Monday June 21

Today I went to King of the Nile costume shop which Yaz owns. He has amazing costumes and the craftmanship is amazing. He really has a lot of pride in his costumes. So today I went to work with him and boy...that was interesting!!! Before he went to work he took me down this alley way by his building. We turned the corner and there was a real market. Not the tourist thing you see. I stuck out like a sore thumb!!! All the ladies were completely covered with the majority looking out 2 peep holes for eyes. They were nice to me but you could tell some were giving me the up & down. The men stare but whatever. It's their culture. So my sis stayed at the apartment with Julie because che (my sis) was still pale from the day before. She had a bit of heat exhaustion. The temperature yesterday was 116 degrees and today was 120. OUCH. tomorrow it should be a tad cooler. Should be. So I went to the market and Yaz spent $4 for the following: 10 tomatoes, 2 pita breads, about 10 date filled breads, 2 croissants, jar of honey, 2 liters of water, coke, pineapple juice and 2 cheese boxes. No lie. $4. What an interesting combination of food. I ate all of it. OH yes and I forget the best part - falafel! He got like a lb of fresh deep fried falafel straight from the fryer. I can honestly say I have NEVER eaten anything SO good. The flavor was intense and amazing. Texture was perfect. Oh it was the best. That is what I ate for breakfast and then ate a cheese and tomato croissant sandwich for lunch. His employee also bought me a peach juice that is solid juice with big chunks of peach. I can't even describe it. The food is just fabulous. Yesterday I even tried pure cane juice. SO far so good....no stomach issues as of yet. Only some mild heartburn. I know this is TMI - but I am regular and let me tell you - I am happy about that - so far. We will knock on wood that it stays that way. No jet lag so far. We shall see.

Today I had a custom made Melaya Leff dress made - fiery red. Ruffles, pailletes, sequins, beads...oh my! Goregous! King of the Nile seamstress' are amazing. I got to watch them hand bead stuff.

So exciting!

Sunday, June 20

The trip to Egypt was rough. I will admit. Sitting in an airplane seat for hours upon hours while some idiot hits the back of your seat from tapping his foot is not enjoyable. My sister and I stayed up for approximately 30 hours. I would have slept had it not been for the person hitting my seat. ugh! BUT at least I was able to put my hoodie on, ear plugs in and a face mask on my eyes. Watched a few movies, too. When we landed in Cairo we didn't even go through customs, I think I batted my eyes enough and the guy said "go through, don't worry" ... we went through and all you could see was a sea of people with signs or waiting on their loved ones to arrive. It was pure and utter chaos but sooooo cool! We were asked at least 20 times "taxi?" I musta said "La, shukran" 60 times back! (no, thank you) I am so thankful that Yaz sent me an egyptian cell phone because he was at the wrong gate and I was able to tell him where to find us. We got everything loaded and headed for his office where there is a land line that is free for me to use to make calls to the usa. So I called Doug & mom to let them know I made it. We got to see Yaz's costume workshop and it is way cool!

The driving here is scary. You just hold your breath and say tons of prayers for safety. We saw one bad wreck and then just lots of pure chaos. "welcome to egypt." Julie had pizza hut waiting for us when we arrived at their apartment. Love it! Took showers and dropped "dead" into hard sleep. Woke up at 7am egyptian time. Went to sleep at 11pm so we didn't have that much sleep! I feel fine. Everyone keeps telling me I wont feel it yet - I'm waiting. I took jet lag pills and they seemed to work like a charm!

Got up this morning for a bowl of cereal and then we dressed to go to the museum but somehow ended up detouring to the Khan el Khalilli bazaar. It's closed on sundays but there were some shops open. We parked and walked over. I actually found a clean restroom with a toilet. No toilet paper but I have it in my purse. I think I drank like 8 bottles of water and made 2 into gatorade (brought powdered gatorade)and I ate some trail mix. My sister - not so much. I think she was afraid of getting ill so wouldn't really eat or drink which in turn - made her ill. She didn't want to admit she wasn't feeling well but when she turned 20 shades of red - we knew. Yaz told her to sit down and we cooled her off with pouring cold water on her head and I took my fan out and fanned her off. Yaz bought us some fruit named "teen" - sounds like teen. It's a cactus fruit. I'm not so sure I liked it but I ate it because it's an experience. My sis - she didn't like it. So we walked deeper into the bazaar and I ended up buying Terry some tiger print isis wings and a tiger print beaded scarf as well as more to sell at shimmyfest.We took a taxi back to the parking garage for a whole dollar and left. Yaz stopped and got us some koshary and fruit. We had cherries, grapes, mango, and watermelon. My sis and I ate mango on the side of the highway (literally) and it was so amazing that I couldn't believe it was mango! The flavor is just astounding.A bus of men blew kisses at me and d. I blew them back. I probably got 15 marriage proposals from the bus. My sister and I were laughing so hard. I got called all kinds of "hey sexy lady" to "hey baby or habibi" and one guy asked for a kiss from an American lady. I of course said "la, shukran"

Just finished the koshary and fruit and I'm off to bed for another amazing day tomorrow. yaz is going to take us to Mcdonald's for a veggie burger. They have that here!!! so cool!!!

BTW - I would post photos but this computer is in arabic and it took me forever to try to figure out how to log into my blog!!! HA HA

June 17th - our attempted flight

So we were all packed, checked in, went through security, (I shed some tears saying good bye to Amelia) and then we sat and waited for our flight to Atlanta. Then the dreaded "sorry, but the flight to Atlanta is still there. It is grounded due to weather." Ok, cool. So I go us re-routed for tomorrow. June 18th and we leave in the morning and go into Detroit. Then Detroit to Paris and then to Cairo. If we left today we would have arrived in Cairo on Saturday the 19th. So we leave tomorrow on the 18th and arrive in Cairo on the 19th. So I get another night in bed and have a shorter flight. What the heck?? Why wasn't that flight available when I first booked our flight? Geeez! So now I'm off to bed and will get to the airport in the morning to try this again for a 2nd time! It's a good thing my mom lives 15 mins away from the airport!!

And we are off!

The big day has arrived. I leave tomorrow for Egypt. 26 hours of travel time. I leave tomorrow at 6pm and arrive 2 days later in Cairo at 2:30a.m. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it. I am glad that I like sleeping and can sleep anytime, anywhere. I just hope it happens on the plane. My sister and I are excited about our 6 hour layover in Amsterdam but I just hope we are "functioning" enough to enjoy that airport! It looks like an amazing airport to walk around and look at all the shops! Yaz is ready to pick us up and said "what special requests do you have?" I said "sleep." HA HA!

I had to go to Walmart to pick up a few last minute things for him. He paypal'd me some money to buy an electric screwdriver. I checked the TSA website to make sure it was ok to check and it was and I also read that a meat cleaver is ok to check, too. HA! What a random item to list! I also picked up a few other random things for Yaz. My sis and I have 4 suitcases full of stuff for Yaz and his family. Things they can't get in Egypt or items that are so expensive they can't purchase them there. It's been fun receiving packages in the mail on an almost daily basis. I don't have much clothes packed as I figured I'd buy stuff while I was there.

2 of the dancers I know sent money with me to buy them fancy costumes. I just hope I can find what they are looking for. I'm sure I will. Should be fun to spend their money for stuff they want or well...don't need but it will sparkle and they will love it!

Doug dropped me off yesterday here at my mom's house near the airport. He left this morning back to Little Rock. I had a huge crying meltdown. That man is something else. He told me "I don't want anything from Egypt. Just for you to have a good time, enjoy yourself, be happy and come home safe. Come home with some more new dreams so I can make them come true." Be still my heart. I cried and cried and cried. I miss him already. I miss my Amelia and she is sitting right here and I miss her. I know this will be a good trip for all of us. Amelia gets to spend good quality time with both sets of grandparents and Doug gets some quiet time which he is looking foward to. He is taking a one week vacation to sit around the house and sleep. This is a good thing for us all.

I am excited beyond words! I will make sure to post to my blog after landing and sleeping for awhile. I am sure I will have airport stories to tell! HA!

Say a prayer we get over safely and without problems! :-)

Why Egypt?

Why not? I will tell you why I'm going....

I am going because this has been a life long dream. I can remember seeing pyramids in a view finder as a kid and then watching all those fun movies about mummies and all that stuff......then I got into belly dance and Egypt became a hardcore dream. I never thought I'd ever EVER get to go. EVER. Doug surprised me with the trip. He paid for the belly dance tour. I'm going to the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival which is a HUGE belly dance workshop/shows/shopping event. I'll be staying with Yaz & Julie for several days (they live there) and then transferring over to the Mena House which is an old palace. I had this long list of dreams and goals...fulfilled all of it except this and now I get to go. I'm not sure how to react! I leave on June 17th and will be back on July 7th. 21 days of Egypt. Doug is staying home to take care of the house, dog and work. Amelia gets to goof off at grandma's house. I'm still in shock!

I may get the chance to see the red sea and go snorkeling with Yaz and family. I know I will see the pyrmids and ride a camel for sure. I must do the typical tourist things!!

Things I know I will do:
*Guided Tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx, and Cairo Museum.
*Cairo By Night Dinner Cruise on the luxurious 5 Star Nile Maxim floating supper club, with a terrific show featuring folkloric dancers, singers and live Egyptian music, starring the incomparable dancer Randa Kamel.
*Star Nile Cruise to Upper Egypt: We arrive in Aswan, then sail to Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, and Luxor. Guided tours in air-conditioned coaches will take us to the High Dam, Temple of Philae (Isis Temple), Temple of Sobek and Haroeies, and to the West Bank for the Valley Of The Kings and the exquisite Deir El Bahari of Queen Hatshepsut.
*Side trips to the ancient Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Al Tanoura Egyptian Heritage Troupe whirling Dervish show and optional additional trips to monuments and antiquities in and around Cairo, such as Memphis and Sakkara, The Citadel of Mohammed Ali, Coptic Cairo, City of The Dead, Manial Palace and more…

7 more days until I leave. It really hasn't set in yet ... as if this is not real. Then I remember that it IS real. My suitcases are so heavy, I need to weigh them with my scale. I'm bringing a lot of stuff for Yaz & his family. They have requests and Yaz has shipped stuff to me to bring along.

I just can't believe that I get to go! I feel so blessed!!!

14 more days.

I leave for Egypt in 14 more days. It is hard to believe. I can remember dreaming about Egypt as a kid...thinking of pyramids and the desert. I started belly dance in 1998 on a dare from a co-worker when I worked at the Walmart home office. He dared me to take a class (such a dare!!) and I went. When I realized I could have fun dancing without a partner and I could wear beads, sequins, and glitter - I was hooked! After participating in the dance for several years, that nagging feeling of Egypt was even stronger. I had wanted to go but I was a young momma with a young child....she is still very young but she is able to stay with grand parents and hold her own weight. I just couldn't go as I just couldn't leave her home....I'm still struggling with leaving her in the states while I go and live out this dream of mine. I'm proud that I finally made the decision to go and to save my money and pay for this trip cash. No debt. I just hope that I don't go overboard and create some CC debt while I am there! HA!

A few more things to add to my list:
Dried Banana Chips
Dried Cranberries
Advil
Ben-Gay

I just ordered an extra battery for my point & shoot camera as well as a good travel pillow. I just hope I have everything for my trip!!

One thing I did find out....I'm not going to have internet access at my hotel. I do have access but I hear it is quite expensive. SO....I do plan on finding internet cafe's to make updates to my blog. It wont' be daily like I thought it would be but I'll be doing my best to make as many updates as possible!

Yaz's special requests

As I am coming to that home stretch for my trip to Egypt I am starting to get more serious about my packing. I've been pestering Yaz about what him and his family want me to bring. I finally got a list.

*Beyond the Zone Frizz Zapper Anti Frizz Serum
*Finger nail stickers (for little girls)
*Malt-O-Meal® Colossal Crunch® And Berry Colossal Crunch®
*Malt-O-Meal® Cinnamon Toasters®
*Great Value (Wal-Mart Brand) Peanut Butter
*Great Value Contact Lens

So now I knwo what to bring them in Egypt! Interesting list for sure! Peanut butter acutally made me giggle. I'll make sure to bring them a huge jar of peanut butter! Maybe some peanut butter cookies, too!

My Papi.

****update**** My dad has finally been located (after almost 2 weeks!) He is fine and he's in Mexico and he is indeed stuck right now. Thank goodness ... I was really starting to think the worst.

My dad. What can I say about my dad except that I am exactly like him. We are social, we are loud, we argue our point(s), we get annoyed, and most of all we have HUGE hearts and we would give the shirt off our back. In fact, I remember literally giving the shoes I was wearing to another kid in Guatemala years ago. I learned that from my Papi.

We have had a scared with my Papi. He went missing in Mexico. We heard he is ok and just merely broke down with his charter bus. I still haven't heard a 100% confirmation that he is ok. I'm sure he is but I still worry. I love my Papi. Even though he has drove me crazy for years (we are too alike and it's hard to be in a room with someone exactly like you!) he is still my dad. I pray he is safe and fine.

Packing for Egypt

Packing for Egypt is going to be interesting. I'm starting to make lists and I know I have more to add!

Mosquito spray
Immodium (and lots of it)
Hand sanitizer
Power adapter
Toilet Paper
Plain bed sheet (incase of nasty sheets on cruise)
Umbrella (shield the sun)
Cooling mist fan
Flashlight (for tombs)
Sunscreen SPF 100
Ear plugs
Head phones (for flight)
Trail mix and snacks
Handerchief (cloth)
Wet wipes
Travel clock
Sunglasses & extra glasses
Eye drops
Probiotic pills
Hat
First aid kit
Netbook
Cameras & extra batteries & CF cards & Flash

Sharkies or Nuun Electrolyte tabs (esp. since I have low blood pressure)

I still need to call the airline to make arrangements for vegetarian meals on my flights. I need to call my CC to alert them of my trip and to find out which number to call internationally if there is a problem. Addresses to friends so I can send out a postcard while I am there. I still need to learn my #'s in arabic (I know several phrases but need to know the #'s!) Copy & scan my passport to leave a copy for Doug. Find the embassy information just to have it handy.

I know I have more to add but that is off the top of my head.

And Adding more to the list:
Anti-itch cream/insect bite ointment
Aloe Vera
Safety Pins
Q-tips/cotton balls
Makeup Remover
Small mirror
Lotion
Folder (carry all my papers in -sturdy)
Blister tape
3 way adapter so I can plug in more than one thing
Clothesline/Clothespins (quick laundry)
A few old washcloths
Pads/Tampons (just incase!)
Rubber bands/hair clips
Sketch pad and pencils (doodle on the plane...I gotta draw!)
Candy - M&M's!!
Under the clothes fanny pack

Call health insurance to ask about coverage while in Egypt.

U.S. Embassy Cairo - 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo, Egypt. Tel: [20] [2] 2797-3300

How I spent my weekend......

This is what happens when you get creative. You mess your studio up - big time!

I spent my weekend doing some pretty fun shooting! I love being creative and having fun! I'm soooo ready for my next creative shoot! I gots ideas already!

Belly belly belly dance~ !!

After taking some time off....I'm back on the scene of belly dance. I've booked my trip, I've got new costumes, I'm dancing at different places and having a blast!



More from mine & Shawn's birthday party!

Dancing at the middle east party on campus - UALR!


Sword routine at hafla

Dancing Melaya Leff at the show in Maumelle

Dancing at Ali Baba's hookah cafe.


With Shannon's beginner class at a performance.

Updates and I booked my trip! omg!

I booked my trip to Egypt. June 17 until July 7. I will be gone for 21 days. I'm freaking out just thinking about leaving Doug and Amelia here at home but this has been the biggest dream of mine. Doug surprised me with the tour package with Princess Farhana and I just booked the airline. I will be staying with Yaz and family for a few days but then I'll be staying in a old Egyptian Palace overlooking the pyramids. Ahhhhh.....And I get to fly to Luxor and take a cruise on the Nile and I'll get to see Aswan and all kinds of neat things like the valley of the kings. Cool!!! My sister just booked a ticket to go along and she will be staying with Yaz and family the whole time. She is so excited!! I'm excited! We get to fly into Amsterdam and will get to see that cool airport....let's just hope the volcano stops before June! I thought about all the things I've wanted to accomplish in life and I have done everything on my list except Egypt. It's the last thing on my list. I can't believe that I'm 35 and I have accomplished my list. I guess it's time to start thinking of new dreams and goals.



I turned the big 3-5 this year. It's a pretty big milestone. I had my birthday party along with Shawn at Ali Baba's in Little Rock. There ended up being 30+ people at the party. Shannon performed for us, we had our food catered by Ali Baba's and it was one hell of a party. We did debke dance with the Arabs and just had a good time. It is definitely one party I won't forget!


This is me and Ebony in Eureka Springs. We had such a good outing. Ebony is a photographer and belly dancer, too!


This is on a Fayetteville trip a few weeks back. Met some of my friends at Racha Thai food. So good to see everyone!


This is part of my family. My dad is wearing the sunglasses. My uncle Enrique is on the other side of me along with his wife and daughter. Also pictured is my Amelia and Antonio (my brother's son)


Me and Mom! yay!

Amelia

Amelia is now taking gymnastics and belly dance. She has really started liking belly dance again and has been asking to go to classes to learn. She has picked it up very quickly!

Clubhouse! Amelia has a room she plays in with her friends. They store the Barbie's in there and they draw on the walls. Wished I had something like that when I was a kid!

Amelia at the UALR library. She goes to school with me when she is out. For some reason she just loved my reasoning across the disciplines class!

I gave Amelia a haircut....it was just time to do it. I bought some hair scissors at the wig shop and commenced to cutting!

A few updates.

Amelia is back in gymnastics. She'll probably eventully move from gymnastics to cheerastics but for now she does the traditional gymnastics. I take Zumba class while she does gymnastics.

Amelia got her ears pierced! She is growing up!

Amelia's clubhouse. We have a room in our house that is just ....well....we aren't sure. So Amelia has claimed it as her clubhouse. She has her Barbies in there and she loves to draw on the walls! I wished I had a clubhouse when I was a kid!

At Ali Baba's Hookah Cafe. The place gets packed later in the night. All the tables get full and it gets harder to dance with all the smoke and patrons. It's a blast! I'm having a fun time and I am making some extra dollars doing something that I love!

Snow! Egypt! Working Out!

Catching snowflakes!

Amelia and Dougie!

Let it snow!

Sweet Amelia!

Snowball fight!

All the neighbors came out and we had a snowball fight!

Too slick to drive....we hiked over to EZ Mart to get some junk food and some milk!

Laundry baskets work great!

Amelia having so much fun and Sheba chasing after her!

We got slammed with snow and rain! They are calling for more tomorrow! Amelia and I are on day 2 of no school Doug hasn't been to work (thank goodness for personal time!) We have been having so much fun playing outside! We have a new neighbor and she has a 7 year old daughter and she and Amelia have been attached at the hip. Lots of good play time!

After much loooooong discussion, pros & cons, etc etc........I decided I will go to Egypt in June 25 thru July 9 with Princess Farhana's Eternal Egyptian tour. It will be amazing. It includes the hotel which is an old palace. The Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival, opening gala show, fabulous morning buffets, Guided Tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx, and Cairo Museum (including lunch), Cairo By Night Dinner Cruise on the luxurious 5 Star Nile Maxim floating supper club (with lots of belly dance),5 Star Nile Cruise to Upper Egypt which includes the airline, then sail to Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, and Luxor Guided tours in air-conditioned coaches will take us to the High Dam, Temple of Philae (Isis Temple), Temple of Sobek and Haroeies, and to the West Bank for the Valley Of The Kings and the exquisite Deir El Bahari of Queen Hatshepsut which includes all meals! Plus side trips to the ancient Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Al Tanoura Egyptian Heritage Troupe whirling Dervish show and optional additional trips to monuments and antiquities in and around Cairo, such as Memphis and Sakkara, The Citadel of Mohammed Ali, Coptic Cairo, City of The Dead, Manial Palace and more!

...........oh I can't wait! And the cool part is that I'll be doing belly dancer's portraits in the old palace. I can't wait to be the "it girl" doing photos for all the dancers from around the world!

And I'm now on week 5 of my workouts. I have to workout even MORE since I know I'll be going to Egypt. I need to be in the best shape so I can keep up with all the dancers for 2 weeks! I'm on day 40 of NO pop and I love it. I don't miss it anymore.

Life is good.