Girl Talk Called Egypt
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A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a mega mover and shaker in our belly dance world, Sakti Rinek. I went to Egypt with Sakti in the early 90’s and realized that it was too important an experience to keep to myself. That’s why I’m titling this post, “Girl Talk called Egypt,” because that’s all we talked about.
Sakti invited me to go with her to Egypt and as I look back at the invitation I realize that she was a huge part in taking my dance path from small town goals to nightclub dreams. After experiencing belly dance in Egypt, my naive way of looking at belly dance changed forever. In retrospect I think we were the Indiana Jones of our generation. We went to Egypt, just the two of us with the enthusiasm of explorers ready to find the missing link. In many ways I feel I found my ancient, spiritual self. Something awoke when we traveled around Egypt that I didn’t know was asleep.
As Sakti and I talked about our trip, memories flooded in of our first apartment in Garden City and how we walked everywhere. We lost ten to fifteen pounds each within two weeks. There was so much to see and with the hustle and bustle of life outside our windows, we left in the mornings and didn’t return until late at night. I’m not saying Egypt wasn’t an emotional rollercoaster but in many ways it was liberating to our souls. There’s a freedom in exploring other cultures first hand. Everywhere we looked was a National Geographic moment, surroundings so poignant that they imprinted upon our hearts and etched in the people and their way of life.
Our trip to Luxor was a bus ride that lasted hours. My bladder took a beating that trip because the bathroom wasn’t even a consideration. I wanted to run to our hotel room but the managers of the hotel invited us into their office for tea. My bladder was screaming at me at that point and with the look Sakti gave me so was hers. Everyone thought we were actresses so they treated us with special care. The following day we hired a tour guide to drive us around and as we started to drive off, our car was surrounded by people taking our pictures and waving at us. Sakti and I laughed hysterically in the back seat and our guide smiled at us and said, “They think you are movie stars!”
We saw Nagua Fouad, Zoheir Zaki, and Dina while we where there together. We visited with Mahmoud Reda and enjoyed meeting Madam Boozy who was performing in his show. Sakti went to Egypt for the sole purpose to get work there and as we traveled around and people took notice of her, her dream of dancing in Egypt came true. I remember in Luxor we were at a nightclub sitting at a table full of millionaires. They were jet setters and we were small town girls. We came to watch the belly dance show so we could see the talent and find out how Sakti could get work there. The belly dancer wasn’t very memorable but the band was just amazing. Our table started to make a bet on whether Sakti could out dance the belly dancer. With word getting out to the belly dancer that there was an American belly dancer in the audience, she found out where we were sitting and motioned for Sakti to get up and dance with her. Our table applauded and bets were being made. The band seemed to know what was up because right from the first drum beat the competition was on. When Sakti danced the audience cheered for her with a thunderous applause. By the time ten minutes had passed it was obvious that Sakti won the competition. After that night it was clear that Sakti was about to make her mark in Egypt!
The following night we watched a snake charmer work his magic with three cobras. He motioned for me to go up onto the stage so he could put a cobra around my shoulders. I was glued to my chair and so was Sakti. As much as I love animals, the thought of a cobra around my shoulders scared the beejeebies out of me.
We walked around as much as possible and to our delight we discovered the market place or the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo. We walked through walkways of shops offering glimpses of fabrics, herbs, essential oils, costumes and the list goes on. When it’s all mixed together it intoxicates the senses and a surreal light surrounds everything. The past and present merge together becoming a doorway into history and customs that never change. It’s the one time in my life where I actually saw time stand still.
One eventful experience was when we ate at of all places Pizza Hut and I had a large bug crawling around drenched in my salad dressing. He looked like the creature from the Black Lagoon. I told the manager and he looked at me and accused me of putting it there! I laughed hysterically because it just struck me funny and needless to say he made me pay for my salad anyways.
One thing Sakti and I did which I don’t recommend is we enjoyed throwing water balloons off our balcony. I know, it was an immature thing to do but it was like we had both just turned 12 and we couldn’t help ourselves. The other tenants never tattled on us and unbeknownst to us they used to watch us throw them off our balcony. It was as if Egypt unleashed all the restraints that we both grew up with and we just went a little silly.
One experience that we had at the Museum of Antiquities was beyond expectations. We had spent most of the day at the museum when two guards called us over to look into a sarcophagus that had Ramses II in it. The museum officials had just shown his mummy to some dignitaries when we were called over. We walked up some small steps and looked down at one of the most powerful Pharaohs of all time. I couldn’t get over his hands and how well preserved he was. I was looking at someone who was apart of history, who made history. It was a life altering moment because it was as if he was just sleeping. I felt as if we stepped back in time, full of vitality and a ritualistic way of looking at life. I wonder what Ramses II would do if he saw us with our technology of today?
The memories of Egypt fill me and they live on in my heart. I will always see Egypt as a gift from a vivacious blonde who took Egypt by storm. Because of Sakti when I think back to Egypt, a smile crosses my face and a giggle escapes my mouth. Egypt wasn’t just about the people and landscape it was about a friendship of laughter and adventure that is as indomitable as the pyramids. Time passes but the memories never fade. Girl Talk called Egypt is the bond between us and I believe this is the way Egypt stays alive in the hearts of those she touches.
Coming up, Cleopatra’s Court chat room on www.bellydancevillage.com
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