Nubian Pyramids

Today we drove over to the Nubian Pyramids, build in the 3rd century BC. That's before the Egyptian pyramids were built. They are about 2 hours drive North of Khartoum, along the Nile. It was such a cool trip; here are some pics:

We took one of our 4X4's to get there. Can't get there without one.

On the way there we came across some "mountains" of black rocks that looked like they were put on top of each other. Really cool.

A typical house in the Sudanese country side. This one has been abandoned, but is still in decent shape. The middle coloumns hold up a roof, usually made of palm leaves. It is totally opened in the front, and that is where they sleep. For some reason, the chosen color for the doors is a beautiful baby blue. The house is actually built of dried mud from the ground underneath it. With heavy rain, it may melt back into the ground, depending on how well it's built. But they never last through a complete rainy season, so they have to be rebuild every year. Nothing to loose but time (which is abundant in this part of the world). Even the land it is built on doesn't really belong to anyone. Here is how it works: you find a land you like. Spill water on it so you make mud to build your home. Live in it for a year. Repeat. So while the US have their trailer homes, the Sudanese have their "Just add water" homes.

And this is how the back yard looks. Pretty spacious, hey. Plenty of room for the kids to play.

This is a pyramid next to me. If you look closely (at the pyramid) you will see the pharoah like drawing. Really cool!

This is one of my favourites. Asfar the camel was my transportation. He was a grumpy old bastard, but we got along fine. We had conversations and all. He's cool.

And of course, the pyramids. There are about 50 of them, all various sizes and all with their entrance facing West.

Will I go again? Sure! Especially to see Asfar again.

The Landmark

This is a true story about a very reliable donkey. In a land where reliability is a little more than a distant dream you learn to appreciate consistency and reliability. While taking directions to a colleague's home, he instructed me to take Road 60 (see my post about that) heading South, past the big Mosque, then past the new electircal posts. And I am to take a left hand turn on the dirt road where the white donkey is! My laughs were met with serious looks, across the board. They were dead serious. When I get to the white donkey, I am to take that left. Second building to the right.

I didn't know where to begin my redicule, but my colleague's experience taught him to preempt my reaction, and told me "Look, just do as I say. When you see the white donkey turn left."

That was one for the laughs, I thought. This place hasn't failed to amuse me in the past. Why should it stop now? So off I went on Street 60, South past the Mosque, past the new electrical posts. And sure enough! There he was! The white donkey, patiently standing there on the side of the road. That was amusing. But what's better; I've been to Ziad's house many time now (his helper cooks VERY well), and every time, without fail, there is the white donkey. Patiently standing there, making sure everyone know's where Ziad's house is. Sometimes the donkey has an erection, and sometimes he doesn't. I still haven't figured out what excites him.

Cairo Shoot

Something about Cairo that I love. Don't know what it is. In fact, rationally I should dislike it, since it contains many of the characteristics I like to stay away from. Maybe it's because I'm just a tourist there.

My last trip to Cairo was about a TV commercial shoot. We shot 4 commercials in 2 days. That meant shooting for about 15 hours a day! And that was with a super efficient team - hats off to all of them!

Needless to say, that didn't leave me much time to go around town much. Back from the shoot at 3am, the bed looks better than a red Ferrari F50 with the keys in the ignition and my initials embossed on the leather seats. Ok, not THAT good, but almost that good. I'll just let the picures do the talking on this one.

The National Republican Museum

Today I went to the museum. Just happened to be walking along the Blue Nile, and on the grounds of the Presidential Palace was a little entrance in the back, with a small sign that read National Republican Museum. We walked in, and saw a few old cars, and a beautiful church. Inside the Church was the actual museum. Well, by name it's a museum. As far as I know, museums have old stuff in it. Here, there were banners. Just many pop-up banners with a historical recount taking you through the independance of Sudan. Oh, there were a few chairs. Old ones. But the Church is nice.