Middle East - Lili on the Loose

30 08, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 10, Part 3 – Halloween at Kom Ombo

By Lili|August 30th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, crocodile, Crocodile Museum, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, G Adventures, Galabeya, galabeya party, Halloween, Kom Ombo, Kom Ombo Temple, Middle East, Nile, Nile Cruise, Nilometer, Sobek, Temple|0 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Saturday October 31, 2015 Egypt: Day 10, Part 3 – Halloween at Kom Ombo As Mikel gathered us in the lobby, he was adamant we don't shop going in or going out. That there was limited time, and the ship would leave at a specific time. We followed him, but then he stopped right before going up the steps. We all were eager to get started, but Mikel smartly let some of the pushier groups like the Chinese group with

15 08, 2016

Travel Missteps: The Fast Felucca

By Lili|August 15th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Africa, Aswan, Cairo, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, Felucca, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Middle East, night train, Nile, obelisk, pool, Sailboat, service, unfinished obelisk|0 Comments

After a long night train from Cairo, we finally reached Aswan. To hit the ground running, I immediately took a taxi to the Unfinished Obelisk. Afterwards, I was so tired, and so decided to swim at the hotel pool, which overlooks the Nile. Typical to the "service" standard that was in Egypt, no towel attendants were in sight. Due to the lack of tourists the cafe was shut down. (We ordered lunch with a lone employee who had appeared, but it took over 2 hours for us to finally see them again with that food!) And the pool was missing

28 07, 2016

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

By Lili|July 28th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, History, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Alexandria, Anubis, Apis Bull, catacombs, catacombs of kom el shoqafa, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, Egyptian, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Greek, Isis, Middle East, roman, Travel Thursday|0 Comments

Source The mysterious Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa in Alexandria were discovered a little more than a hundred years ago when a donkey disappeared into a hole in the earth. What was uncovered was a complex of 3 story underground catacomb. While the upper floor is pretty bare from design the middle floor has a unique tomb that combines Egyptian, Greek, and Roman iconography. Above the entrance you can see many Uraei (cobras) with the sun disk, and the winged vulture, a common sight of Egyptian temples. But on the side you see a greek Agathodaimon (serpent) wearing the double crown

22 07, 2016

Colors of Ancient Egypt

By Lili|July 22nd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Abydos, Africa, Cenotaph Temple of Ramesses II at Abydos, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Hieroglyphics, Middle East, Photo Friday, Ramesses II, Temple of Ramesses II|0 Comments

One thing many people don't realize is that the monuments and temples of Ancient Egypt were actually vividly painted. But time has erased many of the colors or they are hard to see in dimly lit temples where flashlights and flash is outlawed to protect what colors remain. Which is why when I visited the Cenotaph Temple of Ramesses II at Abydos, a mostly ruined temple, I was excited to not only see amazing colors, but they were close enough to the light outside to take good photos! Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the

14 07, 2016

Trip Preparation: Egypt Packing List

By Lili|July 14th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Planning, Travel Tips|Tags: 2015, Africa, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Middle East, packlist, Travel Thursday|0 Comments

Here is my packing list from my Egypt Trip. Carry On Neck Pillow Eye Mask Ear Plugs Sarong (as a blanket/towel) Journal Pens Gum Snacks Glasses Day Pack Water-bottle with Mister Sun Hat Sun Glasses Rain Ponchos (if bad is weather) Anti Theft Purse Money holder, Coin Purse, & Wrist Wallet Language Guide Electronics Headphones Kindle Fire Kindle Touch Phone Batter Packs & Chargers Power Strip Travel Adaptor Camera with Memory Cards Clothes Shirts Pants & Capris Jeans Scarf Bras Underware Socks Sleep outfit Swimsuit Sweater Dress Sport Sandals Sneakers Jewelry Toiletries Q Tips Toilet Paper Hand Sanitizer Tissues Tiger

30 06, 2016

Hypaethral Hall of Trajan’s Kiosk

By Lili|June 30th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Roman Emperor, Trajan, Trajan's Kiosk, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

Trajan's Kiosk is a hypaethral temple (no roof) found at Philae in Egypt. Trajan was a Roman Emperor best known for having extended the Roman Empire to its largest area. Part of the newly acquired area was Egypt. Rome assimilated into the local culture and created hybrid architecture temples. This was one of them. It is airy and bright with beautiful different capitals on top of each column. And with a view right on the water. It was sometimes nicknamed "The Pharaoh's Bed".

29 06, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 10, Part 2 – Nile Cruise Sets Sail

By Lili|June 29th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, Aswan, Cruise, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, G Adventures, Kom Ombo, Kom Ombo Temple, Middle East, Nile, Nile Cruise, Perfume|0 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Saturday October 31, 2015 Egypt: Day 10, Part 2 – Nile Cruise Sets Sail After we made it past the sellers at the marina near Philae Temple we set off again. A few of us were dropped off at a Perfume store. We spent a while drinking tea and smelling all the various scents. I've never owned perfume so I don't know what I like (or am allergic too) and there are so many to smell that its hard to

28 06, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 10, Part 1 – Philae Temple

By Lili|June 28th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, G Adventures, Hadrian, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Roman Emperor, Trajan, Trajan's Kiosk, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Saturday October 31, 2015 Egypt: Day 10, Part 1 – Philae Temple It was another early day, and the food for breakfast wasn't that great. Now I'm not a breakfast person anyway, but even their potatoes were tasteless. Then it was time to board a bus to Philae Temple. When arrived we were once again accosted by numerous sellers. And this was before we even exited the bus! After Mikel got us tickets we had to run the gambit of numerous

27 06, 2016

Museum Monday: Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis

By Lili|June 27th, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis, Amenhotep II, Amenhotep III, Calcite Sphinx, column, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egyptian Sidekick, Great Temple of Ptah, Hatshepsut, Memphis, Middle East, mit rahina museum, Pharaoh, Photo Essay, sphinx, statue|0 Comments

This lovely statue is found in the open air museum in Memphis, Egypt. It is called the "Alabaster Sphinx" or the "Calcite Sphinx" due to the yellow coloration of the stone. It is unknown which pharaoh is depicted here, but it is known it is from the 18th dynasty. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

23 06, 2016

Coptic Crosses at Philae Temple

By Lili|June 23rd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Alter, Aswan, Coptic, Coptic Church, Coptic Cross, Cross, Crosses, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Hieroglyphics, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

These crosses are a jarring contrast against the detailed hieroglyphics you see throughout Philae Temple, so its not hard to spot them. On columns and entryways they are found. They stand out more than the ancient graffiti. And even stand out more than the defaced images of Egyptian Gods, Goddesses, Pharaohs and everyday people. When I first saw these, as a fan of Ancient Egypt I was peeved. Philae Temple is so impressive, and the carvings that remain intriguing. But upon reflection these crosses shows how ancient temples found new uses in later times. They were refuges for early oppressed Christians as