Is Cairo Really As Bad As They Say? | VISIT CAIRO WITH ME • VLOG

[@dayan47]

I recall my first entry to a masjid forty years ago..it was in Heliopolis in Cairo. I was alone and I felt so serene as a tourist and it was not long after when I returned to the state I converted.I had been reading about Islam , and loved the reality of tawheed. I suggest you study. Covering is a strength.

[@dmp1520]

you look ridiculous, like a sack of potatoes. women turned into sacks of oppresed objects. progress!

[@alexcarter2542]

As an American who spent a year living in Cairo, I can say that it is absolutely worth the trip and I've never heard of any American not falling in love with Egypt. Does it have its downsides? Yes. Is it perfect? No. Is YOUR home country perfect? Doubt it. Yes it's dirty in the city. People throw their trash right on the ground and while as an American that took me a while to get used to, it is what it is. The people's kindness will more than compensate for that small... blemish on the society, shall we say. Are there scammers? Hell yes. But there's a really simple way to avoid that: Don't engage. Don't look at them, don't even say "no thanks." As soon as you give them an in, they will manipulate you. They will be all smiles at first and then start giving you "gifts," which, before parting, they will then all of a sudden expect payment for (and no amount is ever enough). Do yourself a favor and don't speak to ANYone who is walking up and down tourist traps hawking cheap junk. If you want to buy something, go to an actual business or stand (kiosk). Those people will treat you fairly. I will also say this: This woman's description of Egypt being quiet, and her negation of "sensory overload," (dogs barking, traffic, honking, call to prayer, etc.) is completely opposite to my experience. Egypt IS a VERY loud place (in most, not all) places. But that's exactly the thing: When you want to escape it, you most certainly can find quiet spaces. But I would 100% say that her characterization is pretty disingenuous, and I don't think that's because she's lying or anything, I think it's because she's staying in a tourist-focused hotel. Egyptians are absolute professionals at making foreigners feel at home, and so many hotels will absolutely cater to making sure you don't get that sensory overload (hence why this woman feels like everything is so quiet: It IS quiet, because they've situated that hotel on the very edge of Giza away from all the noise and people and traffic). Another note about the hotel she's staying in: That is a VERY, VERY, VERY expensive hotel. And the view she had of the pyramids right outside her window (and the low noise factor) is what makes it so expensive. I'm quite certain that hotel is charging around $6-800.00 per night. You will get a discount for a week-long stay or longer, but it's not going to be any great discount. The hotel she was staying is was absolutely top of the line and if you told me she was paying $1,000 a night (or even higher tbh), it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. So what I'm saying is, unless you're happy paying that much, don't expect the same conditions you saw from her hotel room. Okay, those are the things I felt was most important to kind of... set the record straight on. I just felt I needed to kind of... give a little bit more context to what you saw in this video so that you won't be disappointed, or surprised (and so you know what to look out for, expect, and how much to pay). Like I said, several of her impressions were pretty misleading, but again I think that has a lot more to do with her having really shelled out quite a bit of cash to side-step a lot of the... let's call them, "not so perfect," parts of Egypt, than lying or something like that. And again I don't think it was purposeful, I just think that since she DID shell out so much money, she was really insulated from a lot of the things I mentioned, and since this was her first trip (and first day!), and since this was her ONE experience, I just think she simply wasn't aware of a lot of the things I mentioned. Anyway, back to my review... The food is amazing. The sights are amazing. There's so much to do. There's so much to see and explore. The Egyptian people are beautiful (yes beautiful; both physically and spiritually or personality-wise; whatever you want to call that). A couple recommendations about things to do that most tourists miss: Go to a juice stand and buy fruit juice (personally I recommend watermelon). The fruit they have there is NOTHING like what we have. Everything is at least 10 times more flavorful. You have never lived until you've tried Egyptian mango or watermelon juice. Absolutely positively divine. Go to Muqattam (at night). Muqattam is an enormously tall plateau, mountain thingy that sits on the edge of Cairo. There are couches and things people have dug into the side of it and people up there who have set up hooka stands so you can go up there at night, get a hookah with your friends/family, have your own little area all to yourself, and overlook the enormity that is Cairo at night. It is truly one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see. I'll never forget the moments I spent up there. Easily in my top 3 of favorite places I've ever been. Go to a bookstore. Buy some books in Arabic as souvenirs for your family members back home. The writing is sooooo beautiful, and I know from experience those are things I brought back for my family and friends that they really, really treasure. Walk along the Nile at night. It's called the Corniche. There are foot bridges that span it in several places in downtown Cairo that have tables and chairs set up so you can sit down with your friends and family and order food, order a hookah, drinks, play backgammon or checkers (or chess, and if you are a chess player, the locals will absolutely COMPETE with each other to be able to play with you 😂. The Arabs invented chess and they are proud of that and very good at the game), etc. Spend the night relaxing listening to waves break on the shore of the Nile. Another beautiful, beautiful experience & memory I will always treasure. Here's the last one, and it's huge: Eat the local food, AND, buy medicine from the local pharmacies to combat the... *ahem*... side-effects... Don't think you're going to get by with whatever over the counter crap you bought in your western country of origin: The Egyptians know what they're doing and they know how to take care of their foreign guests: As SOON as you land, leave the airport & get settled into your hotel (before you've eaten ANYTHING) take a walk down to the local pharmacy (there must be ten MILLION pharmacies in Cairo) and buy meds from behind the counter to help battle the bugs that the local food is going to be introducing into your gut. You're not getting sick because the food isn't clean (it's VERY clean, much cleaner than ours actually), you're getting sick because your body isn't used to the local bacteria. When Egyptians come to OUR western countries to visit, they also get really sick. Please trust me when I say this will be your most important step in enjoying Egypt. Whatever you'll bring from home won't be enough to help combat this: You NEED to go to a pharmacy and get what basically would, over here, amount to a prescription-strength drug to treat the stomach issues you're going to encounter, the cool thing is you don't need a prescription. Just go right up to the counter, tell the guy you've just landed and you need drugs for the D word. As soon as you finish your first meal, take the first dose. Usually they'll give you a week's course of medicine. If you do what I say you won't get sick. If you don't, you will. It's as simple as that. That's about it. If you have any questions, feel free to reply to my comment and I'll be happy to answer. Good luck, safe travels 🙂. Alex from Ohio

[@riskitttt]

this was refreshing to hear as an Egyptian, the rest of Egypt is even better than cairo

[@hannahwhitley002]

Ah that’s lovely to hear. Absolutely, stay tuned for more videos of the other locations I visit!

[@LMayor]

i can see you are have a pure heart and lovely face Hannah and i'm really proud to have a sister like you in Islam , allah bless your beautiful soul, also so nice you are so welcome in Egypt

[@hannahwhitley002]

Ah thank you for your kind words. It's so appreciated!

[@bimconstruction87]

Thanks For Your Words About My Country Egypt 🙏❤

[@hannahwhitley002]

Of course, I hope more people visit!

[@emilelmanquabadi]

Well done and well said may God bless you both enjoy your time in Egypt ❤❤❤

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thank you so much for your kind words, it's really appreciated.

[@maisymckenzie1445]

Loved this🙌🏼🙌🏼 Made me want to visit even more !!x

[@hannahwhitley002]

@@maisymckenzie1445 Aw you sweetheart! Thank you so much for commenting and supporting. It’s a MUST! 😁 I’d go back again if I could!

[@lausilein]

❤Egypt is a playground for ppl that love history and religion ❤️

[@hannahwhitley002]

Egypt truly has everything you could ever want in a trip, I was completely mesmerised!

[@lausilein]

@ 😍😍😍🇪🇬❤️❤️❤️

[@lausilein]

@ happy to hear this💜🧡💙 enjoy your future trips

[@nourtharwat4821]

Lovely people and great history

[@hannahwhitley002]

Absolutely!

[@duncanridgley]

Great video, nice you are positive about the place, are you guys still here? I am shooting in Khan el Khalili these days.

[@hannahwhitley002]

@@duncanridgley Thank you so much! Absolutely, I loved it. Unfortunately not, we were only in Egypt for 10 days total. Back to the rainy U.K.! 😢☹️

[@islamfawzy6523]

I think that the timing for the visit also affects your view of Cairo in particular, which is a bit hectic and hot during summer seasons but nice and subtle during fall and winter

[@hannahwhitley002]

I visited in early September so I’d say that’s still off season and so definitely quieter than the peak tourist seasons of December - February

[@Mahmoud-f6s]

As an Egyptian I really like your words and beliefs. Cairo is a great city maybe it suffers from neglect and slums but I am sure it will shine again one day and you should really pray for us to get rid of the dictator Sisi

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thank you so much! I really mean it, respect and love is a free currency!

[@Mahmoud-f6s]

@@hannahwhitley002 ❤️❤️❤️

[@altaf0]

I appreciate your efforts for making this video.

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thanks for your support!

[@bassemhany9010]

Enjoyed this video thanks and Welcome to EGYPT even it's not at the best days of Egypt nowadays

[@hannahwhitley002]

@@bassemhany9010 I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to comment and show support. I absolutely loved the country it was truly one of a kind

[@BritishBangladeshimum]

❤❤MashaAllah

[@Ag-kl9jx]

Beautiful eyes see the world beautiful , welcome to Egypt

[@mam18181]

Your looks in Hijab was gorgous ,, 👌👌👍👍👏👏🤓 I hope that you both will have a. wonderful stay in Egypt,

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thank you! It was such a joy wearing it!

[@fromwhereistand7]

Such a cool vlog ❤

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thank you!

[@Assassinclips]

You don't have to wear hijab in egypt to be safe anyway!

[@hannahwhitley002]

No not at all, I just chose to :)

[@Assassinclips]

@@hannahwhitley002 Mashallah may allah guide you

[@brindarikachoudhury3986]

What hotel you stayed in n for travelling for 10 days can u tell the money i will be needed

[@hannahwhitley002]

Absolutely! I'm working on something that I hope will give you all the details you need. I'll share it with you soon!

[@ashif4280]

Your hotel name, please? its stunning

[@hannahwhitley002]

All will be shared very soon!

[@sgogacz]

Two errors in the first minute which made me stop watching this movie: - visa on arrival cost 25 USD per person, not 50 - you are allowed to bring in/out 5000 EGP, it is not totally closed currency.

[@hannahwhitley002]

I can only share what my experience was and everything I've shared is *accurate and up to date as of September 2024 for those travelling with a British Passport*. If it's different for other countries that's great to know. Thanks for your feedback!

[@sgogacz]

@@hannahwhitley002 According to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements visa cost 25 USD for UK citizens as well (and it's the same price for all visa-on-arrival eligible countries). Also, amounts of EGP that can be brought through the border are determined by internal Egypt law and is country-independent.

[@هادف-ي4ص]

رائع جدا استمتعت واتمني يكون فى ترجمه للعربيه ولفته جميله ان ترتدي الحجاب مظهرك رائع بالحجاب

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thank you. I believe KZbin is introducing feature where creators can offer translations in other countries - I hope this is the case soon!

[@mohamedelkaremy851]

enjoying Cairo? 😊

[@hannahwhitley002]

Absolutely

[@EslamRagab24]

You are welcome beautiful 💗❤🎉

[@tarekelshamy8413]

Nice shots, great narrative. However, you just need to walk & talk, show yourself less. Edit your videos to look more professional. Summarize your ideas. Divide the video into sections. 21 minutes still long. Mention good thins and few bad things to look neutral. Wishing you all the best. This is an advise from a media consultant in Washington DC.

[@hannahwhitley002]

Thanks so much for this Tarek! This kind of feedback is super valuable and always welcome as I look to improve my videos going forward.

[@americancivics7851]

the egyptian gov paid for this PR video.

[@kky595]

You don’t have to wear head cover, enjoy your trip!

[@hannahwhitley002]

I loved my trip even more by wearing one! It made visiting mosques much easier, and helped me to blend in with local life and immerse myself in the culture. A unique opportunity for me to be respectful of the culture and faith ☺️

[@NM-ii8wn]

Who says this? Rumour mongers that you are one of?!

[@xXOoN]

Don't come to egypt😊