Band in a Box

This last weekend as part of the Humanities course I'm taking I needed to watch and evaluate a live band... this was a small problem to me since we've never gone "clubbing" here in Cairo and we don't (ok until there, didn't) have a clue as to the nightlife here... but a good friend gave me a tip on "After Eight" in downtown Cairo as a possible venue for my homework. I made a reservation (table 6) and we got there about 15 minutes before the band (Skin Deep) went on stage. Now as you can see... the band is playing in a box... literally. It actually looks like the place had a small garage and they closed the car doors and knocked the wall down on the restaurant side and put up some curtains and ... whala... you have a "band in a box" stage. All in all they were pretty good. The only drawl back was all the cigarette smoke... it seemed like everyone except the waiters were smoking... will we be back? Ah... I'm not too sure about that one... but it was a good experience... and I did get enough material to complete my homework.

Rain?

Are those rain clouds in Cairo? Well... yes they were. I know where you're at in the world rain isn't a big deal... but here in the Middle East, when it rains... it's like snow in Georgia... or maybe an ice storm in the Northeast... and everything gets a little out of whack here.. but more unusual is the fact that it rained... in October!

The nice thing about todays rain? It smelt good, like a spring rain back home. Funny the smells you can miss. Next time it rains (before the snow comes), go out and just enjoy watching the provision of our Creator as He takes care of His creation... enjoy the rain.

4 Day Weekend / Can You See The Difference

We went camping in the desert during the recent Eid holiday. Ok... we stopped at these Roman ruins close to the lake in Fayoum... and just to give you an idea of how high these walls were... you can open the pick on the right (ok... maybe it's on the bottom now...) and see the "speck" there (5 ft 6) ... just to give the wall height some perspective. I'm gonna' guess the walls were about 40 ft high. It's really amazing that this place was made out of mud bricks... and the Roman's haven't been in Egypt for quite some time now... right in front of this old outpost is part of a Roman road... of course it looks like it goes straight to the lake.

Fresh Driven Sand

Cone Shells Too

It's crazy to see thousands upon thousands of these cone shells in the area that we camped in.

Possible Christmas Card ...

Looking up the hill from the coral (below shot) you can see the "crocodile house" on the right and a nice plateau on the left... this was Sandra and Carmen's first time to the "real" desert... and it was a one night camping trip to boot :-)

Ah yes, a chance to leave the noise of the city for a day... breath some air that wasn't filled with exhaust... and maybe even see some stars...

Where's The Water ?

The desert here is a very interesting place... you see shells everywhere... like here we came across this scattering of what appears to be petrified coral. Simply amazing. Then there are clams and oyster shells all over the place too.

Humanities Homework ... Coptic Museum

Visit a museum and write about two paintings. I went to the Coptic Cairo Museum again, but this time I actually looked at the art work with a purpose... instead of just to say... oh yeah, I've been there. I choose a wall painting of Jesus with two angels from the 6th/7th century found in the Monastery of Saint Jeremiah in Saqqara. My second pic was of Michael the Archangel holding a staff and a balance scale. This one was painted in the 18th century so not quite as old as the first.

When it was time to catch the train back home, I gave the ticket guy a 20 pound note to buy my one pound ticket... but he didn't have change. He just gave me a 10 and 2 fives. So I was thinking, oh, I see, I have to go and find my own change. My first thought was to go and find change... or maybe to go back to the guard I had tipped 2 LE to and ask for pound back so I wouldn't have to hassle with the change issue... but that was just a fleeting thought really. But then the thought came to me to buy 5 tickets... and bless those around that needed a ticket. The ticket guy didn't seem to keen on the idea of me buying 5 tickets ... but the old lady standing there waiting for him to get change so she could get a ticket like it... and another old lady that didn't have a ticket to get out from riding the train was happy to get a ticket... then a guy buying a ticket for himself and his wife thought I was crazy... trying to GIVE him a ticket... without him needing to pay anything for it, he did finally take the 2 tickets. That was so cool... God provided an opportunity to bless some people with free rides.

Recognize This ??

Of course you do... if you're really not sure... click "older posts" to see the answer...

Some Things Are Universal

Well... they're the same except for the addition of the Mc Arabia Grilled Kofta... and if you want, you can get any of your burgers on pita bread instead of the regular bun... I have to say the fries are better here... because they're still allowed to salt them without you having to ask for salt :-)

Is This Elijah's Tree?

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. (1 Kings 19:3-7)

Every time we're out in the desert driving and I see one of these trees... in the middle of no where... I can't help but to think of Elijah. Is this a "broom tree"? I haven't a clue really... but to me just seeing this tree makes me think of Elijah. It is amazing though all the amazing things God had done through Elijah (the profits of Baal and the drought and prayer for rain were just a few of them) before getting to this tree in the middle of no where... he had been on a super spiritual high that followed by this super spiritual low. Ups and downs... sounds like my life... what about yours? What's so cool though is God's faithfulness in all circumstances.

Even here in the middle of no where the Lord fed him. I know it's so easy to get to the "middle of no where" in our society with all the distractions we have ... tv, phones, ipods, work... the list really is endless... our enemy would like nothing more than for us to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years... I think Psalm 139:1-7 is a real source of encouragement ...

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in - behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

Time Never Stops Does It

Where in the world have I been these last few weeks? Here in Egypt that's true... but not here on the site ... oh... you noticed? Sorry...

It's funny, work is slowing down... which is great... but now taking 2 courses online that both started 1 Oct... and that's great ... but the Humanities course instructor is really challenging me to be actively engaged in his curriculum... Call me silly... but I expected Hum 1000 to be a "cake walk" but ... oh boy... reality check for me... so... with a new set of courses starting and then our going to Sharm this last weekend... I've found myself continually behind in reading and posting discussion questions... and well... just keeping up with everything else has led to my absence.

Now with the trip to Sharm it's interesting the things you see on the 500km trip... this was one of those ... goats running between the traffic ... It was also amazing the number of cars we saw sitting or abandoned on the road from serious accidents.

The beach in Sharm was pretty nice... but we've come to two conclusions.... 500km is a long way to go just for 1 full day at the beach... and 2, some of the foreigners that come there on vacation from other countries just make it hard to enjoy the beach in a family setting... maybe we're going to have to start looking for some other places to go for some time on the beach.