After careful thought and learning from my own experinces, I have decided to move all my blogs to one place J. Data has been moved over now and It’s goodbye to www.wasapninjordan.wordpress.com, www.wasapninegypt.wordpress.com, www.wasapninworld.wordpress.com and hello to www.wasapnin.wordpress.com.
I was advised to do this before but I suppose I had to learn it the hard way. Please keeping visting me at www.wasapnin.wordpress.com
wasapnin
It is the first day of Ramadhan tomorrow. Muslims are encouraged to attend extra prayers in the evening called the ‘tarawih prayer’.at the Masjid (Mosque). It’s a long prayer which could last as long as two hours. I must say it’s a spirtually uplifting time.
However, anyone who has visited a masjid, knows that you are suppoed to leave your shoes at the door or on the shoe rack. As with everyone else, I left my shoes inside the Masjid, in a shoe rack.
After the prayer, its mad rush to leave. People are rushing to get their shoes, so they can spend some time with th eloved ones, before getting up earliy in the morning prepare for the fast. I went back to the shoe rack where I had placed my shoes and I could not find my shoes. I thought maybe I had placed them on an another shoe rack. I looked and looked but could not find my shoes. I must have looked at every shoe rack in the Masjid about 5 times but found nothing. I thought maybe someone has taken them by mistake and they will return shorrtly, so I waited outside the Masjid doors. I waited so long that the caretakers had started to close the gates of Masjid. I asked a few people about my shoes and they were convinced that they had been stolen.
At this point I decided to ring my wife to collect me as I do not want to be walking around the streets of Cairo with my socks only. While waiting I met another gentleman who was wearing only his socks and was waiting for his wife to come and pick him as his shoes had also been stolen.
I really hope some has taken them by mistake and will return them soon.
It’s not a good start for me, as I promised I would try to look at the postive side of my experince in Egypt.
Not good so far. I hopes are high at the moment.
wasapninegypt
There was no credible sighting of the new moon yesterday, hence tomorrow will be the first of Ramadhan. I hope Muslims will make the most of this blessed month and view it more than just refraining from food. Let’s break free.
Ramadhan Kareem 
btw if you have not already realised, the clocks went back an hour today in Egypt. I remember fasting in Ramadhan, where at this time of the year, the sun sets at 21:30.
wasapninegypt
An Egyptian security official says a groom and three wedding guests died when their cars collided with another wedding procession on a highway south of Cairo.
Maj. Gen. Gad Gamil says the groom and three others were killed when five vehicles collided at high speed near the Egyptian town of Assiut, 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Cairo. (AP)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3762126,00.html
The above article and many other incidents that I have read about, heard about and seen has prompted me to add a category about ‘driving in Egypt’. Watch this space for further info.
wasapninegypt
Well it’s been almost a year since I moved to Egypt to take my new post. It’s been an interesting year, with its ups and down. Meeting new people, understanding a new culture and I suppose in many ways becoming wiser during the process. I still have this ‘marmite’ feeling towards Egypt.
Hopefully the next year for me will be better. There is so much to see and do in Egypt and so many wonderful people to meet. I suppose I must just jump in the Deep end and see how I survive.
Let’s see what another year brings for me.
wasapninegypt
What is it about Egypt? I have been here for over 3 months now and I still cannot get out of my writers block. When I was in Jordan, I was addicted to blogging. I wanted to blog about everything. I wanted to take my camera or camera phone with me everywhere. I wanted to document everything so others could benefit from my travels.
There was an advert in the UK about ‘Marmite’. ‘Marmite’ is a spread to put on your toast. Their slogan was, ‘Marmite either you love it or hate it’.
So what is it about Egypt? Am I the only one who feels like this?
wasapninegypt
During Ramadhan Egypt television has been airing a very popular show called ‘The House is Yours‘, where contestants have the opportunity to win a new apartment. In Egypt marriage is considered to be the criteria of adulthood hence societal pressure to financially stable increases more than other places.
However, I do not know anyone who would give away the chance of winning a new apartment. Everyone likes to receive things for free; It doesn’t make the Egyptians any different.
wasapninegypt
A few simple rules will keep you healthy while vacationing in Egypt.
- Eat: A few simple rules will keep you healthy. At its worst, “pharaoh’s revenge” only lasts a day or two. Eat food that has been thoroughly cooked and is still hot. If you can peel it, you can eat it as far as fruits and vegetables are concerned. Avoid other raw fruits and vegetables unless you are sure they have been safely handled. If you buy fruit from street vendors, wash it.
- Drink: Bottled water is your best friend. Drink a lot to avoid dehydration and use it to brush your teeth and clean your contacts. Bottled drinks, including beer, wine and soft drinks are usually safe. Drink out of the container if possible and don’t add ice unless you are sure it was made with safe water. Water that has been boiled is generally fine. Steer clear of unpasteurized milk and dairy products including ice cream, sauces and cream-filled desserts. In general, hotels and cruise ships take great care with food handling.
- Stay: Four- and five-star hotels in Egypt offer every amenity you would expect to find, including laundry service, telephones and comfortable bars with belly dancers. All the hotels on our itinerary were of a consistently high standard, which meant never having to worry about a hot shower after a day in the desert. I used my cellphone on a regular basis and was never out of range. ATM’s are available in every major centre, although you may want to use the one in your hotel lobby for convenience and safety. The concierge can help you with changing money, finding your way around the neighbourhood and arranging for transportation. Be aware that in some areas, a security guard is mandatory, and the charge will be about the same as the cost of a taxi ride. Shopkeepers will use just about any line to get you into their shop but once inside, try to have fun while you bargain.
- Safety: One of the first questions you hear upon announcing that you’re going to Egypt is “Is it safe?,” and the answer is “Yes, definitely.” Enlightened self-interest on the part of the Egyptian government has led to some of the tightest security for tourists anywhere in the world. The first level of defence are policemen on the street. There is usually one within hailing distance and a decided lack of pickpockets. Every tourist site also has a large contingent of armed police, on foot, camel, motorcycle or jeep. In addition, tour groups are required by law to have their own security personnel accompany them to less frequented sites. On our tour, we had a security man with a very large concealed pistol. Boatloads of river police unobtrusively follow the tourist cruise ships. Given this level of security, incidents of any kind are very rare.
Source: http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=70443590-3a06-4137-a828-4793805864b9
wasapninegypt
I recently read an article about workers in Egypt spending more time praying then they do working. It was an interesting article as I too observe the prayer 5 times a day without fail and it does not take me more then 10 minutes.
The article talked about ‘the time between ablution -– washing hands and feet -– and a prayer can take 10 minutes, but many Muslim spend as many as 30 minutes on the ritual.’ The article somehow jumps from workers taking time of to pray and then making a strenuous link between a study which suggests that ‘A recent government study found that Egypt’s 6 million government employees, a massive platoon of bureaucracy, are each estimated to spend only 27 minutes a day working.’
My thoughts
Firstly I have to b honest if there are not proper facilities at the work place, and then it can take up to 30 minutes to pray. One has to make Wudu (ablution) and then find an appropriate place to pray and believe it or not if there are not proper facilities then it can take time. It is the responsibility of the work place to ensure there are facilities for their staff if they choose to pray.
Secondly I have worked in the UK and some parts of the Middle East and to be honest what’s more disturbing is how long the smokers take to have a drag every 30 minutes or so. You will find them loitering around in their cars, behind the wall, outside the office, on roof tops. Each drag can take around 10 minutes, if you add the time it takes to find a quiet spot and then enjoy your cigarette.
Finally there should be no link between lethargy at work and blaming this on a work force that wishes to practice its religious believes. To suggest that the government workers work only 27 minutes a day and the rest of day they are praying is ridiculous.
I think there needs to be an open discussion about what is acceptable at work and what is not. Other factors such as better pay and fringe benefits could easily motivate employees to work. People who work 12 hours a day 6 or even 7 days a week and get only receive £60 a month for their efforts, might find it difficult to be motivated every day.
wasapninegypt
A 92 year old man is forbidden from marrying a 17 year old woman in Egypt. Ministry of Justice has placed a 25 year age gap between prospective spouses. As I understand rich Arabs from the Gulf are attracted to much younger Egyptian women. From the Egyptian point of view I can appreciate the problem and the attempt to control this type of marriage.
My thoughts are simple; I don’t think anyone can restrict an age gap, if the marriage is sincere and full of love. My qualms occur when these marriages are as a result of money; whether the family is forced to ‘sell’ their daughter for money or if the marriage is for the love of money only. In all cases there should be consent from the girl. It is her life after all.
It is however difficult to prove either.
wasapninegypt
wasapninegypt
