JOIN USThe land of contrasts
An audio-visual presentation and a couple of belly dancers doing their thing against a dull backdrop does not really bring home to the viewer the magnificence of the ancient country that is Egypt, although the Egyptian Tourism Authority Director Magdi Selim, who was down in the City to promote tourism to Egypt did try. It’s only when he talked passionately about the mystical and timeless appeal that is Egypt, that the country came alive with all its myriad contrasts and colours.
“From the ancient sights of the Pharaoh at Luxor to the beaches of the Red Sea at Hurghada, old civilisations have left their mark on our landscape creating one of the most spectacular sightseeing destinations in the world,” he says gesturing in his typical Middle Eastern manner. “Do you know it took over two and a half million blocks of stone, 100,000 men and 20 years to complete the Great Pyramid at Giza, an engineering marvel that draws visitors from all over the world like a magnet. If you haven't been to Egypt, you will miss the holiday of a lifetime. One can and must visit the ancient temples and tombs by taking the Nile cruise, marvel at the awe-inspiring Pyramids and the Sphinx in Cairo or try scuba diving and snorkelling in the Red Sea,” he says emphatically.
“Like India, Egypt is a land of amazing contrasts, where ancient and modern live side by side so you people will especially love and identify with the sights and sounds back home. Colourful Felucca boats with single sails of white cotton criss-cross between the banks of the Nile and we still have oxen working the fields and old-fashioned pumps drawing water for irrigation. Besides this, the dazzling city of Cairo has much to offer including ancient monuments, glittering mosques, imposing citadels, exciting bazaars, old Coptic churches and a rocking nightlife. If you have a desire to do some shopping, Egypt is a shopper’s paradise where haggling for a bargain is the name of the game. By the time you've finished, you'll be laden down with the finest Egyptian carpets, woodcrafts and rugs,” he adds.
“To top it all, Egyptian cuisine lends itself easily to the Indian palate and one can easily adapt to and enjoy the food whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian,’’ he went on to say. The evening was specially targeted at the travel segment but Selim managed to convincingly make a case for any intrepid traveller to fly to the Land of the Pharaohs and embark on an exciting journey of discovery.