I had no idea that Dr. Seuss cars were real until I moved to Cairo.
I’m talking, of course, about Tuk Tuks.
Maybe I didn’t read enough books.
Maybe I didn’t watch enough news.
Or maybe I was the only one who was really that clueless about the world around me.
Because apparently Tuk Tuks in Egypt are completely normal.
In a lot of other countries, as well.
If you don’t know what they are, they are basically scooter cars.
That’s right: this magical thing actually exists.
Basically, a scooter that has a metal cage around it for people to sit in.
If you’ve ever read any Dr. Seuss books, Tuk Tuks are essentially the cars I would expect the citizens of Whoville (How The Grinch Stole Christmas) to ride around in.
I know: #ThugLife.
…
Anyway, the first time I ever rode in a TukTuk is something I will never forget….and not for any reason that you could imagine.
You see, my first Tuk Tuk ride was kind of an accident.
I was pretty new in Cairo.
I had just arrived two weeks ago, and had (for about the hundredth time) gotten myself lost.
Cairo is pretty good at that.
If you don’t have accurate GPS directions (which you hardly ever do), it can eat you alive.
I was in some neighborhood that I didn’t know, and could not, no matter which street I walked down, find a taxi. (You know you’re screwed when you can’t find a taxi in Cairo. They are almost as numerous as the mosques.)
Just when I was getting desperate, seriously considering if I should ask some random dude to give me a ride in his car….there it was.
Like a miracle from God.
In all it’s tiny little Dr Seussy goodness….a Tuk Tuk.
I had seen them in the last two weeks.
I had just never ridden one.
This was my savior, and after thirty minutes of aimlessly walking around, I was going home.
I waved him down, and Tuk Tuk Man stopped beside me.
“Where you go?”
I told him my neighborhood, and he nodded.
The ride itself was actually pretty cool. Tuk Tuk rides can be exhilerating, and this one certainly was.
Because it feels way different than sitting in a taxi.
Fast driving, sharp turns, and the wind blowing on your face.
Tuk Tuks in Egypt are basically like slightly safer motorcycles.
Ten minutes later, we got to my neighborhood.
It was only about thirty seconds before he pulled up to my street that I realized where we were.
That’s how lost I was.
Anyway, it was a perfect ride.
It was fun, cheap, and after riding in a Tuk Tuk, I could cross off another “first” from my list.
But, just before I paid him….it happened.
Tuk Tuk Man reached under his seat, pulled out a bag of white powder, and looked me straight in the eye with a mischevious smile.
“Good price for you, my friend.”
I couldn’t believe my life had just taken this turn….but it had.
I shoved 10 Egyptian pounds into his hand, hopped out, and sped-walked away, awkwardly avoiding eye contact while he zoomed past me.
Now, I’ll never know what this guy was trying to sell me.
Maybe it was just a bag of sugar, and he thought I wanted to make cookies.
Maybe it was just a bag of flour, and he thought I was more of a pancake guy.
Or maybe it actually was cocaine, and if I had said yes, I would have become Egyptian’s very own El Chapo.
Either way, I didn’t stick around to find out.
I got to my building right as he reached the end of my street.
Tuk Tuk Man honked his little horn, waving as he disappeared around the corner.
It was another few months before I had the nerve to try a Dr. Seuss car again.
This ride, and every one after that, was completely drugless.
…
Long story short: Tuk Tuks in Egypt are pretty cool.
Give them a try if you ever get the chance. 🙂
