© Copyright 2009 KG Braun & KH Braun
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Egypt & Jordan
Interlude Report 27
Pharaoh, Mubarak (and his cronies forming a supposed modern democratic central government) reaps vast
profits exploiting the country’s resources at the expense of the masses. Echoing the controlling influence of
ancient priests (sometimes at odds with the Pharaoh) is the recent spread of Islamic fundamentalism.
Admittedly, Egyptians live in a police state but we found many were fatalists, generally unwilling or unable to
envision a different life while tolerating corruption, poor education, unemployment, inefficient bureaucracy,
crumbling infrastructure and severe pollution. Surrounded by ancient tombs, incessantly blasted by
loudspeakers calling them to prayer and always proclaiming everything is in sha’Allah (God willing), we say
Egyptians live life with ‘one foot in the grave’. To overcome their desperate situation they use humor,
camaraderie and unfortunately, some resort to terrorism. For centuries, however, tourists have been drawn to
Egypt for its ancient history and it was this history, coupled with a route from Thailand to the Mediterranean via
the Suez Canal, that was the basis for our visit to this country struggling to survive yet having so much
potential.
Our landfall at Port Ghalib in the Red Sea showed much promise for our visit to Egypt. A straightforward
check-in with the authorities, beautifully constructed marina complex with restaurants serving all types of
cuisine and some five-plus star resorts including a dive resort. It was however all just window dressing; a façade
hiding the true state of affairs and typical of many aspects of Egyptian infrastructure, business, bureaucracy and
culture that we would repeatedly experience during our stay.
Egypt is an ancient land struggling to modernize, yet permeated with the past. Farmers till the soil along the
banks of the Nile with ox and plow as they did millennium ago but with satellite dishes on their mud brick
dwellings. Children drive