Sick Dogs and Quiche

Our cocker spaniel (Whiskey) started acting very strange other evening. He was pacing, panting, disoriented, confused, and whimpering at times. Much like me after a session at ACE club.

I googled Whiskeys behavior and found he was demonstrating discomfort and pain. Too late for a Vet so decided to take some action and at least try to give some pain relief. But how to administer the pills? Kick in the Quiche.

Evening prior, good wife had made Quiche for evening meal. (To punish me I think). I reminded her "grown men don't eat Quiche". So there was lots left over. But dog loved the "stuff". So sticking pills into Quiche was easy and voile dog was medicated.


Back to Whiskey's condition. I medicated him with some Ibrufen for pain and antibiotic. He settled down a bit. Later he had big "poop" and had diarrhea. So, thinking of times this happened to me, fed him a drotazide anti bacterial/anti spasmodic treatment. Yup, the Quiche worked great again.

Wonders upon wonder, dog sleep quietly rest of night and in morning was completely normal. However, I was still thinking about the Quiche. He was eating this under table from me evening before. Could the quiche have made him sick in first place?

Took Whiskey to vet for check up and all was fine. Not sure he was impressed with "me doctor" approach.

My moral to this story is - keep quiche in house in case dog gets sick! Only thing it's good for.

Have a good day.

Egypt Desert Safari's - Beware the boogey man!!!

Egypt releases French tourists after 'dangerous' safari. (Egypt Daily news Nov 8, 2008)

The tourists, aged 42 to 85, were arrested on November 4th in the Red Sea resort of Marsa Alum after a safari to the nearby Wadi el Ghadir, organized by a local tour operator. Tourists were released after short detention. Tour operators required security permits to conduct desert safari's.

This regulation follows the world news kidnapping of 11 tourists kidnapped in a very remote desert location, by armed bandits in September this year. The tourists were released after a shoot out with bandits and Sudanese troops that killed 6 hostage takers.

So - the moral of story - "if kidnappers don't get you the police will".

Why is an 85 year old person, or persons, doing on a safari in first place? As far as health risk, kidnappers were likely the least of their worries.

Why did police arrest the tourists? It is the tour operators requirement for security arrangements. I think this means security forces would need to accompany all safari groups for a fee, plus food and drinks, and likely tips.

Be sure to bring your Nokia N95 you bought outside Egypt just in case you get lost and need to tell some one your location. GPS is banned in Egypt so one cannot buy a cell phone or any other device that has GPS. Nokia is not going to sell a crippled N95, with no GPS in Egypt, so all of us can simply buy them outside Egypt.

Update - in shop on Road 9 see they are selling Nokia N96 for 5000 LE with GPS crippled. So much for Nokia standing up and saying they refuse to sell crippled phones to Egypt because of ban on GPS. No guts no glory.

A gas station with the mostess

This is a rather mundane topic, but maybe helpful for lazy people like me.

I was complaining to wifey I needed gas for car and it needed a good wash and clean in an out, but I hated going to the stations I was familiar with around Maadi and New Maadi. Told her I did not enjoy standing around for half hour, or more, with my thumb up my arse waiting with not even any place to sit. I had used the Mobil station on Road 9, where I could walk down to Cilantros. But, inevitably when I got back car was not finished as they were working on someone else's where driver had stayed there, and yelled louder than I could being away having a tea.

So she said go to TOTAL station on Corniche located across from TGI Friday's and Fish Market restaurants. I figured if these folks could clean our old jeep from the sand and cement debris she has spilled (wifey is carpenter and jackey of all trades) they could handle my car. But how about the standing around. She advised they had a Cilantro's in the Bonjour convenience store.

So off I went. It is easy for me just to go down street 11 and access to Tora bridge which is direct onto the Corniche. Filled with 95 gas which they had, drove around corner of station and asked for a good clean job outside and in, and made it clear to finish soon as I would be at Cilantros for a few minutes. All good so far.

Entered to Bonjour and had a look around. Saw some windshield fluid which reminded me I needed to add. When paying observed they had quite a comprehensive smoke shop with all kinds of tobacco packages as well as all the various cigarette packs. Sat down and had tea and sandwich and noticed also a HSBC ATM, which was great as next planned stop was to bank to get cash.

OK - I'm a happy camper so far. Out I go and they are just finishing cleaning but standing there they had to do a super job they thought. Saw they had a tire shop beside me. So while waiting asked to check my tire pressure - which was done and I am happy for a 2 LE tip.

Car is now clean and windshield wiper fluid added so went to pay guy who has receipt book. He filled it out and I noticed charge was 20 LE - that is cheap I think. So tipped the cleaning guy and left with smile on my face.

I shall return but likely on Friday Mornings when traffic is a low ebb.

Ramadan in Egypt - Guide for Tourists and Newbies

"Ramadan lasts for one month (from the 1st September to the 30th September in 2008, and 22st August to the 20th September in 2009 plus add vacations days for famous EID holiday at end of Ramadan. (e.gr in 2009 Ramadan will end Sept. 20th but first day of "business as usual will likely be September 27th) During the holy month, many businesses closing during daylight hours, particularly in the afternoon. However this does not generally apply to businesses that cater predominantly to tourists.

Some of the tourist sites will close earlier (around 3.00pm), so we will be taking this into account and starting some of your tours a little earlier in the morning on some days and shortening lunch breaks when required (it is not too hot during the middle of the day in September or October, so this does not cause a problem this year).

Although visiting non-Muslims are certainly not expected to fast during daylight hours, it is considered impolite to openly eat, drink or smoke in public, the exception being in obvious tourist areas. Hotels and restaurants will still be serving food to tourists all day, and evening meals in the hotels are particularly good at this time of year.

During Ramadan, it is very courteous and considered polite to greet Muslim people with the words - Ramadam Karim." Reference

"The festive period of Ramadan in Egypt is an excellent period, which simply adds more color and fun to the country of monuments and ancient civilization. The festival of Ramadan in Egypt is different from elsewhere. Other than the rituals practiced during the month, there are other certain social habits of Egyptian Muslims that are much different than anywhere else.

The exact timing of this one-month long festival during the year is variable, sometimes falling in summer and sometimes in winter. However Ramadan is a month that follows the lunar calendar, the basis of the Islamic (or Hijri) calendar. Astronomical calculations are utilized to detect the birth of the new moon. Ramadan festival lasts for 29 or 30 days.

The principal ritual during Ramadan festival is fasting. This entails abandoning eating, drinking, smoking, sex from dawn to sunset. The daily meals become limited to two. "Iftar" the breakfast or first meal is just after sunset. While "sohour" the second meal is just before dawn. However the timing of the second meal is variable according to personal preference

Natives of Egypt adopt certain social habits for Ramadan festival. These social habits are not directly related to religion. Officially, the working hours are diminished to allow more time for prayers. People usually sleep very late and spend substantial time in the mosques. Usually all the traditional practice starts immediately after sunset." Reference

Some additional insights:

As mentioned above, the fasting time is from sunrise to sunset. For expatriates the few hours before the sunset period is important to appreciate, as the people fasting have been doing so for about 13 hours - they can be very tired and irritable and some driving radically to get home to enjoy their Iftar. I personally stay off the roads till about 1/2 hour after sunset. The sunset timings can be found here. At this time you will have all the roads pretty much to yourself. What a funny feeling it is to be alone on normally chaotic roads.

In Maadi and, all other areas I'm sure, it is not unusual to tables and chairs, with tent like covers laid out on the streets. Drive carefully as these are ready made eateries that have been setup by private individuals, and some companies, to provide Iftar food and drinks for persons that cannot get to their homes. So you will experience many persons on the street and please beware. Also, if driving at Iftar time don't be surprised if someone hands you a small package of drink with food into your car window. I think this is a fantastic event to witness.

About 1 hour, or bit more after Iftar, what seems like a global party begins, and the traffic jams happen instantaneously. Seems everyone is out and about enjoying themselves (all 17 million) and all are invited even you expats. The party atmosphere last till very early hours of the morning. Quite an experience downtown especially and if you are out at Iftar you will likely be invited to join one of the free eateries. Egyptians are very tolerant of us expats, and almost overly friendly at times.

And don't worry, most stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs are open for business as usual. There is a saying that Egyptians consume as much food during Ramadan as they do all the other months put together.

Also if working, the hours are diminished and usually offices will close around 2 pm. A good time to stay off he roads if you can. Some shops will close about 3 pm till about 1 or 2 hours after Iftar. Don't expect anyone to serve you at Iftar time - they are thirsty and hungry. Also most schools have diminished hours, so this year my youngsters start day after Ramadan is expected to begin and they will be home by 2pm. Yikes - just had them for the whole summer, and now they come early home to bug parents!

Not all Egyptians are happy with the diminished working hours, and schedule changes, per this article in the Egyptian Gazette found under the HOME section at bottom of posting. Link

Maadi Road 9 [Shara Tisa] has new Mobinil and other shops

Walking today saw a new Mobinil shop just down from Massoud's grocery store. So us in Maadi, and Digla should no longer have to fight our way to New Maadi where at Mobinil parking is near impossible now. Of course, so is Rd 9 but go before 10Am.

Also across street beside Thomas cook is a new RA'A shop with Vodaphone signs in window. So maybe you folks can get service there?

As another point I saw an Etisalat office at post office just north on Road 9 past metro station.

Nothing to do with Mobil telephones but if you fancy a delicious shawrma sandwhich, try the Egyptian place across street from Metro. Don't worry they will know what you want by pointing if necessary and Sharwma is universal word. Only tell them big (kabir) or small (swayia). [not perfect Arabic but makes the point and they will understand]. Pay cashier and take your receipt and give to carving man. Cheap and I love them!.

Flea bites – my Egyptian nemesis

These little microscopic buggers love me but thankfully not my children or wife. Sweet white meat, or maybe they like beer smell after a session in pub? These are a summer time plague to me. I had similar experiences in Tripoli Libya, but not in United Arab Emirates or Oman. I can get bites at any location outside, but seems they invade the house too. How, is unknown to me. Maybe they just hitch a ride on anyone, then jump to the sofas, rugs etc. Can’t blame dog, as had same problems before had a dog.

If you have these bites you will know as they itch, then will weep water out as body rejects what ever the flea bugger stuck in, So use anti-itch cream and to guard against infection, Canesten cream - I call this the magic cream for anything skin related. After the first attack my first line of defense is to expose all areas of sofas, chairs, rugs etc. and bomb the house with Raid crawling insect spray. Has been effective every year but may need to repeat treatments.

If you are affected in similar way likely not a good idea to don the speedo swim gear and head to pool, as others my think you have some sort of catchy disease. However, on the upside, you will likely have pool to yourself.

Beware the heat if unkowing tourist

Today I am staying inside with AC (likely mostly at my local watering hole- more about that in few post later). Temperature is going to hit 40C in Cairo and is humid so feels like will be about 42C. Any Americans reading can covert to "bloody hot".

Makes me think about tourists coming for tours in summer time? Must be a mis-calculation because it is to damn hot to be wandering around in the sun. Nile cruise is insane as Luxor and Aswan are hotter! Maybe OK if you don't like "hawkers' hounding you at pyramids etec. as it is too hot for them.

If you want to sun tan - go for it but UV is extreme, and better be beside a pool or ocean for cooling off. Seen so many tourists burned to crisp on first day, touch of pharaohs revenge, and so reward is to spend next few days in room, very close to toilet.

The local Egyptians go to north coast (Mediterranean) and if flush with a bit of money stay for at least July - August. Lightens the traffic in Cairo but only the BMW and Mercedes population of vehicles (Poor country what?)

If you want to tour then chose winter , bit of touring and be sun goddess, then spring and fall. Summer - guess if you are prepared, and sleep all day, and party all night summer is a good option

Found a nice web page full of info so look for Egypt Info in my links on left hand side.

Enjoy