A quiet afternoon in Suresnes...

i was in front of a blank page on my computer screen, thinking what i should write. again, i ended up writing on my physical journal in the past few weeks. i guess i'd never be quite accustomed to blogging as much as i would like to.

[2]wo weeks was how long i have settled in Suresnes, a western suberb of Paris with a nice family of a friends of mine i met in Bangkok. it's amusing to think what could have happened, as once debated, if i decided to make my way here last year, the year when most students would decide to go on an exchange program. it 'd have been different from the beginning; from flat-hunting, meeting the first few people, and having the first few close friends. i doubt if i'd ever meet those encounters or get to see where i might have ended staying.

this is yet my final year and i have been kindly destined to be with this nice family in a nice neighborhood, and with whom I would unfortunately get to conveniently converse in english with. i haven't met many people of my age apart from my 'buddy' (thoughtfully stipulated and paired by the university) whom i have hung out with for a couple of times and who has been truly hospitable, and two other fellow-exchange students from the same university I came from. after sorting out my new life and witnessing Paris and some of its magnificent particles, I feel quite ready for the new semester.

luckily, the school this year has put an extra effort to welcoming exchange students. 'buddy program' was a case in point while a few other organizations were established to help to facilitate new comers. i also signed up for 'welcome program' which will be held for a week prior to the first semester, where students will be "doubly" welcome, informed all the know-hows about the school and paris in general, taught the language and "french methodology", and essentially shown how to party like Parisians! that was at least what i read off from a booklet anyway.

meeting new people would be what i'm looking forward to the most. it is even so because i can't think of one school that hosts more incoming exchange students with as many nationals as Sciences Po. thank the system for turning all of its third year pupils into out-going exchange students somewhere outside the country and leaving some room for all of us. the number in fact has no significance to me whatsoever; i would rather end up having a few good friends than a hundred friends-for-granted.

sometimes things are meant to be kept private - probably why i'd not ended on this site too frequently. but here we are, a story to tell from a blank page a while ago.

Out out and about in Cairo

Recorded: 8 Aug 2010

I ended up going to the famous Giza pyramids with Sunny, a Belgian Couch Surfer I was sharing the same host with. The driver who drove Sunny from the airport to Ketty’s place turned out to be our chauffer for the day. 6 hours were spent incessantly, yet exhilaratingly. Despite my initial intention to travel alone, I was glad in a way that Sunny - as the name suggested – made the trip even more luminous notwithstanding the heat of the dessert.

It didn’t disappoint me a wee bit. It was such a wonder to have witnessed and felt this ancient splendor. I only imagined these colossals being in a friendlier weather. But looking at it, I couldn’t bargain for more. 20 minutes away, we found the first pyramid of humanity, Saqqara, or mostly known as the step pyramid (of King Djoser). I was even more enthralled when we went underneath many other pyramids in the immediate vicinity to have a good look at the remains of what once the tombs. Some walls looked aged with beautiful relief carvings while others were embellished with the ancient hieroglyphics that drew profound stories. I only wish I understood some of them. I felt at peace despite having to crawl in a small and dark passageway to see one of the tombs. They simply took my breath away!

We arrived home around 4 p.m. as planned and had some relaxing hours before we headed to downtown to meet a fair number of locals, most of whom are Couch Surfing members and other travelers. The night was spent care-freely and I got the chance to taste the famous local drinks, a succulent mango juice and tea. Oh and I topped the night with 2 Egyptian pound shisha! My night was going minty!

First day in Cairo - doubt

I found my first day in Cairo very much flavored. After having lodged at Ketty's place, an amicable Belgian woman who has become my first host on Couch Surfing, and who was also welcoming another Couch Surfer from Belgium, I, despite an immediate jet lag, decided to begin my journey to a bustling downtown Cairo. I decided, though, that I visit the Old Cairo or Coptic on my way to the city. There, I went into an old church called St. Georges and had some local tea with the locals afterwards. While strolling, I found that many locals enjoyed having their pictures taken, especially the young ones. I ended up taking loads of pictures just of them. Just next to the church stood the mosque named Amr Ibn Al- Aas soon as I walked in my hands instinctively did their job of snapping the scene. I sat down and had a quiet hour for myself. I was at peace just to be able to listen to those chants from the old Quran-an scripture.

It was 3 p.m. when I took a metro to downtown Tahrir Square and rushed myself into Egyptian Museum to Sadat station where I'd gotten off. With the International Student ID (ISIC) (I made one on Khaosan Road), I ended up paying half of what I was supposed to pay without (60 Egyptian Pounds, L.E.), which I was very much happy about. In it, I was amazed to have seen those ancient artifacts and evidences left from the civilization. Had I be more passionate about archeology, I reckoned a more pleasant visit. I nonetheless left the place with a heap of wonders on my shoulder and a deep appreciation, especially after having decided to pay extra (60 L.E.) to see those mummified bodies of the kings (i.e. Ramses II) and queens (i.e. Hatshepsut) as far back as 2,000 years ago. The bodies were amazingly intact and to have starred at those temples face-to-face in a foot-long distance, I was totally in awe.

I left the museum 3 hours later to get a taxi to Khan el Khalili the world's oldest/famous open air market that still remains unchanged since the 14th century, I was without my knowledge, however, about to be trapped by an apparently friendly taxi-driver. He marched his way through Cairo's typical congested street and offered me a cheap ride. He told me he'd take me to the Giza Pyramids since the market wasn't quite yet at its best hours to visit. On he told that I could ride a camel around and see the sunset by the pyramids and bring me back to downtown - all for 30 (L.E.). He seemed unquestionably nice however and I was gullible enough to buy his hoax. Once on the way, I started to feel apprehensive after pretending to ask for his number in case I would use his service in the future. I tricked him into saying I didn't get the number right. In turn, he gave me a different set of numbers that I for once caught he was just making it up. I was still on a mobile and my instinct told me I was no longer on a safe ride. Again, I tricked him into saying that I had a back pain, which I in fact did, and that I needed to get out of the vehicle for a stretch. I thought I would get away with this trap swiftly. Unfortunately, as I flagged a new taxi on the roadside, he jumped right out of his seat and started abominating me into words and turned into a different person; a brother to enemy. Worst yet, he started demanding me for more money and tugged some 70 L.E off of my wallet and left dissatisfied. What a ride!

I though to myself after the day (after having gone back to the market which was just fantastic): what if I didn't get out of that taxi and let him take me to where he said he would. I didn't trust him wholeheartedly as I learned more about his ploy (I thought that at least), but rather I told myself to take this 'leap of faith'. It could be just another tourist trap and I might have enjoyed the ride. Or it could have turned out truly unpleasant. What would have happened if I didn't cheat the destiny? What would have happened if I didn't have this doubt at all?

In the end, I was glad all this happened. One truth I know for fact however is that I never drank as much water as I did here; 5 liters at least in the first day. I just felt I have absorbed Cairo it all in... in o n e s i n g l e d a y.

The Inception (not by Christopher Nolan)

I had the thought of creating a travel blog in the past few weeks prior to my trip to Egypt. I've been journaling my stories, reflections, insights, epiphanies, revelations, nonsense reviews, and what not on my personal papered journal for a good while. But I thought traveling, which could be ample of intensity and insights, could be worth sharing as I personally am driven by Into the Wild's final bite: "happiness is only real when shared." And without a lengthy prologue, I shall have my first story documented. :]