Category Archives: H

H is for Habiba


Meet Habiba, my Arabic-speaking alter ego! It is her fault that I have not been practicing my photography or posting new images to the blog. She has been busy studying Arabic and writing and illustrating little story books. These books are written in Egyptian Arabic and English – and Habiba is sharing them for free! There are only two titles available at the moment – Habiba Draws Dahab and Yum, Yum! - but there are plans for more. You can download and read the eBooks on-screen or download the printable versions to make your own books.

 

 

 

 

If you have comments, suggestions, or would like to assist Habiba in translating the stories into other languages, please contact her via email at habiba AT bernadettesimpson DOT com

H is for Halawa

Halawa tahiniya, or حلاوة  طحينية, is one of my favorite sweet snacks in Egypt. Halawa means “sweetness” in Arabic and is made from tahina, a sesame seed paste, and sugar. It is typically made and sold in blocks that you can purchase from the deli section of local shops. You can also buy it in packages like the one pictured above. Traditionally, halawa is plain but today there are many varieties available – chocolate, almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios. Halawa is usually eaten in a sandwich (hot or cold) on baladi bread, the pita-like local bread. Although it is not unusual to see people simply dig in with a spoon!

H: Harankush

Egyptians enjoy snacking on this tangy, marble-sized fruit – and their season is just beginning. Harankush is the fruit of Physalis peruviana. The plant is native to Central and South America but has been grown in Egypt for decades. Other names for the fruit include cape gooseberries, golden berries, and ground cherries – to name a few.   The picture above is what the fruits look like before their papery husks have been removed. It takes awhile to remove them all, but the reward of a bowl of beautiful orange fruit is worth the effort! Those pictured in the bottom photo are about to become Harankush Crumble – our favorite way to feast on these fruit!

H: Henna

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H is for Henna

These henna-ed hands belong to a friend who was visiting us here in Dahab. Henna is the Arabic word for the plant Lawsonia inermis, which has been used since ancient times for medicinal and decorative purposes. The temporary body tattoos are made from a henna paste. In Egypt, before the wedding night, the bride-to-be and her female friends and family will gather for the “henna night” – a night of music, dancing, eating, and just generally celebrating. The bride and her guests will receive henna decorations on their hands and feet. The tattoos fade after a couple of weeks.

H: Herons

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H is for Herons
This is a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) that I photographed at the Giza Zoo. I watched a group of these birds for hours as they alternately perched in trees and swooped down to the pond to catch fish. They have amazingly long necks – which I’ll post a picture of later. I have not seen one in the wild but my Birds of Egypt and the Middle East book assures me that these herons are a “fairly common migrant and winter visitor in Egypt”. Learn more about herons and egrets.