hi ahmed. thanks a lot for the tips. i'll keep those things in mind before eating. i had a lot of problem in taipei trying to get vegetarian food. i dont think i'll have the same problem in egypt. the pizza hut website does mention the veg pizza. but i would prefer local food over pizza's if possible. :)
regards, akash On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 4:56 AM, Ahmed Koraiem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > hey Akash,, I'm egyptian,, & i think i can give yo ua tip about vegetarian > food > > usually in places like pizza hut and so, it'll be easy to find a > vegetarian pizza or meal,, and u can just order it,, also usually most > menus in god restaurants have an english version, with meal components > written, so u can easily choose a meal > > also, traditional food like beans (fool), and falafel (taameya), and > "koshary", they all consist of vegetarian components, and even without > milk > > anyway, try not to eat salads out of the hotel or restaurants like > mcdonalds, chillis, or on the run, etc... > > On The Run specifically is an American style fast food / snacks > restaurant, you'll find it always next to / inside Mobil gaz stations > (which are a sub of Exxonmobil, they're good, and with fair prices > compared to foreign ones > > I think that's it for now.. > > ah, and also, you can get good vegetables / fruits from big brand-name > supermakets, like carrefour, spenneys (in cairo), metro, and u can > chose the fruits and vegetables yourself > > hope you enjoy your stay at Egypt :) > > On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 8:40 PM, Akash Shah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Aude. > > > > Thanks a lot for this mail. It will be extremely useful to anyone > traveling > > for Wikimania. I have one question - I am a vegetarian (no meat, no fish, > no > > eggs. Milk and milk products like curd, cheese, cream are ok). Are there > > places in Cairo where I can get vegetarian food? Which traditional food > > items of Egypt are vegetarian? > > > > Regards, > > Akash > > > > On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Aude <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> I have been in Egypt for over a month now, living in Cairo, as a > student. > >> Since arriving, I have traveled around the country, including Sinai, > >> Alexandria, and will be in Luxor this weekend. With people arriving > soon > >> for Wikimania, I'd like to take the opportunity to share advice and > >> experiences as a female. > >> > >> Language - > >> > >> English is widely spoken in Egypt, and you will get by just fine if you > >> don't know any words in Arabic. Though it's good to know a few basics > in > >> Arabic: "shukran" - thank you; "aywa" - yes; "la" - no; "la shukran" - > no > >> thanks; "kwayis" - okay, good; "low samaht" - please, excuse me; "asif" > - > >> sorry (said by a male)/"asifa" (said by female); "hina kwayis" - here is > >> good (useful in a taxi for saying where to stop); "mish fahim" - I don't > >> understand; "betikkallim ingleezee" - do you speak English? > >> > >> Arriving- > >> > >> I found it unusual when arriving in Cairo, when we had to walk down > stairs > >> (out of a jumbo-size Boeing 767) and onto the tarmac. We road a shuttle > bus > >> from there to the airport terminal. Go ahead and exchange some money in > the > >> airport - best to do before going through customs. Getting through > customs > >> and immigration was quick and easy for me, though I obtained my visa in > >> advance. > >> > >> Safety - > >> > >> * I feel extremely safe here -- safer than I do back in the U.S. Crime > is > >> not much of a problem at all. Also, there is a strong police presence > >> everywhere. In Sinai and other places, there are checkpoints on the > >> highways. Most of the time, our tour groups have been completely on our > >> own, but we had police accompany us a few times. > >> > >> * There is some harassment on the streets, but it's mainly words. > Knowing > >> a few things in Arabic helps (e.g. "la shukran"). It helps to walk in > >> groups, but I have walked around my neighborhood and other places on my > own > >> without problems. > >> > >> * For the most part, Egyptians are very welcoming, especially with > tourism > >> so important to the economy here. I even have some friends here who are > >> Jewish, who are getting along fine here. > >> > >> Getting around - > >> > >> * The biggest difference between the U.S. and Egypt (and elsewhere in > the > >> Middle East) is that traffic lights are pretty much lacking here. In a > few > >> spots, there are traffic lights and/or police controlling traffic. To > cross > >> the street, it's like playing the video game "Frogger", hurrying across > the > >> street when there is a small break in traffic. Also, when riding in a > taxi, > >> the taxi driver may go quite fast and it takes getting use to the manner > >> that they drive. > >> > >> What to wear - > >> > >> * I brought lightweight long/half-sleeve blouses, pants (linen or other > >> lightweight material), and long skirts. At the last minute, I tossed a > >> t-shirt in my luggage before I left the US. I'm so very glad that I > brought > >> a t-shirt, and really wish I brought more short sleeve tops. In the > area of > >> Cairo where I live (Zamalek), as well as around the university and many > >> other areas, it is acceptable to wear short sleeves. Same goes for > >> Alexandria (Bibliotheca and other areas), which is located along the > >> waterfront. > >> > >> * If you are going to see the pyramids in Giza or other such sites, > >> anything goes for clothing. It's not a problem to for women to wear a > tank > >> top/or t-shirt and shorts. Such attire was also absolute acceptable > when I > >> was in Sharm el-Sheikh (in Sinai) and in similar locations. > >> > >> * For all places, sandals are completely acceptable for women. You will > >> even see women covered in hijabs who are wearing sandals. > >> > >> Shopping - > >> > >> * In Khan al-Khalili (Cairo) and other markets, the vendors are > aggressive > >> in wanting you to come into their shop and buy. As well, the crowds at > the > >> markets can be overwhelming. > >> > >> * Bargaining - The prices that vendors tell you are way overpriced and > you > >> need to bargain. For example, they may want 50 LE (khamseen) for a > scarf, > >> but you can get it for 10 LE (ashrun) or not more than 20 LE (ashreen). > To > >> get out of bargaining and move along, you can say "hagee tania" which > means > >> "I'll come back another time". Pretty much all the vendors will know > some > >> English, but a little bit of Arabic can help. > >> > >> * Khan al-Khalili is located in Islamic Cairo section of the city, which > >> is more conservative. It's good advice to dress more conservatively > when > >> going shopping. To visit Al-Azhar Mosque, women should also wear a > scarf. > >> > >> Despite having to put up with all this, it is definitely well worth it > to > >> visit Khan al-Khalili or other such places for shopping and souvenirs. > >> > >> Taking a taxi - > >> > >> * Prices - Taxi is a cheap and easy way to get around. It's one flat > >> price, no matter how many people are riding in the taxi. There are no > >> meters. You set the price, and it should be fair for the driver. If > you > >> don't know what the fare should be for a particular destination, then > you > >> should ask someone (hotel concierge, staff at the dorms, at Bibliotheca, > >> etc.) what's a reasonable price. 5 LE is a fair price for a ride from > >> Bibliotheca to the downtown area in Alexandria, since it's not far. I > don't > >> remember for sure exactly how far the dorms are, but I think 5-6 LE is > >> reasonable, since I don't think the dorms are far. I paid 10-12 LE to > get > >> from BA to the other end of the corniche in Alexandria. > >> > >> * Getting a taxi - If you are going really far (e.g. downtown Cairo to > the > >> Giza pyramids), then you should agree on a price before getting in a > taxi. > >> For most places (medium and shorter distances), do not discuss price > before > >> getting in. Just say your destination and the driver should agree to > take > >> you. A few times, before or once getting in, the driver has asked me > about > >> price. If that happens, you can say your price. If they don't agree, > then > >> find a different taxi. Really, price should not come up. > >> > >> * Paying the driver - When you arrive, everyone MUST GET OUT before > paying > >> the driver. Once everyone is out, then the person with the money should > >> give the driver the money through the window. Then everyone needs to > walk > >> away. Most of the time, the driver doesn't argue with me/us, but > sometimes > >> they will make a fuss and demand more. The thing to do is keep walking > >> away. You gave them a fair, reasonable amount. As a tourist, maybe you > can > >> give the taxi driver a tiny bit more to avoid an argument. > >> > >> * You do not need to tip the driver. Just give them the fare. > >> > >> Eating - > >> > >> I think most meals are provided at Wikimania, but when you are on your > >> own... > >> > >> * Koshari (dish of macaroni, rice, lentils, and sauce) or tamiyya > >> (falafel) make a good cheap meal. A falafel sandwich can be had for 1-2 > LE > >> each, and koshari meal w/drink for 7-10 LE. Fast food places (e.g. > >> McDonalds, Hardees, KFC, Pizza Hut) are available most everywhere, > though > >> these are not cheap meals by Egyptian standards. A meal at McDonalds > will > >> cost ~30 LE ($5-6 USD) or more. A meal at a good sit-down place > (American > >> style cafes, and other types of places) will cost a bit more, but I > think > >> the prices are comparable or slightly cheaper than in the US. > >> > >> * I been fine eating the food here, though felt slightly ill after > eating > >> salad in my university cafeteria. It might have been the tomatoes that > were > >> not great. I have avoided salad at other places, though did get salad > at > >> McDonalds which was fine. Some caution about eating raw fruits and > >> vegetables is a good idea. Cheap tamiyya and koshari have all been fine. > >> > >> * Alcohol is not difficult to find in Egypt. Stella and Sakara are > brands > >> of beer that are available here. There are plenty of bars and clubs > around, > >> as well a hotel bar is a definite place to find alcohol. > >> > >> * Restaurants will include a service charge directly on your bill, but > you > >> should also leave a tip. > >> > >> Bathrooms - > >> > >> * Western-style toilets are available pretty much most places, though > some > >> places (e.g. Islamic Cairo), you might find a squat-style toilet. When > I > >> arrived at the airport in Cairo, I had some difficulty figuring out how > to > >> flush the toilet. There is a knob on the toilet lid that you pull out > and > >> then push back in when finished with flushing. Some toilets just have a > >> button to push. > >> > >> * It's a good idea to carry some toilet paper or tissue with you. > Toilet > >> paper is usually available most places I have been, but not always. In > some > >> places, there is a staff person manning the bathrooms, who will give you > >> toilet paper for bashish (tip). In some places (e.g. rest houses/stops > on > >> the highway), you will need to pay 1 LE or another amount to use the > >> bathroom facilities. In places like McDonalds and other restaurants, as > >> well as hotels, and certainly places like Bibliotheca, you don't pay to > use > >> the bathroom and they have toilet paper. > >> > >> Sightseeing - > >> > >> I have been to the Pyramids in Giza, Sakkara, to Alexandria, to Sinai > (St. > >> Katherine's and Sharm el-Sheikh) and will be in Luxor this weekend. I > don't > >> have a lot of spare time to organize these better, but I have quite a > few > >> pictures now posted on Flickr of Alexandria and other places in Egypt: > >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmf164/ Let me know if you want > sightseeing > >> suggestions or advice. > >> > >> Questions - > >> > >> http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aude - I have posted all > this > >> on my Wikimania user page. Please feel free to ask questions. I'm sure > I > >> missed mentioning some things. > >> > >> -Aude > >> > >> -- > >> Aude > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimania-l mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimania-l mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >
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