BERLIN :: ART, BEDOUIN KIDS & GARDA ALEXANDER

One of our friends who keep coming back to Dahab and the Sinai again and again is the artist Garda Alexander. Over the years she has engaged actively in the local community, established relationships to Bedouin families and used her skills as a trained artist in community work with young children. Garda’s paint workshops with the kids make Dahab colourful!

A mini exhibition from Gardas latest workshop can be seen in the reception at Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort. 

Now, we are delighted to let you know that the book ‘Bedouin Children in Sinai – Life and Creativity’ will be released in Berlin on the following dates;

1^st August 12:30hrs @ FEZ Berlin in Wuhlheide and Literature Initiative
1^st August 20:00hrs @ Tucholsky bookstore Berlin-Mitte and Literature Initiative
8^th August 14:00hrs @ Adolf Glaßbrenner Elementary School Reading cellar (pre  booking required)

The book feature 154 colour illustrations and lyrics and foreword by Elmar Ledergerber. IBAN 978-3-7165-1770-3 if you’re not in Berlin on the above mentioned dates.

So all in all great news, we only wish you had some Bedouin girls by your side in Berlin Garda!

On social media marketing and Bedouin hospitality

Although most small, independent hotels across the globe have got our heads around the use of social media as a marketing tool, social media still represent ‘the new stuff’. We look at other businesses how they run their facebook pages and twitter profiles, we read blog posts from marketing gurus abroad and we discuss whether these hours spent on social media hopefully create awareness which in turn HOPEFULLY increase our occupancy rates. Because as a matter of fact, that’s what really matters.

Between tweets and posts and likes and stats, there is another important consideration to take. In short: Our brand. Throughout the creation of Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort, discussions have circled around the concepts of Bedouin pride and traditions, the history of Sinai and unrivalled Bedouin hospitality. We wanted the Sheikh Ali brand to be an authentic rebirth of all the ‘old stuff’ in the Sinai.

We felt confident about how to merge the new and the old in other parts of the creation of Sheikh Ali; the building, the customer service, the little touches. But how to incorporate the Bedouin traditions in our social media marketing? Eventually, we decided to hang it on the ‘unrivalled Bedouin hospitality’ hook and launched a competition where we give away a total of 22 holidays at Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort, with a new draw for every 100 new likes. 

We have already had our first draw and are now full speed forward towards the second one. And just as with the Bedouin we give. For free. And with pleasure. And in full honesty and just as the Bedouin, we know we may get a return on that one day ;-)

So… please feel free to ‘LIKE’ our page www.facebook.com/sheikhalidahabresort and enter the draw of a free 7 nights stay for 2 persons b&b 

PROUD DAHABIANS - DAHAB CLEAN UP

Whether we are residents, semi-residents, returning visitors or first time visitors to Dahab: 1) We love Dahab 2) We appreciate the serenity and beauty of the Sinai landscape and 3) We feel sad watching the litter in the streets of Dahab, the nearby desert and in the sea. Like in so many developing countries waste management is a real challenge. Of course we hope the authorities will address this issue adequately soon and that we with time will have a well functioning and sustainable waste management system in Dahab, Sinai and Egypt. Meanwhile, we can only do our best to reduce the impact ourselves.
 
Over the years there have been many private initiatives and calls for the local community to make that much needed difference. With the help of their camels, the Bedouins clean up Dahab’s surrounding areas such as Laguna and the stretch between Ras Abu Galom and Blue Hole. Local dive centres arrange clean up dives at the reef. On International Earth Day, Future Dahab School usually arrange a beach clean up competition. We should also mention the recycling initiative by Basata camp in Nuweiba and the ‘Bags for Dahab’ group who make cotton bags available in Dahab’s supermarkets. As long as there are people there is hope and as long as there is hope we can make a difference!
 
The latest community initiative is Pround Dahabians, a group coordinating clean ups, sharing ideas and encouraging recycling projects in Dahab. With the slogan "The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river’, this group is ready to pull up their sleeves. With the support from local businesses and a hands on approach from members of the local community, the group has already arranged several clean ups in central locations in Dahab. A new clean up is planned in advance of the upcoming Bedouin Dahab Festival 21st – 28th April. Hats off to Proud Dahabians!
 
So… next time a sad comment passes your lips or an annoyed thought passes your mind: Remember there are people out there who spend their time off cleaning up Dahab and the Sinai. And to offer them a minimum of support a well used cliché is in place: ‘Take only memories, leave only footprints’.
 
Want to get involved? Join Proud Dahabians on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/542251215807988/

The Dahab Bedouin Festival is almost here!

The Dahab Bedouin Festival group was set up in February 2011, inspired by the new found freedom in Egypt.

With the aim to promote Bedouin culture and Bedouin in the tourism industry, other objectives are to create awareness in Dahab concerning the environment and ethics towards foreign visitors who come to our wonderful town and area.

This year the festival will be taking place between the 21 and 27 April 2013. We hope people visiting Dahab and local residents will take this opportunity to come and visit the festival in the flood plain, by the bridge. It is an ideal time for cultural exchange and communication.

We also hope to gather people for future charity and environmental work for the benefit of the Bedouin and the entire community. We welcome everyone without exception to come and have a welcome tea and spend some relaxing and educational time with the Bedouin of Sinai at the Dahab Bedouin Festival. See you there inshallah! :-)

Welcome to our Bedouin Blog!

Dahab and the Sinai is a growing destination for tourism and the Bedouins love to welcome old and new visitors to this very special place. It is our firm belief that no matter the purpose and length of our visit we should remember that the Bedouins have lived their lives here for hundreds of years. On our website you will find a brief overview on Bedouin History and the story about Sheikh Ali and his family. We hope you will find these pages interesting and that you feel you have gained a better understanding of the Bedouin culture after reading them.
 
In this blog we will share updates on events in the local culture, interesting facts about the history and news related to the Bedouin traditions and life style. Please make sure you check in regularly to find out more about this fascinating culture.
 
No matter where we come from in the world we are all visitors to the Bedouins’ Sinai. In the spirit of true Bedouin hospitality we are welcomed with open arms so please enjoy our Bedouin Blog till your next visit to the Sinai!