Realization

I was just going over my past posts and realized that my videos are not necessarily overcoming the stereotypes typically associated with Egypt and the Middle East. I think that when a lot of people think about Egypt, they automatically turn to the images perpetuated by film. This images that come to mind typically include camels and pyramids. And as tourists, we have been typically led to these areas of interest for tourism. I also realize now that my film of riding camels and visiting the pyramids don't help the one sided view of a region that includes a lot more.

So, I think that I have fully covered the tourist attractions of Egypt and will now focus my efforts on the daily lives of Egyptians. The truth is that the pyramids and temples are national treasures that bring in a lot of revenue for the people of Egypt. However, the reality of today is Egypt and Cairo especially are societies that are facing very modern problems. Overcrowding, poverty, political corruption, polution, environmental concerns, and economic vitality in a global economy are among a few of the Egyptian concerns.

Therefore, I am going to try and capture these realities on video for all of you. I know, these aren't as fun as pyramids and camels, but I think that I would be commiting a huge injustice to the people of Egypt if I continued to perpetuate the images conveyed by such movies as "The Mummy" and "Sahara." Nothing against those movies, you just need a more contemporary images to take away from our trip.

Thank you for listening to my rant and I'll post again soon.

Erik