With the 30-nation World Cup 2018 soon to be contested in Russia, David Bowden takes a look at each country as a possible travel destination for Malaysians
EGYPT is a land of great antiquities, a fertile river valley and shifting sands. It is at the crossroads of the Middle East and Africa and combines adventure and Red Sea coastal resorts with archaeology. The country is strategically located with the Suez Canal, enabling sea connections between the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean Sea.
Its history has borrowed a little from each invading conqueror, from the Nubians to the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Ottoman Turks. Travel here to admire mummies, hieroglyphs and massive sculptures.
The fertile Nile River (flowing from the Ethiopian Highlands and the Great African Lakes) gave birth to the world’s first powerful civilisation along its fertile banks andflood plain.
The Egyptians invented writingand, a dynasty of Pharaohs erected the first stone monuments such as the Great Pyramids of Giza. Pharaoh Khufa built these some 4,400 years ago using two million stone blocks (each weighing two tonnes) to serve as his tomb. Located near the Sphinx, it became the world’s first major tourist attraction.
Agatha Christie’s novel, Death on the Nile, added another layer of intrigue while, the Arab Spring of 2011 took its toll on tourism. However, with so many antiquities, tourism will always be strong inEgypt.
TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS
The capital Cairoisa city of 1,000 minarets. Located equidistant between the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Suez, the Cairo Museum is a star attraction. Its Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar dates back to 1382 and is lively with 900 shops selling glassware, brassware, perfume and jewellery. Here, the Street of Tentmakers offers a market within amarketandpossibly thelast medi-evalcovered marketwhere tentmakers still make ornate tents.
The Great Pyramid Complex at Giza (4,500 years old) is just 13km southwest of Cairo.
Many visitors fly to Luxor, an open-air museum on theedgeoftheSahara Desert, 650km south of Giza where the Valley of Kings (and Queens) is located. Nearby, the Kanak Temple in Thebes is protected by Unesco while Tutankhamen’s mummy, Setil, and the great Ramses II are essential sites to visit.
Admire the Avenue of Sphinxes, which is being excavated and restored (2.5km long with 1,200 sphinxes). Stay in the Old Win-ter Palace Hotel, visit Luxor Museum, and admire the skills of dervish dancers plus the gyrations of belly dancers.
Diving and resorts line the Red Sea and placeslike Basata on the Gulf of Aqaba near Nuweiba offer bamboo huts and villas on the beach. Guests enjoy coral reefs and blue waters. Resorts dominate the coast around Sharm El-Sheikh.
HIDDEN TOURISM GEMS
Head off on an extended Nile River cruise to or from Aswan. While ancient feluccas are one way to travel, most choose the luxury of a river cruiser. Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt.
Lake Nassar is a 230km flight from Aswan and it is here that relocated treasures from when the dam was constructed can be seen.
CULINARY DELIGHTS
Vegetarians will especially enjoy Egyptian food with meze including salads, pasta and hummus. Spiceslike cumin, coriander, cardamom, chilli, aniseed, ginger, mint and cloves are used. Stews, soups andgrills are prepared while cheeses and breads (pita) are common.
Mashed fava beans, ful medames, kushari (lentils, rice and pasta), molokhiya, falafel, and couscous are popular. Alexandria is famous for its seafood while chicken, rabbit, lamb and duck are eaten. Enjoy desserts made from semolina, nuts, dates, mangoes and pistachios. Herbal tea, coffee (Turkish style), beer and even locally made wines are consumed.
FAST FACTS
COUNTRY: Egypt
POPULATION: 97 million
CAPITAL: Cairo
AREA: 1.01 million km2 (Malaysia is 330,803 km2)
LANGUAGE: Arabic
The Competition Egypt is in Group A of the World Cup against Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.