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Minţaqat as Saqqālah

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    • TravelerÉgypte 2023
      1
      Day 1

      Les retrouvailles 🥰

      October 13, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

      Noura est venue me chercher à l’aéroport.
      On est passé dire bonjour aux parents avant d’aller prendre un petit dej de luxe à la maison avec Moaz et Lama. Noura fait les meilleures omelettes du monde, j’adore les petits déjeuners chez elle.
      Avec le réveil tôt j’étais fatiguée alors j’ai fait une grosse sieste pendant que Mizou était à son cours de science.
      On est ensuite tous partis manger chez Boska et faire un bowling entre meufs.
      Au retour on est allé dire bonne nuit aux parents, Soso nous a servi des goyaves, dattes et raisins. Et bonne surprise, Sambo et descendu nous dire bonjour avec Salma, Adam, Ghazal et… j’ai pu rencontrer Zein 😍
      C’était trop bien de voir tout le monde en même temps.
      Maintenant soirée massage et papotage avec Noura.
      Bonne nuit ❤️      Read more

      See translation
    • SUP the NILE 2023
      1
      Day 2

      Mafish Mushkilla means no problem 😜

      April 15, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

      Nach und nach trudeln alle Teilnehmer des Trips ein, heute war grosser Anreisetag. Wir haben es tatsächlich geschafft, uns auf ganz Ägypten zu verteilen. Max, Corinna und Ingrid erkunden schon mal Assuan auf eigene Faust, Peter, Katrin und die dänische Crew Ulla, Cecilie und Arenze, sowie Kathrin, Zeb und Stefan sind auf Hurghada verstreut. Jimmy und Nenita übernachteten mit Blick auf die Pyramiden und die Sphinx in Kairo und waren so jetlagged, dass sie auf den Sonnenaufgang schon ab 4 Uhr warteten 😂. Das war auch die Zeit, wo Kathrin mit den 90 kg Gepäck aus Deutschland einflog. Und die Flughafenstory aus Berlin ist es wert, erzählt zu werden. 90kg Gepäck- alles was man halt so braucht: 6 SUPs, 8 Paddel, diverse Finnen, Ersatzteile, Kaffee, French Press und natürlich Alkohol, denn wir haben Mal wieder die Ramadanzeit ausgewählt.🙄

      Am Corendonschalter war die Qual der Wahl, wer wohl der kulanteste Check-in Mitarbeiter ist zwischen: a., lächelnder Herr um die 30 Jahre, b., junge stark geschminkte grad fertig gewordene Azubine Anfang 20 oder c., streng aussehende, mit ins Auge fallender schwarzer Brille, Anfang Fünfzigjährige mit glatt gegelten Haaren.
      A- war die Wahl und erwies sich aber schon in der ersten Minute als Fehlgriff. Check-In Gebühr muss bitte, oben gezahlt werden, da kein Online Check-in gemacht wurde. "Hätte ich ja, wenn mich die Webseite gelassen hätte, aber ging nicht, weil die Buchung nicht gefunden wurde" strahlte ich ihn noch siegessicher den Screenshot des misslungenen Check-ins zeigend an. Der Mann hatte wenig Interesse und sagte ich kann mich ja nach der Reise beschweren. Ok 10 Euro lohnen der Diskussion nicht , um den Flieger zu verpassen. Ob ich das Gepäck kurz da lassen könnte, da es trotz Gepäckwagen fast unmöglich war samt Boardbag und Supbags sich durch den Flughafen seinen Weg zu bahnen. Wieder negativ vom, bis er mich traf, lächelnden Mann. Der Fahrstuhl sollte mich zum eigentlich nicht all zu weit entfernten Schalter im ersten Stock bringen, doch war der so klein, dass nicht alles Gepäck reinpasste und als ich grad am Platzieren der zweiten Tasche war, ging die Tür zu und Tasche 3 samt Gepâckwagen blieben unten.😱 Ich dachte mir nix und lud oben aus und fuhr runter, um den Rest nachzuholen- aber die Minute hat gereicht, um unten in eine Polizeigruppe zu stossen, die grade den Flughafen absperrte🫣.
      Fazit- Reisen mit Gepäck erfordert Zeit und noch viel mehr als Zeit , Geduld und innere Gelassenheit. Polizei geklärt, bezahlt und zurück zum "Falsche Wahl Checkin Mitarbeiter". Gebucht und bezahlt waren 90 kg Gepäck samt Quittungen. Es dürften nur 50 kg mitgenommen werden, lächelte er mich an. Gequält zurücklächelnd immer nach dem Motto: freundlich kommt weiter, zeigte ich alle Belege und die Webseite "Sie können so viel Gepäck mitnehmen, wie Sie zahlen" fügte ich noch hinzu, er mache seinen Job und ich meinen und zwinkerte und sagte, wir haben es beide schwer.

      Es war wie ein Siegeszug als der Drucker für die Gepäcketiketten anging. Ich sah uns schon ganz Hurghada nach SUP Boards absuchen, falls der so pingelig weitergemacht hätte, wie er angefangen hatte. Ende gut , alles gut- was erst so aussah, als würde ich wegen des Hickhacks den Flug verpassen, ging dieser 2 Stunden später als angekündigt und ich erreichte Hurghada 4 Uhr morgens.

      Nach kurzem Schlaf sahen wir Stefan am Pool meditieren und freuten uns über das Wiedersehen.

      Der heutige Tag ist schnell zusammengefasst- Genehmigungen organisieren, Shuttle nach Assuan organisieren und die beliebte Überraschung für unsere Nilpaddler anfertigen lassen. Alle anderen gingen es entspannt an und chillten oder erkundigten den Ort , wo sie grade angekommen waren.

      In Hurghada gings abends über den Fischmarkt und anschliessend zum Fischessen ins Al Halaka, wo Fisch bis zum Abwinken aufgetischt wurde, um dann mit einer Rechnung von 500 LE , also 15 Euro für drei Personen inkl Getränken endeten. Preis-Leistung sind unglaublich.
      Zum Verdauungsspaziergang rollten wir uns durch die Hurghada Marina, wo unser Bier fast genauso teuer war wie unser Essen, vorbei an den Luxusyachten und Tauchsafaribooten zurück uns Hotel. Abreise sportliche 4 Uhr- also vor dem Aufstehen- gehts morgen endlich Richtung Nil , um alle so richtig in echt und ausserhalb von Whatsapp kennenzulernen.

      English Version
      One by one all the participants of the trip are arriving, today was the big day of arrival. We actually managed to spread out all over Egypt. Max, Corinna and Ingrid explore Aswan on their own, Peter, Katrin and the Danish crew Ulla, Cecilie and Arenze, as well as Kathrin, Zeb and Stefan are scattered around Hurghada. Jimmy and Nenita stayed in Cairo with a view of the pyramids and the Sphinx and were so jetlagged that they waited for sunrise from 4 a.m. 😂. That was also the time when Kathrin flew in from Germany with 90 kg of luggage. And the airport story from Berlin is worth telling. 90kg luggage - everything you need: 6 SUPs, 8 paddles, various fins, spare parts, coffee, French press and of course alcohol, because we have chosen the Ramadan time again.🙄

      At the Corendon counter, we were spoiled for choice as to who is the most accommodating checkin employee between: a., smiling gentleman around 30 years old, b., young, heavily made-up trainee who had just finished his early 20s or c., strict-looking man with eye-catching black glasses Early fifties with gelled hair.
      A- was the choice and proved to be a mistake in the first minute. Please pay the check-in fee above as no online check-in was done. "I would have, if the website had let me, but it didn't work because the booking couldn't be found," I beamed at him, still confident of victory, showing the screenshot of the failed check-in. The man had little interest and said I can complain after the trip. Ok 10 euros is not worth the discussion to miss the plane. Could I leave my luggage there for a moment, since it was almost impossible to make your way through the airport with the board bag and sup bags despite the luggage trolley. Again negative from the man smiling until he met me. The elevator was supposed to take me to the counter on the first floor, which is actually not too far away, but it was so small that not all my luggage fit in and when I was about to place the second bag, the door closed and bag 3 and the luggage trolley stayed downstairs .😱 I didn't think anything and unloaded upstairs and drove down to catch up on the rest - but the minute was enough to bump into a police group downstairs who were just blocking the airport🫣.
      Conclusion- traveling with luggage takes time and much more than time, patience and inner composure. Police cleared it up, paid and returned to the wrong choice of checkin staff. Booked and paid for were 90 kg of luggage including receipts. Only 50 kg can be taken, he smiled at me. Smiling back painedly, always following the motto friendly gets ahead, I showed all the receipts and the website "you can take as much luggage as you pay for" and said he did his job and I did mine and winked and said we both have a hard time.

      It was like a triumph when the printer for luggage labels came on. I've seen us all over Hurghada looking for SUP boards. All's well that ends well- what first looked like I'd miss the flight because of the hiccup, it was 2 hours later than announced and I reached Hurghada at 4am.

      After a short sleep we tell Stefan to meditate by the pool and were happy to meet again.

      Today's day can be summarized quickly - organizing permits, organizing shuttle to Aswan and having the popular surprise made for our Nile paddlers. Everyone else took it easy and chilled or inquired about the place where they had just arrived.

      In Hurghada we went to the fish market in the evening and then to the Al Halaka to eat fish, where fish was served in abundance, only to end up with a bill of 500 LE, i.e. 15 euros for three people including drinks. Value for money is incredible.
      For a digestive walk we rolled through the Hurghada Marina, where our beer was almost as expensive as our food, past the luxury yachts and liveaboards back to the hotel. Departure sporty 4 o'clock - so before getting up - tomorrow we finally go towards the Nile to really get to know everyone in real life and outside of Whatsapp.      Read more

      See translation
    • LadyandtrampEgypt for 1 Month, then Mexico

      Egyptian men, and women…

      January 3, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

      Today is our last day in Hurghada and we are just relaxing today in the sun, on the rooftop terrace of our accommodations. We are presently sitting/lying on an outdoor ‘bed’ with a canopy and have a great view of the city and the Red Sea. And a little time to think various thoughts about life in Egypt.

      The other night, we went into a little shop so I could buy a light Egyptian cotton tunic top. I went into the shop after asking a lot of shop owners what their tops may cost. I knew that the price stated is always too high and you have to spend time, and probably have a cup of tea, before coming to a price that I was willing to pay. Chris came in too.

      I found a top that I liked while Chris tried orange flavoured tobacco in a water pipe (shisha) and mint tea was made for me. I was pretty well ignored and interrupted when I asked questions while Chris was treated like royalty. Egyptian men respect other men. Women? Not so much. The male shopkeeper (they all are) kept asking Chris which blouse he would pick for me as if I didn’t have a choice. Chris said that it was my choice. After this, Chris asked him a few good questions about the role of the wife. Apparently, the man makes all the choices for a woman. Including giving permission to use the bathroom!

      “Traditional gendered roles view the man as a "pro-creator, a protector, and a provider," and the woman as "pretty and polite but not too aggressive, not too outspoken and not too smart.” Oh, oh. I’d be in trouble if I lived here.

      So what conclusions have I come up with regarding the average traditional Egyptian male and the way he treats women?

      There seems to be a need to control. Some Egyptian men (not guides or people working with tourists) take it upon themselves to control a woman's life totally. Everything from what she wears, to who she talks to and what she does for a living is controlled by a man throughout a woman's entire life. First, the father, then the brother or another significant male family member and then a husband.

      So then I wondered, why is it that a woman is controlled in this country from the day she is born till the day she dies? For some men, it is the perception that women are an "accessible source of shame" and therefore, her thoughts, her feelings, her movement and every other part of her existence must be controlled until she is married off. Once the woman is married, the cycle restarts and its the husband's turn to dictate how she lives her life.

      So, who would want to live like that? I read that “The inability to admit wrongdoing in any relationship is disastrous because one member is made to feel like their feelings don't really matter to the other person in the relationship. If this is a continuous act, the other person is eventually made to feel that they really don't matter. Confidence and self respect will go out the window resulting in a never ending cycle of settling down for less than what they deserve.” Let that sink in …

      I read that Egyptian men are unable to admit when they do something wrong because they fear that by admitting it, they become less and therefore equal to women. This all stems from the fact that men are given a higher importance from the day they are born. Unfortunately, this is evident in many Egyptian families and can even be seen in a brother and sister relationship and in a mother and son relationship. Boys can do what they to.

      Now, regarding the Egyptian man's tendency to interrupt women. Who knows why they do this but if a women demands that the man listen to her, he starts to talk louder and louder and won’t let you put a word in. Control. As soon as Chris intervened, the man respectfully listened to him.

      I took it all with a grain of salt but feel sorry for the women who live with these types of men.

      By the way, I did a great job of bringing down the price of the tunic. It only took me about 45 minutes of haggling, followed by a handshake. To me, it is all a fun game.      Read more

    • LadyandtrampEgypt for 1 Month, then Mexico

      Egytian Money

      January 5, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

      Before we left, we couldn’t get any Egyptian money at our bank in Canada, but it was easy peasy to take out money from ATM machines in Egypt. We couldn’t take out a lot, no more than $400 Cdn, at a time but that’s okay because it isn’t expensive here. And if necessary, our VISA card worked fine. A few places wanted to charge a 3% VISA card usage fee but that wasn’t the norm.

      We never used coins, just bills. Five pound notes, or $.25, were used to use bathrooms. This bill is smaller and dirtier than the other bills which are all about the same size. We washed our hands a lot after using the money.

      We had to get used to the big apparent cost of things. Things were cheap but lots of bills were used.

      All Egyptian pound banknotes are bilingual. They have an Arabic face and an English face. The Arabic side has pictures of Islamic buildings in Egypt. The English side shows ancient Egyptian motifs with engravings of figures, statues, and temples.

      There are coins too but we rarely saw them. Egypt’s coin design is based largely on its ancient history. The coins include pictures of pharaohs, pyramids, and past dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Cleopatra, and the Pyramids of Giza.

      Tutankhamun is featured on the highest coin, the 1 pound coin, and it’s no wonder why. The myth of King Tut is world-famous, and his tomb is one of just a few perfectly preserved Egyptian Royal Tombs.

      Cleopatra also makes a fitting face for a coin, as a strong woman able to hold a country together throughout warfare in a male-dominated society.

      The notes are printed with security measures. In 1930, for the first time in the history of Egyptian banknotes, a watermark with a scribe was used in issued banknotes.. Then, in 1968, they began using a metallic thread instead of watermarking.      Read more

    • LadyandtrampEgypt for 1 Month, then Mexico

      Redcon Suites

      January 5, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

      We stayed in the Redcon Suites while we were in Hurghada. A bit of a change for us as we had our own little apartment in a 4 storey building. We usually enjoy staying in hostels as we can interact with people, both travellers and locals, but sometimes we enjoy just being on our own. After 3 weeks of travel, this place was our little break from people. It was somewhat noisy at night though when the bar got into its New Years Eve weekend party mode!

      The apartment had everything that we needed including a small kitchen. A little market was close by so we were able to get some food to cook but as mentioned in another footprint, there was a great restaurant next door that we went to a couple of times.

      We could go across the street to a small private beach and there was a rooftop terrace on our building. Everything was clean and comfortable but as in many places we have stayed in, the internet reception was intermittent. The only English TV channel that we could get was the world news on Al Jezeera. That was fine for us.

      The men at the front desk were pleasant and gave us some good advice about what to see. We were even able to get our laundry done there for $3.00 Cdn.      Read more

    • LadyandtrampEgypt for 1 Month, then Mexico

      Cairo’s Garbage City

      January 6, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

      Garbage is a serious problem in Cairo. Like other big cities, solid waste management is a huge challenge. The city produces more than 15,000 tons of solid waste every day which is putting tremendous strain on city’s infrastructure and their system for getting rid of it isn’t working.

      In most "civilized" nations, the recycling of 20-25% of all waste is considered a good thing and, in most circles, shows an environmentally friendly community. On an earlier tour, we drove by and had a glimpse of an area that is called Garbage City. We were curious about why it is called this so I did a little research.

      Actually the area is really called Manshiyat Nasser but it is more popularly known as “Garbage City”. It is a slum settlement with a population of around 60,000 on the outskirts of the Moqattam Hills, within Cairo’s sprawling metropolitan area.

      The village is notable for having nearly every space of it covered in garbage, including the streets and rooftops of the settlement. These piles of garbage are the result of the Cairo Metropolitan Area having never established an efficient garbage collecting system, despite having a population of over 20 million people.

      The inhabitants of Manshiyat Nasser, mostly Coptic Christians, have filled this gap for the past 70 years. These informal garbage collectors, called the Zabbaleen or “Garbage people,“ collect the garbage of Cairo’s residents in a door-to-door service for a small fee and then transport it via donkey carts or pick-up trucks to their homes in Manshiyat Nasser. Once home, they sort the garbage for recyclable material. The collecting of the trash is traditionally the men’s work, while women and children sort the garbage.

      Although it seems very old-fashioned, the efficiency of the recycling system of the Zabbaleen is remarkable. Almost 80 percent of the garbage is recycled, which is four times the percentage most Western recycling companies produce.

      Living conditions are poor in Manshiyat Nasser and the living situation is very unhealthy. We were going to do a tour to this place and it was recommended that we never open the windows or get out of the car. During the last years, the lives of the Zabbaleen have gotten worse as a result of two decisions of the Cairo municipal government. In 2003 the government hired private companies for the garbage disposal, which today the Zabbaleen have to compete against.

      Six years later, in a preventive measure against the threat of an outbreak of the swine flu, the Cairo government ordered the culling of all 350,000 pigs in Manshiyat Nasser. Traditionally, pigs have always been an important factor in the lives of the Zabbaleen, since they cleared the garbage of all organic waste and their meat was later sold to hotels and restaurants catering to non-Muslim tourists.

      The village has received a lot of attention following the release of the 2009 documentary film Garbage Dreams, which won the Al Gore Reel Current Award. Since the release of the film, Manshiyat Nasser has become something of an off-the-beaten-path tourist attraction for adventuresome individuals. We just ran out of time or we would have gone.

      Here is a blurb that I found about the documentary:

      “Conceived and directed by Mai Iskander, "Garbage Dreams" largely follows the lives of a group of four young members of the Zaballeen community as they deal with life, growing up, jobs and social expectations. The four include: 1) 17-year-old Adham, who has become the man of the house after his father was jailed for attempting to build Adham an apartment without the proper permits, 2) 16-year-old Osama, an immature young man whose difficulty holding a job for more than a month is having increasingly negative consequences, 3) 18-year-old Nabil, who dreams of opening a can-recycling shop of his own but is aware that the Zaballeens may not have much of a future in the business, and 4) Laila, a community nurse who attempts to keep the Zaballeens healthy while helping to organize their efforts to keep waste disposal in their daily lives.

      While Iskander is clearly sympathetic to the Zaballeens, she's quite balanced in the ways that she shares life in the community, which often appears as one huge trash dump with piles upon piles of all sorts of waste in streets, alleys and on rooftops. Similarly, while Iskander paints a portrait of a faithful and dutiful people, she doesn't hide away their quirks and weaknesses.

      Osama is clearly portrayed as a frequent screw-up, while Adham struggles to be the "man of the house" and frequently borders on abuse with his sister. Nabil longs for a wife, while Laila appears to be a single mother in a society where this can be frowned upon. Yet, all of them are united by a commitment to their longstanding way of life and their acceptance that this life is how God would will it to be for them. Living in conditions that even the most poverty-stricken in the United States would consider unimaginable, the Zaballeens find immense joy and happiness in living their lives humbly.

      "Garbage Dreams" is awesomely photographed, though the editing occasionally feels a touch choppy with some scenes feeling a touch disconnected and awkwardly placed such as the scene when Adham finds himself part of a team sent abroad to study waste disposal in Wales. This also begs the question "If this community is so poverty stricken who sent the team abroad?"

      Simultaneously charming and a bit humbling, "Garbage Dreams" is an entertaining and informative documentary examining an Egyptian community I dare say few even realize existed. Using the American capitalist mentality, it's easy to understand why Cairo would seek newer, more efficient ways of waste disposal, but by the end of "Garbage Dreams" it becomes clear that, despite their antiquated methods, the Zaballeens not only serve their community faithfully and effectively but are also doing more than virtually any other waste disposal firm in the world for the environment.”      Read more

    • TravelerÉgypte 2023
      Day 2

      Soirée rugby

      October 14, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

      On est venu voir le match et boire qqch avec Doudou et mon amoureux.
      J’ai passé une chouette journée avec Noura. J’ai encore mangé chez ses parents avant de retrouver l’équipe sur le bateau. Soso avait préparé un délicieux repas 😋
      Du bonheur de retrouver mon amoureux ❤️
      Petite sieste pour lui et être en top forme pour le match.      Read more

      See translation
    • TravelerEgypt
      Day 8

      Arrived at Marina Sky Hotel after Issues

      June 8, 2023 in Egypt ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

      Finally we found a place on Airbnb called Marina Sky and when we arrived they told us to cancel our booking and pay inside, it's all worked out alhamdulilah.

      The man that showed us around wanted a tip😂 but as long as he takes care of us is all good.

      He already didn't need us to provide passports which we didn't have 😂      Read more

    • Hurgada
      Day 6

      Hurgada

      February 11, 2022 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      Še na izlet v Hurgado sva šla - preden se je razvil tu turizem, ja bila Hurgada ena mala ribiška vasica. Nekje sredi osemdesetih let so zgradili prvi hotel čisto na rivi in od takrat naprej Hurgada in njena okolica samo raste in se debeli z novimi hotelskimi kompleksi in resorti.

      Mesto ima cca 300.000 prebivalcev, a to število krepko naraste čez 2 milijona v turistični sezoni, ki je nekje od pomladi do jeseni.

      Hurgada nima glih neke svoje duše, saj je "stara" šele nekih štirideset let in je nek skupek živčnih centrov od tržnice, ribarnice, nakupovalnih ulic.... vse do hotelskih kompleksov v samem centru mesta.      Read more

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    • TravelerÄgypten
      Day 1

      Strand- & Pooltag

      April 11, 2022 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Spät ging der Flieger am Sonntag, früh landeten wir in Hurghada.
      Nach einem relativ entspannten Flug sind wir (mein bester Freund Henrik und ich) um 2:30uhr Ortszeit in Hurghada gelandet.
      Der Transfer zum Hotel verlief reibungslos und so sahen wir uns "gezwungen" auf das ankommen eine paar Bierchen zu genießen. Das wir dabei die einzigen Gäste waren, die noch wach waren störte uns nicht.

      Gut gelaunt und mit wenig Schlaf trafen wir uns (ganz Pauschalreisen mäßig) um 8:30uhr mit dem Reiseveranstalter um im direkt zu sagen, dass wir keine Ausflugstips benötigen, da wir uns darum schon gekümmert haben.

      Kurz beim Frühstück vorbei und dann ging es direkt zum Strand, an dem wir es uns den ganzen Tag gut gehen gelassen haben. Ab 10uhr gab es frisch gezapftes und ab 12 Uhr haben wir es dann mal mit Cubra Libre versucht. Schmeckte auch gut 😅
      Ein bisschen lesen hier, ein bisschen schwimmen da und zack saßen wir beim Livemusik-Abend an der Animationsbühne.

      Stress pur also am ersten Tag.      Read more

      See translation

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Minţaqat as Saqqālah, Mintaqat as Saqqalah, منطقة السقالة

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