16 July,2010 11:02 AM IST | | Payal Kamat
TV host Pooja Bedi was recently in Egypt for two weeks to shoot for a Telugu film Shakti.
The lady who plays an Egyptian princess got to shoot in some really exotic locales along with cast members, Sonu Sood, Reza Sharifi and others. And though Pooja's schedule was tight, she managed to do some touristy things, she tells CS:
Princess diary
We shot in Cairo and Luxor. In Cairo, we were put up at a hotel close to the pyramids as we were shooting there, and enjoyed the spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids by night! An Egyptologist on the sets took us inside the great pyramids and it was utterly fascinating climbing all the way up through narrow stone tunnels into the top burial chambers of King Cheops.
Equally enthralling was the sightseeing at Mohammed Ali mosque at the citadel, the Cairo museum, the Obama mosque (called so because Obama visited it), the colourful Khan-e-Khailili market. And it was a pleasure to sip on hibiscus drinks at the 350-year-old Fishawi cafe!
In Luxor, we had the privilege of shooting at the Luxor temple, the Karnak temple and Hatshepshuts temple. Each of them is utterly beautiful with its mosaic of incredible stories and historical facts. Parveen (Kabir Bedi's wife) and I then took two days off to roam around Alexandria.
u00a0
It was utterly beautiful. We stayed at the Sheraton at Montazah Bay and explored the spooky catacombs, the magnificent Library of Alexandria, the Pompey's Pillar and the National Museum of Alexandria.
History beckons
While I brought home a sea of great memories, I find it morbid that Egypt tourism focusses on death - mummies, tombs, and burial sites! However, the history, beauty and vistas are breathtaking. I simply loved learning about their past, their culture and had the greatest high when I saw the lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the seven ancient wonders of the world) and touched the pyramids with my bare hands! Oh, and I just loved shopping in Egypt. I'm richer by a few papyrus paintings, touristy mugs, accessories, and more.
