Top 10 Beverages In Egypt

Since I am in Egypt I drink natural juices daily, I never saw a country with so much variety of fruits like Egypt and the fresh juices here are YUMMY, they really are amazing. Check the Top 10 Juices:

1. Mowz bil-Laban ( banana with Milk)
2. Gawafa bil- Laban ( Guava with Milk) - If you do not want milk they will do so ;)

       3. Strawberry Juice 

         4. Mango Juice ( I love it )

          5. Asab(Sugarcane Juice)

     

             6. Karkadey (Hibiscus Juice)

            7. Tamrhindi (Tamarind Juice)

                 8. Sobia (Coconut with Milk)

                          

    

                     9, Sahlab (Orchid – Orchis Mascula)- my Favourite in the winter

                       10. Watermelon Juice / Cantaloupe Juice:

                        

All the above juices and cocktails, except for the Sahlab which is available at coffee shops, are available at every Juice parlor or shop. The above pictures were taken at Family’s Refreshments (Murattabat Al-’Aaelat) at 83 Othman Ibn Affan Street, Triumph, Heliopolis, Telephone:+2018.261.0060 

Happy Eid

Revolution and Me

I know I have been far away from my blog, my apologies. But really wath is there to tell, everyone knows that Morsi is out. that El Ikhwan continue in Rabaa and the army took the side of the people. But where am I in all of this.

Belly dancing is one of the most fascinating styles of dance in Egypt

Belly dancing is one of the most fascinating styles of dance in Egypt, however Egyptians tend to make it as a secret and do not accept speaking about it because it’s against their religion. Girls can learn and dance among them but should never perform in public, doing so it’s a dishonor for the family. Belly dance it’s seen in Egypt as a form of prostitution.

However Cairo is known as the global capital of belly dancing and foreigners come to Cairo to pursue the dream. Cairo it’s considered the Hollywood for belly dance. Considering the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in Egyptian politics, many are concerned that belly dancing might become more restricted in Egypt. This is happening already; even dance schools are restricting belly dance classes. In Egypt you will never find a belly dance school like in US or Spain and TV stations do not transmit belly dance unless it’s in a movie scene.

Belly dancing (Raqs Sharqi) became popular in Cairo’s nightclubs in the 1940s. Casino Badia, in Cairo, was one of the country’s most famous cabarets at that time. Opened and run by a woman, it imitated European-style cabarets. During the 1950s, famous belly dancers including Samia Gamal, Tahyia Karioka and Naima Akef marked themselves as pioneers of belly dancing in Egypt. From 1960 to 1980, the booming Egyptian film industry centered on belly dancers. Since the 1980s, the Egyptian film industry bloomed with belly dance performances until other dancers, like Fifi Abdou, Sohair Zaki and Nagwa Fouad started to perform in a full live band and a stage set-up. These dancers continued to preserve the basic movements of belly dancing

A belly dancer receives a minimum of EGP 5,000 for performing at a wedding; in a nightclub a dancer receives no more than EGP 2,000, but also receives a share of the money thrown at her by clients during her performance, which is called “Kate” in the Arabic slang used in night clubs. Note that belly dancers have to pays taxes and sometimes owners from hotels do not make them and belly dancers are fined. Also they need to obtain a license from the performing arts trade union, an application with a copy of the contract from work place must be submitted, which has to be approved by the Ministry of Labor, and a clearance from the morals police (to prove the belly dancer was never involved in any prostitution cases.

No one knows the future of belly dance in Egypt but I believe that only few hotels will remain doing so and targeting tourism only. Classes will continue but behind closed doors.

Bahebek Ya Masr

I love this sacred land, but seeing what's going on, I want to leave Egypt. Im Sad to see a country so beautiful and full of history being destroyed by the lack of commitment of his politcs his own people. Sorry my dear Egptyan friends , some of you have is part of my family but I can not stop talking about what I feel. I am married, have a husband , I eat and drink from this land, I think I have some right to express my feelings.

I am Brazilian, my country and my people are not the best in the world, but we we use to respect the differences, We don’t use to ask what is your religion. Their religion does not matter. We are brasilian!! Nobody is asking BAACHICHE just because give you a injection or care you in hospital or just becouse open a door for you.. If someone throw trash on the ground and is caught has to pay, driving without a safety belt, close the cars and cause accidents will be punished. Here they use the car as a weapon, destroy families and futures just because they believe that death is Nassib. So they say: '' If death and Nassib because I'll worry about my life and the other lives ? Egypt is in an extremely difficult situation, many people complain that they do not have jobs, but when they have a job so they use to complain about salaries. Whats better? Have a job with small salary or sit at café?, Pray is a obrigation, but it don’t take more than 5 minuts…Some people take to much time making Doaah..God don’t help those don’t help themselves. Egypt need in hurry people to bring results, and what will bring this good result? Compromising and attitude from this people. In my opinion the Egyptians are the smartest people in this world, but are accommodated. What was the revolution without the Egyptian people understand that to improve and build a country, before discus about the rights they must discuss about duties and that is not everything bad that happened here was the fault of their presidents, civilians also have resposabilities about. Or who will be using the car as a weapon, polluting the waters, making streets dirty and making noise at midnight is a Naser, Sadat, Mobarak and Morsi fault? the waters, Is easy to blame others when the problem is inside us. WEAK UP YA MASSREEN!.

-- This text was wrote by my best friend in Egypt

Samia Gamal's private life

Collected in the beginning of her violent love story artist Farid al-Atrash, and boyfriend Mohammed Amin she told him she married Fred that ended in divorce because he was unable to formally announce their marriage. Which caused great pain to the late star.Samia Gamal married later with  Shepherd King, who announced his conversion to Islam before marrying her and called himself Abdullah. This marriage did not last.In the late fifties she married the late star Roshdy Abaza,.

Relationship with Roshdy Abaza, was  difficult (personal and volatile temper, and was addicted to drink alcohol making him in a permanent state of nervous.) ended in divorce. 

 Samia Gamal stopped dancing in 1972 when she was nearly in her 50s but began again after given advice by Samir Sabri. She then danced until the early 1980s.
Samia Gamal died on December 1, 1994, at 70 years of age in Cairo, Egypt.

Bassem Youssef's "Albernameg" - S02E02 (2/2 - English Subtitles)- Egypt

Bassem Youssef's "Albernameg" - S02E02 (1/2 - English Subtitles)- Egypt

Makadi Bay

World video travel guide

Samia Gamal and belly dancing

Samia Gamal was the first belly dancing star in Egypt and was formed with greeting Carioca two different schools in the education and performance of belly dancing. Although the two began in the same  band " Massabna", they both had a distinctive style and a different dance.Samia Gamal famous combining eastern and western dance, and performing with dazzling dance clothes, music and decorations. Carioca wast he old traditional character of the eastern dance.I

Samia Gamal  carreer was also helped by her  brown beauty,  sense of humor, and elegance, and was keen on her slender body until the last of her life, which caused her to many health problems and become one of the causes of her death.

Samia Gamal beginning

Samia Gamal was born in Beni Suef in 1924 and entered the world of art in 1940. She worked with  Massabna band as a dancer and was also involved in the dance group Altablohat .She was  chosen to lead a solo dance in one of the concerts and the dance instructor told her she  should be wearing high heel during the dance. Some say that Samia was very scared at the time because if she failed the band could be expelled from the Casino..But Samia did not succumb to failure and pressured her band instructor to grant  her the opportunity to dance in front of the public,  she was a  stunning success.

Why Samia Gamal refused to publish her ​​memoirs?

According  Mohammed Amin  ( close friend of Samia Gamal ) she did not write notes and did not think about it, despite large financial offers to talk about her private life. After her retirement she moved completely  away from the limelight.

How to be a bellydancer in Egypt Part 4

And does it worth so much effort only to dance in Egypt? And why not? What you learn in Pharaonic lands will never be learned elsewhere, Egypt is the cradle of oriental dance. The culture, the music, the way of being, everything is absorbed when you stay to much time in Cairo. Imagine , you come from your work and for  any given reason you hear the sound of darbouka and Oud from the street, nubian  weddings (I do run tears, do not ask me why this happens) men dancing in Tahib in store openings. Attending henna parties held by women, dance and learn with them. Learn Arabic as if you were a child, dancing at weddings and feel the warmth of the Egyptian public. Have the opportunity to know ach rhythm of Arabic music and lyrics, words and attitudes typical of Egyptian that you end up absorbing without realizing. Have the honor of visiting families in villages and be received with open arms . To have your patience tested to the limit and even wish the worst to Egypt and 30 minutes later you  love EGYPT with the same intensity. All this and much more is (Baggage) AND PURE KNOWLEDGE.

 It's hard?? Yes, it is not easy. But if others did so, why can´t you do it?

The Egyptian side

Egyptians can be funny, hardworkers and true fighters, check out bellow:

Working under rain and being a old man, as you can see, he should be home receiving a pension, but no he his in the streets.

The ability of finding solutions to every situation and being funny, only Egyptians.

True fighters

And artists

100% Egyptian talent-THE PERCUSSION SHOW - Body Percussion

I really have to share this video, its really amazing and made in Egypt. With 99,725 views on youtube this guys are great.

How to be a bellydancer in Egypt Part 3

Ok, now you dance every nigth, you have your salary, wonderful, congratulations Now for the rest of reality.

Pay costumes, musicians, food, rent, transportation, etcccccccccc. All this sounds easy, does not it? Yeah, but its not, especially now, if it was already bad, aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Although belly dancing is part of Arab culture no decent Egyptian woman should do it, its a disgrace to the family.Dancing and prostitution here they mean the same,though I think they have a thing for prostitutes (everything its a prostitute), being a dancer its a mortal sin. If you are happy to dance in Cairo do not walk in the streets lauching the good news to the four winds, your life will be transformed into a simple hell.

The landlord will probably put you in the street literally, the police even if you make a complaint they will not care, no decent man will date or marry you (with few exceptions), but many are  gigolos . You have to be cold and put your feelings aside. Constant sexual harassment inside and outside of work. Many jobs will be suggested but the vast majority are..............., you must have a lot of strength to face storms and say no.

Egypt's economy its difficult, the mentality has changed and there is little work, those that remain, fight hard and its not easy.

How to be a bellydancer in Egypt Part 2

Now that you are dancing and you have your salary, you will need to get the tax card to pay fees  and  take care to closely check if your employer is doing the payment for you. It happened to many dancers that the emplyoyer did not do so, now they have huge debts to pay and  if they dont do so  they will go to prison.

If you want to work at weddings you can also do it,  but it will require a permit, foreigners can only have one contract and should always carry documents and licenses with them. They should also be careful in their movements and costumes when performing in order that moral police does not bother you, of course if you have connections in strategic places this can be avoided.

Note that whenever you want to leave Egypt, you will have to ask permission to your employer and when you return its  mandatory the HIV testing.

How to be a bellydancer in Egypt Part 1

The foreign dancers who come to Cairo with the dream of dancing professionally in Egypt, face various formalities and other moral issues that arose after the revolution. Here my intention is not to make the dancers do not come, it's just a guide, each one is free to decide their dreams and ambitions. One of the first conditions to obtain a for a license to dance its to sign a written contract and start a long bureaucratic process for it, which includes the delivery of the your passport staff in Mogamma (government building in Tahrir), which can only be lifted if your employer agrees,he controls your life. To get a contract you will need to gather a band and find a manager. If you want to be your own manager you should be fluent in Arabic, after you must make auditions in boats and five-star hotels, and till you find someone that wants to employ you all expenses are upon you(musicians, rehearsal rooms, etc ...). 

CONGRATULATIONS if you got your contract, now begins the endless bureaucracy, roll up your sleeves and go out and fight:

1. 12 photos passport and  the signed contract and to go to the Union of artists and pay the required fees
2. Go to the employment department for permission to work and have to do an HIV test. This test will be done in a public hospital :(
3. Afterwith your contract,paper delivered by the Union of artists and also  department of employment you must to go to the immigration department
4. Go to the Censorship Board with copies of the papers of the departments listed above and they will  send your documents to other departments including the police Desk (where you have to go in person) and then with all the permissions you  should return to the immigration department to give your passport and receive a plastic card, a sort of personal identification.

Note that all departments are in different locations in the city and are buildings are...............:(, where rarely anyone speaks English (Mogamma ).You should also have thecard issued by the board of censorship beyond the plastic card in your hands when they start to work.

* Some things must  have changed ( I do not go for all of it) because I am Egyptian. And also the steps may seem easy, they are not at all. Takes a lot of time, effort and extreme patience.

Eilat Festival raises issues in Egypt

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/62453/Egypt/Politics-/Arab-dancers-participation-in-Israeli-festival-dra.aspx

Egyptian band in Cairo