Spell Check

Microsoft Word's spell check doesn't like Arab names.

My first Hash Run

It's not what it sounds like.

Hash Runs are an organized social event, which happens on every weekend in pretty much every major international city in the world. I went on my first one yesterday, here in Cairo.

For 27 years straight, hashers have been meeting up in the middle of the desert to get their hash on. Called 'the drinking club with a running problem', hash runs are a unique and interesting socializing event which encourages expatriates to get out and to say hello to each other.

There was about 50 of us yesterday, meeting in the middle of an ancient gorge out in the desert, on the outskirts of Cairo. The opening ceremony started by introducing the course/scavenger hunt. They then initiated the new bees (myself and Ellen) by throwing us in the middle of the circle and singing weird songs to us. As soon as it started, it was finished. The 'race', was now on. Most of us did the walking route, which lasted 1.5 hours or so, following the dropped lentils (hash markers) which led us up and down the gorge, getting some great views over the entire city, with the Pyramids still showing themselves across the city through the thick smog.

10 of the 'hashers' took the running route, which was an 8 km run through the center of the gorge and back again.

Once finished, we all convened around back in a circle and began to drink heavily. There were drinking games, songs, and funny jokes (think of O-week at Western with booze). The sun was on us hard, and after 2 beers I was feeling quite woozy. An hour or so later, most got back into their 4x4's and drove out back into the city; another hash run completed, they'll impatiently wait for next week’s.

Most of the people were Diplomats, NGO workers, UN school teachers, etc... and were all living in Cairo. Other were vacationers who go to every hash around the world they can get their hands on. They all have nicknames too. One guy was named 'Delhi Belly', and explained that he likes to leave his trail wherever he goes. Ellen, a girl I work with was named 'hot Dutch pornstar chick'. I wasn't bestowed with any nickname, but I will work on that.

In the end, it was a weird yet cool experience. It gets you out of the city, let's you meet other people, and allows you to let loose for a few hours.

It was a good time, and I would recommend other to try it out if they can. If overseas, contact the American / Canadian Embassies and they will point you in the right direction. Check them out online too.

Sharm El-Sheikh

It took 45 min to fly over across Suez and the Sinai, finally landing here in Sharm. On any given day you will find Russians, Brits and Italians wondering these streets. These few days you have the same sun soaked tourists, but an added flavour has come to town: The World Economic Forum. All the big cats from around this round globe showed up here to meet, hold conferences and to get down to business.

Unfortunately I didn't sign up in time for Press Accreditation, but we did have Press Passes from Cairo's Press Office, and this landed me in the Press Center here in Sharm, where the bigwigs come in, answer a few questions, and get back into their bullet proofed HUMVEE's to be swift away to who knows where next.

The highlight of this adventure was sitting in the second row for Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine's President. He answered 3 questions, all in Arabic, and then left.

I left soon after too. Unfortunately the King of Jordan cancelled last minute, and the Foreign Minister of Israel, Kuwait and of Oman don't interest me. I don't understand Arabic either and there was shisha to be smoked.

Khalas.

Things I will never get used to

Working in the Arab world has it's ups and downs, it's left turns, it's right turns, and turns that make no logical sense to anyone involved except to the person who is telling me such things. Here they are:

No left turns here. U turns only by turning right. This is a frustration that drives you mad in the UAE.

The workweek being Sunday - Thursday. No matter how long you experience it, it just goes against your own conscious. Waking up on Sunday morning to go to work leaves me feel robbed of my weekend, even though I had two days off with Fri and Sat.

To fill up your tank with gas costs about $7-10.

I joined a local gym for the month, and in the midst of working out the music stopped and all the other men left their weights. It was prayer time, and they all joined together kneeling and bowing towards Mecca, chanting their prayers. This was in the middle of the weight room people - what a sight! I continued on my work out but went about it in a quiet/subtler way - I didn't know what to do! Ha.

'Insha Allah' - for those that know, they know.

Fresh fruit stands on every corner. Freshly squeezed Juice is offered as well. For $1 you can get fresh orange juice and 3 peaches. Great snack.

The friendliness of these people. It really does put our culture of acceptance (or non-acceptance) to shame. These people smile, say hello and invite you into their homes to make you feel welcomed. How do we treat Arabs with Osama beards back in North America?

Hearing the calls to prayer from all speakers from all the Mosques is always interesting. The sounds echo throughout the entire city, and with this happening 5times a day, it is a constant reminder that you are indeed in another world.

It is another world, and I'm glad to be experiencing it.

LOVE YA MOM!!

Happy Mothers Day MOM!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

XOXOX

No longer in Dubai, but...

This is a 27km project people!! His Highness Sheikh Mohammad thinks BIG.

Mr. Hamdi, our Driver

For the past 3 years, all teams here in Egypt have used Mr. Hamdi as our official driver in this crazy city.

He knows every side street and every short cut. His network allows us to get whatever we want or need. He is the man.

Last night he invited us to his house to have dinner with his family. I wouldn't miss this for the world. It was in an area of Cairo where tourists are not to be found, just Egyptians, their families and their daily lives. It was an experience.

Last year when a TV crew from our company produced an Egypt program, thy of cour used Mr. Hamdi as well. Thy liked him so much they filmed a segment just for him.

Here it is.

Shook'ron

Impressions of Cairo

What can I say about this city? It's gritty, it's loud, it's old. Time has been here, and it has left its mark. 5000 year old Pyramids, 1000 year old Mosques, 600 year old roundabouts, statues and mausoleums. The buildings are well aged, run down and over used. Yet somehow this city retains it's grandeur, it's charm; there is a vibe here that one cannot explain, only experience.

Surprisingly, sprouting out from the dust and people filled streets are lush greeneries, trees, bushes and plants. Deep underground the Nile still shows it's life and power through the bright leaves of trees amongst this old concrete jungle. And it is a jungle. A jungle full of people, Arabs, talking with their horns, through their shisha pipes and on their mobile phones, and they are loud.

It's a 20 million plus city that hasn’t shut down or kept still in over 6000 years.

We got lucky over the weekend. I don't know what and how it happened but somehow we entered the Giza plateau, home to the famous Pyramids, after tourist hours (I will tell you more of our driver Hamdi and his many friends throughout the city another time). The sky was blue and the sun was setting; the place was literally empty. For 2 hours it was myself, my partner Ferda and her friend Willis. Our Guide was there just to make sure our horses would not run away once we hopped off of them. But imagine that, 2 hours of just you and these Pyramids; you and history itself.

I sat there imagining years past, the Pharaohs, the Nile, the once tropical jungle; all of it. I saw the civilizations come and gone, the labourers, the conquerors, the Kings and Queens. I saw the wars, smelt the spice trading routes, and heard the noises from ancient celebrations. History was putting on a show.

I saw the grave robbers, the first tourists climbing them and the archeologists and Egyptologists preserving them , I saw it all. Then as quickly as they came, they were gone, leaving just me, alone, on the plateau.

I can get used to this place.