EGYPT UPROOTED: PART 3

Day 2 : 28 Feb 2011

The day was supposed to be just like the normal, ordinary day.. We look forward towards discovering more of the beautiful Alexandria.

Without breakfast about mid morning , Amal the Guide took us to the Alex library. This was a land mark of Alex as it stood by itself with the modern architecture oblivious to the old worn out building surrounding it. It was very uniquely designed and I had been wanting to get myself photographed here ever since seeing Amal did that in her FB! We took photos around it .

Alexandria library

In the chill wetaher, hunger easily got the better of us. The little young guide, Amal, took us to Mandarah using tram co (a passenger van actually) for the NASI MANDI at Hadramont. On the way, we passed through a group of armed soldiers on the army tank. Gulp! We arrived before mid day and the restaurant was still closed. It would only open after mid day, we were told. Amal and Umi strolled the beautiful private beach while I went for the Friday prayer at a nearby mosque. The sermon was in Arabic of course and it was well 45 min long!!!All that I could understand was the mention of Masriah (MESIR), America, and Palestine etc. Every one was attentive and did not fall asleep like Malaysian mosque!

Another prominent land mark by the sea front

Hadramont Restaurant: Little demonstration took place out side.

Manshiah before the demonstration started

Locals, looking suspiciously at me with my DSLR

After prayer, I was heading for the meeting point to meet Amal and Umi. I heard a little commotion and Amal and Umi rushed towards me. Umi looked very frightened. I was cool. Demonstration took place beside the mosque.

We entered Hadramont Restaurant who was now open. Amal did the ordering and we ate out heart out! The restaurant staff was glued to the TV broad cast, showing protestors demonstrating some where. Later we knew it was in Cairo. Oh….Cairo. Land of far away, I said. We are in Alex.

We strolled to Mandarah the opposite edge of Alex and entered into a paid public park. It was 6 genih/pax. It was after lunch and the stroll was sluggish. This park housed the palace of King Farouk and it spread over a real large area. The number of korma trees planted here were said to represent the number of wives the king married !!!!!. Visited the beach and took a taxi out of the park as the distance was quite far.. Met a group of Malaysian lady students from Cairo holidaying in Alex. Asked them whether it was safe to go to Cairo. They said it was ok, as long we avoid Tahrir Square. We were advised to travel NOT after Dzuhor as demonstrations normally started then.

How many wives king Farouk has? Count the number of Korma Trees please!

Mandarah , the Garden Front

!

We took a tram co home. The young driver was speeding at about 90 km/hr on the cramp van withArabian music went full blast. It reminded me of our Bas Mini Wilayah in the 90s!

Lau Samah…(excuse me) ! An arab seated at the back gave me the fare and I instead passed it to the driver in front. So simple. The fare was paid to the driver by passing thru passengers. It was 1.5 genih/pax regardless how far you travel.

Back home we rested .Ready for the night outing later. Amal the guide said the next destination would be IBRAHIM MIA where nuts, fruits, vegetables were plenty at low cost.

.

Mandarah Water Park adjoining the sea

Every one was tired. Decision made…IBRAHIM MIAH trip was called off. We decided to stay home. We never realize that today was the real final outing without fear. We thought tomorrow would be there like many other days that came and go before. . We went to bed not knowing that there was a heavy demonstration in Alex itself other than Cairo and Suez and other cities!

Amal Tati, our little guide of the day.Well done though on stammering arabic at time!