My Date With Cairo......

Today is the day one of my very first trip to Egypt, the land of pyramids. I’m yet to see the pyramids since they happen to be a part of my itenary for tomorrow. Its very ironic, I always wanted to see them since I was a child and now that I can see teeny weenie bit of them from my hotel window, it doesn’t excite me for some reason. Perhaps it’s because the view is camouflaged by old, hideous, dusty and rickety buildings which have Islamic scribbling all over them. When I rented this room, I was told it offered paranomic views of the pyramids but I wish it mentioned the word partial as well. All I could see out of the window is a civilization in its utmost glory with people everywhere of all color and sizes and tips of the great pyramids way back in the background as if trying to suggest that before you get to it , you would have to cross this gigantic sea of concrete and human beings. I had a long and tiring day today and the fact that I have a nonexistent palate for Middle Eastern food is making me cranky and restless. I have to centre my emotions and focus on more positive things of this trip. I can’t even sleep perhaps because of the time difference. I have been dying to say that I’m jet lagged all my life but somehow it doesn’t quite feel right.
My window also offers the view of the modest swimming pool the hotel has to offer. A small band is playing near by it. There is a bit of movement around the pool consisting mainly of guests and the staff. Suddenly I hear the band singing happy birthday for someone. I think they are singing it for me because I feel weird and new in this strange country. It’s like coming home after a long long time and so much has changed around, you feel nostalgic for no reason. I feel as if I walked this earth before way back in time. The people here are the nicest people around. They took a quick liking to me despite the fact I wasn’t in my best of moods and how I couldn’t stop acting like a phirang and throwing these fake tantrums. Right at the dinner table, I threw a fit that I would only like Indian meal and how I wanted it customized. The chef came out for me to take the order and the hostess was another sweetheart who made sure everything was taken care of.
As I’m writing this, the song down there has changed to New York ….. New York, I want to wake up at the sea. I should know a thing or two since day after tomorrow I will be transferred to a cruise on Nile and in all probability, I would be waking up on it. I feel this great urge to get up, go down and dance to all these numbers but I’m comfortable and im liking this conversation I’m having with myself. I really hope the people and this country don’t disappoint me in the coming week. They say if you drink from the Nile once, you are rest assured coming back. I know its somewhere nearby but I’m going to take that call towards the end of my vacation. It’s a celebration out here…. Everyone is so happy out here. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Im still looking down like this creepy stalker, I want to go down and dance but somehow my soul is already there feeling the rhythm of this amazing city.
The moment I thought I would stop writing they started singing one of my favorite songs of all times….. pretty woman!!!! Flirting with me and suggesting that I should stay on a bit longer. Wowww…. I have never flirted with a whole city before and I can’t stop writing…..even though I was suffering from a writer’s block a few weeks ago and look at me now …..
The moment I thought that the song changed to mambo no. 5 suggesting that I need little things to get it all together. Wowww… Am I having a telepathic conversation with this city??? The air out here can feel my thoughts. I feel like dancing again but my soul flew long back to be there. I want me to stop and the moment this thought comes to my mind, they start playing this romantic number from shall we dance. Its like the perfect finale to my grand evening. I think they know me from before and I was underestimating my tour guide when he told me earlier in the day that everyone is related in this city and how no one can be sad and lonely here. This city knows how to romance and I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth will I ever I forget this magical warm February night when these strangers managed to make a softie out of a heartless monster like me.