October 11, 2009 by traveler.

Talk about Outta Left Field. I’m not sure where this came from (and I totally missed out on all the predecessors), but you gotta check out this awesome stop-motion video featuring Mr. Bean and Michael Jackson:

If you liked that (and what’s not to like?) there are plenty more. Patrick Boivin even has some ‘interactive’ videos, although they aren’t quite as compelling as the sit-back-n-watch variety. Love this stuff- need more! Good work, PB.

Posted in Comedy, Weird, Art, Video, Toys, Funny | No Comments »

October 7, 2009 by traveler.

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

I was all excited to see Pee Wee Herman’s new stage show. As a kid who grew up with the classic TV series (and movies), I was naturally surprised and excited to see the Pee Wee character the way it was born- live on stage. I will be back in LA around the end of November, and Pee Wee Herman show was high on my list of things-to-do when I’m back.

That was before they decided to cancel all shows and open at a bigger venue in Jan/Feb 2010! What a bummer! No plans to be back in LA around that timeframe, so I might just have to catch up with some DVDs. Not the same!

Kinda dumb to get worked up over Pee Wee Herman, but hey- not many other nostalgia-inducing live stage performances of Saturday morning tv shows these days.

Posted in Gripes, Comedy, Retro, TV | No Comments »

October 6, 2009 by traveler.

The time has come for the final segment of the Cairo/Giza Photologue. When we left off, we were admiring the royal boat used to transport Khufu to his pyramid. I left the boathouse and turned around for a great view of Khufu’s Pyramid.

Looking at this view, I really have an appreciation for how long the Pyramids have been around. They have seen countless clouds passing by, and withstood the ages in excellent condition. The inside has naturally aged well also. Unfortunately you can’t take photos inside, but the climb is worth the near-heart attack. Typically the burial chamber is the only chamber open to the general public, but it is not what I imagined as a kid. I pictured some Indiana Jones type tomb, but of course the Pyramids aren’t like that. As opposed to tombs of ‘commoners’, the Pharoah’s tombs are very sparse. There is no real adornment inside, and no heiroglyphics explaining the Pharoah’s life. Other tombs had extensive inventories of all that the person owned in life, but the Pharoah’s tomb has no such list. The reason is that an inventory would be redundant- the Pharoah owned all of creation.

Heading outside, we pass this great view of Khafre’s Pyramid. The cap is all that remains of the outer layer of the Pyramid. Like Khufu’s Pyramid, most of the finishing stones have eroded over time. Still, I think Khafre’s ‘toupee’ adds character.

Ah, the World-famous Sphinx. It is believed that the Sphinx’s head is actually that of Khafre. The Sphinx lines up with his Pyramid, and it may be his way of trying to top Khufu. The Sphinx is naturally a metaphor for the Pharoah- the human head symbolizes intellect, and the lion’s body symbolizes power. And he’s been working up a powerful hunger lately. It’s true- the Sphinx now gazes longingly at a KFC & Pizza Hut. Gotta thank Yum Brands for bringing a touch of class to a timeless treasure.

Well, time to pack up and head back into Cairo. What a terrific riverfront- especially near sunset. I didn’t see any crocodiles or reed baskets floating in the water, but I guess that’s only natural since Cairo wouldn’t be the Middle East’s most populated city if everyone were being eaten by crocodiles. My childhood imagination never lines up with actual travel experiences ;)

One more picture to add-

Cairo’s streets are notoriously dangerous. After crawling through cramped traffic, we finally reached a nice open stretch of highway. And what else would you see on a highway but a man on a bike skitching a bus? When you’re riding a bicycle in the middle of a busy highway, you need a break every now and then.

The other Egyptian highlight I have to mention is Koshary- If you’re a huge starch fan like me, then don’t miss out on Koshary. Macaroni, spaghetti, rice, lentils, chickpeas, tomato sauce, fried onion, with a garlic oil Da’a sauce? Rice pudding? Heaven?! Abou Tarek is the place to go for authentic, inexpensive Koshary. It’s so good you might find yourself getting a few orders to go. Strangely Abou Tarek’s website is now a GoDaddy parking page, so here are some Flickr images of the restaurant and their Koshary. Yum!

Well, that does it for the Cairo/Giza Photologue- happy travels.

Posted in Photologue, World, Travel, Pics | No Comments »