Egypt and I go way back. Not because we’ve met before, but because I’ve been dreaming about it (literally) since I was about 10 years old. I’d be lying if I said that it was the movie Cleopatra that first piqued my interest. The truth is I really don’t remember what got me so hooked, although it’s highly likely that my mother unintentionally had a hand in it while telling me about the wonders of Ancient Rome and Greece (which she studied), and consequently about a man named Julius Ceasar and his relationship with Queen Cleopatra.

My infatuation with Egypt grew with every question I asked. I would have been crazy not to want to know more about Cleopatra and this wondrous land of giant stone pyramids; how they were built to match the Orion constellation; that kings were known as ‘Pharaohs’; that the pyramids contained tombs lined with gold; that there was a Sun God named Ra.

In Grade 7, we were required to do a speech on a topic of our choice as a sort of ‘final exam’ before finishing primary school. It was a no-brainer that Ancient Egypt would be mine. The research fascinated me to the point where I literally had dreams and even sometimes nightmares about it, because I found Anubis to be a little frightening. Ever since then, I’ve had an irrational fear of Anubis as he was probably the God I understood the least.

In Grade 8, I had a penpal named Maha who lived in Cairo. We would write to each other every couple of weeks and I would ask her every question I could possibly think of. She even sent me my first piece of papyrus which I will treasure forever. I don’t know how she is now or what she is doing, but I will always remember her and will forever be grateful for her friendship all those years ago.

Two decades went by and Egypt remained on my bucket list, but because there were terrorist attacks and other issues there a few years ago, it delayed my desire to go there anytime soon. In fact, with every new place I traveled, Egypt moved further down the list, even though it was always at the back of my mind. It was as though a piece of my heart would never be filled until I went.

In late August last year, a family member introduced me to a concept that has since changed my life. They say you remember 2 dates: your birthday, and the day your life changed.

When I first saw it, I could not get over the energy in the room. I felt like I was Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happiness: “They all looked so damn happy to me. Why couldn’t I look like that?”. What is that concept? DreamTrips.

You see, I spent my whole life searching for something. I didn’t know what it was; all I knew was that I kept dreaming about what I’ve come to learn is called Freedom. Ultimate freedom. Freedom to do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want, with whoever I want. I did not want to be like everyone else who retires at 60 then doesn’t have the physical strength or ability to travel. I wanted to do it while I was still young and able. Even if it took me 5 years to get that freedom, at least I had a shot.

I’ve felt trapped my entire life. Trapped in a society that programmed me and most others to fail. I knew deep down that I was born to win. To do something great. But I felt like I was bound to the shackles of society. I never fitted in with my family and from a young age I was always the kid that was never cool enough. Looking back, I chuckle at those who thought they were too cool for me to hang out with them when in fact it was the other way round!

What on earth does this have to do with Egypt? Well, DreamTrips was the platform that literally handed it to me on a silver platter. I saw not only a way for me to travel more for less, but a way I could help others, something I’ve always taken pride in doing. Helping and making others happy makes me happy, so I found so much joy in being able to share what I already love which, if you’ve read my blog before, you’d know is travel.

I also believe in the Law of Attraction. Many years ago I read a book called The Secret, and ever since then I’ve come to realise that thoughts are things. There was a promotion a few months after I joined, and one evening while having a glass of wine with my best friend (who is as obsessed with Egypt as I am), I told her that I will qualify to go to Egypt for free and that I would take her with me. I promised her out loud, almost speaking to the sky, that it would happen. Much to my delight, it materialised, and at the end of March, off we went on our first trip together.

I didn’t only just ask for Egypt. I had been attracting it my entire life. It just came to me at the right time when I was ready for it. God never gives us anything we’re not prepared for.

Planning for the trip began, and life was never the same again.