Southbound
Routine and traveling do not necessarily fit in the same category. Yet, packing is just another activity that routinely ensues for those constantly on the go. And after 2 months, familiarity became the undertone of such practice. If it once involved one hour to put it all together, now garments can easily be fitted inside the luggage within twenty minutes. Here I am again though – ready to leave another country only to head into unknown grounds. Bags are packed and energies restored.
The 10-hour bus ride from Dahab back to Cairo had a rather interesting occurrence. Before entering the Suez Canal tunnel, the military police stopped the bus. All passengers had to descend, take all their belongings and form a line parallel to the vehicle. Next, an officer walked an intimidating German Sheppard dog among the bags and passengers – most likely searching for some incriminating evidence. The entire process lasted for long 15 minutes and luckily the bus was able to continue the travel with all passengers back on board.
Sinai Ascension
Inspiration. How can I be struggling to find inspiration after all I have seen and experienced in the past couple days? Perhaps a bit affected by the hectic schedule, every single moment has proved to be a rather life altering experience.
This past week I visited some remaining sites around Cairo: Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Coptic Cairo, a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt until the Islamic era, is a secluded part of the city built around narrow streets filled with Christian/Orthodox churches. Due to such religious mixture (a synagogue can also be found within Coptic Cairo grounds), this site is highly recommend for a peaceful afternoon walk – walled away from the intense honking and constant traffic of the city.
Ad Infinitum
After about a month of time expenditure and dedication, the new project website is finalized. Although there will be some adjustments occurring within the next two weeks (call it an adaptation period), the overall design has finally achieved completion. The work put into the making of the website has pushed the project behind schedule – especially regarding the post-production of the “Cagdas Yasami Destkleme Dernegi” documentary. Yet, if it were not for the assistance (and patience) of Ze Maciel, this new improved version would certainly not exist.
And in such spectrum of completed duties and future commitments, choice-making consequences have never been at higher stakes. After a series of fortunate events, destiny is currently presenting me with an opportunity to document the work of an organization in Burundi. In fact, just until two weeks ago, I was not aware such country even existed. Yet, after much research, I discovered that this African nation is among the poorest countries in the world.
De-Nile Prospect
Travel tip: always double-check the location of the hotel before confirming the reservation. I wanted to get a couple days of proper resting during the weekend and booked a decent priced hotel; turns out there is a reason for the price difference (much cheaper than the average). The hotel is located one hour away from Cairo, in a place called 6th of October. Despite the distance, the weekend getaway has proved to be tremendously productive.
Giza pyramids, Memphis and Sakkara were three other places I recently visited. Here’s another tip: the Sakkara archeological site, although less popular, offers a better experience than Giza. Undeniably, the Giza pyramids (along with the Sphinx) are monumental and impressive. However, because of its proximity to Cairo, the site has turned into a touristic Mecca; hence, people (either tourists or locals) flood the place, taking away most of the spectacle. Plus, with vendors obnoxiously attempting to either profit with camel/horse rides or local goods, most of the historical and contextual appreciation becomes absorbed by repetitive “no’s.”
Pyramids Foreshadowing
Chaotic. Deafening. Jumbled. That’s just traffic in Cairo. There are several ways to comprehend the cultural patterns of any city, ranging from local cuisine to people’s behavior; and in Cairo, such characteristic certainly regards traffic. From far away, the city appears an oasis surrounded by never-ending mountains of sand; zoom in, and the cracks start to appear.
I am tired. I have not had a good night of sleep in over five consecutive nights – and my current hostel only aggravates the situation. My room is located close to a mosque; hence, at 4:30AM the speakers blast prayers right into my ears. Although it only lasts for about fifteen minutes, the hostel occupies half floor of a 20-somethings stories building. Turns out, the floor right above mine faces complete restoration. Hence, at 7:00AM, obnoxiously loud hammering noises penetrate into my brain and cancel out any possibility of relaxation.
Amman New Camp: A Palestinian Perspective From a Non-Refugee
After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and later the 1967 Six-Day War, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes and went into exile in nations such as Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. In Jordan alone, for example, there are over 3 million refugees; yet, the numbers might be even higher.
Among the several refugee camps established around the country since the late 1940s, Amman New Camp, locally known as Wehdat, might be the most imperative – and a case apart. One essential distinction among camps in Jordan and other countries is the “freedom” given to the refugees. In Lebanon and Syria, for instance, refugees are confined to the limits of their camps, having barely any interference with the native population – even after over 50 years. In Jordan, these camps do not present physical borders and Palestinians have rather become Jordanian citizens. Wehdat, besides being a prolific neighborhood of Amman, is filled with businesses, markets and most importantly, people – either Jordanian or Palestinian.
Traveling around the world, documenting the work of NGOs (and individuals) committed to the betterment of humanity - as well as personal anecdotes. 
