Hi lists,
I'm just wondering how to check my accurate registration details.
Registration confirmation email includes
- Confirmation Number
- Name
- Email
- Accommodation: July 16, July 17, July 18, July 19
- Accommodation choice: $6
and no hotel name there. (What's $6???)
Judging from my payment details, what I chose must be Delta Hotel.
If anybody knows right way to check it, please tell me.
--Takashi
Please count me in, 1 ticket for me.
Regards,
Leah
----- Original Message ----
From: Nada Rady <nada_rady(a)hotmail.com>
To: diana_apaza(a)sumaqperu.com; Wikimania general list (open subscription) <wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2008 4:43:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Wust El-Balad concert
5 tickets till now
From: Diana - Sumaq Peru Travel
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 3:32 PM
To: Wikimania general list (open subscription)
Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Wust El-Balad concert
Me and my husband we are both in, we want 2 tickets ;)
Diana
Nada Rady wrote:
The party starts at 21:00 Egypt time and ends at 23:00
From: Akash Shah
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 8:34 AM
To: wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: [Wikimania-l] Wust El-Balad concert
What are the timings of the concert. If the timings are suitable then I would also like to reserve a ticket.
Akash
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Best Regards,
Nada Rady
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--
Diana Apaza
Gerente de Producto
SUMAQ PERU TRAVEL SAC
Tel: +511 242-6595
Cel: +511 9961-4116
info(a)sumaqperu.com
diana_apaza(a)sumaqperu.com
http://www.sumaqperu.comhttp://wiki.sumaqperu.com
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Best Regards,
Nada Rady
I, too, would appreciate additional details on where to catch the shuttle at
the Cairo airport. I am already in Cairo, so I was just planning on showing
up at the airport wearing my Wikipedia t-shirt at my appointed time and
trying to find people, but a firmer plan would be nice.
Awadewit
Hi, I have some questions I really need answering.
1. How do we catch the free shuttle that is being provided for us? Do we
need to buy a ticket from anywhere, and get refunded? Or do we just catch
the one marked Alexandria without paying anything? Also, whereabouts is it
located in relation to the airport? Directions would be nice.
2. When we arrive in Alexandria, how far is the station from the
accommodation (the College)? Would we need to get a taxi? Again, directons
would be good.
3. When we get to the accommodation, how do we identify ourselves? Just with
our name, or do we say "We're with Wikimania"?
On getting back:
4. See question one. Which station do we go from? How do we board it?
These are basic things that should be on the wiki, in my opinion. I
shouldn't have to be asking about stuff like this. Other basic info not
included on the wiki is the address of the College Saint-Marc. Why is it not
there, and why when ever I ask anything does no one know the answer?
I've never been to Egypt before. I've never travelled on my own. I have this
awful feeling I'm going to get to Cairo, and be basically stranded because
of the lack of information provided by this year's team. Please provide it.
Call me paranoid, but I like to know what I'm doing, and I'd rather plan
well ahead for something like this. Thank you.
--
Al Tally
(User:Majorly)
Does anybody have an idea about how to attend jimmy wales' lecture on the 16th?
I mean, does it need to be reserved, or will I need to get a ticket
from bib alex to enter?, or is it just free?
I have been in Egypt for over a month now, living in Cairo, as a student.
Since arriving, I have traveled around the country, including Sinai,
Alexandria, and will be in Luxor this weekend. With people arriving soon
for Wikimania, I'd like to take the opportunity to share advice and
experiences as a female.
Language -
English is widely spoken in Egypt, and you will get by just fine if you
don't know any words in Arabic. Though it's good to know a few basics in
Arabic: "shukran" - thank you; "aywa" - yes; "la" - no; "la shukran" - no
thanks; "kwayis" - okay, good; "low samaht" - please, excuse me; "asif" -
sorry (said by a male)/"asifa" (said by female); "hina kwayis" - here is
good (useful in a taxi for saying where to stop); "mish fahim" - I don't
understand; "betikkallim ingleezee" - do you speak English?
Arriving-
I found it unusual when arriving in Cairo, when we had to walk down stairs
(out of a jumbo-size Boeing 767) and onto the tarmac. We road a shuttle bus
from there to the airport terminal. Go ahead and exchange some money in the
airport - best to do before going through customs. Getting through customs
and immigration was quick and easy for me, though I obtained my visa in
advance.
Safety -
* I feel extremely safe here -- safer than I do back in the U.S. Crime is
not much of a problem at all. Also, there is a strong police presence
everywhere. In Sinai and other places, there are checkpoints on the
highways. Most of the time, our tour groups have been completely on our
own, but we had police accompany us a few times.
* There is some harassment on the streets, but it's mainly words. Knowing a
few things in Arabic helps (e.g. "la shukran"). It helps to walk in groups,
but I have walked around my neighborhood and other places on my own without
problems.
* For the most part, Egyptians are very welcoming, especially with tourism
so important to the economy here. I even have some friends here who are
Jewish, who are getting along fine here.
Getting around -
* The biggest difference between the U.S. and Egypt (and elsewhere in the
Middle East) is that traffic lights are pretty much lacking here. In a few
spots, there are traffic lights and/or police controlling traffic. To cross
the street, it's like playing the video game "Frogger", hurrying across the
street when there is a small break in traffic. Also, when riding in a taxi,
the taxi driver may go quite fast and it takes getting use to the manner
that they drive.
What to wear -
* I brought lightweight long/half-sleeve blouses, pants (linen or other
lightweight material), and long skirts. At the last minute, I tossed a
t-shirt in my luggage before I left the US. I'm so very glad that I brought
a t-shirt, and really wish I brought more short sleeve tops. In the area of
Cairo where I live (Zamalek), as well as around the university and many
other areas, it is acceptable to wear short sleeves. Same goes for
Alexandria (Bibliotheca and other areas), which is located along the
waterfront.
* If you are going to see the pyramids in Giza or other such sites, anything
goes for clothing. It's not a problem to for women to wear a tank top/or
t-shirt and shorts. Such attire was also absolute acceptable when I was in
Sharm el-Sheikh (in Sinai) and in similar locations.
* For all places, sandals are completely acceptable for women. You will
even see women covered in hijabs who are wearing sandals.
Shopping -
* In Khan al-Khalili (Cairo) and other markets, the vendors are aggressive
in wanting you to come into their shop and buy. As well, the crowds at the
markets can be overwhelming.
* Bargaining - The prices that vendors tell you are way overpriced and you
need to bargain. For example, they may want 50 LE (khamseen) for a scarf,
but you can get it for 10 LE (ashrun) or not more than 20 LE (ashreen). To
get out of bargaining and move along, you can say "hagee tania" which means
"I'll come back another time". Pretty much all the vendors will know some
English, but a little bit of Arabic can help.
* Khan al-Khalili is located in Islamic Cairo section of the city, which is
more conservative. It's good advice to dress more conservatively when going
shopping. To visit Al-Azhar Mosque, women should also wear a scarf.
Despite having to put up with all this, it is definitely well worth it to
visit Khan al-Khalili or other such places for shopping and souvenirs.
Taking a taxi -
* Prices - Taxi is a cheap and easy way to get around. It's one flat price,
no matter how many people are riding in the taxi. There are no meters.
You set the price, and it should be fair for the driver. If you don't know
what the fare should be for a particular destination, then you should ask
someone (hotel concierge, staff at the dorms, at Bibliotheca, etc.) what's a
reasonable price. 5 LE is a fair price for a ride from Bibliotheca to the
downtown area in Alexandria, since it's not far. I don't remember for sure
exactly how far the dorms are, but I think 5-6 LE is reasonable, since I
don't think the dorms are far. I paid 10-12 LE to get from BA to the other
end of the corniche in Alexandria.
* Getting a taxi - If you are going really far (e.g. downtown Cairo to the
Giza pyramids), then you should agree on a price before getting in a taxi.
For most places (medium and shorter distances), do not discuss price before
getting in. Just say your destination and the driver should agree to take
you. A few times, before or once getting in, the driver has asked me about
price. If that happens, you can say your price. If they don't agree, then
find a different taxi. Really, price should not come up.
* Paying the driver - When you arrive, everyone MUST GET OUT before paying
the driver. Once everyone is out, then the person with the money should
give the driver the money through the window. Then everyone needs to walk
away. Most of the time, the driver doesn't argue with me/us, but sometimes
they will make a fuss and demand more. The thing to do is keep walking
away. You gave them a fair, reasonable amount. As a tourist, maybe you can
give the taxi driver a tiny bit more to avoid an argument.
* You do not need to tip the driver. Just give them the fare.
Eating -
I think most meals are provided at Wikimania, but when you are on your
own...
* Koshari (dish of macaroni, rice, lentils, and sauce) or tamiyya (falafel)
make a good cheap meal. A falafel sandwich can be had for 1-2 LE each, and
koshari meal w/drink for 7-10 LE. Fast food places (e.g. McDonalds,
Hardees, KFC, Pizza Hut) are available most everywhere, though these are not
cheap meals by Egyptian standards. A meal at McDonalds will cost ~30 LE
($5-6 USD) or more. A meal at a good sit-down place (American style cafes,
and other types of places) will cost a bit more, but I think the prices are
comparable or slightly cheaper than in the US.
* I been fine eating the food here, though felt slightly ill after eating
salad in my university cafeteria. It might have been the tomatoes that were
not great. I have avoided salad at other places, though did get salad at
McDonalds which was fine. Some caution about eating raw fruits and
vegetables is a good idea. Cheap tamiyya and koshari have all been fine.
* Alcohol is not difficult to find in Egypt. Stella and Sakara are brands
of beer that are available here. There are plenty of bars and clubs around,
as well a hotel bar is a definite place to find alcohol.
* Restaurants will include a service charge directly on your bill, but you
should also leave a tip.
Bathrooms -
* Western-style toilets are available pretty much most places, though some
places (e.g. Islamic Cairo), you might find a squat-style toilet. When I
arrived at the airport in Cairo, I had some difficulty figuring out how to
flush the toilet. There is a knob on the toilet lid that you pull out and
then push back in when finished with flushing. Some toilets just have a
button to push.
* It's a good idea to carry some toilet paper or tissue with you. Toilet
paper is usually available most places I have been, but not always. In some
places, there is a staff person manning the bathrooms, who will give you
toilet paper for bashish (tip). In some places (e.g. rest houses/stops on
the highway), you will need to pay 1 LE or another amount to use the
bathroom facilities. In places like McDonalds and other restaurants, as
well as hotels, and certainly places like Bibliotheca, you don't pay to use
the bathroom and they have toilet paper.
Sightseeing -
I have been to the Pyramids in Giza, Sakkara, to Alexandria, to Sinai (St.
Katherine's and Sharm el-Sheikh) and will be in Luxor this weekend. I don't
have a lot of spare time to organize these better, but I have quite a few
pictures now posted on Flickr of Alexandria and other places in Egypt:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmf164/ Let me know if you want sightseeing
suggestions or advice.
Questions -
http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aude - I have posted all this
on my Wikimania user page. Please feel free to ask questions. I'm sure I
missed mentioning some things.
-Aude
--
Aude
I was just curious as to whether or not people will be available to assist through customs.
----- Original Message ----
From: Austin Hair <adhair(a)gmail.com>
To: Wikimania general list (open subscription) <wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:10:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Questions about how to start - customs
On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 10:47 PM, Geoffrey Plourde <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> The question regards customs. In the event that people don't clear customs,
> or if customs delays them for a couple hours, will the ground team have
> plans in place to handle that?
Handle what?
In the event that you're refused entry into Egypt, there's not a whole
lot anyone can do about that. If you're delayed "a couple hours," you
may just miss the free shuttle.
However good the organization team may be, it's not their
responsibility to hold every attendee's hand through every step of the
process. International travel is serious business, and you should
plan for the possibility that everything doesn't go like clockwork.
Your plane may be delayed, you may get stopped at customs, your taxi
might get a flat tire—that's just how it goes. I wish everyone the
best, but I also expect that they can handle life like grown-ups in
the event that the unexpected does happen.
(Although I assume your question is rhetorical, since you don't appear
to be registered to attend.)
Austin
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Hi,
I wish Wikimania in Alexandria to be a successful one. I wish the organizing
team can deal with all organization affairs smoothly. And I wish everyone
goes to WM08 will have a nice trip.
I am now preparing for my lawyer exam, so I need to attend classes every
evening. It's a pity I can't travel to Egypt.
Good luck to Wikimania 2008.
Best Regards,
Titan
--
Support the Wikimedia Foundation: http://donate.wikimedia.org
I think this list is to ask any question related to the Wikimania 2008
event.
All the questions of participants (I am registered by the way) are ok. I
think there is no need of rough answers, there is no need to be tough.
Diana
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Questions about how to start - customs
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:10:04 -0500
From: Austin Hair <adhair(a)gmail.com>
Reply-To: Wikimania general list (open subscription)
<wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
To: Wikimania general list (open subscription)
<wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
References: <922198.98022.qm(a)web37401.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 10:47 PM, Geoffrey Plourde <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> The question regards customs. In the event that people don't clear customs,
> or if customs delays them for a couple hours, will the ground team have
> plans in place to handle that?
Handle what?
In the event that you're refused entry into Egypt, there's not a whole
lot anyone can do about that. If you're delayed "a couple hours," you
may just miss the free shuttle.
However good the organization team may be, it's not their
responsibility to hold every attendee's hand through every step of the
process. International travel is serious business, and you should
plan for the possibility that everything doesn't go like clockwork.
Your plane may be delayed, you may get stopped at customs, your taxi
might get a flat tire—that's just how it goes. I wish everyone the
best, but I also expect that they can handle life like grown-ups in
the event that the unexpected does happen.
(Although I assume your question is rhetorical, since you don't appear
to be registered to attend.)
Austin
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