Venture to Egypt

For Division D Speech Contest in English, District 67, Saturday morning, March 28th, 2026

To: Egyptians Toastmasters in Area G25 & G26, District 20

Habibi Fellow Toastmasters and Friends,

In January, I ventured to Egypt for the first time. Why Egypt? Pyrimids? River Cruise on the Nile? Red Sea Villa? I had them all. On top of that, I encountered a sudden sandstorm, haboob, all outdoor activities were cancelled. What? It took me almost 20 hours to fly from Taipei to Cairo, with 6 hour time difference!  

We are Toastmasters, we have plan B in our pocket. I chartered a taxi to visit the Hotel Old Cataract Aswan where Agatha Christie wrote her famous suspense “Death on the Nile”. I visited local bazaar maket, bought palm dates, spice herb tea, and I smoked shisha, the water pipe, for the first time. Yes, Toastmasters turn adversity into opportunity.

Pyrimids at Giza, the only exiting seven wonders of the ancient world, the stunning feat of engineering and human accomplishment. Three grandoise pyrimids of King Khufu, his son, and his grandson. King Khufu built the biggest pyrimid 4,500 years ago, but left no paintings, no statues of himself for people to remember. I saw the humility of humanity. 

River Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, four days and three nights, an ecstatic Toastmasters adventure full of acting and improvising. I knew half of the international passengers and Egyptian staff members on Blue Shadow 2. Toastmasters are icebreakers and small talkers. I made friends with 5 Russians, 4 Tunisians, more than two dozens Spanish, 40 plus Chinese, 2 Koreans, 1 English, Irish, French, and Colombian, age between 16 and 80 plus. I hosted Toastmasters gatherings on the roof deck, in the restaurnt, on the dance floor. 

Red Sea Villa, three days and two nights, according to the Bible, the place where the sun shone on the earth only once, God parted for Moses, the Red Sea. The water of the Red Sea was icy cold, but the open swimming pool of AMC Royal Hotel and Spa was warm with a temperature above 20 degrees at noon. People enjoyed free icecream by the pool side. What a destination of choice for winter vacation at the Red Sea Villa.  

At a Bedouin Arab tribe in Eastern Sahara Desert, I met a petite woman fully covered in black veil, surrounded by many of her young kids. She invited me for tea sitting by the fire on the sand. She was so dark and small, I couldn't forget her sweet smile. In her, I saw my distant evolutionary ancestors from Africa. In her, I saw the legacy of humanity.

Egypt has a lot more to offer, Sphinx with philosophical riddles in Greek mythology, Koshary, a spicy Egyptian vegan staple, with UNESCO recognition, handsome man like Omar Sharif in the movie of Lawrence of Arabia, and not to mention Naguib Mahfouz, the first and only Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.

When I was in Egypt, Taiwanese were often hailed with “Taiwan No. 1”. Yes, we have No. 1 TSMC. From an once notorious island of products made in Taiwan, to the world best chips manufactured today, Taiwan has come a long way. Taiwan is No.1 in friendliness. I am a proud Taiwanese, a modern good samaritan in East Asia! 

Roman Emperor Caesar once said, "Veni, Vidi, Vici". Fellow Toastmasters, with the communication and leadership skills I honed at District 67, I enjoyed the venture to Egypt twice as much as other 30 Taiwanese tour group members. The world is a classroom. I encourage you to make Egypt your next travel destination. Go explore Egypt with your very own eyes. Share your Toastmasters spirit with Egyptians, young and old, men and women. 

We are the world, We are the children, Let's reach out, and join hands to make the world a better place for mankind! Contest Chair!