++ MADNESS IN EGYPT ++

This is the 6 January 2004 edition of this page

                          CHAPTER  NINE

          Egyptian Stomach (alias 'gyppy tummy') and then HOME!


    As reported in the previous Chapter - all sorts of friends, admired or stupid, 'went down' with
the 'bug' one by one, two by two, etc.

   Only two of  us survived up until our return to LUXOR. We were both very pleased with 
ourselves - and spoke about how we had achieved this feat! (No food from markets, no
dodgy dealers, no water drinking - unless using 'mineral water', only Hotel food etc, etc..)

   Hotel food, up until then, had always been SAFE. I had come to rely on it! Some of the 
better-class of these hotels, including this one at LUXOR provide fresh fruit in one's room
ready for one's arrival. Of course, fresh fruit is normally avoided, but THESE people wash
their fruit in 'mineral water' rather than under taps!

  Unfotunately, the Hotel in Luxor had taken a short-cut by the cheaper expedient of,
presumably, using tap water for washing my oranges and bananas!! So, here I was
in its ISIS Hotel, having disembarked from the Nile crossing by a small boat (directly
into its back-garden). I joined in a chat will members of our group, then had dinner, then
got the keys to my room. My room (292) wasn't indicated on Level 2 on on the destination-
list in the lift (which didn't work!!). Room 292 was actually in another building across the 
seeringly hot hotel-grounds and paths,

A bell-boy picked me up and lead me to the room, hanging around annoyingly waiting
for a 'tip' at this place that I'll be only too pleased to leave! I found Dave Morrison when
I returned back to the main building somewhat later. Dave didn't get the rooms he'd
asked for - and clearly, Molly & Marjorie are in my separate large building. It's quite a
"complex" here on the 'site'. It's also very HOT outside (45-50 deg C!!) and  that three minutes
without a hat is about the MAXIMUM tolerable - assuming one's breathing and one's heart 
haven't stopped by then!!

I decided to try to keep my own room between 10 and 13 degrees centigrade for comfort. It
seemed effective using the temperature controller. That was more than could be said about 
the toilet, the roll-holder, the 'frig' and various other setting-controls about the room!! Still,
it was better inside than outside! Just 4 seconds on my own partly-shaded balcony caused
my body to be nearly 'cooked'. Their room service consisted of guys turning up to mend items
that they had obviously previously disabled or put out of adjustment - and then waiting for a
tip to cure it again!! They would then adjust things like the 'frig', clean towels, fruit bowl - just
like their Air-Egypt, get the customers IN and then try to make things work AFTER!

I watched a bit of "CNN International" and "EuroSports" on TV (Here as well as in Aswan
and Cairo!). It sure helped take my mind off the very high temperatures - and made me think
that I was somewhere MORE PLEASANT!! I didn't unpack my case because of tomorrow's
move to Cairo. (Oh dear, - that means EGYPT-AIR again!!) The coolness of my room here
contrasted enormously, whenever I stepped outside the room or the hotel, - with the extremely 
hot ambient temperatures elsewhere. I had been investigating the corridors and stairs for
any emergency exits should the need arise!! The diagrams on my door provided good clues.

I then returned to 'eating & writing' mode - coupled with TV watching in the room. I then 
wandered around my sub-set of the hotel, meeting two groups (shoppers & sunworshippers).
Curiously enough, on this occasion, the 'shoppers' came up with more interesting info (like
the money-grabbing servers to be avoided in some shops)!

Back to the 'COOL' now Roy (you can't beat it!!!) for quite a bit of TV watching (predominantly
'CNN International' and 'EuroSport') before my evening meal (the 'Farewell Dinner'), speeches
by Dave Morrison and a few guests, - and presentations to NABIL and DAVID. We then had 
individual chats and said our personal farewells (with embraces where appropriate) before
'turning in' for the night.

                      -----------------ooooooo---------------

I received my alarm-call at 7a.m on Friday 13 Sept 96, and a further TWO ringing sessions
whilst getting ready for the day!! That's too keen for my liking!! What with our luck, and 
today being "Friday the 13th!", I pondered on whether this MIGHT be the day in which
Egypt-Air finally gets something RIGHT!

My case was put outside my room by 8a.m and we departed just before 8.45am on the coach
for LUXOR airport - for the flight to Cairo which would take about an hour. We'd have
lunch in the Pyramisa Hotel.

Well, THAT was the PLAN!! I just didn't feel like much food when I got there - well, hardly
any! Later my stomach felt 'a little peculiar' - so maybe I was 'coming down' with what 95%
of my fellow passengers had done along the Nile from ASWAN to LUXOR (i.e 'Gyppy-
tummy' or Egyptian Stomach).

Most of us stuck to Dave Morrison's instruction about WHAT to eat and drink and what
NOT to!! In addition, I kept OUT of the 40 degree (plus!) temperatures more than most,
keeping the ROOM as a haven at approx 15 degrees - venturing out only occasionally
for short periods.

After lunch, that feeling became worse, so I decided to inform the SAGA representative
about my possible impending problems. It was SAFER to phone from my bedside phone
to the Operator rather than visit  the FRONT DESK. Unfortunately, their understanding
of English was almost non-existent so they didn't really understand my NEED for a SAGA
rep. My knowledge of Egyptian and Arabic was equally pathetic!! After several abortive
tries, I decided , despite the RISKS, to pay a VISIT to the 'front-desk' and let them SEE
the problem - whilst I could SEE more PEOPLE!! (One of whom might be really good
at English!)

I safely reached (by lifts and LONG walks) the 'front-desk' and tried to COMMUNICATE with
them (a little less badly I believe). My requests for SAGA reps indicated that there are NO 
Saga people available!!   I said "NO doctor before SAGA!"  In obvious DISTRESS from
DEHYDRATION, I indicated for, and said "WATER!". Eventually, some came - and I
took a couple of of sips and asked "Mineral Water?"   Their reply, essentially, was "No -
ordinary TAP water". I indicated "No good" and returned it to them. Still later, a bottle
of the standard Mineral Water arrived and I took more FLUID 'on board'. Still distressed,
I then indicated "Sickness, - feeling SICK" (aided by miming!). They then reminded me 
of the toilet's location (a LONG way in my condition) - and then I gasped "TOO LATE!!"
and was sick all over the FOYER floor when sitting at "Customer Relations"!!

They then brought a bin, lined with a plastic bag. After a while, the sickness came in 
abundance, uncontrollably at BOTH ENDS - my trousers also suffering here in "Customer
Relations". I now knew that BOTH our SAGA people (David and Nabil) had left us
and their replacement was out with some OTHER Group's "Coptic Quarter Visit". 
However, he NEXT   'SAGA' group has a woman rep., but she's in a meeting until 
8pm (??)    I left a message for her to ring, or contact me, ASAP - while I was escorted,
wobbly, with messy trousers back to my room by one of the hotel staff ( a fella!)

Sickness and diarrhoea were fast and furious after that - so I had to be stripped down
(from the waist DOWN) and ready for 'action' on the toilet with a bag-lined bin in front
of me - to deal with simultaneous sickness!! This is serious business, this 'gippy-tummy'!! 
Whilst on the bed by the phone, SHEILA, the other group's SAGA rep, rang me and 
asked about the problem. I defined it pretty closely and also said that I understand that I
needed to talk with her, or her equivalent, BEFORE ordering the doctor! She then said
that she'd describe my symptoms to a doctor and get him to visit me in my room (117).

He DID visit, questionned me in English (thank goodness!) and then examined me 
verbally and medically - then used that well-known universal expression "NO PROBLEM!!"
I understood that this meant that there will be no SERIOUS long-term problem, because,
then I got a GINORMOUS injection in my back-side plus a PRESCRIPTION for
several medicines of different sizes, frequencies etc, etc..  SHEILA returned during this
activity (with me defending my modesty with a towel about my lower half). The Doctor
charged 250 egyptian pounds (I've run-out of them due to my imminent return, so I got
SHEILA to deal with the payments, the Insurance, the medical deliveries and instructions
etc.. Although I had no pressing requirements, I made a mental note (and later, a written
one) of five to six needs for knowledge, fluids, times, forms etc.. 

Sheila visited me a number of times that evening - including the FINAL time when she
departed at well after 11pm with mutually-filled-in questionaires for Insurance and SAGA
purposes. Clearly, she was going to claim on HER insurance instead of mine. By the end
of the evening, my problem had been stabilised and I was more respectfully dressed!!
	
I was ON the tablets straight-away - and with the injection (THAT was a HELL of a
needle, I found out later - from my wast-bin!) the NIGHT was more comfortable than
the day!!

(... HERE   ENDETH   FRIDAY  13th!!! ...)

Having my 'early morning call' on the following day, I then packed my case and had a
VERY SMALL breakfast. The hotel's requirement for payment for last night's refreshment 
(lifesaver) as a meal-replacer was stupid and upsetting, - but ringing SHEILA in her 
room (apparently whilst she was having a shower) solved the problem!

In the morning, my situation (healthwise) didn't FEEL stabilised - and I have to be very 
WARY now as I have no spare trousers left (one is ready for the ZANUSSI and one is
ready for a zip-replacement!!)

I survived the coach journey to the Airport in CAIRO well enough, but it was a decidedly
'dodgy' situation and potentially even more DODGY with potential SICKNESS (etc)
whilst awaiting the boarding of my aircaft, having reached Gate 3.
 I am travelling, a bit too conspicuously for my liking, in on old shirt and relatively new
 "WWF shorts" (depicting tigers) from the hotel in CAIRO to my home in Worcestershire!!
 So I have to avoid any 'nasty situations' whatever!!!

The first part of the journey in the AIRBUS 300-600R from Cairo to HEATHROW  was a
bit 'dodgy' especially as I was sitting next to an attractive Middle-Eastern lady going to
study in Edinburgh. She was sitting on my left in seat 22F (I had G !) whilst my 'Brummy'
friends were in seats 22H & 22K!

During the first hour of the flight, I visited the nearby toilet several times (for 'SAFETY 
only' you understand!?) - but the toilets had no sick-bags!! After an early visit, I later 
took one from the collection in front of my own seat (22G) to the TOILET. Chris, from
our 'party', was seated two-to-my-left and spoke with our mutual ARABIC friend -
mainly about Scottish Cities!! Later still, I really had to use the bags whilst seated in
22G (to the probable worry of the lady in 22F!!) - although NOT on FULL-BORE!!

    Having got those 'duties' out-of-the-way, plus several toilet-visits, then I (and my 
neighbours) could settle down and 'enjoy' the imminent meal. I chose the one based on
CHICKEN - but it was not very tender and I found it inedible and could NOT eat it,
or indeed, hardly anything else of that meal!! During that meal, and subsequently, I had
several small pepsi-drinks and coffees.  Also, to help pass the five and a half  hours of
the flight away, SLEEP was a blessed refief! MOST of us did the same. Eventually, I 
arrived safe and clean at HEATHROW, - the Egyptians, on board, CLAPPING the safe
touchdown at Heathrow. That, I was to find, was an essentail part of the 'unexpected'
safe-arrival-routine form several of the 'backward countries' visited over the years.

The baggage retrieval took a VERY long while, as did the wait on the taxi-way for a 'gate'
 to  'plug into'. AER LINGUS's departure from THAT 'gate' was holding us ALL up! At
'baggage retrieval', the long carousel made us realise just how BIG an AIRBUS 300-600R
is!! The delay made me realise that I'd miss the 16.45hr train from PADDINGTON - and
would have to settle for the 18.15hr INTERCITY Express.

The Underground from HEATHROW to PADDINGTON ( I changed at Gloucester Rd)
was quite uneventful, and nobody seemed to STARE much at my WWF (Tiger) shorts!!
I arrived at Paddington just after 17.00hrs and the plan was to look for a notice of the 
18.15's platform - plus a visit to the toilet!

On walking across the Concourse towards the 'gents', the words "Malvern Link" came
across the PA System. It appeared that the 16.45 was SO LATE that I could catch it 
on Platform 7 at 17.10hrs. GREAT!! I'd be home in reasonable time!

There was just one 'change' to make en-route (at OXFORD) after sitting with a female
passenger from PADDINGTON. From Oxford to Malvern Link, I had a seat to myself,
but had interesting chats with a woman who alighted at EVESHAM and was going to
Bristol via Hereford. That seems a curious way of  'doing things', but I guess that's the
way the 'cookie crumbles' with our present declining railway system!!

At Malvern Link, I phoned two separate taxi-firms, but both were fully-booked-up
until nearly 9pm - so I walked home (one mile uphill!) with my cases etc, arriving 
there at 8.00pm.. On opening the front door, I 'did my normal' and launched the
ZANUSSI to process my laundry from this trip of great variability.