Modern Egypt

3. Farafra OasisFarafra Oasis
The smallest oasis in The smallest oasis in
Western Egypt in the Western Egypt in the
Libyan Desert, it has Libyan Desert, it has
5,000 inhabitants in its 5,000 inhabitants in its
single village and is single village and is
mostly inhabited by mostly inhabited by
Bedouins. The White Bedouins. The White
Desert of Egypt has a Desert of Egypt has a
white, cream color and white, cream color and
has massive chalk rock has massive chalk rock
formations that have formations that have
been created as a result been created as a result
of sandstorms.of sandstorms.

4. Egypt is a Middle Egypt is a Middle
Eastern country and has Eastern country and has
Middle Eastern customs. Middle Eastern customs.
Whether Muslim or Whether Muslim or
Copt, the Egyptians are Copt, the Egyptians are
deeply religious and deeply religious and
religious principles religious principles
govern their daily lives.govern their daily lives.

5. Drying dates in the Nile Valley

6. Customs
In general, Egyptians In general, Egyptians
are most are most
accommodating and accommodating and
they will go out of they will go out of
their way to help you their way to help you
and respond to any and respond to any
questions. Most Egyptians require little questions. Most Egyptians require little
personal space and will stand within personal space and will stand within
inches of you to talk. inches of you to talk.

7. InvitationsInvitations
Egyptians, if offered anything, Egyptians, if offered anything,
will refuse the first invitation will refuse the first invitation
which is customary. Therefore which is customary. Therefore
the tourist should do the same. the tourist should do the same.
If the offer is from the heart and If the offer is from the heart and
not just politeness, it will be not just politeness, it will be
repeated. If you're invited into a repeated. If you're invited into a
home, especially in small home, especially in small
villages, and have to refuse, the villages, and have to refuse, the
householder will often press for householder will often press for
a promise from you to visit in the a promise from you to visit in the
future, usually for a meal.future, usually for a meal.

8. Egyptian womenEgyptian women
Before the famous Before the famous
Egyptian feminist Hoda Egyptian feminist Hoda
Shaarawi deliberately Shaarawi deliberately
removed hers in 1922, removed hers in 1922,
the veil was worn in the veil was worn in
public by all public by all
respectable middle-respectable middle-
class and upper-class class and upper-class
women, Muslim, Jew, women, Muslim, Jew,
or Christian.or Christian.

9. Sabraa Ali Sabraa Ali
Mohammad in Mohammad in
Rafaa village, Rafaa village,
Assauit province, Assauit province,
has permanently has permanently
given up one of given up one of
her two bedrooms her two bedrooms
to create a school to create a school
for girls who for girls who
haven't had haven't had
access to access to
education.education.

10. Children in Children in
Manfalout, Manfalout,
Egypt, discuss Egypt, discuss
education with education with
BBC Arabic BBC Arabic
Service Service
producer Safaa producer Safaa
Faisal. They are Faisal. They are
now enrolled in now enrolled in
the Zayed.the Zayed.

11. Detail of a Detail of a
drawing made drawing made
by school by school
children from children from
Manfalout, Manfalout,
Egypt.Egypt.

12. A wall of A wall of
drawings created drawings created
by girls at the by girls at the
Zayed Zayed
community community
school in school in
Manfalout, Egypt.Manfalout, Egypt.

13. The young boy
in the picture is
a minority in a
largely girls'
school.

14. MosquesMosques
Major tourism Major tourism
mosques are open to mosques are open to
the public unless the public unless
services are in services are in
progress. A mosque progress. A mosque
differs from a western differs from a western
church in that church in that
Christian churches Christian churches
are considered are considered
houses of God, while houses of God, while
mosques are more a mosques are more a
gathering place for the gathering place for the
faithful of Islam. faithful of Islam.

15. Show respectShow respect
All visitors to mosques, All visitors to mosques,
mausoleums, and mausoleums, and
madrasas must remove madrasas must remove
their shoes. Most their shoes. Most
Muslims walk around in Muslims walk around in
their stockings but those their stockings but those
mosques that are major mosques that are major
tourist attractions have tourist attractions have
canvas overshoes canvas overshoes
available. Women must available. Women must
cover bare arms and cover bare arms and
should also have a hat.should also have a hat.

16. Religion
Proselytizing religion is
illegal in Egypt.
Foreigners actively
working to convert
Egyptians have been
asked to leave. Most
Egyptians are either
conservative devoted
Moslems or Coptics

17. CensorshipCensorship
Devout Muslims do Devout Muslims do
not drink alcohol not drink alcohol
though most do not though most do not
object to others object to others
imbibing in imbibing in
reasonable amounts. reasonable amounts.
If in doubt, ask. In If in doubt, ask. In
addition to the addition to the
prohibition on alcohol, prohibition on alcohol,
the faithful do not use the faithful do not use
drugs or eat pork, drugs or eat pork,
which is considered which is considered
unclean.unclean.

18. Baksheesh
In the West, we call it "tipping" or
"service." But those words don't
fully express the breadth of
flexibility and purpose of the
practice known as "baksheesh."

19. Crime
In Egypt In Egypt
It is nearly It is nearly
nonexistent, nonexistent,
and violence and violence
is usually is usually
limited to limited to
family feuds. family feuds.
However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty
thieves may exists, so be careful and remember that thieves may exists, so be careful and remember that
the ever helpful tourism police are usually nearby. the ever helpful tourism police are usually nearby.

20. Nubian cultureNubian culture
Nubian culture resonates in its Nubian culture resonates in its
music which has been updated. music which has been updated.
Drums and clapping hands Drums and clapping hands
dominated the music of old dominated the music of old
Nubia. Now, musicians are Nubia. Now, musicians are
plugging in new instruments. plugging in new instruments.
The change has been cheered by the young, and even The change has been cheered by the young, and even
many old-timers are swaying to the new beat.many old-timers are swaying to the new beat. (57K AIFF sound or
57K WAV sound)
"Before there were only drums but now there are "Before there were only drums but now there are
instruments, and it's much better with instruments," instruments, and it's much better with instruments,"
says one fan.says one fan. (89K AIFF sound or 89K WAV sound)

22. •About 2,300 years ago
the Pharaoh Ptolemy built
the great library in
Alexandria. It became the
center of knowledge in the
old world, before it burnt
down in 48 BCE.
•Pioneering mathematical
theories were conceived
here, once considered the
intellectual memory of the
ancient world.
Library at AlexandriaLibrary at Alexandria

23. Ras Um Cid beach resort on the Red SeaRas Um Cid beach resort on the Red Sea

24. Abu SimbelAbu Simbel
UNESCO is UNESCO is
commemorating the commemorating the
mammoth combined effort mammoth combined effort
by archaeologists, by archaeologists,
engineers and engineers and
researchers from across researchers from across
the globe which led to the the globe which led to the
salvaging of extraordinary salvaging of extraordinary
temples and Pharaonic temples and Pharaonic
monuments which would monuments which would
otherwise have otherwise have
disappeared under the disappeared under the
waters of Lake Nasser waters of Lake Nasser
with the construction of with the construction of
the Aswan High Dam. the Aswan High Dam.

25. Lake NasserLake Nasser

26. Links
Travel information on EgyptTravel information on Egypt
http://www.safariafrika.com/country-facts/egypt/egypt-customs.htmhttp://www.safariafrika.com/country-facts/egypt/egypt-customs.htm
http://www.touregyptmonthly.com/mag6.htmhttp://www.touregyptmonthly.com/mag6.htm
http://http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/baksheesh.htmwww.touregypt.net/featurestories/baksheesh.htm
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/money15.jpghttp://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/money15.jpg
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypthttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt
Egyptian geographyEgyptian geography
http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/Egypt/Egypt.htmhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/Egypt/Egypt.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt
dismanibus156.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/salvageAswan/dismanibus156.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/salvageAswan/
Copyright, Concept & Creation: Geetesh BajajCopyright, Concept & Creation: Geetesh Bajaj