Farafra OasisFarafra OasisThe 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.

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.

Drying dates in the Nile Valley

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.

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 a promise from you to visit in the future, usually for a meal.the future, usually for a meal.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

MosquesMosquesMajor 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.

Show respectShow respectAll 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.

ReligionProselytizing 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

CensorshipCensorshipDevout 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.

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." 

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.

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)

•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

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

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.

Lake NasserLake Nasser

LinksTravel information on EgyptTravel information on Egypthttp://www.safariafrika.com/country-facts/egypt/egypt-customs.htmhttp://www.touregyptmonthly.com/mag6.htmhttp://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/baksheesh.htm http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/baksheesh.htm http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/money15.jpghttp://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/money15.jpghttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypthttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt

Egyptian geographyEgyptian geographyhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/Egypt/Egypt.htmhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/Egypt/Egypt.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptdismanibus156.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/salvageAswan/dismanibus156.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/salvageAswan/

Copyright, Concept & Creation: Geetesh BajajCopyright, Concept & Creation: Geetesh Bajaj