Truly Love Egypt Dahab

January 2015 Issue 8

PLEASE TURN ON YOUR SOUND

The Blue Hole

The Blue Desert

Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday

Friends of Egypt

Truly Love Cuisines: Foul Medames recipe

Contents4 EDITOR’S MESSAGE Hippy, laidback Dahab 6 EXTRA: How do Egyptians spend New Year’s Eve?

7 EXTRA: Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday 8 TRULY LOVE NATURE The Blue Hole, The Light-

house and The Blue Desert

12 TRULY LOVE DAY ACTIVITIES World famous dive sites and

superb desert safaris 18 SCRAPBOOK PAGE 20 TRULY LOVE HISTORY St. Catherine’s Monastery,

the Nabatean Port and The Blue Desert

12 Day Activities

6 How do Egyptians spend New Year’s Eve?

The song that is playing is Wahda Miganinany by Hany Ali

2

Contents 24 TRULY LOVE SHOPPING See why people love

shopping in Dahab!

28 TRULY LOVE EGYPT NEWS

Website launch and new email addresses

29 FEATURED STAFF Heba Ghoneim 30 TRULY LOVE NIGHTLIFE Dahab’s unique

nightlife 34 TRULY LOVE INVESTING Mix business with

pleasure!

36 EXTRA: FRIENDS OF EGYPT

Michel van Haarlem

38 TRULY LOVE CUISINES

Foul Medames: the origin and the method

40 UPCOMING ISSUE

20 The Blue Desert

3

30 Nightlife in Dahab

2

EDITOR’S MESSAGE Our mission is to deliver the most accurate, up-to-date information in

order to show different kinds of visitors what may interest them.

Medina. In the north, Masbat, a popular diving destination with over 50 dive centers, is quite developed and has many camps and hostels. Masbat includes the Bedouin village Asalah. Originally nomadic people, these Bedouins have changed throughout the years and now many live in and around Dahab, yet they remain a proud people with a strong sense of identity, having preserved their sense of community, original traditions and way of life. Dahab Bedouins take their culture back to Ismail, son of Prophet Abraham. The Bedouins in the Dahab area, called Muzeina, give Dahab much of its unique, relaxed atmosphere. Mashraba is more touristic and has significantly more hotels. Medina is in the southwest and includes the Laguna area, famous for its exceptional shallow-water wind-surfing. To get there: By airplane: Sharm ElSheikh International Airport and Taba International Airport. By car: Dahab is one hour from Nuweiba and Sharm ElShiekh, two hours from Taba and 8 hours from Cairo. Temperatures: April-September 30C-40C on average & October-March 20C-31C

5

Ideas and content are copyright and property of Sarkiss Publicity and Advertising Registered in Egypt: 64958 truly-love-egypt@sarkiss.net

Manager, Editor and Designer Amani Adel Sarkiss Freelance Writers Aisha Abdelwahab Basma Amer Heba Ghoneim Photography Ahmed Yaqub: p2 Day Activities, p16, p17, p18 & 19, p24, p32 bottom, p33, p34 Mohamed Nabil Hammad: p3 nightlife,p8,p9,p10, p14, p25, p26, p30 Yasser El-Rasoul: p12, p13, p15, p20, p31 Heba Ghoneim: p29 Friends of Egypt: p36, p37 Amal Sarkiss: p38 Amani Sarkiss: p40 Yahoo Images: all other photos

Manager, Editor and Designer Amani Adel Sarkiss

Dahab is a laid-back, hippy town situated on the southeast coast of Sinai. After the Six Day War in 1967, the town was occupied by Israel and was known in Hebrew as Di-Zahav; named after a place referred to in the Old Testament as one of the stops made by the Israelites during their Exodus. In 1982, Sinai was restored to Egyptian rule after the signing of the Camp David Peace Treaty. Once a Bedouin fishing village, Dahab is one of the oldest and most famous dive areas in the Red Sea, providing some of the most exciting and spectacular diving in Sinai. For decades, Dahab attracted independent travelers and backpackers interested in d iving and snorkeling. But International hotel chains and the establishment of additional facilities in the past few years have turned Dahab into a popular tourist destination. This has led to many advantages for tourists. Diving is much safer and m o r e o r g a n i z e d a n d accommodation choices cover various travelers and not just backpackers. Visitors are drawn in by the fusion of hippy mellowness and resort chic; inexpensive rooms along with great sushi. Dahab consists of three major parts: Masbat, Mashraba and

HAPPY NEW YEAR! By Amani Sarkiss

What is the significance of a new year to Egyptians and how do they welcome it? Egyptians, like other people around the world, see the New Year in a variety of ways. Some see it as just another year, some as a symbol of hope in that “Another year, another chance for a better world” and others see it as a more personal challenge and decide on New Year resolutions. And, just like other people around the world, Egyptians spend New Year’s Eve in various ways. Some sleep it off, some

prefer more time with the family at home, some watch TV to see how it is welcomed at different cities around the world, some hold dish parties and others go out with their friends on pub crawls, to a discothèque, to a live concert, for a walk along the Nile or, recently, to Tahrir Square. No matter how you feel about the New Year or how you spend New Year’s Eve, the Truly Love Egypt team would like to wish you a wonderful, prosperous new year. May it bring peace to all mankind!

6

Birth, family history and burial ground Born Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah Ibn Abd El Motilib in Mecca in A.D. 600 approximately, the Prophet Mohamed (also written Muham-med) is a direct descendant of Prophet Ismael, son of the Prophet Abraham. Prophet Mohamed, peace be upon him, was orphaned at a very early age and so his grandfather, Abdel Motilib, took him in. After a life of being an example for all mankind to follow, Prophet Mohamed was buried in Medina in the Arabian Peninsula.

PROPHET MOHAMED’S BIRTHDAY (PEACE BE UPON HIM)

By Amani Sarkiss

Views on women Prophet Mohamed set an example for all men to follow. He helped his wives do all house chores and in his final speech, he urged men to look after women and be kind to them.

7

War ethics Before one of his early battles, Prophet Mohamed told his troops that they would pass through different lands where there were shepherds, farmers, priests and people in their homes. He explained that they should not fight these people and to only fight troops that fight them.

Views on non-Muslims Prophet Mohamed set an example of mercy and religious tolerance wherever he went. He had a Jewish neighbor who mistreated him. But once this Jewish neighbor became ill and the prophet visited him to see how he was. With Hagar, a Copt, being the wife of his great- grandfather, Prophet Abraham, and Maria, a Copt, being his own wife, Prophet Mohamed urged Muslims to be good to Copts (Copts = Egyptians. Now called “Egyptian Christians”).

Character and role From very early on, Prophet Mohamed was well-known for being honest and truthful amongst his people. The Quran states that he was only sent as mercy to all mankind.

When his birthday is celebrated Even though Prophet Mohamed’s birthday is celebrated according to the Hijri calendar, the calendar itself is not based on his birth. The Hijri Calendar starts with the prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina.

How his birthday is celebrated in Egypt Street decorations are put up and all Egyptians, despite their religious views or backgrounds, eat special kinds of sweets sold at every corner of the country.

TRULY LOVE NATURE By Basma Amer

9

The gem of the Egyptian terrain, Dahab, is hands-down the most beautiful desert terrain along the coast of Egypt. It has an aquatic charm reaching the depths of the sea and artistic masterpieces along its desert dunes. The Blue Hole A visual masterpiece created by Mother Nature over time, Dahab’s Blue Hole, is one of the most fascinating works of art you will encounter. The Blue Hole is most famous for being one of the most beautiful yet one of the most dangerous dive sites. The limestone cave is embedded in the sea and its towers and ridges have been in the works since the last ice age. The Blue Hole consists of The Arch, which is often mistaken by most divers to be shallower than it actually is and The Saddle, which leads to the rest of the open water. The reef has a colorful collage of species along its sheer drop-off, which extends to more than 800 meters. Its waters are a clear blue with visibility all the way down to 40 meters. This quality makes it easy to see what the reef houses. There are manta rays, clownfish anemones, trevallies, jacks, barracudas, turtles, eels, white tip and gray reef sharks against a background of black coral and sea fans, setting the stage for the harmonious, colorful scene of sea creatures. The Lighthouse The Lighthouse is different from the Blue Hole, but just as breathtaking. Its currents aren’t strong, which makes it easier for beginner divers and has a maximum depth of 35 meters with easy entry and exit routes. The shallow seabed is a sandy

Cont.

area, which eventually leads to a grassy slope. The Lighthouse is rich in aquatic life, such as seahorses, sea moths, frogfish, large octopus, morays, Red Sea Walkman, Crocodile fish, unicorn fish and a small school or two of bar sea bream, stonefish, scorpion fish, Pipefish galore, sole, angel fish, damselfish, gorgonian fan coral and anglerfish if you are lucky. Another advantage of the Lighthouse is the calm and quiet world the sea has to offer at night. Night diving is very popular and will enhance the magnificence of this dive site. There are beautiful red reef beds hidden during the day as well as lionfish, squirrelfish, Spanish dancers, anemone crabs, Nudibranchs, moray eels, more octopus and many fans and urchins. There is even an added bonus when you turn off your

flashlights and give yourself the chance to be dazzled by the phosphorescent sea life. The Blue Desert After awing at the sea, you will be just as impressed with the desert. A few kilometers away from Saint Catherine’s Monastery, lays a man-made treasure. Jean Verame, a Belgian artist, celebrated the peace between Israel and Egypt by painting a group of stones blue. The image is quiet spectacular. It truly highlights the importance of a speck of hope in the vastness of uncertainty. There are many ways to enjoy your time in Dahab but venturing out into the wild and exploring the hidden worlds is a journey you may come to treasure for a lifetime.

11

By Basma Amer

A treasure amidst the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula, Dahab, is a serene jewel on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, the northern tip of the Red Sea. The coast of the city is a goldmine of dive sites and is waiting for you to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

TRULY LOVE DAY ACTIVITIES

Southern Oasis, Golden Blocks, Moray Garden, Three Pools, Umm Sid and The Caves until you reach Gabr El Bint. After your time in the water, take a break and enjoy a vast variety of other water activities. There are many opportunities to relax on the beach or set sail across the blue sea and enjoy the golden mirage in the distance. However, if you prefer a faster pace relaxation mode, then you should definitely go for kite surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, wind surfingor riding a beach buggy. The weather in Dahab is just beautiful; the wind is strong and the water

13

Start your journey by taking twenty-one giant strides into twenty-one amazing dive sites. The experience of snorkeling, scuba diving, diving, free diving or swimming will expand your horizon to a world beyond your own. The underwater spectacle is a visual art composed by a vast species of corals and creatures, such as turtles and moray eels. Begin your expedition in the north at North Ras Abu Galum and navigate south towards South Abu Galum, El Bells, The Blue Hole, The Canyon, Abu Talha, Ras Abu Helal, Eel Garden, The Lighthouse, Banner Fish Bay, Mashraba, The Islands, Napoleon Reef, The Seven Pinnacles,

Cont.

Qunai Valley

15

temperature ranges between 19oC to 27oC during the summer. There are so many things to do in Dahab and they surpass the beautiful waters and venture off into the desert. You can tour the desert on a camel or jeep safari and explore the different wadis (valleys): Wadi El Toalat, Wadi El Beyda, Wadi Qunai, or Wadi Connection. The views are panoramic and elate the soul. Many safari trips have additional places to visit: El Melha Oasis, White Canyon, Gebel El Matamar, Closed Canyon, Small Arada Canyon, Sand Dunes, Melehez Oasis and Ain Khudra. The desert is a wonderful storybook

full of scenic illustrations and stories you won’t want to miss. The Rock of Inscriptions depicts life in Sinai when it was a savanna and the messages left by pilgrims on Darb El Hajj (Pilgrim’s Road) by Romans and Byzantines can be found between Dahab and St. Catherine’s Monastery. The historical significance is a true spectacle, but it is not the only way to get a thrill out of the desert. You can go rock climbing in Wadi Gnai. The Wadi consists of different routes according to your preferred experience; Waterfall, Camel Canyon and Gnai Adhshan. Middle Gnai is more for beginners and children. After your climbing fun, you can relax with the Bedouins by having lunch and

Cont.

Tips: Dive Site: The Blue Hole is the most dangerous dive spot in the world. It consists of an arch that leads to the rest of the sea, but the arch exceeds the PADI recreational limits of 40 meters. Desert Fun: Remember to bring sun block, a scarf, a hat and really good hiking shoes. Activities: The prices and availability of all the activities may vary according to the tour you have chosen and the hotel of your choice.

drinking tea then set off on another

adventure. More desert activities include,

sand boarding, quad bikes and a hike up

Mount St. Catherine, which is usually done at

night so that you can enjoy the sunrise from

the top.

Then return to Dahab and tune back into your

slower paced relaxation mode. The town will

supply you with much needed unwinding.

Enjoy activities like Tai Chi, bike riding,

yoga or a day at the spa.

16

SCRAPBOOK PAGE

By Aisha AbdelWahab TRULY LOVE HISTORY

Cont.

Our first stop has to be Saint Catherine's Monastery. Situated at the mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai, the monastery was built by order of Justinian I in 565, enclosing the Chapel of the Burning Bush where it is believed that Moses saw the Burning Bush. Although the monastery is orthodox, the site is sacred to all sects of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. But it doesn't stop there; Saint Catherine's Monastery is the oldest

Dahab, whilst it might be known for its golden sand beaches (hence the name “Dahab” which means gold in Arabic) and its breathtaking diving sites, those are definitely not its only perks. Dahab hosts a number of antiquities and historical monuments that only add up to the value of this one of a kind town. So to take your memorable experience to the next level, you might need to grab your camera, a bottle of water and you'll be ready to go.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery

21

22

continuously inhabited Christian monastery, with a history that can be traced back over a thousand years. It preserves, as well, the second largest collection of early codices and manuscripts in the world. It has been honoured by different rulers throughout its history such as the Emperor Justinian, the Empress Helena, the Empress Cathe r ine o f R uss ia , Mohammed the Founder of Islam and N a p o l e o n B o n a p a r t e . You can spend years learning about Saint Catherine's magnificence but, for now, our next destination is waiting for us. In Mashraba stand the ruins of the Nabatean Port. It is believed that it dates

back between 1600 to 2000 years. The port used to be an important part of the trading route of the Nabateans. Whilst the port might seem less fascinating now as it only consists of ruins, it proves the importance of Dahab as a historical site. If you take a walk in the surrounding area, you will most probably pass by some empty hotels and buildings. Those give out an antique vibe and form the perfect spot for some relaxing time alone. After all, the most traditional thing to do in Dahab is not to do anything at all. As for the Nabateans, they were ancient people of northwestern Arabia. Their modern descendants are either labeled

Above: the Nabatean Port Next page: the Blue desert

Arabs or Bedouins. Since they originally started as nomads, the Nabateans raided neighbours and houses to establish their own urban centers. As they were located between rich lands such as Syria, Arabia, Egypt , t he Mediter ranea n a nd Mesopotamia, the economic benefit was huge. Their trading routes are rumoured to have stretched as far as China. It is said that the Nabateans’ heartland was one without rivers or lakes, which is very similar to our next destination; the Blue Desert. Once, this vast landscape used to be a battleground in the 1967 war between Egypt and Israel. As a way to honour the realization of peace between the two

countries, in 1980, Jean Berame, a Belgian artist, painted enormous brown boulders blue; the color of peace. The contrast between the yellows, browns and reds of the desert give off the impression that it is a 3D vivid painting. Our tour is unfortunately done for now, but make sure to stop by next month for more exquisite and mind-blowing locations. Don't forget to e-mail us your experience. Quote of the month: “One's destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things” - Henry Miller

TRULY LOVE SHOPPING By Aisha AbdelWahab

24

One thing you absolutely have to love about Egypt is the fact that in every corner of the country you will find something to buy, whether it is in a popular district filled with designer shops or in the middle of the desert with nothing but handmade products. And, fortunately, Dahab is no exception! With your wallet in hand and enough willpower to keep on shopping till you drop, we will be en-route to a shopping frenzy.

Cont.

First on our list is Assalah Square. Although it is not an area aimed at tourists, you will have a blast experiencing what it is like to be in a typical Egyptian shopping area. Most of the products range from house wares to hand-made crafts. It is a great location if you are in need of crazy tools or absolutely creative crafts. As for the coffee shops and restaurants they also have an Egyptian vibe to them, which will come off as intriguing yet absolutely amazing. You can sit down, drink some Turkish coffee or maybe order a shisha (hookah). Since most of the typical Egyptian coffee shops -called “Ahwa” in

Arabic- are located directly by the street, you get to watch passersby and witness some of the Egyptian traditions; basically, like a live show or a 3D movie in which you are starring. Do you know what else is great about Assalah? The prices are very reasonable, or if I may say so: truly inexpensive! You would not have to worry about your budget for a minute. There is also another location, the Eel Garden, which is approximately a ten minute walk from Assalah Square. It is known for two things: amazing restaurants and the Dahab community market held every Friday. So if you want to enjoy a tasty meal or have a quick

25

26

shopping trip on Friday this is the place to go. Next on our list is the touristic areas; Masbat and Mashraba (I like to call them the M Twins or Double Ms; cheesy, I know!). Masbat starts at the Lighthouse and is the town center and the busiest commercial area of Dahab. You will find plenty of shops, most of them bazaars, selling beautiful artsy products and comfortable clothes made of Egyptian cotton but only sold in Sinai. As it is a promenade, some of the salespeople might come off as pushy. If you are not interested in the products

they are selling, give them a smile and keep on walking. In Masbat, you will also find high standard restaurants offering great service. A lot of places have opened recently so you will have a big range of restaurants to choose from (hint: Asian dishes included). Mashraba basically starts when Masbat ends. It is more of the laid back twin as it is mostly a residential area than a shopping one, but you will find streets full of bazaars nonetheless. Great restaurants and coffee shops with high levels of service are also at your disposal.

When shopping in both Mashraba and Masbat, you should take a walk and have a look at all of the shops before you start spending as some of them sell the same products but at higher prices. You will definitely still find bazaars that sell completely unusual and out of this world products. You will also have to keep in mind that the prices are higher than the ones in Assalah since both areas are touristic. They remain reasonable nonetheless. To have a quick recap, visit Assalah for an Egyptian adventure, the Eel Garden

for a quick shopping trip and the M Twins for great restaurants and amazing products. Keep us updated on your amazing shopping trips and newly discovered shopping areas. Till next month! Quote of the month: “When I shop, the world gets better. The world is better; and then it's not anymore and I have to do it again!” -Rebecca Bloomwood from Confessions of a Shopaholic

27

28

TRULY LOVE EGYPT NEWS

New emails to communicate with us To contact our writers: tle-writer@sarkiss.net To place an advertisement: truly-love-egypt@sarkiss.net Need help travelling to or investing in Egypt? We are not a travel agency nor are we business consultants! But we will gladly help connect you to the right people. For travel help: travel@sarkiss.net For business help: business@sarkiss.net For all other reasons, please use the contact us form on our website www.sarkiss.net

Meet our staff Heba Ghoneim, this month’s feautured Truly Love Egypt writer, is setting off on a life adventure to achieve her dreams. Heba has been a part of our team since the beginning. She will definitely be missed. We are sad to see her go but wish her the best of luck! Heba is featured on the next page and her monthly article, Truly Love Nightlife, follows it. Enjoy!

Heba Ghoneim graduated from Modern Education schools with an American Diploma. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor Degree in Psychology. She dreams of getting a PsyD once she fin is hes her undergraduates program.

She is passionate about many things and thinks that there should not be a limit as to what she can pursue in life. Her hobbies include singing, drawing, writing, watching movies, acting, and debating. She dreams of becoming a clinical psychologist, a fashion designer, and a playwright.

She would also love it if she gets a chance to perform live, at least once.

Lastly, she would like to thank Amy for this fantastic experience! She wishes the Truly Love Egypt's team the best as they are all wonderful, and professional colleagues.

Heba Ghoneim

Heba Ghoneim

It has been a pleasure working with Heba and I am really sorry to see her go. However, I know that she has dreams she wants to pursue and goals to achieve and I wish her all the best. Heba, if you should ever decide to, know that our arms are wide open to welcome you back! Amani Adel Sarkiss

TRULY LOVE NIGHTLIFE By Heba Ghoneim

Remember that song Island in the Sun by Weezer? Well, I do because it was/still is my favorite summer song. Dahab reminds me of that song, especially when the verse “On an island in the sun we’ll be playing and having fun, and it makes me feel so fun I can’t control my brain!” pops up. That is exactly Dahab’s aura! It is all about having fun, chilling, relaxing, diving, and tanning! For those of you who do not speak Arabic, Dahab means “gold”. Why am I not surprised? The place is priceless with its beautiful blue sea, fabulously scattered palm trees and its amber sand. And it is true that Dahab is mainly a day place; however, its nightly activities are so worthwhile that they attract visitors from other towns in Sinai, such as Nuweiba and Taba.

excellent alcoholic beverages! What about the view? Trust me, they do not disappoint! Not only do they have cozy and colorful furniture, they are also located on the beach! You pretty much have a great view everywhere you go whether it is the restaurants’ aesthetics or the beautiful deep blue sea. Enjoy the music, move to the beat and do not forget to eat! Both of these fabulous bars are located in Masbat. Must Eat! If you are almost always hungry like I am or you just love to nibble on some snacks, Dahab has got you covered. For a town that is only as big as the bay it lies on, Dahab certainly has A LOT of restaurants and cafés. I do not know about you, but I consider that as a plus! In Masbat, all kinds of restaurants are located in front of the wonderful calm sea. One restaurant is well known for its great service, hospitality, and delicious fool and taameya (falafel). In addition, it is reasonably priced. There is another restaurant that serves marvelous grilled Egyptian cuisine. I personally love this one. The aesthetics are fantastic! It is cozy and it has a laid back aura to it. It has a very

Bedouin Style Dahab’s unique sand dunes attracted Sinai Bedouins to the area many years ago. Sinai Bedouins have a completely different culture and character from all other Bedouins and this is best experienced firsthand. But, in general, fellow readers, you must know that where there are Bedouins, there is fun! Sinai Bedouin activities include various things such as bread making, carpet weaving (their carpets are colorful and absolutely gorgeous) and many more! My favorite part is the safari. You can never get enough of a safari. Not only are you surrounded by divine nature, but you also use nature as the main source of your entertainment. I mean, who doesn’t love gliding on sand anyway?! And after a long day of adventures, you get to eat rich Bedouin food with the charming, hospitable Bedouins. Hit the Dance Floor! I don’t know about you, but I personally have happy feet. Every now and then I get too much energy that needs to be released on the dance floor. Luckily, Dahab has two well-known bars that have lively dance floors. Both have delicious food and

31 Cont.

32

skirts, dances; in other words, a Whirling Dervish. Last but not least, if you decide to go to Melal Street, be sure to drop by the restaurant that has fresh seafood and Egyptian cuisine amongst others. It has a sublime view that visitors love. Food in Dahab is special. But what is even more special is how they get their seafood. In Dahab, seafood restaurants freshly fish out various shellfish, including lobsters, and fish. The menu of each restaurant is placed just outside it for visitors to check and with the catch/dish of the day highlighted. Is alcohol allowed? With the exception of bars, you can take your own alcoholic beverages wherever you go and you are free to open your own bottle at no extra charge. Wishes to the reader: We wish you a breathtaking trip! Feel free to send us an email about your experience. :D

Bedouin feel to it with all of the colorful weaved carpets and colorful cushions (just so their visitors could feel at home). Masbat is not the only area that has enjoyable restaurants and cafés. Mashraba, also located on the beach, has quite a few magnificent restaurants. If you feel like you need a scrumptious pizza or any Italian food in general, there is a lovely restaurant in Mashraba that offers everything your heart desires.If however you want a naturalistic setting where you sit on colorful Bedouin designed low couches and hammocks, you are guaranteed to love one of the various cafés there! At this café, almost all of the furniture is meticulously handmaid. You must know; however, that they serve drinks and shisha only but it is friendly and lovely so you are bound to fall in love with it! They sometimes show a Tanura performance. For those of you who do not know what a Tanura is, it is basically a show where a man, wearing colorful

TRULY LOVE INVESTING By Amani Sarkiss

34

This section is dedicated to small and medium sized investors looking for possibilities to invest their money from afar or move to a country where sunshine, sea and relaxation are a way of life.

Dahab has the best of both worlds; plenty of space to set up a business and an excellent influx of tourists. Businesses here tend to be tailored to touristic activities so you can either do more of the same or go for something completely different. Grow a green thumb! It is not allowed for a non-Egyptian to buy land in Sinai. However, renting is possible. As there are plenty of low to high end accommodation choices available, using the land for agriculture is a good option. There are several crops that would yield well in Sinai; tomatoes, basil, peppers, eggplant, okra, spinach, peaches, Egyptian apples, olives, beetroot and, of course, dates. Some of these require little water. Others can be watered using the clay bottle method where clay bottles, or “olla”, are almost completely buried in the soil right next to the plant. Water that is poured into these clay bottles permeates through the clay pores to water the plant. Accommodations! Accommodations! But if you are set on providing accommodation, instead of adding to the already abundant accommodation choices, you can rent an existing beach camp. Take a walk along the promenade and ask around for those who may be interested in renting their beachside camps. Professionally laidback! A business office near the main road with photocopying facilities would be useful to many who travel through Sinai and need to photocopy their papers and passports.

Open air recreation An open air cinema –or even an indoor one- would attract customers from Nuweiba, Sharm ElShiekh, Taba and other towns in Sinai. Go back to the roots! A Bedouin culture center that teaches Bedouin cuisine, Bedouin handicrafts etc would go down well with tourists. You can even hold Bedouin nights with live shows. No matter what business you decide to start in Dahab, one thing is for sure: mixing business with pleasure will have a whole new meaning; making money while you are on permanent holiday!

35

Regulations and Safety Issues

1. Ensure your legal papers, such as passports, visa etc, are valid and with you when you travel from one town in Sinai to another. There are security checks at different locations between the towns and they will check your papers.

2. When you swim in the sea, wear water shoes as there are sea urchins, stingrays and stonefish. Avoid swimming near lionfish and do not swim in the sea at night because that is when they are most active.

3. Take a small bottle of vinegar in case you come into contact with a jellyfish.

4. If you come into contact with a sea urchin, dab cotton soaked with warm oil on the affected area.

5. Take a small first aid kit as well as any medicine you regularly use.

6. Pack a warm top as nights tend to be a bit chilly.

7. Do Not dive in the Blue Hole without an expert from one of the dive centers.

My name is Michel van Haarlem, founder and admin of the Facebook page “Friends of Egypt support tourism to Egypt”. I am 47 years old, living in Leiden, Holland and I work at Schiphol Airport as a Ground Steward. I first visited Egypt 12 years ago and I fell in love with the country; the culture, the friendly people and the ancient history. Since then, I have been back many times to visit Cairo, Gouna, Luxor, Hurghada and Safaga. Whenever I want to dive, I go to Egypt. And there are still many places on my wish list such as Alexandria, Aswan, Dahab, the Black and the White deserts, Quisir, Marsa Alam, Marsha Matrouh,

Qina, Port Said, Taba, Sohag and Siwa. My dream is to live in my beloved Egypt. Since the start of the revolution, we began supporting tourism to Egypt by explaining to people that they can s t ill vis it many places there . Many people have no idea how big Egypt is. They think that if something happens in Egypt that it is close to the tourist areas. We clarify that tourist areas are far and safe. On our Facebook page, we provide abundant information about sightseeing but we are not a travel agency nor are we connected with them. We seek every possible way to promote

This page: Top: Friends of Egypt support tourism to Egypt Facebook page Bottom left: National Day with Egyptian Ambassador Mr.Taher Farahat and Mrs. Farahat in The Hague Bottom right: at the tourism office in Brussel with Mr. Rami Nazmi Next page: Top left:on a diving boat in Gouna Top right: at the holiday fair in Utrecht Bottom: cycling in Gouna

Egypt. We post on Tripadvisor, Zoover, Holiday Check, Egypt forum as well as others. We have also shared our experience of Egypt in the media; newspapers, radio and television. We have also sought contact with the Egyptian Embassy in the Netherlands and the Egyptian Tourist Authority in Brussels to discuss how we can help promote tourism. The Egyptian Tourist Authority in Egypt have allowed us to use their original logos and images on our page. The reason Ron and I decided to initiate this is because very many Egyptians have been affected by the downturn in tourism which resulted from media exaggerations.

The media should stop making people unnecessarily scared of traveling to Egypt. They should provide the public with correct information. Travel advice issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also needs to be much clearer. In addition, every country currently issues a different travel advice about Egypt. This adds to the confusion. Egypt is a wonderful country where you will have an unforgettable holiday. Egypt is more than just sun, sea and sand! It is friendly, helpful people, an intriguing culture and a wonderful history. There really is something for everyone in Egypt.

37

TRULY LOVE CUISINES By Amal Sarkiss

Foul Medames

Foul Medames is the most common Egyptian dish, enjoyed by Egyptians since the time of the pharaohs. Foul is fava beans, also known as broad beans. It is rich in proteins and iron and high in fiber. Being both nutritious and filling, foul is the favored dish at “sohour”, the meal eaten just before dawn during the month of Ramadan. It is a dish loved by both rich and poor, and you can find it at a stand on a street corner as well as at a 5 star hotel. So when you visit Egypt, no matter where you stay, a delicious foul dish is just a few steps away.

38

Preparation time Cooking Time Serves

15 min 4-5 hrs 6

Ingredients:

500gm (1 lb) dried fava/broad beans 2 tbs yellow lentils 2 tbs white rice

Juice of 1 lime Juice of 1 tomato 4 garlic cloves, chopped

Directions: Foul is traditionally cooked in a special pot called “qedrah”, but any pot can be used for its cooking. A “qedrah” is shown on the previous page on the left.

Soak the dried fava beans overnight in water. Then drain.

Put the fava beans in a “qedrah” or a pot with the rest of the ingredients and pour enough water in to cover them.

Let the pot simmer on low heat for about 4 hours, with the lid on, until the fava beans are well-cooked. To check if fava beans are well-cooked, take one out and squeeze it. The inside should be smooth.

Add hot water if needed; if it is too dry.

Presentation: Serve in a deep dish or a bowl. Mix in a small amount of butter or olive oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, or any other oil you prefer. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Other preferred spices to add are cumin and/or peri peri. Optional additions as preferred:

Diced tomatoes Chopped green pepper Diced onions or spring onions Diced garlic - but it is better to lightly braise it in fat before adding it to the dish Chopped parsley Chopped coriander Tahina, also known as tahini A squeeze of fresh lime Either add the above additions fresh, or stir them into the foul over medium heat.

Foul is best eaten with Egyptian pita bread (“baladi” bread) or with white pita bread.

39

Our upcoming February issue

To subscribe, read all our issues or contact us, please visit www.sarkiss.net