People sometimes ask me what it is like employing the Bedouin. I reply that anyone who thinks they employ a Bedouin clearly does not know the Bedouin. No one employs a Bedouin. You may think you do, but you don’t. You may pay them a wage, give them shelter, and direct them in their duties …

El Gouna situated along the Red-Sea only 22 km North of Hurghada has evolved into an exclusive hub, where vacationers need their seasonal dosages of complete relaxation. It provides a zest for great dives and an ideal place for those seeking a fresh start away from the Cairean stress, traffic and of course polluted skies. …

For those of us with a busy schedule and hectic lifestyle, it is important to make the most of precious time off. Many find scuba diving or snorkelling relaxing, but for anyone wanting to stay away from the water, how best to spend any free time in Sharm El Sheikh? The proximity of the sea …

Imagine a headland, a Ras, overlooking a beautiful bay with a backdrop of mountains and the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Imagine the sun glinting on the gentle waves as boats make their way to the harbour and the sun descends slowly leaving a crimson glow across the landscape. Imagine all this and …

Looking for something exotic, yet different from the glamorous Sharm El-Sheikh? Ras Mohamed is the answer. Located 30 km south of the Red Sea gem that is Sharm, this 850 km2 area was declared a National Park in 1983. It is Egypt’s very first national park. Spending a day in Ras Mohamed National Park, I …

It’s the stuff fairytales are made of. Beautiful cars, consuming entertainment, exclusive shopping, fine dining, hidden hideouts, hip hangouts, inspirational destinations, multi-lingual personal assistants and formidable 24-hr security and protection. Charming the pants off everyone from top local and international businesspeople, to celebrities and the world’s most decadent royal families, Eclipse VIP arrangements is the …

The first time I arrived in Sharm El Sheikh as a fresh-faced tourist, I enquired of the locals as to the whereabouts of the bars in town. The reply was, “There are only two – Pirates or Camel. A lot has changed in the last 15 years as enterprising locals and foreigners alike have branched …

The shopping experience in Egypt has improved a great deal in recent years. It’s easier to find what you’re looking for in the local market, from the best high-street brands to the most expensive designer wear. Following the successful format of acclaimed department stores like Gallerie Lafayette and Harvey Nichols, the country’s old-school, once glamorous …

TrulyMadly Amanda, as she is referred to in the international salsa community, was simply looking for a change from dreary London weather when she moved to Cairo a few months ago. A self-proclaimed lover, performer, and teacher of salsa, Amanda chose Egypt as her haven in the sun, to be closer to her family here …

Women who stop smoking greatly reduce their risk of early death and cardiovascular disease just five years after they quit, according to a new study released in the United States. The risk of death from smoking-related cancers also declines by about 20 percent over the same period, according to the authors of the study published …

When I was handed the invitation to the opening of a new lighting store, I was became amused and curious. It was a small box with quotes printed on all sides. One read: “Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us and then we’ll need no other light. I couldn’t stop reading the …

This week, the world will mark an anniversary that has changed the face – and other anatomical regions – of email inboxes everywhere: the first known spam email was sent 30 years ago on Saturday. But the message sent on May 3, 1978 by a marketer for the now defunct DEC computer company to around …

For all the fashionistas of Cairo who pride themselves on unique and chique personal styles, Bischette Bags are the new must-have bags with which to accessorize any outfit, any day. Whether one fancies totes, clutches, or evening bags, this new line of women’s bags compete easily with the big names and offers something to satisfy …

Ever been fed up taking taxis everywhere you go? Waiting on the street, sticking out a salutary arm and flagging down some battered old 1980’s fiat about to vomit up its own engine? Now, and I really do feel glad for the tourist when I say this, there really is an alternative. Any unsuspecting tourist …

As you enjoy the summer sunshine, it’s also time to change your style. Store away your favorite boots, jackets and shades because this season is all about color, floral patterns and the signature dress. Dresses had made a comeback last year, but that was only the beginning. In Spring/ Summer 2008 there’s just so much …

One phrase springs to mind after dining out at the Cairo Sheraton’s Japanese-inspired restaurant: less is not always more. Sapporo Teppanyaki, which boasts of offering “the city’s best sushi and teppanyaki, serves an array of elegantly prepared and tasty foods. It’s pleasant, but it is far from amazing. My friend and I strolled into the …

How many times have you driven your car to Sharm El Sheikh? And how many times have you stopped in El Tur? The administrative capital of South Sinai Governorate is en-route to Sharm, yet seldom do we make a stop there. It gives the casual passer-by the impression of being a rather sleepy town, but …

If you ask anyone today “how old is the Chinese automobile industry? most of the answers you’ll get won’t exceed 10 to 12 years, with an average guess of seven years. The right answer is that it’s almost 50 years old. Believe it or not, the Chinese began to build cars before the Koreans. But …

Magician David Blaine set a new world record Wednesday for breath-holding: 17 minutes and 4 seconds.The feat was broadcast live during “The Oprah Winfrey Show and the studio audience cheered as divers pulled Blaine from a water-filled sphere.He looked relaxed afterward and said the record was “a lifelong dream. The previous record was 16 minutes …

Post-menopausal women taking hormone therapy are at an increased risk of stroke regardless of the age at which they start the treatment, according to the results of a new study.Women taking the female sex hormone estrogen have a 39 percent higher risk of stroke than those who have never taken it, said the study published …

It’s summer and it’s time to dig in to your favorite seafood. Instead of heading out to a restaurant for one filling meal, try your hand at gourmet food at home – in four simple steps. Ingredients:Six salmon steaksHalf a cup of olive oil1 head of garlic, minced One grated onionOne stick of rosemaryHalf a …

We all secretly want to be in a music video. We sing into our hairbrushes, we dance in front of our mirrors, all part of our fantasies that the cameras are rolling and all eyes are on us. For some of us, said music video is hip hop. The confidence and attitude that go hand-in-hand …

Next week Egypt will witness the most important ladies golf tournament ever played here. Golfers from 17 African countries will vie for the title of top amateur ladies golfer, now held by Egypt s own Naela El Attar. Will this mark the beginning of serious growth in ladies golf in Egypt? Ten years ago golf …

Did you ever dream of becoming a model? Even if not as a serious career move, the majority of young girls (and older ones for that matter) fantasize about a glamorous life as a super model. Playing on that weakness, Chanel Make-up and Skincare launched their products last week at Beymen Center with an attractive …

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo is a gem of a restaurant in Maadi, the Creperie des Arts which serves a selection of French food along with a hefty portion of ever-elusive quiet. The restaurant makes you forget that you’re in Cairo, and somehow manages to block out all sounds from the …

Ziza Wiza may sound like the name of an off-the-wall playschool for hyperactive toddlers, but it’s not. In fact, it may well be the answer to your home furnishing prayers, whether you’re going for an ethnic, oriental, modern or even rustic look, this new space has it all under one roof. Set up as a …

Little girls dream of the picture-perfect wedding from the day they realize that once all grown up, they too will be brides and will take that walk down the aisle dressed in a beautiful white gown, made up to look like nothing less than a princess. Surely the most exciting and glamorous aspect of the …

Born in Alexandria, Aya Anwar Akel says her entrepreneurial impulse is rooted in her family’s textile business. As a youngster she spent three summers working in textile stores in the United States. But realizing that she was less than enthusiastic about fashion design, she decided to work instead on designing home textiles: bed sheets, bed …

Walking into Saluti is like stumbling into an Italian flag. The pasta restaurant on Amman Square is covered in green, white and red, decorated with glass containers of different types of uncooked pasta. Actually, the pasta is everywhere, on the walls, on the shelves and even under the glass covering the white tables. You can …

Crossing a street is nothing short of a daunting task for those who are new to Cairo. But with a little time and experience, it becomes just another thing that happens everyday, to the amazement of tourists who are completely blown away by the supposed chaos in the streets. Streets are crowded with foot traffic …