Pictures below, identified by line numbers <1> to <13> were taken from the Cairo museum of antiqueties.

<2>

King Tutankhamun's burial mask.

<3>

After thousands of years of grand scale plungering of tombs in the Valley of the Kings, King Tut's treasure-filled burial chamber has been spared. King Tut died at the age of 18 after having been a king for 9 years.

<4>

He took with him to the after-world a hoard of jeweled and gilded furnishings, etc. including a death mask made of 22.5 pounds of gold.

<5>

Here's a pose with unidentified pharaoh (left). Infantrymen (right) carry bladed copper spears and shields. Each item bears the soldier's personal design for easy identification when needs. These miniature carvings were found in one of the Middle Kingdom (c 2000 BC) tombs. It represent a rare picture of typical Egyptian soldiers of the time. The lighter-skinned ones are Egyptians while the darker ones are Nubians - from the southern part of the kingdom.

<6>

Here are some of the displays in the atrium (ground floor) of the museum )left, and of course a little pose for souvenir (right).

<7>

Cleopatra (left), the statue of Menkaura[?] (Mycerinus - c 2500 BC) - builder of the smaller of the three pyramids of Giza. The crown he wears identify him as ruler of Upper Egypt.

<8>

Here are colossal statue of a pharaoh (don't know who the guy was) and his naughty queen. Wonder where her right hand is ...?

<9>

(Left) Akhenaten (New Kingdom - Dynasty 18th c 1570-1293 BC) - husband of Nefertiti, father of Tutankhamun, reject the cult of Amun and extols the god of the sun disk Aten. Priests at Thebes and Karnak looked on him unfavourably, and after his death they regained their religious control and obliterate the best they can all records etc. of Akhenaten and his religion. (Right) Hieroglyphic writings on one of the ancient walls being displayed in the museum.

<10>

Throughout ancient Egypt, falcons (left) represent and was worshipped as Ra or Horus. They were also used in rites and rituals. When they died, they were mummified and buried in small clay coffin. (Right) Another pose at the atrium.

<11>

<12>

<13>

The museum is currently holding more than 100,000 relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history. To put that in perspective, if one spend one minute at every exhibit for 8 hours a day, it will take more than 7 months to see all of it.

<14>

The facade of Cairo Museum or simply known as Al-Mathat "the museum".

<15>

<16>

<17>

Here are some of the statues being displayed outside the museum.

<18>

<19>

At the lobby of Hilton Nile Hotel - consulting with the "guide" - mapping our next move.

<20>

This is the base (left) of the Cairo Tower. Cairo Tower is the tallest structure in all Cairo. (Right) The Andalusian Garden by the bank of river Nile.

<21>

Still part of the Andalusian Garden ...

<22>

... and so is this one.

<23>

The feluccas ferrying passengers across and along the Nile River, most notably in Luxor (Thebes) and Aswan.

<24>

<25>

This is Greek Orthodox monastery and Church of St. George in Old Cairo, the Christian hole. In the same general area a church (Church of St. Sergius or Abu Serga), supposedly built over one of the spots where the Holy Family rested after fleeing from King Herod. Every year on June 1st, a special Mass is celebrated in commemoration of the event.

<26>

Also nearby, (some hundred fifty yard away from St Sergius Church) is the Church of St. Barbara. St. Barbara is the saint who was beaten to death by her father for trying to convert him to Christianity. Her relic rest in a small chapel to the left of the nave. Shown here is the main altar of the said church.