First, the Pyramids (and, I suppose, all the rest in Egypt.)  Don’t worry, it will be over quickly, and I can move on to the Important Announcement phase of this blog entry.  And no, the announcement isn’t actually that exciting - I’m not going home early or pregnant.

 Kate and I started off in Dahab - a super touristy Red Sea diving mecca.  We actually celebrated Thanksgiving there (uh oh, dating the blog) with a chicken stuffed with falafel.  It was surprisingly delicious.  We also went diving!  I went on an amazing overnight boat trip to a famous World War II wreck of a transport ship - you could actually still see all the rubber boots and motorcycles the boat was carrying.  

We quickly stopped over in Suez.  Big mistake as Suez was pretty much a pit, and the canal (the entire reason I wanted to go) didn’t actually have any ships in it, apparently due to piracy.  If you’re thinking of visiting, check the conditions first or better yet, just DON’T!

 We spent the remainder of Kate’s time in Cairo, seeing the Egyptian Museum, cruising the Nile, and of course visiting the Pyramids.  After Petra and Palmyra the Pyramids were a tiny bit of a let-down (just plunked down right inside Cairo, it almost seems!  And very polluted.)  Still, we reminded ourselves of their 4000 year age and amazing architecture and large numbers of likely slave deaths and took a few iconic pictures, and I think managed to enjoy our visit.  I also got a sneak peak of my three day camel safari in Jaisalmar when we scammed a camel driver into giving us a 5 minute ride on his camel for below the going rate.  Ha!  Take that, touts and scam artists everywhere!

(Actually, we warned him we didn’t have enough money and he insisted on taking us anyway, and we could “pay what we felt” later.) 

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 Ok, and now the Important Announcement.  I’m actually (as was hinted in an earlier blog entry) somewhat changing my trip plans.  I’ve decided, among other things, to stick mostly to Southeast Asia and to mostly visit countries I can overland between.  Why?  Because I’ve bought a bike and will be traveling by bike for the next four months or so! 

 This is for a few reasons.  First of all, I was getting a little cynical about travel, and I think by pulling myself out of the standard backpacker routes I’ll be able to approach things with a new eye.  Second, I’ll get in shape, maybe.  Third, I’ll be able to see these countries in a new way.  Fourth, I like to bike.  So…. I spent way too much money on a bike in Bangkok and have spent the last 4 days suffering through pains that come when you sit on a bike for 5 to 7 hours a day.  Let’s just say, my butt is pretty sore.  And turning strange shades of black and blue.  I’m hoping that this gets better.

Still, I’m enjoying myself.  I’m getting faster every day, I’ve learned to deal with my first puncture (solution: wait for someone to give you a ride to your planned destination city by pick-up truck, then get things straightened out there) and I get constant honks, waves, and “Hellos” from all the Thai people I pass.  It’s been fun so far and it can only go downhill from here!  (Except, in truth, it actually is all uphill, or rather, upmountain, to Chiang Mai and I think the next few days might be painful.)