Saturday, February 6, 2010

Egypt (37) Mohammad, Airtime & Security Guy

Egypt (36) Temple of Kom Ombo

Tuesday, January 26 2010

I'm using my South African cellphone with an Egyptian sim card. I'm able to go online to check my email and update my Twitter and FB status and photos. I don't understand why I suddenly can't access anything online from my phone. I figure that I've run out of credit / airtime. I need a recharge voucher, but how do I do this when I'm floating on the middle of the Nile River?

Sitting on the sundeck on Tuesday afternoon with my mum, we chat to one of the bus boys, Mohammad. He understands English a bit better than some of the other workers on the boat, so I hope he'll be able to help me.

Thankfully, he understands what I need. He'll call one of his friends to get a recharge voucher number and I'll simply give him the money. Easy! He asks me not to tell the tour guides that he's doing this favour for me.

Just before disembarking the boat to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, I notice a new face on the boat. Wearing a blue shirt, he's tall, fair and has attractive eyes. Don't ask me how I know, but I can tell - just by looking at him, that he doesn't really speak English. He's part of the security on the boat and he stands at the entrance of the boat giving tickets to guests who are going outside. We have to give this ticket back when we get on again. It's a way of keeping count of how many people have to still come back before the boat sets sail to Luxor for the night.

As I'm walking out, he hands me a ticket, and when I take it from him, he pulls it back slightly and gives me a smirk. When we come back from Kom Ombo, he hovers around the reception area. We go upstairs to get ready for dinner and Galabya Party. As I pass him, I ask him what his name is. It's Tariq.

 

No comments: