Travelling back in time..

They say it is the land of contrasts.

Well, I cannot argue, but there is magic there too, wherever you look and whoever you turn to.

Egypt is so diverse, captivating beauty, with warm people welcoming you, majestic buildings, temples and pyramids from the 27th century B.C., standing there waiting to be explored. Warm waters with colorful corals and the vast black and white desert.

I could say it is a heaven on earth!

Many stories come to mind when I think about my travels in Egypt but one of the moments I will never forget is when I was in Aswan with a local friend. We visited the Nubian museum and after the visit we sat outside to have some lunch. While we were talking, I saw some kids looking at us. Then, they started coming a bit closer to us one by one. They looked at me like I was an artefact on display. They observed every aspect of me. You see, it is not that I am eccentric, but rather because I come from a different country, speak English and look different from what they are used to, it piqued their curiosity.

At some point they all surrounded me, looking at me and saying "Hi", "Hey" and a girl started singing "Mustafa, ya Mustafa ". First, I was confused, I started laughing, saying "Hi" back and then I don't know why but I felt flattered. The whole thing was so sweet and bizarre at the same time. This took about 10 minutes. I did not know how to react, it was cute, funny but also too intimidating, which made me feel a little uncomfortable. My friend asked her why is she singing this song, but she kept singing casually, until their teacher came to pick them up.

I feel like Egypt has retained some kind of authenticity. The people are very kind, warm and helpful. The cucumber still smells like a real cucumber and tastes as well fresh and juicy too. Kids smile and play with each other and they are curious to learn about life. People seem calm and happy and always there to help you.

#egypt #traveling #photojournalism #photography #landscapes #local #people