I'm back!

And ohmygod, I'm . . . enlightened.

I did so many interesting things in Egypt that I hardly know where to start, to be honest. I've just been so inspired by the culture over there. The Egyptian people have really found a place in my heart; I learnt tonnes more about Ancient Egypt and Islamic society, and all because of the wonderful, warm people that live there. Western countries should learn a lesson from them.

The hotel my family and I stayed in was called the Laguna Vista Beach Resort, and it was gorgeous. It had about six pools, and the food was all-inclusive, so you could just eat as much as you want and pay nothing. *laughs maniacally* However, I ended up sick in bed for two days, and ate only soup for the rest of the holiday, which was about a week's worth. So where I thought I was going to gain weight, I've now lost weight. And I couldn't eat any of the cakes. ;-; But I still had a great time, though I am glad to be back ;]

Okay, well, I did all the tourist things -- I saw the Pyramids of Giza with my family, which I've been desperate to see since I was five years old. At first, I was sitting there crying (yes, I cried on King Khufu's Great Pyramid) . . . The city of Giza has been so built up around them that they looked horrendous at first, with all these salespeople, cars and tourists . . . God, I hated it. However, when we ventured past the main entrance and got into the desert, I was a very happy bunny. I got a snapshot almost exactly the same as the glimpse you see in the trailer for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (score!), and the pyramids are just amazing in general. I cannot work out how they built them in that heat, though -- it was absolutely sweltering! It got up to over one hundred degrees on several days, although it was mainly in the nineties.

As my family aren't all that on Ancient Egyptian history -- and I'm completely the opposite -- I was faced, on one day, with the terrifying task of going alone to another part of Egypt, Luxor, by aeroplane. My parents let me go reluctantly after seeing how desperate I was to go (come on, Luxor is the centre of the history there!), and so I set off at 3.30am and got a plane there (I went on six planes altogether on this holiday). Anyway, once there, I was thrilled. I went to the Valley of the Kings --I was gutted that you had to pay to go into Tutankhamen's tomb, and I didn't have enough money with me, but I saw the tombs of Rameses IV, Rameses IX and Siptah. Then I went on to see Hatshepsut's temple, Al-Deir Al-Bahari (Hatshepsut is my heroine, lol), Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. When I went home I was exhausted, and I had to get up at 3.30am again the next day to go to Cairo. Dear God, I was absolutely drained, but it was worth it.

Aside from the big trips, I also went quad biking through the Sinai Mountains, which was just amazing; I spent a lot of time in the Red Sea with the coral and all these amazing tropical fish; I got myself a nice tan (well, as nice as tan as a girl with Irish skin can ever get); I put up with my little brother's incessant yapping about his favourite thing in the world, Nando the Camel . . . God, that camel drove me mental after a week.

Alfie: Look!
Me: What?
Alfie: Look a' my book!
Me: *squinting at his strange version of the alphabet* . . . Alfie's Book All About Nando. Oh, God! What is with you and that bloody camel?!
Alfie: I love him! He my friend!
Me: -_-

Indeed, even when we returned to England, Nando still held a special place in Alfie's heart.

On the plane:

Me: Alfie, what's up with you? Aren't you happy to be in London again?
Alfie: *looks as if someone has died*
Me: Do you have a worry, my little ray of sunshine?
Alfie: *nods*
Me: Tell big sister?
Alfie: *gazes out of the window tragically* Nando . . .
Me: *face/palm*

Anyway, camels and pyramids and temples aside, it looks like you guys have been busy since I went . . . I have 144 deviations and 404 messages to sort through . . . I'd better go and have a look ;] Hope to catch up with you all soon!

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Things to Do

[] Chapter 13 of When We Dared the Dawn [Good Morning Wisconsin]
[x] Sort through messages and deviations
[] Oneshot for Repo! The Genetic Opera - Shilo/Graverobber
[x] Sort out and distribute gifts
[x] Put up a selection of photos
[] Chapter 6 of Aurora
[x] Type up Aurora scenes written on holiday
[] Finish oneshot for Lecidre - Starscream/Alexis [Red in the Holly]
[] ArtTrade: Starscream and Erin
[x] Start studying for exams
[x] Remaining three essays before school
[x] Review The Time of Our Lives
[x] Review Memoirs of Our Black Battles
[] Review Illusions of Love
[x] Review To Love My Bonded
[] Review Bloodied Scalpels
[x] Review A Hearty Lyric
[] Read and review Air Force One

Blackwing