They also spit sometimes

From Cairo, Egypt 26&27.09.08

The funny thing about riding a camel are the takeoffs and landings.

I take that back. Those are the hardest things.

The funny thing about it is that everyone in the general vicinity REALLY WANTS YOU TO RIDE A CAMEL AND THEIRS IS THE BEST CAMEL AND GREAT DEAL MY FRIEND MY FRIEND YOU WANT CAMEL RIDE MY FRIEND?!

I take that back as well. That is the annoying thing.

The funny thing about riding a camel is the camel. They are inherently hilarious creatures. With their long, flexible necks and their expressions that kind of look like they're smiling and kind of look like they're exasperated. And their humps! Come on! They are a creature with humps!

They truly are ridiculous creatures. I am convinced God created them to give nomads something to laugh about while traversing the desert. Because face it, there isn't much else out there to make the nomads chuckle. And if there's anything I know about long trips across the Sahara, it's that you've got to keep your sense of humor.

But seriously, the takeoffs and landings are hard. Are there more camel-specific terms I should be using to refer to when the camel stands up with you on its back and then sits down again? If there are, I don't know them. All I know is that camels have four legs and they can only fully extend two at a time from a seated position, so you better lean the heck back if you don't want to take a tumble.

Also, don't let the camel man take you too far away from the pyramids. He may call you his friend, but he can quickly become your friend who needs another ten dollars if you want to make the return trip.

Finally, don't drink the water in Cairo. Yikes.


(This is a duplicate of my blog posting over at The Jade Journal, a blog from myself and the rest of my castmates on the ship. Check it out!)