Bernadette Simpson's Blog, page 7

C is for Cute, Curious Camels

While hiking this past weekend in Wadi G'Nai (near Dahab), I spotted three camels in the distance, lazily crunching on cactus. As we walked, I slowly veered toward them, knowing that I wanted to get some shots of my favorite animal. The camels noticed my approach and occasionally lifted and turned their heads in my direction. When I was still (in my mind) a safe distance away, the closest camel sauntered right up to me and asked to have his photo taken! Okay, so he really didn't talk to me, but each of these cute and curious camels took a turn following me around until I got several shots of each of them.

I love camels, which you probably know if you've read my book or followed this blog. And I'm looking forward to our first ever camel race here in Dahab next week during the Dahab Bedouin Festival. It's on from May 14th to 20th. (The camel race is the 17th.) Click here to view the schedule of events.

Visit my Zazzle store to see this cute camel face on a postcard and other products. 

Happy Sham el-Nessim!

Happy Sham el-Nessim!

Once again celebrating my favorite Egyptian holiday with a basketful of colored eggs. Okay, so they're not all that colorful…yet. This was just the base colors I dyed the eggs before the kids decorated them further with markers and stickers. (Yes, I forgot to get a shot of them completed.)

From last year's Sham el-Nessim post:

This spring festival dates back to the time of the pharaohs but is still celebrated as a national holiday by both Muslims and Christians. Today, Egyptians will spend the day outside in gardens or any green space they can find – along the Nile, at the zoo – and enjoy the fresh breeze. Traditionally, people eat feseekh (a salted, and very smelly fish), green onions, lettuce, termis (lupini beans)…and colored boiled eggs.

P is for Pride!

When my hubby brought these tissues home the other day, I just had to get a shot! While we have always preferred to buy products made locally, many people living in Egypt – both locals and foreigners – prefer products imported from abroad. But with many Egyptians' new-found pride in their country, and in an attempt to aid the recovery of the local economy, companies have begun to show off the fact that their products are made in Egypt with new labels and "I love Egypt" stickers.

Support the Egyptian economy – buy local!

M is for Murals

More post-revolution murals! Although this mural is not new to the Dahab checkpoint, the Egyptian flag painted in the center medallion is. It used to be a portrait of former President Hosni Mubarak. The painting was done by the Dahab Assembly for Diving and Water Sports.

T is for Temples

The only pharaonic temple in Sinai is Serabit el-Khadem – Temple of Hathor, Lady of Turquoise. The temple dates back to 1964 – 1136 B.C. and is surrounded by ancient turquoise mines and beautiful scenery. Reaching the summit of Jebel Serabit involves a several hour trek so be prepared!

Learn more:

The Temple and Mines at Serabit el-Khadim in the Sinai by Jimmy Dunn

M is for Murals…Murals for Martyrs

Street art in Cairo thrives during the Egyptian revolution – much of which commemorates the hundreds who lost their lives in the uprising which ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.

Simon Hanna, with Ahram Online, reports.

 

J is for Jujubes

Jujubes are literally bursting from our trees here in Dahab at the moment! These pictured here are the fruit – in varying stages of dryness – of the Ziziphus spina-christi tree which makes them Christ-thorn Jujubes as opposed to Common Jujubes. Although I never refer to them by their English name, but rather 'nabq' (نَبق) or 'sidr' (سٍدر). Whatever you call them, they make a delicious and free snack! My young Bedouin neighbors and I collect kilos of these every few days from trees in the city (near the playground!). I like them fresh from the tree, but also dried. I've not seen them for sale here in Dahab, but we did purchase some from a green grocer in Cairo years ago. You can also purchase bags on the dried jujubes from shops in the town of St. Katherine's.

E is for Ecolodge

Egypt is home to several ecolodges, each with its own unique style. You can stay at an oasis ecolodge in Siwa, Dakhla, or Bahariya. There are several ecolodges along the Red Sea coast near Marsa Alam. Aswan and Wadi Natrun also boast ecolodges. And, of course, there's Sinai – where Basata, an ecolodge on the coast between Taba and Nuweiba, is a well-known getaway for adventurous Cairenes. There are also two ecolodges located in St. Katherine's Protectorate – one of them being Mt. Sinai Ecolodge, pictured above.  We just returned from a gorgeous weekend at the lodge! And a fantastic hike to the top of Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa). It's a great time to visit Sinai – we pretty much had the summit to ourselves.

Book Giveaway and Author Interview

Hop on over to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer to read the interview and enter the giveaway for a chance to win either a paperback copy or an eBook of An ABC Escapade through Egypt.  If you like free books, I encourage you to follow this site. Blogger Inspired Kathy hosts TONS of book giveaways, many of them open internationally!

B is for Books!

With the turmoil in Egypt making international headlines for a few weeks now, interest in the country has soared. People want to learn more about this modern Middle Eastern nation – and one way they're doing that is, of course, by reading books. But there are so many excellent books (for adults) out there, where does one start? Well, a few people are weighing in on what they think you should read:

The New York Times: A Reading List for the Egypt Crisis
The New Yorker: An Egypt Fiction Reading List
The New Yorker: An Egypt Non-Fiction Reading List
The Browser: Humphrey Davies on Egyptian Writing
Al-Masry Al-Youm: 5 Novels on Revolution and Tahrir Square

I'd also suggest reading What Does the New York Times Think You Should Read about Egypt? by blogger M. Lynx Qualey (who also wrote the article for Al-Masry Al-Youm). In the blog post, she offers more relevant alternatives to the NYT list for Egyptian books.

If you're interested in joining an online book group, the Middle East/North African Lit group on Goodreads.com will be reading books about Egypt and Sudan during March and April. We're currently voting on our book choices, so stop by soon if you want to join.

Now, what about books about Egypt for kids? I've run across a few book blogs over the past couple of weeks whose authors were asking, searching, pleading for recommendations for children's book about Egypt. But as far as fiction goes, no one has suggested anything other than The Day of Ahmed's Secret. That's because there really is nothing else to suggest, at least to people living outside of Egypt. (If you're looking for non-fiction, there are a few more options available through Amazon.) Now, if you're in Egypt, we've got a few more English language titles to choose from. Here's a list of children's and YA literature related to modern Egypt that I put together a few months ago. The list has titles available both internationally (through Amazon.com) and locally. And, of course, there's always An ABC Escapade through Egypt, but I'm biased.