|
The Egyptian Traveler's
Survival Kit
By Jimmy Dunn
Egypt is a sophisticated and modern country, and
most anything that you need may be purchased in Egypt. But
providing that you do not wish to purchase such things as shoes in
Egypt, and that other items may be difficult to find, or very
expensive, we have compiled a checklist of some of the more
important items you may wish to carry with you. This list may seem
rudimentary for the seasoned traveler, but for many making a first
time trip to Egypt, it may prevent problems.
Contending with Sun and Heat
Hats and other covering: Large brimmed
hats that provide not only a head covering but also a certain
amount of shade will come in very handy in the hot Egyptian sun.
In addition, women will be more acceptable when touring old
churches and mosques if they are wearing some sort of head
covering. In addition, scarves or other apparel should be taken
along to cover shoulders and arms, and again, or not only
important for visiting religious sites, but also to keep the sun
off during treks. In very hot weather, a cloth hat or scarf that
can be soaked will also help keep your head cool.
 "Squeeze Breeze": this is a
water bottle with a sprayer and a battery-operated fan attached,
which is available in such stores as Wal-Mart in the US. This item
literally kept our Senior Editor, Mary Kay Radnich, from hitting
the deck in the 104F heat on the West Bank, late one morning. If
you can find something like this among the beach toys this summer,
pick it up.
Sun block: While sun blocks may be
purchased in Egypt, you might prefer to bring your own favorite
brand, but do bring it. We have often, and I wish to emphasis,
very often, seen tourists with painful sunburns after a days worth
of sightseeing.
Sunglasses: Another item that may be
purchased in Egypt are sunglasses, but again, many people will
prefer to bring their own. There will be many times that tourists
find themselves in a blaring, sand and desert landscape and there
is nothing better than a good pair of sunglasses, with the highest
UV rating you can find.
 Canteen or water holder: Staying hydrated
will mean the difference between a comfortable tour and one that
might end with trouble. Most people quickly learn to carry a water
bottle with them, and bottled water is easily accessible. However,
lugging around a water bottle in your hand can be tiresome. It is
much better to bring along either a canteen, or some other utensil
that will allow you to carry the water bottle on your waist or
around your shoulder. Fanny packs or backpacks with holders for
water bottles, and for women, even a shoulder bag type of purse
will make this more convenient.
Other Needs
Very good, comfortable walking shoes:
This is probably one of the first things most people will tell you
to bring to Egypt. Most tourists will be doing a considerable
amount of walking, and shoes should not be just comfortable, but
comfortable to walk long distances. Unlike leather shoes for
mountain walks and such, it is also preferable for walking shoes
to be breathable and perhaps made of a lightweight nylon or
similar fabric. "Tennis shoes" or other sporting type of
shoes are good for this. Also, keep in mind that there are a lot
of steps in Egypt.
Power Adapters: Power Adapters come in
two different varieties. Some electronic equipment have switches
to allow you to change the power input type. For these, a simple
wall adapter is all that is required. However, other electronic
devices do not have such switches and in this case, you not only
need a wall adapter, but also a power converter. Egypt uses 220
volt and plugs are two prong rounded.
Medication: Of course, bring your
prescription medicine. It will usually be available in Egyptian
drug stores, but it may be called a different name. There is no
problem with bringing prescription medication into Egypt. However,
it is also more convenient to bring your favorite non-prescription
medications along. Though you may find such medication in Egypt,
such as heart burn medication and pain capsules, you may have
problems finding your favorite brands. In addition, many tourists
who are a part of an organized tour will be staying in large
hotels, which may lack a complete inventory of such medication,
and trekking out to find a variety of over the counter medications
may be inconvenient. Don’t forget your Imodium. While no one
wants to get Tut’s Trot or Mummy’s Tummy, it may be handy to
have some Imodium or other anti-diarrheic with you. The most
common bottled water brand, Baraka, contains a little magnesium
and therefore may act as a mild laxative. Another brand to try is
Siwa bottled water.
Camera: Most people are not going to
forget to bring their cameras on an Egyptian tour. However, a
couple of things should be pointed out. First, while you may take
pictures as you like from the outside of most monuments, many
require that you do not use a flash when taking pictures inside.
If you intend to take pictures inside tombs, for example, you will
need to bring high-speed film. Most people use ASA 800 film, which
they push to 1600. For the most part, this requires a good 35 mm
SLR camera. In addition, monuments in Egypt are truly monumental,
and tourists will often be disappointed with regular lenses. If
possible, a good wide-angle lens will be nice to bring along. A
video camera will also provide you with nice souvenir footage of
your trip, however, keep in mind that filming inside many of the
museums, monuments and tombs is prohibited.
Travel Alarm: Sure, most hotels will give
you a wakeup call, but for many, don't count on it. A travel alarm
is perhaps less important on an organized tour, as you will have
people taking care of you. But particularly for the independent
traveler, a travel alarm will come in very handy. It will help
make sure that you wake up when you wish in Egypt. But I have
often used mine to make sure that I could grab some sleep in
airports along the way, and still catch my flight.
 Guide Books: Do invest in an Egyptian
Guide book, such as the "Lonely Planet" or "Rough
Guide" or any number of other good guides. While you may be
on a guided tour, such a book will give you time to orient
yourself both before and after the actual tours to various
locations. In addition, foreign printed guidebooks may be somewhat
more expensive in Egypt, even though they are available. You may
also wish to look around once in Egypt for other guidebooks.
An Extra Bag: A bag, preferably soft,
which can be crunched up and carried into Egypt in another bag
will be handy for most people. The bag will then be used to carry
back souvenirs. Alternatively, many business people or guests of
Egyptians often bring presents into Egypt, and once emptied, the
bag is used to bring souvenirs back. Again, bags may be easily
purchased in Egypt, but are likely to be less expensive if you buy
it at home and bring it to Egypt.
Sewing Kits: Some of the larger hotels,
as well as some of the better-equipped smaller hotels (the
Longchamps) may supply a sewing kit in your room. But don't count
on this. Most Egyptian tours are relatively long, and it is not
unusual to loose a button here or there climbing through tombs and
pyramids.
Alcoholic Beverages: There are good
suitable beers and wines in Egypt that are highly affordable, and
it is not necessary to bring in such items unless you have a very
acute taste for a particular brand. In fact, I consider Egyptian
beer excellent, and wish that I could buy it in the states.
However, harder alcoholic beverages such as whiskies and bourbons
are maybe extremely difficult to find, and extremely expensive
when you do. You may bring in up to two litters of liquor, and you
may buy additional liquor at a reasonable price at the tax-free
shop prior to leaving the airport. To give you an indication of
why you should do this, it is not uncommon to pay as much or more
than $13.00 for a single shot of Jack Daniels, a well-known US
bourbon.
Cigarette: Egyptians smoke, and
cigarettes are not expensive in Egypt. However, you will find only
a limited variety of cigarettes for the most part. For example,
Marlboro Lights are readily available, but not 100s. In fact, not
very many "long" cigarettes are. Further, while you can
purchase "American" cigarettes for a price in some of
the better hotels, usually you are getting an Egyptian
manufactured cigarette that is somewhat harsher then the
"American" variety. Just because you are buying Marlboro
does not make it the same Marlboro that you would by in the US,
for example.
Finally, bring along a humor and a good
attitude. For many, and even those who have done extensive
traveling in the US or Europe, Egypt will be very different. You
will often find attitudes more "laid back", time less
important and even some of the Egyptians selling their wares or
their services at tourism sites annoying. Egypt is a place where
you learn to let the smaller problems you might encounter roll off
your shoulders, and simply enjoy this, the oldest of all
civilizations.
|
