[Bonus post from Yanmei.]
Until now, David and I have traveled 45 days and went to Hawaii, Taiwan, China, Korea, and Egypt. During the one and half month trip, today is another bad day I feel.
The first day was in a morning of Tainan, Taiwan. Living in a place with no kitchen and dark(first floor), it was raining heavily outside and no drinking water, no kitchen, and no umbrella inside room. I felt so frustrated and regretted I did not look at their on line description carefully. The worst feeling came to me after I found all other destinations would rain, rain, and continue to rain for one week. Our plan of travel around the Taiwan Island had to stop. What a waste of time and energy! Super frustrated!
Today is the second day that I feel very bad. This morning, we got up early in order to catch up the 7am train to Luxor. I took a picture of the beautiful view from our balcony. David wants to go to Luxor earlier, and even though I wanted to visit the museum, dam, or have a boat tour in the beautiful Hotel area, I agreed to leave.
No wonder no one suggested us to take the train, even if it was first class, it was absolutely dirty! The seat's cloth covers must have not been washed for at least one year, the window was big but full of dust and dirt. The bathroom, you do not want to see it. David told me he would not drink water as he smell some terrible from the bathroom. After sitting on the seat awhile, I started feel itchy of my arm and back. Hope there were no fleas there.
Every choice has the bad side and the good side. I took several great pictures of local people inside the train and at some small train stations passed by. And I saw the beautiful countryside life of local people. Many people use donkeys as transportation. I saw more than 10 donkeys rode by people with plants through the window. Banana trees, corn, mangoes, Nile river, fields, horse wagons….Three and half hour was fast and we arrived Luxor station. I thought everything bad passed, but NO! It just started.
Yesterday, we asked the hotel information desk about how far from Luxor train station to Hilton Hotel, should we ask hotel arrange a taxi for us. The guy told us it's not necessary just need to take a car only 20-30 Egypt pounds and it is a very safe area.
When we just got out of train, a guy told us in English the exit was that way. We said thanks to him and he asked us to take his taxi and I refused and told him do not follow us. However, he did not listen and even called another younger guy follow us as well. I told him again, I want to find a taxi myself, do not follow us. However, they followed us anyway. Then we went out and I found a taxi I like and was about to talk with the driver and open the door. These 2 guys and another younger guys quickly moved towards the car and yelling something at us. David said to me “what are you doing? Just sit into their car.” ” I just want to find a taxi I like and I do not trust that guy.” I thought I had the right to chose a car I like. However I was wrong. I guess they would not allow another car to leave if we sit in the car. It was scary, I wonder if I sit into the car they would hit the window or beat the driver.
Looking at the tense situation I caused, I realized this is Egypt and I gave up. I sat in the car with anger and fear. Ridiculously, the “tourist hunter”, the old guy who is not a driver but he sit into our car beside the driver and will go to Hilton Hotel with us. What he is going to do? I asked him to leave and he refused. He introduced himself and asked our nationalities and wants to help us to arrange our trip in Luxor and even shook hands with David. I guess David was about agree with him and said we would think about it and just leave the phone number for us. [David: I was never going to agree, I was just pretending to be interested until we got to the hotel.] We already had been hunted and had a bad tours from Cairo airport. No more, “We will think about it.” We will not pay now. One lesson is enough.
Feeling very itchy, I had a shower right away when we arrived in our room. I felt better but still itchy even now I am writing my diary. After the shower, we went to a hotel restaurant to eat some food. Unfortunately, the only Asian restaurant is closed at lunch time and we went to another one. After ordering, another guy came to us and asked us to move to upstairs, then I found 2 died flies or moths on the table. Then I looked at the table, it's dusty! I used the napkin moved through the chair arm, the napkin had a big dirt mark on it. I asked a guy to move back to downstairs. David must think I was trying to find troubles, but I told him, I am starving and just want to find a clean table to eat some clean food. I know he has the personality of being nice to others, I do not. I worked in 5 star hotel before, I know how an international hotel are supposed to be, especial Hilton is international, they would know. David was reluctant to ask for moving, I just left and went back to downstairs room myself. I found it is much cleaner and I messaged David and asked him to come back. Then, I found the kitchen and told the guy to bring food to downstairs instead of upstairs. After a while, David walked to the downstairs room. Food came and the pasta was good but with a very small portion, I was not full at all. I would just eat more plain bread. The waiters asked me if it is ok to cook more. I guess they would charge us more money! I said no. Then they said they would not charge more money, who trust them? Also I felt the pasta was not as fresh as bread, just have bread then. Looking around the hotel, few tourists here. What's wrong? Although it is a low season, should not be this low. [Yanmei: Later I realized, the specialty of the hotel is cooking less for you first, if you are not full, they would cook or bring you more, without paying more money].
No wonder local people are crazy about asking tips and money, tourists are so few! They would not care about the image or reputation of their country, they just want money right away without thinking about anything else. Feeling so bad, coming to a …country and met …people.
In the afternoon, David went on a tour to somewhere, I just stayed in hotel room and washed my dirty clothes and had a rest.
In the evening, David came back. As we think the outside restaurants might be not clean, we decided to have a dinner in the hotel. We went to the Asian restaurant, I ordered wok fried vegetables and steamed rice. Omg! What they brought to me, a small plate of steamed veggies with some salty sauce, I could not see any oil in the dish. Why did they call it “fried”? How did they fry it without oil? But they were nice to bring a second plate of veggies and bowl of ice. What I can say? I should appreciate it, at least I am full but not hungry this time.
I felt this was a bad day as I was itchy and hungry nearly the whole day and traumatized by the scene in front of the train station. 🙁
-Yanmei
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