and no where else.
I started to go down the tunnel deep into the Red Pyramid BUT it was too tight for me and I quickly returned to the surface.
After several days of wandering about Cairo, I decided to go to Aswan and then I booked a river boat hotel to take me down river to Luxor. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the food was fantastic. the beef was fork tender and the home-made bread wonderful. (of course there was no pork).
I don't drink alcohol, so I don't recall if they served alcoholic drinks.
Oh, by the way, I had intended on pressing further south to see Abu Simbal BUT bandits were about and the military strongly advised that tourists wait until a military caravan could be organized. So, I missed going to Abu Simbal.
several stops along the way to Luxor. The highlight of my entire trip was spending my 61st birthday in Karnak. while in Luxor I hired another taxi driver to take me to The Valley of The Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Only allowed to go inside 3 tombs /day. Many tombs closed to the general public. I had heard that Condolezza Rice was (George Bush's National security advisor) allowed to go anywhere she chose. So she got to see what I was denied.
Oh, PS: while in Luxor while riding in my hired taxi, it started to rain. The taxi driver was over-awed. in his entire life he had never seen rain.
Well, that's my journey clear around the world. I left out a lot but I loved every minute of it
