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  • It's important to talk about your expectations

  • versus your reality when you are visiting somewhere.

  • And I think Egypt can give off the idea or the notion

  • that it's oppressive to women, or that there's

  • all these problems.

  • And that's not to say there aren't problems, but for me

  • as a female Egyptian rapper coming up in the scene,

  • I have so much hope and so much ambition,

  • and I only see the glass half full.

  • I think we can work together and through solidarity

  • and empathy lift each other up to see the future that we

  • really want to create.

  • [MUSIC PLAYING - FELUKAH]

  • It's your girl, Felukah.

  • I'm a hip hop neo soul artist between Egypt, New York,

  • and pretty much the rest of the world.

  • [MUSIC PLAYING - FELUKAH]

  • Now, you may not know this, but a felukah in Arabic

  • is actually a sailboat that runs along the Nile River.

  • Historically has taken people from one land

  • to another, goods from one side to the other.

  • And now it's my turn to take you from the North coast

  • to Alexandria and back to Cairo and show you

  • what Egypt is really about.

  • So let's go check it out.

  • [MUSIC PLAYING - FELUKAH, "ASK THE BIRDS IN CAIRO"]

  • (SINGING) In Cairo I'm coming home to you.

  • The kindness of my neighbors, the kindness

  • of the people on the streets, for sure.

  • Cairo and all its hustle and bustle is so beautiful.

  • I just-- I love it here.

  • I can go to Ratios and pick myself

  • up a nice little something to drink.

  • This is where I be.

  • Also, just a beautiful, scenic experience.

  • To look out and see Cairo all around you

  • surrounded by the Nile River.

  • That's how we float.

  • Nile city flow, Nile River flow, Nile River flow, Nile River

  • flow.

  • Truly so many matriarchs.

  • Powerful women everywhere.

  • This has been a theme in Egyptian history.

  • Yeah.

  • That's what I aspire to be one day.

  • A diamond Felukah.

  • I'll do it again.

  • Right now I'm in contemporary heart of Cairo.

  • That is downtown Cairo.

  • I love coming out here.

  • Why?

  • For so many reasons.

  • I can shop, walk down the street,

  • and everything just feels so alive.

  • It feels like the culture is really

  • breathing right here in Cairo capital, downtown Cairo.

  • That's my city.

  • This my city.

  • That's my city.

  • Beautiful.

  • These abayas are very interesting with all

  • these colors and patterns clashing all together

  • to create this kind of a beauty and kitsch at the same time.

  • [ARABIC MUSIC PLAYING]

  • I am right now at Abo Tarek, one of the best places

  • to have koshari here in Cairo.

  • Koshari is our favorite traditional Egyptian cuisine.

  • It's a combination of chickpeas, pasta that you love, lentils.

  • Amazing, amazing dressing that everybody

  • makes in their own way.

  • And, yeah, one of the best things about this place

  • is I can have lunch with Abu Tarek himself right here.

  • [ARABIC] Cairo Water Sports Academy [ARABIC]

  • stand up paddling.

  • I've been addicted to rowing for 10 years,

  • and I'm sure you will as well.

  • Rowing in the Nile with an Olympic winning rower.

  • Casual.

  • [MUSIC PLAYING]

  • Enjoying this peaceful, calm morning

  • here on the Mediterranean Sea.

  • One of the most underrated experiences

  • you can have here in Alexandria is just

  • getting on a boat like this, watching the sun rise,

  • the city wake up around you.

  • We are at the local fish market.

  • Most fresh fish you can find in all of Alexandria.

  • These fishermen rise up so early in the morning,

  • go and get all of this fresh fish, and it's just delicious.

  • Here.

  • Take a walk with me.

  • I'm so happy to bring you here today.

  • We are at the best spot for coffee

  • you can find in Alexandria, and that is Brazilian Coffee Store.

  • It gives me so much joy to bring you here

  • because this place was founded by none other than my grandpa.

  • It's in mint condition.

  • A1 since day one is the style around here.

  • Runs in the family.

  • What can I say.

  • I love reading.

  • I'm about to head up my favorite second hand thrift

  • store for books in Alexandria.

  • So come check it out.

  • Honestly, a great perk about this street

  • is there's something for everybody.

  • [FELUKAH RAP]

  • Skating is one of my favorite things about Alexandria.

  • The subculture here speaks volumes.

  • There's something about the skate scene here in Alexandria

  • that's unlike anything I've experienced before.

  • With no conventional state parks around, people in the city

  • have scooped out these very specific spots

  • to chill out in and try new tricks at.

  • There's just an unspoken camaraderie, loyalty,

  • and an aptitude for fun here that just doesn't

  • hit the same as anywhere else.

  • Shout out all the skaters in Alexandria.

  • Uberbike is one of my favorite ways to get around the city.

  • In Alexandria, it gets hot.

  • There's traffic.

  • This is the best tried method to getting around the city.

  • And you can enjoy the breeze with the beautiful views!

  • Enjoy the Kunish El Raml Station.

  • Everything just as you ride on by.

  • I've personally found it to be such a fun

  • way to experience the city, and to encourage everybody

  • else to get on these Uber Bikes as well

  • and maybe try something different.

  • [AUDIENCE CLAPPING AND WHISTLING]

  • Now I'll be taking you to the North Coast, which

  • is, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful beaches you

  • could see around the whole world.

  • The white sand and the blue waters

  • just makes for such a dazzling experience.

  • We all have those days, those nights, those moments in time

  • where we need to put something nice on and go out

  • and have fun.

  • Obviously you can tell them on that vibe tonight.

  • I'm at Stanley Restaurant And Bar.

  • It's where you come to bump shoulders with the stars.

  • And I don't know about you, but I'm up and coming.

  • The North Coast a.k.a.

  • Sahel is also the best place to go and party.

  • If you're looking for a place to go party by the beach,

  • get glammed up, this is the place.

  • As a female Egyptian rapper who's

  • been born and raised here, this place has so many gems

  • to offer.

  • The weather is amazing.

  • The kindness, again, of the people, and just the culture

  • that is so deeply rooted in history.

  • There is so much to be thankful for.

  • And you'll definitely want to be coming back to this country.

  • Thanks for watching, everybody.

  • Thanks for watching Lonely Planet.

  • Make sure you like and subscribe and go check out

  • the videos they have from all around the world.

  • This has been your host Felukah from Egypt.

  • See you.

It's important to talk about your expectations

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