Immediately following the devastating attack on Gaza flotilla, the world came rushing to the aid of Gaza. After all, people are generous by nature and eagerly and willingly help those that are obviously in need. But often there are others who suffer silently and go unnoticed. Strangely, the needs of people in far-off lands may become more known than those near at hand. Members of our own family, coworkers, and countless others that we interact with on a daily basis have needs that we somehow overlook.

Because they are not trapped under collapsed buildings, or drowning in the seas their needs do not scream out for our attention. Yet, many are crushed by the weight of low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. They feel unappreciated, unloved, and unsure of themselves. Some are out of touch with the grandeur of life. They are lost souls, failing to understand that life is a magnificent adventure. They are wounded warriors in need of help. They need to be encouraged to get up after falling. And believe in Sharm - there are a lot of those. Isn't that one of the main reasons people are here - to escape the past? They need to be inspired and uplifted. Here's where you come in. You can make a difference in their lives. And when you do so, you make a difference to life itself.

What can you do? Recognize their accomplishments with praise. Listen to what they have to say with interest. Don't judge, but smile. Mend their broken spirits with kindness. Remember, no seed ever sees the flower it will become. No one you meet ever sees the magnificent being they can become. That's why your presence is needed. You can nurture their spirit with inspiration and encourage them to grow into all they can become. Wouldn't that make life in Sharm a whole lot easier, if peoples spirits towards life were raised?

Some people moan, "I NEED to know what my purpose in life is. Why am I here? I hate Sharm? I hate the people. How can I find my purpose? It's all so confusing." It may become confusing when we focus on what WE need, but the answer clearly appears when we focus on what THE WORLD needs. It needs our help. We are here to act, for we are life's way of getting things done. We are here to contribute to life, to make a difference.

You must not underestimate the significance of your contribution. For when you pick up the torch and lead the way, others will follow, passing on the torch to more people. Each day we can start a chain of positive action or ominously break a chain started by another. That's what happens each day. We either contribute to despair or hope. Which is it that the world needs?

We all want to become successful. The good news is it is extremely easy to become so. You see, if we measure success by the contributions we make to life, we can easily play an important role. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) explains, "Everybody can be great.  Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve... You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love."

You don't have to do anything earth-shattering to make a difference. You will find the small stuff will often have the biggest effect. A smile, a cheerful expression, a kind word, a little encouragement, undivided attention, these are some of the steps you can easily take every day.

There is a Sufi story about a prince who went deer hunting alone. When he came face to face with a deer, he raised his bow, but before he could shoot, the magical deer spoke to him. The deer asked, "Is this why you are here?" That is, is this why the prince is here on earth, to engage in trivial pastimes? Each day we need to stop, become aware of what we are doing, and ask ourselves, "Is this why I am here?" Then ask yourself, "What can I do today that would make a difference in my life and the lives of those around me?" When trying this for the first time, you may be filled with self-doubt, believing you won't or can't make much difference. But the fact is, until you believe you are special you won't be. And you are special, for no one else is like you. And no - I am not preaching :-)

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING? Here are some explanations
1. To be part of something greater than ourselves.
"We are not here to merely make a living. We are here to enrich the world, and we impoverish ourselves if we forget this errand."
(Woodrow T. Wilson, 1856~1924)

2. We do it for ourselves. Mohandas Gandhi (1869~1948) was laboriously serving the people of a remote village when he was asked why he was doing it.
"Are you doing it for humanitarian reasons?" he was asked.
"Not at all," Gandhi answered, "I am here to serve no one else than myself, to find my own self-realization through the service of these village folk."
Every time we help another, we help ourselves, for when we dig another out of their troubles, we find a place to bury our own.

3. To return to life the many blessings it freely offers. As another has said, "We have all drank from wells we did not dig and have been warmed by fires we did not build." So, isn't it only right that we give back?

4. Not to give back is not to live. Or, as it was put by Eleanor Roosevelt (1884~1962), "When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.

5. To leave a legacy.   Albert Pike (1809~1891) clarifies: "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

6. To experience peace and happiness. World renowned expert on stress, Hans Selye (1907~1982), said, "If you want to live a long life, focus on making contributions."

Contributing to life satisfies all these needs while helping to build a better world. In a word, the measure of a man or woman is the degree to which they make a difference in the lives of those they touch. Don't you agree? May our goal be to see the needs of others, recognize our obligation, and become the solution. But we mustn't wait too long before we act, and he who gives when he is asked has waited too long. Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. So, act like you make a difference. Because you do.
 

Lately I have found myself wondering what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes. The thoughts I pondered didn't last because I can only walk a million miles in my own shoes but as I pass by other wanderers I realize I am not alone in this journey. Most of us are just trying to find our way to that place that is meant just for us. Others have become numb and disenchanted because of what life has thrown at them. Living life from a spiritual level can be hard but it is really the only true way. The Mind and Body are so easily misguided. We are not our minds and our bodies just encase our beings so that we can survive on this Earth. This truth may seem profound at first but it is what it is. Our Spirits are well protected within us and hold the compass that can lead us out of any storm or tribulation. Yes, I can only wear my own shoes, who has time to try on somebody else's? But I see myself in everybody around me.

We are all interconnected Spiritually. Sometimes enlightenment comes upon a group of people, a community, an organization suddenly. It has become more and more rare, but it does occur. When it happens everyone just "gets it." It can be a revelation about a company you work for. You may go to your job one day and realize you have been working for thieves. You may be part of an organization that is supposed to be helping your community but instead is a front for money laundering. I am not suggesting that every awakening reveals negative circumstances, but the reality is that our world has lost touch with the essence of why we are here to begin with.

As human beings we cannot waste even a second on something or someone that is only out to steal and destroy us. When it comes to our Mind, it is not it's fault. It is just doing its job, whether it is corrupt or not. We are the gatekeepers. If we don't dump all the problems we have collected in the form of judgments, assumptions, accusations and countless other forms of trash, our Minds will just keep using what it has and throw out conclusions that we assume are true and are based on actual facts.

So many of our fellow human beings may think they are "aware" of what they are doing and that they are in control, but the reality is that they have bought into a lie. No spirit-led person would ever do anything that opposes the Law of Love. If and when they do, they are acting according to what their Minds and Bodies are telling them to do. They are behaving no differently than a typical animal. Even though we can "think out" and rationalize our decisions and actions, in the end we will always resort to doing whatever it takes to survive.

Self-preservation is not the problem, it is how we go about it. If we allow God to speak to our Spirits and actually take the time to listen, we are guaranteed 100% that the guidance we receive will only promote love and prosperity for ourselves, and our fellow beings. Regardless of the sacrifice we may have to make, ultimately it is about being able to wake up every day and say YES to life and no to death. You can be breathing, talking, walking, going to the PTA meetings, playing with your kids but still be "dead."



We were designed for such greatness but the world is what it is and how we respond to it will control the destiny of our lives. The choice is always ours. Free will is a God-given gift, but very few of us know how to control it and use it to our advantage so we can further the progress of our lives and humanity.

We are being called on a universal level to STOP and ask ourselves, "when will I stop making it about just me?" Will you not join me in the movement that we deeply need in order to continue to move forward and generate progress on all levels of life?

A social network is a social structure that is made up of individuals (or organizations) that I will call "nodes”. These nodes are connected to one another, by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, neighbours, colleagues, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige. The list is endless.

One of the obvious connections between Sharmers (the nodes in this case), is the fact that we all choose to live here. So somehow, we are a family or a community, whether you like it or not.

This means that networking is a very important aspect for survival in Sharm – or anywhere for that matter. Now, the tricky part is trying to create a harmonious network in Sharm as there are so many different groups and circles of people here. There is a multitude of pre-conditioned minds, from many different parts of the world. It’s so simple to say, everyone should try to get to know one another, and let go of judgments. It’s so easy to say we are all living together, and can all learn a lot from each other. We are all part of a community and should act like it.

But how do you go about doing that? How do you find something in common between you and someone who comes from a different part of the world that speaks a different language, and has a different belief system? Is it even possible? It must be.

If human’s can create rockets and nuclear weapons, why can’t they create harmony weapons, where you are nuked with a big blow of harmony between people? There must be a way. 

Sharm is full of those who could go all day without interacting with anyone at all. A lot of people may feel out of place, or different, or alien from those around them. It would be fantabulous if Sharmers could break out of the pre-conditioned bubble, and start venturing a bit further into the purpose of our existence – the exact same way you did when choose to come and live here. If you are rebellious enough to leave your hometown, and move here, why are so many people not rebellious enough to interact with strangers, only to make them turn into friends?
 

Obviously, not every person you meet, you will like, but surely there must be some people out there that are like you. I have heard the same thing from so many different types of Sharmers, “…life in Sharm is great, but it’s very hard to make friends.” Again, the question becomes, why is that? Why is it harder to make friends in Sharm than in Manchester, or Berlin, or The Hague, or, or or.. Surely if people made the time to get to know fellow Sharmers, why they are in Sharm, and what their hopes for Sharm are, all in all, it would create a better Sharm for us, our children and future generations. 

Our fellow Sharmers may be divers, tour reps, business owners, bikers, parents and students, (again the list is endless), but maybe living on different planets. You drive around in a place like The Marine Club area; densely packed with people’s homes, yet there is no harmony in the air. There is no humble fusion between each block. Come on people, you are homies, you live in the same neighbourhood. During my world travels, I have always found it a common thing, that when you walk past someone in the morning, or when you are in London and you hop onto the tube, people greet you with a smile. Why is it here that is not so often?

Why do people often look down to the floor, when a stranger walks right by them? I sat outside 24/7 on Hadaba in my car, just watching the way people interact with other. It was common to find those in similar uniform t-shirts mingling, but when someone who wasn’t in that uniform walks by, they all look down to the floor. For a moment I thought it may have been a racial issue, but it wasn’t – nothing to do with the race – definitely something to do with invisible barriers, that automatically appear in certain instances – again, a pre-conditioned mind.

So what is a pre-conditioned mind? My understanding of it (which is not necessarily the same as yours, but that is ok and allowed) is that everyone comes here, from where ever they are from, thinking that their way is the best, or the only way. Well, it’s not. It is simply a different way. If people could learn to accept other people’s differences, then the social network in Sharm would be very different. Note that accepting someone’s differences doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. You can agree to disagree. If that was the case, we would all be here as one. We would all do things for the sake of the place, not only for the personal sake.

On that note, I would like to applaud Clean Sharm for their efforts. Fantastic initiation. We want more of that. We would all be able to work together in moving and changing things in Sharm that bothered all of us. It worked in Ruwaysat, when members in the Ruwaysat area became active in consistently informing authorities with the needs of the area – a residential entrance is now being made. That’s a perfect example of the Ruwaysat community using their social network at it’s best. Imagine if that happened all over Sharm, on all aspects, and on all fronts: personal, professional, civil, and so on. Someone has to start somewhere.

Give it a thought. How is your mind pre-conditioned, and how does that affect the Sharm social network? Or, how many networks within the networks can you identify?
 

Our imagination can be our deadliest enemy, or, our window of hope. In this instance I will refer to our imagination, and what we imagine, as our window of hope. Whether it turns into a reality, or remains merely a vision will only depend on the nature of Sharmers during the next decade, at a start.

Do you ever imagine what Sharm would, and could be like, other than it already is?

I’m sure most of you have. Well, at least once or twice thought: if only that could….. What if this was…..why isn’t it like that….? And so on. Well, that is just life for you. It’s your ego wanting more, or less for that matter.

There are several places around the world that are untouched and spoiled by the greed and ambition of today, is it possible for Sharm to become one of them? It certainly has the setting for it. Could Sharm ever become a sanctuary of international peace, where cultures of the world come together as one? I mean if you really think about it – isn’t that what it really is; a beautiful city where people from all over choose as home. I mean, no one really is from Sharm (except the Bedouins). We are all people that chosen to settle here. We are Sharm settlers.

Now – if we all moved away from what we had, and choose to settle in nature, as they say, wouldn’t that mean that the social dynamics found in Sharm should be very different?  Shouldn’t it mean that the social nature found here is meant to be; pure, free, liberating, non-judgmental, devoid of jealousy, regret, anger and deceit.

So, with that in mind, if you had the choice to change and do anything in Sharm, what would it be? At this point, I would like to call upon some lyrics of Mr. John Lennon.

“Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world” – ‘John Lennon’.

John Lennon certainly had the right idea. Well guess what, such places do exist; places that are pure and simple. They are called Commune’s around the world, and the largest of them being the Kibbutz.

The kibbutz is a community of people who chose to give up everything for a more spiritual lifestyle. At the kibbutz, materialistic obsession doesn’t exist; there they live off the land, and learn to work for what they want.  Everyone has a part and role to play.
Interestingly enough, and to my surprise, we found several Sharmer’s that have taken that path. Here is what they had to say:

“I spent about three – four years an the kibbutz and absolutely loved it! If I could, I would go back…” – Declared Anne, a mother of two.

“Being at the kibbutz was the best experience and time in my entire life; I learnt so much there and think that it would do everyone good to spend some time of their life at the kibbutz.” – Revealed, Mary, a local Sharmer.

Well, why does it have to be somewhere we go? Why can’t Sharm be like that? Why is it that we complicate an otherwise simple life? That is beyond me… Sharm is a virgin land where it is our duty, as the settlers, to cultivate, nourish it, whether by building things, agriculture or implementing new rules, principles and traditions. We are what we make it to be, and it is us who should make the desert bloom, creating a new earth; free from all the nonsense we see and know around the world. Sharm has so much potential that isn’t utilized to its greatest advantage. If we could wipe it clean, and start on a fresh plain canvas; to take a paintbrush and let ourselves go, what wonderful pictures we would make. Well guess what? It’s never too late. Just do it. Get out there and do something for yourself.

So , going back to imagination, imagine Sharm if….

We used solar energy. We would not have the constant power cuts we usually do, and our bills would cost a lot less. Most importantly we will be using a natural resource that Sharm has plenty of, for something other than tanning.

We purify more sea water right here.  Even in the desert heaven we would have plenty of water and would be a lot cheaper that transporting it all the way from El Tor or even further still.

We live in peace, and by peace, I mean inner peace. Imagine what it would be like to live free or racial and social prejudice. It can happen, it happened in Malaysia very well! If everyone stops believing that “their” way is the right or the better way – imagine all the peace there would be flowing in the air. Imagine all that good karma.

Bicycles were the main means of transport. With 9 months of perfect weather, and small distances in Sharm, why are people so persistent on using cars. Most of you are expats; back home you walk, cycle or take the tube to move around. Why in Sharm, does the need for a car suddenly emerge? How come in Amsterdam it seems to work so well?

Imagine a place where you can walk down the streets without people harassing you, where you can show your true emotions without fear, apprehension or guilt. A place where everyone acts like one big family without the complication of the modern lifestyles; go back to when Sharm was pure, simple and a lot less complicated.
Every place is made by its people. Give it a thought and let us know what you come up with.
 

They are doing it again!!! Sharmers will soon be dazzled once more by another outstanding performance put on by the children of Sharm. The infamous musical ‘Grease’ is now brought to you, however, this time not played by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John but by our own children here in Sharm.

After their huge success of ‘Hairspray’, nothing seems to be holding them back! Over 20 children are expected to take part in the Sharm version of Grease, where the leading characters will be auditioned.

Participant must be at least six years of age or older. The auditions should take from two to three hours, with each child auditioning for a lead taking up to about 15 minutes. The auditions should go on for the duration of two days, but that will depend on the amount of interest shown. 

It was the children themselves that chose ‘Grease’ as they were given the option between that or High School Musical 3, but after discussing it with their parents, the old-time favourite won. Not only that but, other favourites were already suggested for next time!     
The five judges of the auditions will be local members of our active community and include Ranya Barakat-Sinai Weekly, Janey-Singer, Moira Tune- Mix Magazine, Representative-Soho Square, Representative-FitnFun and several others. After the excitement of the auditions has died down, the rehearsals are due to take place between October 2009 and April 2010, therefore will last for about 20-25 weeks.

“Sharmers- we have an extraordinary amount of talented young children here in this small community! These children strive for the top and don't settle until their goal is met! We have the ability and resources to allow their talent and goals to be met!,” – declared Erin, organizer of ‘Grease’ and ‘Hairspray’.

“We appreciate the support we have and the children reward the supporters with their huge smiles and laughter when it hits performance day! We had one motto when completing Hairspray and that was- 'NEVER SAY NO- I CANT DO THAT!' We welcome everyone who is interested and appreciate all the support we get! There is nothing better than seeing young children on stage enjoying the experience of learning something new or already loved- a smile is the most rewarding gift! Sharmers please support our youngest of community members!” – She continued...

Well, if you see yourself as the new Sandy or Danny of Sharm, then you should certainly be auditioning for the show. The exact dates for the auditions are as following:
29th September - will be an information day (3:30-5:30)
30th September - lead character auditions    (3:30-5:30)

The auditions will take place at the Sharm el Sheikh college- Theatre. Well, good luck kids; you will all be great! See you on the big day

For more info, please call: Erin-Louise House on (018-612-02332)

Ahh, dreams, everyone has dreams, hopes and a fantasy life they wish to live (I do anyway) other than that we are already living…
Certainly, we have all heard of the typical ‘American Dream’; everyone wanted to move to America and get the amazing house with the huge garden, the fancy car and lead the lifestyle of the Hollywood film stars. 

The ‘American dream’ is that of a land far away that is so much better and richer than their own and where everyone gets a fair chance to prove themselves and achieve the impossible. It is a place where all are equal and everyone will receive respect and honour for who they are in spite of class, religion, race, or ethnic group; a place where a person is judged by how talented and hard working they are not by their family’s wealth or political connections. With the ‘American Dream’ comes hope and possibility, and potential for a better future. Their children can grow up in a clean civilized environment with a good education for a better career and future.

Since the early 19th Century, America has been seen as the symbol of freedom and prosperity, so over the past century, the ‘American Dream’ has lured tens of millions from all nationalities not necessarily for materialistic benefit but with the dream of liberation where every person’s opinion counts and are important and significant. And until today many still dream the American dream... The grass is always greener on the other side as they say.

What is the ‘Sharmer’s Dream’ all about? In a way it resembles the same as the American to those having been here on holiday, it gives them something new to work towards no matter what age, religion or gender. Here they think they can find and achieve what they couldn’t back in their hometowns. Everyone needs a goal and to those that have felt life’s cruel sense of humour, and Sharm could seem the ideal cure. Everyone needs something small to hang on to even, if at the end of the day it is only an illusion.   

So, what is it that people move here for? And in search of what? Is it that they come on holiday to Sharm and think it is the perfect place to live? Or do they see the ideal lifestyle they are looking for as they see it from the outside of the surface image presented by the residents here of the happy family in the healthy environment and want to be like it? Or is it that they just need a change which usually does a person a world of good. There are so many reasons, I’m sure.

Having asked several Sharmers on what was their dream or hope of moving here, we had some very interesting responses including the following:

 “Well I can tell you mine: it was to move here, get a stable well-paid, job, a car (they are so expensive to run back home!) and a dog; to me that is the perfect Sharm life; go to work by day, hang out with friends or go to the beach by evenings and night, but is it so or am I still searching? Another bonus is to have the nice weather so I won’t have to wear layers and layers of clothes; I cannot stand the cold…” – Stated Jackie, a local resident.

 “I moved to Sharm for love; I came on holiday and met this amazing native and instantly knew he was the one. I always dreamt of having the perfect family; loving husband, and gorgeous child in the perfect setting. Well, I have met my other half and what better setting than Sharm with the healthy outdoor life and fresh air. I haven’t been here that long yet, but I will soon find out if my dream is to be.” – Revealed Mary, a local housewife.

“I came here on holiday last year and had the time of my life; the best holiday ever. The people seemed so relaxed, cheerful, easy going and laid back that I decided there and then that I wanted to be part of this great community. So I recently moved here in search of a less stressful life, well that’s my story.” – Confessed Keith, a new time Sharmer. 

“I am a diver and could see the potential in Sharm from the first moment I set foot here.  So moved here to start a business, but hadn’t expected things would be so hard on my wife and kids with lifestyle and schooling or just basic provisions. It tends to get pretty boring for them. I may have to reconsider my decision of moving here…” – Declared Sam, a local diver. 

“I needed get away; a change and here seemed so secluded and cut off that it appealed to me straight away, seeing all the people just lying on the beach, swimming and surfing made me think how nice it would be to just hang around in shorts and a vest-top all day long or go for a drive around the bay on a regular basis.” – Said Dan, a 23 yr old Sharmer.       

Everyone thinks: wow a holiday destination it must be wonderful to live here, but things aren’t so easy are they Shamers? Surviving Sharm is more than just a week on the beach; it is a bitter reality, where you can’t just pop to the supermarket for your favourite brands but having to make do with what you can find.  And all the little luxuries of back home won’t necessarily be supplied here; even something as simple as having lunch with friends could be tricky. 

So, like the American Dream, the Sharm Dream represents possibility and opportunity, it resembles the light at the end of a very long dark tunnel; something to work towards, for some people this may be all they have. Well, what is YOUR dream, why are YOU in Sharm, what are YOU searching for or escaping from?

And indeed it was. It was the end of Michael Jackson’s life on earth. On the 25th of June, the world lost its pop icon; a great artist and person who will always be remembered. The reason for this death is still in question, with several different stories suggested by different people. Will we ever know the truth, I doubt, but at the end of the day, does it really matter. Fact of the matter is, he is unfortunately no longer with us on earth. His life came to an end very abruptly, and that is a big loss to the world.

Michael Jackson is an icon of not only pop music, but also an icon on determination, success, and freedom of thought. He changed the lives of many people that he never knew, and it is said that at least 60% of today’s population grew to watch him dance, sing, perform and just be.
I’m sure many of you share childhood memories of standing in front of the T.V screen trying to imitate his moves and dances (especially the moonwalk, never quite managed that one!!!), laughed or admired his sense of dress, and purchased at least 3 of his albums. I don’t think there is a person who doesn’t know most of Michael’s wide collection of amazing songs. 

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, U.S. He was the seventh child of the Jackson family and he made his debut onto the professional music scene in 1968 at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5. He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group, and continued his solo career dominating the music industry.

He was pronounced dead at approximately 2:25pm on June 25th due to a cardiac arrest declared the paramedics who attended his house in Los Angeles.  This news definitely came as a shock to us all, and millions all over the world mourned for him in various ways.  Many venues in different cities hosted parties in his honour. Streets were filled with mourners dancing the way Michael did. The gates of Neverland turned into a shrine with thousands of flowers laid down in his memory. TV and radio shows played his music and music videos for days after. Programs were made as a tribute to his life. Magazines paid outrageous amounts to purchase “his death photo”.

Since his sudden death, his popularity and fame has outshone many before him, and it is said when news spread of Jackson's death, web records were broken, servers timed out, and Google at first hand thought it was an attack.  Michael Jackson, even when dead created a cyberspace traffic jam, and his songs took over the charts again.

Michael will not only be remembered for all the awards he has won, but also, for his generous heart, and his 1982 album “Thriller” yet remains to be the world's best-selling album of all time. At the age of 50 at the time of his death, he was preparing for “This Is It”, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London beginning July 13, 2009.

With all of this in mind, The Sinai Weekly asked Sharmers how and if Michael Jackson affected their lives:

“Michael Jackson was my icon of liberation. I remember I used to always think to myself, well if Michael Jackson can do it, so can I. So thank you Michael for giving me that push and will to get my message across,” stated Hala, a local tour rep.

“He taught me how to dance. When I was growing up, I used to practice his moves so that I made sure I could do them at parties,” stated Simone, a dive guide.

“I feel like a part of my childhood has been taken away. It’s strange. I feel empty.” Said Monica.

“He was a fragile soul in a cruel world. I always felt he was in connection with something deeper than the world we live in. People condemn him for having a chimpanzee as a pet when he moved away from people. Well obviously that would happen, I mean imagine being Michael Jackson. Would people leave you alone? Of course not, and so good on him for choosing a chimp over people,” declared Ramzi, a local designer.

“I used to love the guy until I heard he used to sexually molest children. That was a major turn off for me. I stopped listening to his music then.” Pointed Joanne.

“It’s a shame that he died so soon. I am sure his tour, This Is It, would have been the best performances ever done by anyone. Sad. It’s just sad.” Stated Adel, a local dive guide.

“He really touched my heart. I remember growing up, there was a Michael track that would just so perfectly fit into my life at that time. I could always feel myself in his music and lyrics. And of course I thought he was one of the most attractive people on Earth. It’s a big loss to humanity, and I hope that one day there will someone with just as much positive influence.” Said Ranya, a local business owner in Sharm.

So, goodbye Michael and may your soul Rest in Peace.
 

Sometimes don’t you just feel like you have had enough? Like you just want to disappear; like you want to scream and shout stop at the top of my voice for all to hear? Well, I know I sure have and quite often too!

But have you ever thought of what a powerful word it is and how much weight it holds?  That little four letter word that holds so much power and authority if said in the right tone of voice; you can grab everyone’s attention with a single sharp stop. Not only that but it is usually resembled by the vibrant colour of red that stands out so vividly. 

When I think of all the things I would like to say stop about, it’s not that I am spoilt or ungrateful but things could be so much better, I just get exasperated with it all…Look around you, the world is such a beautiful place why ruin it?

But what is it that we should stop? Here are just a few examples:

Stop complaining
Stop exploitation
Stop at the injustice of it all
Stop the hate and aggression,
Stop the backstabbing
Stop the excuse and B.S
Stop the deceit and lies
Stop the pain
Stop the fighting
Stop being spiteful
Stop the cheating
Stop staring
Stop the swearing

“I wish the harassment along the streets would stop,” – said Claire, a long time Sharmer.“I hate walking alone or even going to the supermarket because of the amount of people who stare and comment on my looks and attire.” – She continued.

“I want to tell the taxi drivers that keep honking their horn at you for no apparent reason to just STOP it,” – stated Jenny, a local resident. “It can be pretty annoying, you know…” – She added.

“Stop whining and complaining about everything, the amount of people that grumble about Egypt and the Egyptians is absurd…get over it!” – Declared Ali, a local business owner.

“I think racism is a big problem here, if only we could all be a bit more open-minded and stop the pettiness.” –  Announced Frank, a local diver.
People should stop the pretence and start living reality. If we wish we could change so many different things, we should give it a go as it is in our hands and it is up to us to make the world a better place to live in.

So, what would you like to say stop to?

We are all searching for something, there are very few of us aren’t; only the rare lucky ones; be it searching for ourselves, another person, an emotion & feeling, a place or anything else that comes to mind. And then came sharmsearch.com Now before you get the wrong idea, Sharmsearch.com is definitely not a dating site. However many of you may think (or hope) it is… Rather it is anything but. As, even having been here for a number of years, it is still so hard to find your way around or locate certain places and information, especially as Sharm has grown so much now with new places opening every day and old places closing. 

Having recently been launched, ‘Sharmsearch.com’ presents Sharm El Sheikh & Sinai’s biggest search engine by far, and is one of the multiple services provided by Sinawy Publications, Sinai’s largest media outlet. Sinawy, being the leading multimedia company in Sinai, is a well established and highly esteemed company that offers a wide range of services. Having been around for several years, they have a solid idea of the market in Sinai, hence the name Sinawy.

What is the function of Sharmsearch.com?

It is the most direct and straightforward way of finding out information about any business or service in Sharm; and it is not just about a phone number, but the things that give a place an identity such as, where it is, what it is, and what it offers. Sharmsearch.com provides all this info and much more including internet websites and e-mail addresses for further enquiries, and it’s as simple and near as a click of the mouse.

“Our main goal is to provide as much info and help so people find exactly what they want and need to make their lives as easy as possible and as direct and clear as possible to reach their target.” – revealed the Director of Sales & Marketing department at Sinawy, Mrs. Ranya Barakat. “The team is made up of dedicated unique individuals who have been here a considerable amount of time so know all the ins and outs of the area so are able to supply efficient details and info.” – She continued.

To access this service, all you have to do, is type in www.sharmsearch.com you will then be welcomed by the home page with a display of all the different categories:
•    If you are searching by category:
Step1: choose your required category (you will be shown the whole list under that category)
Step2:  click on a name and you will be shown all info about the brand.
•    If you are searching by name
Step1: enter the name in the search box on the left
Step2: press enter and the info will be displayed. 
•    If you want to add your own business
Step1: select Add Your Listing from the navigation bar at the top
Step2: Select basic or premium package
Step3: Click on ORDER NOW and add your info 

Now, what could be easier than that?

So whether you are looking for the information, or you are the business owner that is wanting to reach the people, remember all you have to do is CLICK as Sharmsearch.com is there to provide you with the best possible service.

For more details, please visit: www.sharmsearch.com

Huuuh? Here before you? What is that supposed to mean? I must have missed the signs or flags with people’s names on it stating their property and rights.  Or, are we back in kindergarten where we are fighting over chairs: that’s mine, no its mine, but I was here before you…? Well maybe we are. There are many people who have been here for many many years, but that doesn’t mean they have exclusive rights…There are certain privileges for being in a place a certain amount of time, like knowing the best places to go, knowing what’s authentic and what’s not and knowing most of the people. However, these ‘privileges’ don’t include taking over or hogging certain things or places for individual use such as beaches, harbours and even businesses.

Business is a commercial activity engaged in as a means of livelihood or profit, or an entity which engages in such activities and no one has the right to deprive anyone else of this right. Otherwise, logically, if everyone chooses their clients that were unapproachable by others then there would not be enough clients for everyone and many people would go bankrupt. Yes, there is the silent and unspoken agreement and respect, but that isn’t applicable when it is at one’s own cost.

You cannot base a business upon how long you have been in a certain place or who was the first to start something and count on others to bow down and make way for you just by stating I was here first…Say for instance, years ago, just because one shop opened in the old market years ago doesn’t mean that other shop could open; with all due respect, if we went by those rules we would still be buying our groceries out of a kiosk or cart.

So, whether you have been here 12 years or five, Sharm has enough to go round everyone and at the end of the day we all depend on each other.

The trick is being good at what you do, then whoever your competition is you will be able to take on the challenge (however, long you have been here).  And, at the end of the day, we are in Egypt and the first people here were in fact Egyptians…

So, wherever you are, whoever you are and however long you have been there, the rules of business are the same; survival for the fittest. 

Exactly, now what?  There always seems to be something.

Recently, I was thinking of the different things that have happened over the past period, how many obstacles humanity has had to face yet keep going, such as the economic crisis spreading like the plague; a disease where some people have convinced themselves that now life is a total disaster. The Gaza attacks, the German school shooting, the cricket team shooting, what’s with all the shooting! The lack of competent employees who are with it and get it, honest people, natural disasters, an uncomplaining spouse or a straightforward official, but then again, pigs might fly.

All I can say - now what?

Well, what I have learnt so far, is that in life there will always be obstacles, some greater than others, but at the end of the day, I like to believe nothing can beat you unless YOU make it happen - as my personal idol would say, “Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: don’t give up the fight!”  Well, at least he got it right and lived freely.

And that is exactly what the Sinai Weekly crew have been doing throughout last year – getting up, and standing up. Not only us. You too. By you picking up a copy of Sinai Weekly and reading it, is part of it – part of the getting up, and standing up. We focused our minds on having an informative, intellectual dialogue with the Sharm community, as we are today’s paper for the community.  We are here to discover Sharm together with you. That is our getting up, and standing up. Living the reality around us, not what is enforced upon us.
This issue marks our 2-year anniversary, and we are dedicating 2009 to the reality – the reality of now. So now what?

The reality is – we love what we do, and we hope you love it too, as we put in an immense amount of thought, time, dedication and energy into every issue, with aim of giving you something good to read. The kind of something that will leave you thinking or keep you entertained, or maybe even make you see things from another perspective.  I mean at the end of the day, isn’t that why we are all here – to learn and expand and nourish and feed our minds with new thoughts, ideas, cultures, expressions, tastes – the list is endless, but I am sure you get the idea.
Living in Sharm, being so multi cultural increases the risk of having obstacles thrown at you, because so many people, from so many places, are trying to share the same thing, but each individual is actually very different. So you end up with an overflow of mental, physical, emotional and intellectual obstacles to deal with, because you just don’t understand why and how the things around you happen.
Hmmm..

I think of life in a way like paint balling; where you have to dodge getting shot but if you do get hit it might hurt for a while, but then it goes away. And then guess what, next shot, bam, you’ve been shot, but hey, it doesn’t hurt anymore - you laugh about it and think – that’s fun.
And that is exactly how the story goes. What obstructs you once, can’t obstruct you twice. In any of its forms. It only becomes something in the past. So Sharmers, now what?

We say, live for today, get out there, and simply be.

Thanks for being with us last year, and we promise you that next year is going to be rock on.
Bring It On Sharm.
Much luv,
The Editor

Women, Donne, женщины, Femmes, Frauen… Whatever language you say it in, it still points in the same direction; women, better known as the gentler sex (I can’t imagine why!!). Women play a significant role in our community and many awards and occasions were dedicated to them such as:  Women of the Year, Women’s International Day and others day. Also, many songs are sung in honour of women including:

Man I feel like a woman – Shania twain
 “the best thing about bein’ a woman is the prerogative to have a little fun”

Strength of a woman – Geri Halliwell
“Step by step (step by step)
Hour by hour (hour by hour)
what we've got is a woman's power
Day by day (day by day)
Believe in you (believe in you)
in what you want and what you do”

Even some men have contributed, as James Brown definitely had the right idea when he sang “it’s a man’s, man’s, man’s world”.
“This is a man's world
but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl,
He's lost in the wilderness
He's lost in bitterness”

So, come on guys, be honest, you have to admit it’s true; Women do hold a lot of power, whether they know it or not and as they say ‘behind every great man is a woman’.

But what do women want and say?  A lot, that’s for sure, for they are known to talk, gossip and then just talk a bit more ( no offence, women).
However, when you think about it, is it so easy being a woman? Bearing in mind all the things they have to go through that men miss out on; bad hair days, waxing (ouch!), period pains and plus of course, giving birth…or are there extra perks to it? Well, here is what REAL women have to say:

“I am proud to be a woman, as it’s a women’s world out there.” – Stated Anne, a local resident. 
“It is hard being a woman, as I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy but got out-casted by the boys, just because of the fact that I am a woman. You have a harder job proving yourself,” – revealed Sarah, a regular diver. “Also, so much is expected from you but you are given limited space to move about in, it’s so unfair…” – She added. 
“I find it extremely complicated being a woman in Sharm or Egypt in general, as there are a lot of does and don’ts because of the culture and its boundaries with what’s accepted from a woman.” – Confessed Yasmine, a local housewife.
 “I am honoured to be a woman and wouldn’t want to be anything else, I pity those you aren’t” – stated Samar, a 25 year old Sharmer. “In Egypt we have a saying ‘women are half the community’ and I couldn’t agree more!” – She continued.
“It is stressful at times but has its advantages; sometimes it is nice to just sit back and let the men take care if everything.” – Said Hannah, a mother of three.
A woman always gets what she wants, one way or other; women usually use their femininity to their advantage.” – Declared Julie, a happily married Sharmer.  
 “Before, women were not considered as important as they are now,  it was looked upon as shame to give birth to a girl but now things have changed; women have proven their presence in hospitals, offices and even the government ,” – stated Mariam, a local resident.
“A woman should only: give as good as she gets and shouldn’t let herself be pushed around and walked all over.” – Advised Sylvia, a local business owner.

So you see, woman are still of a humble nature. Whereas, in regards to our title (Sharm-oza’s), we don’t mean anything downgrading or insulting, in fact just the opposite, we mean it as a compliment and should all be proud to be a ‘moza’.

So, next time when someone says ‘moza’ to you in the street, just hold your head up high and think to yourself ‘I am THE woman, powerful and strong’. Go women go!