Back From Egypt
I’m back in town, got back from Egypt last night, had to go directly to Sohar, came to Muscat a couple of hours ago. I hated Egypt, I don’t think that I’ll ever go again. The conference was the worst ever I’ve been in terms of organization, the seating was so messed up I don’t even know where to start, we didn’t have water to drink, I asked for some and I was turned down, the food was the closest thing I would imagine they would be giving in prisons – it was so horrible, you guys have no idea.
Half the audience also had no idea what the event was about, they thought it was about investment promotion in the Arab region or something like that, when it was about the risks of international investment treaties – something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. The UNCTAD speakers were the best as usual, an excellent non-UNCTAD Egyptian lawyer also discussed the first case ever to involve a Omani investor. It was very interesting.
However, that is not to say that I had fun in Egypt or anything like that, every single person on the street seemed like he would do anything to rob money off a foreigner. It was really horrible. I also had the very unfortunate incident of using a faulty ATM machine in the airport that claimed it gave me the money I attempted to withdrew and gave me a statement confirming that it did when nothing came out! It was the airport right when I came, and through the mess and noise of the airport, I just decided to take my freaking statement and just use another machine. I checked my bank account today and the amount was deducted. I do not know if I can get my money back, but will try to contact Bank Muscat even though I doubt they can do anything.
I hate Egypt and I’m never going back to it again.
