Fun at International Bowling Center Cairo in 2008

Today, I am going to share my first experience of playing Bowling. Usually, we Pakistanis are very fond and crazy about Cricket and there are many other games/sports which are somehow similar or have the same technique used in Cricket so we definitely like those games and it becomes easier for us to master or pick the strategy in those games in order to win or enjoy those games In a better way. Bowling is one of those games where we need to throw a big ball to put down all the pins, it needs good aim and a bit of technique to spin the ball while on its way to pins and speed depends on the player.

I had the experience of playing Bowling for the first time when I was in Cairo, Egypt. The boys made a plan for weekend to play Bowling at IBC and on 10th Feb 2008, we all met at Dokki Metro Station, had some fun and photo session. I am surprised to see my old pictures in French cut lol. I am the eldest in all the boys so all other boys follow my instructions. We took the Metro to the nearest point of IBC and then, the remaining route via taxi. It is the best way to reach Panorama October, the nearest landmark of IBC, at that time. I am not sure if it is the same because Metro has been developed a lot more in Cairo now.

We had a lot of fun time and funny pictures on our way. At Panorama October, there are fighter jets, tanks and many other army related things.

We took some pictures.

Crossing the roads and poking each other. I was surprised to see that no one stopped us for taking pictures there or maybe they thought boys are having fun so let them have it. In Pakistan, we are not allowed to take pictures in such type of areas.

The above picture is for PhotoFeed Contest - Street Photography Round 62. This is Salah Salem Street infront of Panorama October Garden.

Finally, we reached IBC and wowow it is the largest bowling center in Egypt and yes, it is. Alleys were booked already so we had to wait for our turn. Meanwhile, boys went to play Snooker as they don’t want to miss any single minute of their fun time. I am not Snooker player, I do like watching others playing it and making fun if they don’t play it right so I did the same. None of us was a good player and they just spent time and we got the space for Bowling.

It was my first time so I was a bit nervous if I won’t play right, they are gonna make fun of me. So, I first learnt by watching others and then took my first shot. Wowow I really liked it and it was not that hard, aiming the right place so can strike the pins as much as we can.

My team Score, FA is me.

The other team score, MS is Muhammad Salman, who made them win by three strikes

In the videos, you can see that I was not nervous at all, I got more confidence when I saw others were not that good at aiming and throwing the ball at the right spot. They were more busy in taking pictures and making videos. After a while, I had a full strike and it was like waaooo I did it, all pins down in a single shot, such an excitement for me. playing for the first time and having highest score in my team, what a pleasure and relief. Even though, our team lost because the other player who is more often seen in my video is the highest scorer and that difference made them win. I had two strikes whereas he had three. I just loved this game.

I was not expecting such an entertainment in this game, I thought of it as a boring game but it is not. Total fun but only if you have a good company to play with. Now, after bowling, its time to have some food which is mandatory hehehe we ordered some burgers, Shawerma. It was a decent meal. We all took out all the money we had as it was the time for some calculation and collection. We divided all the expense so none of us can complain. We call it American system in Pakistan which means everything distributed per head. We were tired but we had a good time playing Bowling and later, we visited this several times. It is a good and decent place for friends to hang out and have fun, enjoy the environment and eat out together. Highly recommended if you are going to visit Cairo this year.

This funny video of my friend who ran all the way up on the elevators coming downstairs. How crazy we all were hehehe

All above pictures are taken through Sony DSC-W170.