Train Travel from Cairo to Aswan

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

a dream come true on pyramids of giza

After finishing the major landmarks of Cairo, I went back to Ramsis Railway Station for an impromptu booking to Aswan, southern part of Egypt. I was told day before that sleeper trains are fully booked up to 1st week of November. If I really want to pursue my preferred schedule, just ride the train and find my luck there as chance passenger. Aswan train travel time from Cairo will took 14 hours, probably my longest train escapade since I've been to this kind of transportation.

It is important to book train ticket in advance, at most 2 weeks before the preferred date.
For train booking for ordinary passenger is via ....
https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/smartSearch.jsf

For sleeper couch usually for tourist is via ....
http://www.wataniasleepingtrains.com/Watania/Price_list_%26_Schedule.html

Ramsis railway station has a lobby that looks like you are somewhere in France, with small pyramid in the center and inverted on the ceiling. Platforms that serve northern part (alexandria, etc) are on #1-7 which is on the left side of the lobby while for the southern part (luxor, aswan) is straight ahead, platforms #8-11. Ticketing office is on the side of platform #11, entering through underpass from platform #8.

ramsis railway station main lobby

A Dream Come True in Pyramids of Giza

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

sightseeing above the cairo tower at night

One of the most controversial landmark by early civilizations of all time, and the only man-made ancient wonder of the world that still standing... Pyramids of Giza has been always talk-about how it was done and why it was like that. Because of this curiosity and an avid fan of Ancient Aliens TV Series, a dream came true for me to witness, amaze and walk on the sands within its vicinity, unimaginable but reality as it is. I am very much thankful to our God Almighty for having this trip.

Photography is not allowed inside the pyramids, and strolling can be enough at 2 hours. 

how to go here;
Starting from Giza station of metro line 2 (1 EGP), go towards to the road crossing the metro. Since bus destination names are absolutely in Arabic even the numbers, Asking the locals is an important task. They told me that most of the bus cross the intersection to way to Pyramids. All I have to do is ask the driver first and request to drop-off (1 EGP). Upon drop-off, Pyramid of Khufu is already visible.

inside the Pyramids of Giza compound (Khufu)

Sightseeing above the Cairo Tower at Night

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

strolling the modern egyptian museum

From Modern Egyptian Museum, I just walked towards this tower for about more than a kilometer crossing the Nile river and seeing the Tahrir Square on my way.

How to go here;
Starting from Sadat station, just crossed the Tahrir Square going the Nile river. The tower is seen already while walking on the streets, follow its visibility. Entrance fee costs 70 EGP for adults and 35 EGP for students. Opens daily from 0900H to 0000H.

Photography is allowed on the viewing deck, and strolling can be enough at most 1 hour.

The Cairo Tower, also known as Borg Al-Qāhira, is a free-standing concrete tower located in Cairo, Egypt. At 187 m (614 ft), it has been the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa for 50 years. It was the tallest structure in Africa for 10 years, until 1971 when it was surpassed by Hillbrow Tower in South Africa. One of Cairo's well-known landmarks, it stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the River Nile, close to Downtown Cairo.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Tower

sightseeing above the cairo tower at night

Strolling the Modern Egyptian Museum

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

go back to main post

Exactly beside the Egyptian museum is the burn-out building which was known as the main headquarters of Mubarak. It was burned by the Egyptian opposition protestors during last year's revolution. 

how to go here; 
Starting from mubarak metro station, where the ramsis train station is nearby located, for only 1 EGP going to Sadat metro station. Egyptian Museum has an entrance fee of 60 EGP for all adult and foreign tourist and 30 EGP for students. Opens daily from 0900H to 1800H. Egyptian museum is just around 50 meters away from Tahrir Square, this area is called also the Downtown Cairo.

Photography is not allowed inside and strolling can be enough at 2 hours.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. On the first floor there are artifacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt, including items from the tombs of the Pharaohs Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatshepsut, and the courtier Maiherpri, as well as many artifacts from the Valley of the Kings.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Museum

modern egyptian museum in cairo

How to Appy for Egypt Tourist Visa as Philippine Passport Holder

an adventure of Pinoy backpacker in processing travel documents

general info:

* Tourist visa is valid for 6 months upon issuance.
* maximum duration of stay is 1 month.
* single entry only.

Egypt tourist visa stamp valid for 6 months on single entry only

APPLYING FOR EGYPT TOURIST VISA AS ORDINARY CITIZEN IN THE PHILIPPINES  

visa fee:

php1,050 only

requirements:

1. Application form (page 4 and 5 only)
2. 2x2 picture
3. passport valid for 6 months
4. Employment certificate with compensation
5. Approved leave of absence from the employer
6. Income Tax Return Certificate
7. Bank certificate
8. Roundtrip air ticket or booking certificate from airline
9. Guarantee letter from the travel agency stating that you really booked a tour with them and you will be back to manila after the said tour or

10. itinerary if do-it-yourself

5 Days EID Season DIY Solo Trip to Egypt

conquering the mankind's early accounted civilization

October 25-29, 2012 Thursday to Monday

"I am Osymandias, King of Kings. If anyone would know how great I am, let him surpass one of my works." - Ramesses

My 15th country on-hand, 20th solo backpacking trip, 2nd visa application for tourism on entire single page, 1st winter get-away this 2012, 1st country to visit in African continent and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

Egypt is perhaps best known as the home of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, and - visible above all - its pyramids. Less well-known is Egypt's medieval heritage, courtesy of Coptic Christianity and Islam - ancient churches, monasteries and mosques punctuate the Egyptian landscape. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus stated: "Egypt is the gift of the Nile", probably one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide.

source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Egypt

Khufu pyramid with souvenirs bought inside

My Top Nine Best Travels in 2012

3rd year of my travel addictiveness, adventures that made me want to go back there

2012 "the viewing deck" year-ender report

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." - Henry Miller

the viewing deck super nine unparalleled wanders of 2012

I ranked these posts based on the adventure i have encountered, budget and how happy and satisfied i am through the planning, journey and the outcome.

9th: Zambales -Tarlac (bakasyonista united)

August 20-21, 2012

- this trip is astonishing because this was my 1st time to travel patterned on a very laidback itinerary, as in we just sit, dip and talk any things out of work.

8th: Davao (2-days family trip)
August 02-04, 2012

- this trip is astonishing because this was my 1st time visiting the Mindanao archipelago with my family and even make fun to the cascaded waterfalls of samal island

Tourist Spots to Visit in State of Kuwait

sightseeing my 3rd country as OFW and my 2nd in middle east

January 2012 onwards

The second part of my adventure-seeking escapade as an Overseas Filipino Worker. This post is a compilation of the scenic places and tourist landmark I have visited during my stay, mostly done on boring times.

kuwait science discovery center

kuwait liberation tower