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I don't know what to say. I took a few days off from work to go on this trip with my American friend to Jordan by the ferry boat at the Neweiba sea port. After all I went through: the hassle of renewing my passport and the 8 hour bus trip with not less than 5 or 6 checkpoints, I wasn't able to go.
We finally make it to the port. My American friend passes in a minute. Soon as they see me Egyptian passport they want all kinds of signatures from national security office and intelligence office at the port. I manage to get them after having to work over their suspicions of a single man travelling and convincing them that I'm just having a vacation. and in the end i'm told i need a permit to exit the country. Turns out even though I finished military service which I thought made me a free man but i'm still on reserve for the next ten years so I need their approval first. So I was "escorted" outside the port and my American friend just had to go on his own.
For God's sake what is wrong with this country? I've never seen a place that treats foreigners better than locals. Can't someone just have a good time? They make it a rule that someone travelling to another country alone must be up to no good or wants to go work.
Anyway, I cancelled my vacation and went back to work. Now that it's off my system I a bit relieved.
Ngeg Member # 1271
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I'm extremely sorry for all the **** u had to go through. I have an Egyptian friend here in Dubai who refuses to work on any exhibition in Egypt (and prefers Lagos or Accra)just bcz of the military hassle he has to go through in the airport.
I'm sorry. It breaks my heart and I know my words wont change anything. Salam
Charm El Feikh? Member # 10243
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all i can do is echo Ngeg... and this is the country they want you to fight for!!!
ironic really!
focus683 Member # 4013
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Well I've become quite convinced lately that nothing happens without a reason. Sooner or later i'll find out what it is.
The bright side is that all my savings that i planned to spend on this trip will stay with me now for a probably greater cause that i'll know soon enough. maybe that's the reason.
Thank you anyway for your support ngeg and charm. appreciate it
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