Crooks running for office

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As I was walking about Luxor today I was quite surprised to see a poster of a man I knew from my days of running the hotel on the west bank of Luxor. unable to read Arabic, first I thought it was a wanted poster

so I asked why he had these posters stuck all over the city,

running for government I was told. well not surprised really he comes with all the ingredients to make a good MP, corruption being the number one ingredient, he does not have much chance I was told, Mafia, said another, well I thought the people are standing up, why you say this about such A nice man as Methat:- bad man we have enough bad people in this council without him.

and at that My thoughts went back to 2005. when Methat and his sidekick Mohamed came to my restaurant with , we need a word with you Mr Tony, do not talk to the tourist, why these people are in my restaurant,

But you say of our business, and what is that I asked, selling property stay out of our business or we close the hotel. these are the guys that sell property and get lawyers to make false papers. the gays where taken photos of talking to young boys, and false accusations were made . forcing them to leave Egypt. Its all about money, so Mr Methat I hope your money including some of mine buys you a post in office.

I did not like being threatened by you or your mafia gang. not mentioning your business RAMHA tours such a large fleet you have what is it now ?? 50 buses ,20 mini bus 20 limosine cars. not doing bad from the pharaonic pieces you sold on the black market to Saudi. strange the police do not investigate where you got your fortune . since in 2005 you had to sell your Jeep to build your home??????

He was all part of me being swindled out of my home.

serving a purpose

Every day the poilice chief comes and everyday there is not one person hassling the tourist , so who is complaining, the Luxor Temple police situated at the exit of the temple. oo. the boss on the phone must go now and thats it for the days visit.

Well might as well go no touts around no one begging says the chief to one of the special secret police

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This photo is from a few days ago of one of the kids that plaque the area , oh" I am so hungry can you give me, they do not want egp they ask for euro or dollars.

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I need food

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please leave the area; we are on a family outing look all my kids are looking smart, so you go away.

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That told him .

now look at this beggars kids notice the well dressed family, also notice the girl in pink this is the beggar from a few days ago looks real hungry does she not. and big fat momma does look as if she could do with a good meal. the cop walks away before the whole family attack him,

click on this photo to enlarge. on the happy family

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now look son no point in you telling my family to leave . we run this place see. you must be new here so this is how it works

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see me, me, I pay the workers all these guys work with me so you go tell your chief

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and again the cop puts his hands in the air, what can I do my boss says they must go what can I do.

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You tell them mr secret police man. they do not listen to me.

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this is where they run to when the chief comes .photo taken bellow my balcony

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And this is not papyrus one reason for the plastic cover is for the feel paper is smooth papyrus is rough to the touch they pay 1 egp for one piece and sell for a minimum of 10. they ask 100 and you have to barter them down. thinking you are getting a good deal he will then offer several pieces for less money again.

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26.4.10 update2 it seemed the blogspot worked today there was a larger police presence outside the Temple. all the touts where lined up trying to sell on karnak street
that is the main road that leads to the temple, all looking very pissed off. including the beggars the spice sellers and the water touts. so I hope the cops keep up the show of force in stopping this hassle and hopefully they will dissapear to where they came from and leave the selling to the stall owners who pay a hefty rate for the stall to Luxor council.

26/4/10 the police where running it,

Lets all move to Karnak street

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The younger sister of the beggar girl is on duty today.

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This Seller Looking rather pissed off at all the police precence and having to trade on the main Karnak rd

18.00 and still police on duty.

egyptguidelines

For some time now this profesional tour opperator from egyptguidelines real nice website.

Email : travel@egyptguidelines.com

Web Page: www.egyptguidelines.com

Mido is not his proper name of course! has been putting remarks on my blogs. hoping someone will pick up on his offers of a cheap holiday in Egypt after curiosity took over I read one of his blogspots to see if he was giving a better deal than the other 30000 or so tour opperators selling cheap deals.

And medo from egyptguidelines this is all I can say about your advertising with blogger .

Brilliant piece of advertisement if you are trying to get to the ilitrate, anything goes here in Egypt advertise anything you want there is no guidelines or rules .

There is no comeback on any of these tour operators or tour guides,

which court are you going to take them to when tou find you get a real cheap holiday that you have saved up for. certainly not the corrupt courts we have here in Luxor or Egypt. all they will say is what a fool you have been parting with your money to so and so , do you not know we have brotherly rights here and he has every right to take your infidel money.

The hotels advertised are less than one star , you did not know that ! neither can you find out these hotels give their own star rating in backpackers, bootsanall hotel agencies. the felluca boat trip is the best laughable add I have seen for a while. full board eh ! especially if there is 20 on board these are not cruise ships but 20ft sail boats and cannot sail from Aswan to luxor even in the best of wind. and hope its not too much of a breeze while you go to toilet over the side, or you really will be pissing in the wind. you can only sail as far as Edfu barrage felluca sail boat is not allowed through. before 2004 yes then one of these craft overturned in the swell of the water coming out on a lower level of the lock gates. and that is the reason why they stopped the felluca sail boats.

I must add! that I want to do the felluca trip from Aswan to Esna, for me there is no better way to see the Nile river wildlife, but I know I will be ruffing it there is no kithen or toilet on board niether are there washing or sleeping facilities.

the deal with the train is not bad now the price has gone up to 180 egp ew not bad when your rate starts at 1600egp and you get to spend 29 hours of your 9 day break on board one of these wc's pulled behind a train.

This is one of Mido's blogspots I have added some bits in red

Egypt cheap tours | cheap holidays to Egypt| budget tours to Egypt

Egypt cheap tours doesn't means bad quality of tours inEgypt but it can be organized the same like luxury tours only difference will be for accommodations although that your accommodations will be in quality 3* hotels mostly will be central hotels all the way Egypt has all the varieties so we choose always the best for our clients according to his budget so alltours will be in comfortable minivan with a.c also cheap but very good location & quality for hotels that’s will be our way for organizing our cheap tours toegypt

Tour rate start from: $300

Tour high lights

Pyramids & sphinx, Sakara , Memphis , Nile felucca , Kom Ombo temple , Edfu temple , valley of the kings , Hatshibsut temple , colossi of memnon

Day 01

· Arrive to Cairo International Airport meet and assist by our representative with the sign of your name and assisting you through passport control formalities ( not allowed anymore because of security risks)

· Transfer by private air condition van to your selected hotel for check in

· Overnight in Cairo you will not miss our tour guide he will be the guy with a 20ft banner if there is more than 10 person on the tour,

Day 02 (B)

· Breakfast at hotel

· Our Egyptology guide will be waiting for you to start your tour

· Pyramids & Sphinx (one of the seven wonders of the ancient World )

· Break for lunch ( fool and falafel with tea 2 le)

· Then visit Memphis (the ancient capital of Egypt)

· Then proceed to Sakkara (more ancient site than that of Giza contains tombs and temples spanning a 3,000 year period)also there we will visit first step Pyramids ever built

· Transfer to the railway station to catch the 16 hour night train to Aswan

· Then Overnight in train ( where else, on the outside roof maybe ? )

Day 03 "Aswan"

· Optional trip to visit Philae temple & High Dam

· Overnight in Aswan

Day 04 "Aswan, Kom ombo"

· Early morning Optional tour To Abu Simbel temple

· Embark your traditional boat " Felucca " to see the beautiful landscape around the river Nile during sailing

· Lunch , Dinner , Breakfast will be served on the boat

· There is a chance to upgrade to 5* Nile cruise instead of felucca

· Sailing to kom ombo ( is the cruise to Komombo or Luxor? if comombo there is no 5* just use of toilets and top deck 4 hour trip)

· Overnight over felucca the upgrade can cost 350£ and as much as 1.500euro pp to luxor 3 day trip. boats such as the 5* ss Sudan.

Day 05 "Kom ombo. Edfu. Luxor"

· Arriving by boat at the Temple of Haroeris and Sobek, near Kom Ombo, is recommended: the magnificent Ptolemaic temple is in a dramatic setting on high ground beside the Nile, surrounded by sugarcane fields. Dedicated jointly to Haroeris, The Good Doctor Must have visited in the Dr Who tardis, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the temple is famous for its twin entrances, halls and sanctuaries. Sculpted wall reliefs include one showing ancient surgical instruments, bone-saws and dental tools. Three mummified crocodiles found nearby are now in the Chapel of Hathor. well I hope your english speaking tour guide did no write this load of crap, MIDO

· Drive to Luxor via Edfu

· Visit horus temple in Edfu

· Continue Driving to Luxor hope so no hotels in Edfu unless we sleep on a felluca

· Optional tour visit by night to visit Luxor Temple. is situated opposite my flat (SEE PHOTOS) I think you mean Karnak light show

· Overnight in Luxor

Day 06 "Luxor"

· Start day tout to visit the west bank excactly what you are! a tout

· Visit valley of the kings

· Then proceed to hatshibsut temple

· Visit colossi of memnon only freebee in all of Egypt

· Overnight in Luxor

Day 07 " Luxor"

· Free at leisure in Luxor

· Optional tour to banana island cost 5 le plus tax tax or dendera temple Which can be a bit pricey

· Transfer to Luxor train station

· Overnight in train

Day 08 "Cairo"

· Arrive to Cairo

· Meet & assist then transfer to your hotel I thought we already had a guide

· Optional tour ( city tour in Cairo)Islamic Cairo + Egyptian museum

· Overnight in Cairo

Day 09"Cairo.Departure"

· Transfer to Cairo airport for the final departure

Program includes

· 02 nights in 03* hotel in Cairo (Central hotel) Indiana hotel or similar on B.B basis does not get much cheaper

· 01 night in Nuba nil hotel in Aswan or similar on B.B basis 100egp

· 01 night over felucca on Full board Basis depends on the wind to do this in one day?

· 02 night in queen valley hotel in Luxor on full board basis Cheap back street hotel

· 02 nights in first class seating train (Cairo-Aswan-Luxor-Cairo) 360 egp return

· Private English tour guide from arrival to departure, see day eight

· A.C buses last model like a 1970 mercedes

· All transfer are including

· All above mentioned tour

Program excludes

· All the entrance fees got out of that nicely ,Nice one

· Tipping depends on how you like the cheap tour

· Optional tours will be are expensive

Prices

02:04 person 5:10 person from 11:16 from 16: 20

$ 520 $290 $ 250 $230

If you would like any information reach me via the contact information below

ROBERT

Operation department

Egyptguidelines

Email : travel@egyptguidelines.com

Web Page: www.egyptguidelines.com goody there are no guidelines

mido so all you really get is, a few nights in flea bitten hotels a day if the wind is good on a felucca.

two nights on a train and a bus from Komombo to Luxor and a guide who does not know his temples or the gods of the pharaonic era, the site tickets are almost as much as the price of this cheap tour, cheap, cheap, so says the chick to its mother. and if not going to the sites why do You need an expensive tour guide.
Try as I may I can not find cheap 9 day holiday or normal flights to Cairo

Read up on touts, taxi and carriages before you come, another one of my blogspots just for the tourists to be in the know before coming to egypt,

Good cop, Bad cop

Anger management

no selling here good cop or bad cop.

the crap papyrus paper touts.

I have not seen them do this before stand in a line so the tourist has to walk around them.

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this cop came over and asked them to move. the chief must be coming so they all go and hide

look at the anger in this one guys face

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move along now he says to the other touts,

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Notice the guy in the wheelchair behind the exit gate,

His minder brings him out. and 3 of these bastards surround him

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Even while the cop is looking on the same cop who 5 minutes earlier moved them on . the chief must have changed his mind and did not come.

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The best rubbish paper in all of Egypt you know how much

sitting on my roof I watched this poor guy in a wheelchair being pushed by an Egyptian minder,

He parked the wheelchair just outside the gate exit to Luxor Temple and left the poor man at the mercy of not one but four of these bloody cretins who try and download rubbish Papyrus on the tourist. I bet the guy only bought after being hassled for at least 25 minutes, just to get some peace. the mini bus driver had been waiting in the same spot for 20 mins. just watching. after the sell. he put him in the vehicle. and that is what I call hassle the poor guy had no where to go.

the driver has most likely been driving this guy around all day. on his 70% commision on sales.

and will no doubt claim his commission from this tout.

I am going to print a few of these photos and take them to the chief next time I see him at the post. and I know what he will say. ah" these are Luxor temple police. and will let you know the outcome, try coming back in a couple of days. things are manyana here.

another con man

After 3 weeks of going to the supreme council of Luxor office and seeing more public relations people than I can count or care to remember with the exception of A young lady called Doua Sayed and given her cell number 0122678083, not sure if she wanted me to call her privately or not? But I have not seen Hyde or hair of her since that first day of promise to get my money back from the crook landlord Machmood.

Then I wanted to find out about the land in the west bank and was told to go to the office of Dr Samir Fawak at 10.00 on 21^st of march.
On arrival at his office on said appointment time I was told to come back in 2 hours when he will arrive from Cairo, on leaving another official asked what the appointment was about. And he referred me to the new office in the new village of El-Gurna And wrote the full address out and the governors cell phone number 0106050767.

So off I go, strike while the iron is hot! well luke warm, the new office was easy to Find as it was near the Mosque and home of my dear friend Sheihk Achmed Tyib the new Grand mufti of Egypt.

On arrival at this rather sparse and in need of a lick of paint office in New gurna I was led upstairs and asked to wait as Mohamed had someone with him. I was then appointed a guy called Al Azab Ahmed Al Adly, not a name most Welshmen would remember . easy for me as I was given his card.
The reason for the card was this nice young man wanted to do private business, and I will explain later,

But first the reason I was appointed Mr Adly, he could speak English, it soon became apparent that he could speak English to his Egyptian counterparts. So another man was then brought into this rather sparse office, where the conversation took a rather long time and at the end of which no one knew exactly what was the reason I had come to The eminent dr Mohamed for, but see dr Mohamed I did, more time shaking hands was spent than actual talk. And his understanding of the English language was almost zero. He kept asking me if I spoke Arabic , each Time I said shway shwaya (very little) should just have said no understand, he then grasped why I was in his office I was wanting Land not just land but land that I bought 3 years ago or rather land that was bought with my money. And the council has deemed fit to steal from any one who has more than what they call one piece, 170 square meters, I had 14 pieces. And I wanted to find out how many pieces they had taken. Easy question. Or so one would think, but not to the Egyptian. First they wanted to see my papers knowing full well there are no papers for this so called government land, then I explained or tried to, that The Sheik has this problem of ownership in hand and all I want to know is how many pieces are left. Leave it with me and call back in a few days after we see the sheikh. Ah good I said and was courteously escorted out of the guvs office, now it was time for Mr Adly to also be courteous. Here is my card Mr Tony I will call you in two days, with the answer if you need anything just call me I am so sorry to hear of you problems , I will help I am nephew of the Sheikh.

The next day as promised Mr Adly phoned and said I have to come to office at 17.00 tomorrow.

23.3.10 I received 3 calls while out on my daily walk while my phone was on silent mode.

At 3. 40 I was on my mobile and noticed I had 3 missed calls but the number was not recognized so did not call back, its something they do here call 3 times then hang up because they have no money in the phone and want the receiver to call back. If I do not recognize the number I discard the calls. Then the phone went and it was Mr Adly , I will meet you at the Ferry at 5. Very courteous I thought!

But as always there is a reason for these people to be nice and as a stranger to this land its so easy to be fooled, as I was seven years ago, but not now I do not believe anyone here, will see, that’s my motto now,

So here we are on the West Bank and I was thinking we where going to the council office in Gurna. On the back of a 150 cc motorbike. Very nice you may think but all I had on was a pair of trousers and a thin cotton shirt. And its not my ideal mode of transport I have a problem Getting my leg over to get in bed never mind to straddle a motorbike. Not to mention my back and slipped discs.

After a few miles we passed the turnoff for the office and was heading in the direction of the OLD New Gurna. Where we go ?. To my home he said, why? To see the Sheihk. Oh ok.

We arrived safely after a very bumpy ride over rough unmade roads once we passed the Mosque of Tyib. Glad to get off the bike I was led into a very sparse home with lots of kids running about. Once inside what seemed to be Mr Adly’s office I was asked if I needed food ? no thank you! Tea? no thank you. I make sisha for you while we wait OK, that will be nice the pipe was already made and lying in wait as these people already know Mr tony likes his sisha !

Half an hour passed and some more kids came in to play the stare at the Welshman game. Then a guy walked in at first I thought it was a resurrected Mahat Magandi . and this guy I was informed was the translator. And brother in lay for Mr Adly then we was joined by Mahats wife adly’s sister. Then mahats second wife, of much younger years and Quite a buxom wench, and some very strange thoughts went through my naughty mind. Why you no take an Egyptian woman Mr Tony.

And I broke the ice by saying I am 90% deaf in one ear and 50 in the other with one wife I can sit on my deaf side. But if I have two where would she sit, and they answered on the other side, Exactly I said, one nagging is enough for me. And hysteric laughter broke out in the packed or shall I say over congested room of 3 x3 yards that had 3 benches and a large desk in, now mr Mahat Magandi

Wanted to know all my story on how I paid for land that I had no papers for . And I told him the main points as to what I have written on my blog http://justliars.blogspot.com. And all my story was translated to the whole family including Mr Adly who I was given as an interpreter two days before in the council office. Ok I said enough talk and enough sisha where is The sheikh ? we go to see him soon, I have learnt not to argue with these people all they will do is say another lie, so just put it in my head I am with the Egyptian and treat the whole scenario as a Joke Just say yes and no. and maybe or hopefully some good will come of the farce.

Ok I said as getting up to Leave, the little one came in with A teddy bear in a shawl that I was supposed to say oh nice teddy or something like that, as the shawl came off the piece of cloth only recognized now as a teddy after too many cuddles or beatings depending on the Childs mood. I noticed a large gash where all the stuffing was coming out. And said ooh its Mr Mubarek come from hospital.

And another roar of laughter broke the silence of the once crowded small room.

Once Mr Adly got me on my own outside I knew something was on his mind usually all the people including kids want to come out to say and wave and say their masalama’s.

Ok Mr tony I have land I can sell you. Oh fuck Here we go again, how much here in this village 200 egp per metre one piece as you want will be 200.000 egp. Oh very good I asked and can I build what I want on this land, oh Yes, will I have papers to say I can build on this land, ooh yes sir Mr Tony,

Now you really make my head spin I said with such a generous offer . I will think about it and let you know in 2 days, you sure mr Tony, ooh yes I am Sure gonna tell yah. And under my breath, where you can shove this piece of land where the sun does not shine.

Now it was time to head back to my home and all the way, you phone me. Ah yes I will phone you.

Boy was I glad to get off that bike and get away from yet another smarmy bloody Egyptian all that was said over the past two days he never understood one bloody word only Mr tony need land.

This I know as fact since 3 years ago and I keep up to date with prices, Land in this village is free as long as the dwelling is built within 1 year, or the land goes back to the council.
and at most if buying private land its 20Egp per square meter. not 200.

And this is Mr Aly's card, and yes he was a right star. not sure what an artest is it could mean con man attached to the council office, we are in Wonderland I am still wondering what will come next.
all good fun now I know what these people get up to even in the name of the grand Mufti of egypt.http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=7&id=20304