Egypt

I just came back from an amazing trip from Egypt. The history, monuments (some very well preserved) and the people all make for a very exciting experience. I did the typical route along the Nile - Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel.

In Egypt the no. 1 source of revenue is tourism. Everyone we encountered in Egypt gave us a big smile, recognized us as Indians and welcomed us to their city (note: not country but city).

I have to admit, Egypt was harder to navigate than other countries I've been to. Most tourists go with a package hence the infrastructure is built to support tour groups rather than independent travellers. For example, it's hard to find guides at the sites which is a problem I've never faced before. However, it is much more fun to do the independent travel -- the tours are limited in time and restrictive in terms of interactions with locals. Not to mention that it's at least 3 times more expensive to book a tour from UK instead of in Egypt.

It was heartening to see women in markets wandering alone in Cairo past midnight. A taxi driver explained to us that women are not required to cover their heads and it's entirely their choice. I'm not entirely sure if women actually cover their heads as a choice or as a norm.