Sakkara Pyramids Pics

You too can experience the Pyramids of Egypt....
Cut and paste into browser:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jennifer.kimj/PyramidsAtSakkara?authkey=yjVGquBytQc

In the words of Ice Cube...

t'day was a good day...tried to hit the "Africa Live" worship service at the community church in Maadi (30 minutes away), but missed it because the following occurred: hailed a yellow taxi from my hotel, which is recommended because they have A/C, speak enough English and they're metered, meaning the driver can't jack the price up. This is usually what the black & white local taxis do (usually no A/C, no english, really busted up car). So, we're truckin down the usual long stretch of highway, then the guy takes an unfamiliar exit...i'm thinking, "uh...can't read Arabic, but this is not the right exit", once we get off the exit ramp landscape is all desert with huge condo developments (kinda live NoVa, but not) - it was a bit twilight zone-ish. Then we hit a wall of brake lights. Creeping up, honking, sirens behind us, get up on the scene and one of those gravel trucks turned over and gravel all across the highway!!! Detour. Tour bus in front of us, we're flanked by a 750Li and two black&white taxis, everyone's honking like UMd just won a Bowl game. Tour bus can't maneuver around a boulder sitting in the middle of the detour. Bus passengers file out to roll the boulder aside. Success! Traffic begins to move. By this time 30 minutes has passed, I ask: "how much longer?" Driver replies: "10 minutes" - Keep in mind this journey should only take 30 minutes and cost 25 Egyptian pounds (LE). At this point the meter reads 35.45LE. 10 minutes pass, still not at church, 20 minutes pass still not at church, etc...Get to church way too late and had to pay 50LE!!! Not happy. But...what made it a good day was that I spent the rest of the day chilln out with the Korean International student I met last weekend at church at a coffee shop, then ate a big bowl of dol sot bi bim bap (Michael Jackson's favorite Korean food) at GAYA, a popular Korean restaurant. Good convo, good food, and made it safely back to my hotel in a black&white taxi for 30LE. Tomorrow: going to explore the Pyramids in Giza and the Sphinx.

Bling

So, I never understood the fascination with diamonds. Yes, they're beautiful. Yes, they're the hardest natural material (whoopdeedoo). Yes, they're one of the most envied jewels, if not the most. Yes, they possess incomparable aesthetic qualities in any form or fashion. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (in a French accent)...But, none of these characteristics really resonated with me to the point that I would day dream or marvel at a Diamond. I think the monetary value I associate with a diamond depending on its size is what really awes me; not the actual jewel. However, recently, my perspective has changed. Before I left for Cairo, my sister gave me a diamond band as a daily reminder of her love and support - i know very sweet (thanks, Big Kahuna!) Surprisingly, whenever I look down at my hand, the lil' ring sparkles with all its might, and projects a huge dazzling smile at me and that in turn makes me smile. Sometimes, I just sit there and stare at the lil' ring; yes, b/c it reminds me of my sister and family, but moreso, just the undeniable BLING that smiles at me throughout the day. I can only imagine the joy a bigger and more BLINGY diamond would bring me. Yes, this all sounds very superficial - I'd have to agree. But, I've realized the value of a quality diamond, or diamonds (plural!!!). Think what you may about me now, but hey, try on a diamond ring, earrings, necklace, grill...I'm sure you'll see my point. Just a thought i wanted to share... (Holla to the Hot Boyz...BLING BLING!)

A close call...

So, i went to a cycling class today thinking it would be better than the "kickboxing" class i took last week. I mean, really, how could a cycling class be mucked up? So, after eating a kabob from Fatoosh (lebanese fast food) and doing a few hours of work, i gear up to join the cycling class offered at the hotel gym. So, I'm feeling all pumped up by my Jammie Jam mix on my nano and I enter the class. There's one lady, already on a bike. No instructor yet. I stretch and get on the bike to warm up. Instructor shows up 15 minutes late. We begin...of course, to some house/trance (E, couldn't decipher between the two.), which I believe is the national genre of music. Hamees, that's the Instructor, is cut, tall, good english and everything; unfortunately, i don't think he's ever rode on a cycling bike for more than 20 minutes consecutively. Enter big fat Greek man <>. He takes the last bike between me and the lady. So, we're riding, riding, faster, slower, up, down, push ups (yes, on the bike), up, down...etc. (Hamees looks like he's about to die; keeps getting off the bike to mess around with the music.) Then ...i hear a rumble, rumble; unfortunately, Slick Rick is not playing and there's no mirror, mirror on the wall, it's my stomach...dun, dun, DUN! I ease off pedaling, stretch my arms out casually, proceed to go in the crouching position, as if I'm trying to pick up speed. I'm sweating, although, i don't think it was from the cycling. Can't ...hold...much ...longer....trying all sorts of things to alleviate the stressful situation. Breathing, crouching, ...(the Greek man stank is not helping at this point). Rumble, rumble...and then, i did what anyone would do...i dismounted, penguin stepped to retrieve my things, then penguin stepped quickly to the exit (mind you there's only four ppl in the class, including myself) and didn't look back...phew! what a frickin workout!

New Pics & Videos

Ok, because i'm completely incompetent when it comes to technology and the like, i can't figure out how to post pics and videos within my blog postings; hence, the absence of pics and videos... I did, however, find a way to imbed a link to my pics and videos...hope it works! http://picasaweb.google.com/jennifer.kimj/Egypt?authkey=yoa4mDxy2P4