keef hallak

so, i'm a neglectful blogger, as it's been almost a month and i haven't added anything...i still don't have any means of adding photos (we really take good internet for granted!), but i can give a little update on what i've been up to.

since leaving aqaba, we sailed to nuweiba, chilled out on the sinai peninsula for a few weeks, diving, climbing lots, drinking beer...then on to cairo, city of contrasts. from the (surprisingly) peaceful carpet bazaar to the chokingly scented air of the spice souqs to the grubby local tea and shisha cafes to the tips of minarets, we went everywhere. had a few adventures, most notably evading an insane cabbie by running down the highway as he tried to reverse back to get us, then ending up in the real slums of cairo hiding in a garbage-filled underpass...but most people we've met have been incredibly friendly and relaxed. even as a woman, i've found people to be respectful and haven't had any problems. luxor was a bit of an overwhelmingly touristic city, if only because they have some of the best monuments of ancient egypt. that being said, we're a bit touristed out, so here in aswan we're soaking up the local culture, which means back alley falafel and shisha joints and shai with the locals. and maybe a felucca ride a bit later.

we're catching the ferry from aswan to wadi halfa in the sudan tomorrow. then we're driving the desert route to khartoum, past station 6. it will take 3 long driving days, assuming we don't get stuck in the sand too long (but we're strong climbers with shovels so hopefully it'll be okay). there will be no people, nothing, on this route. an experience in isolation, most definitely. then a few more days in sudan before ethiopia. i've heard nothing but great things about the people of sudan, i think it's going to be a pretty unique opportunity to travel to sudan, it's not something that is easy to do. this country has struggled so long with conflicts in the south with the SPLM/A rebel group and now the darfur conflict that despite several ceasefire agreements is still far from being mended.

i'll try to put up some photos in the near future...