Who am I and why I am in Egypt?
My name is Ruta and I grew up In Lithuania. At the age of 18, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and move to Sweden for my university degree. I was doing my degree in psychology as well as part-time working as a nursing assistant for dementia patients. All the money I could save at that time I spent on traveling. Today at the age of 22 I am proud to say that I have visited 30 countries as a solo female traveler. I have also been privileged enough to come back to many countries and Egypt is among them.
“You have probably heard a lot of negative stereotypes and misinforma- tion about Egypt and so did I”
However, I have always believed that once you perceive misinformation as a fact you lose. You miss out on experiences and life lessons, therefore I did not allow media or other resources stop me from traveling to the Middle East. Despite all the issues Middle East is known for I decided to research and see for myself, that is why I traveled to Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt. I fell in love with the Middle East and especially Egypt. After visiting Egypt for the first time I could not wait to come back here again. There is something about Egypt, something that makes us all come back. And I did come back. Many times. However, this time I came back as a potential resident, not as a tourist. In January 2018 I dropped out of University and came to Dahab (South Sinai) to free myself from all of society’s expectations regarding education, career, and success. I knew Dahab is the place to be and this is where I am living now.
What have I seen so far?
During my stays in Egypt, I have visited Cairo, North Coast, El Gouna, Hurghada, Alexandria, Upper Egypt (Aswan and Luxor) and South Sinai (Sharm-el Sheik and Dahab). Traveling through Egypt and experiencing new places made me realize that every place/city is different that makes Egypt such a diverse country. This country has to offer everything you could dream of- sandy beaches, turquoise water, lagoons, rocky mountains, desert, the Nile, lakes, sea, mango trees, islands, hospitality, corals and of course, fascinating marine life. Egypt is not only home to beautiful nature but also home to Nubian and Bedouin people. Nubians are people living in Upper Egypt and they are known for their kindness and hospitality. Since Upper Egypt is not that far from Sudan the vibe in Aswan is different than in the rest of Egypt. I think it is a vibe of sub-Saharan Africa that I got to experience while visiting and hanging out with local Nubians.
Why South Sinai and why Dahab?
Advice to other female travelers
- Don’t get scared by hospitality. Most of the people in Egypt will be really happy to help you.
- Feel free to dress whatever you like in places like South Sinai, Upper Egypt, North Coast, Hurghada or Gouna. However Cairo is more conservative, thus more conservative clothes are advised.
- While negotiating a price be strong and walk away if the price does not satisfy you. They will most likely agree on your conditions.
- Use Uber while visiting Cairo. It’s convenient, safe and reasonable.
- Learning Arabic numbers and some words could be useful in many situations.
- If someone asks you where you from or what is your name and you feel bothered just ignore. You are not obliged to answer.
- Relax and enjoy. Egypt is not as bad as you heard.
- Remember that you are strong and capable of many things.
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