Isis, egypt from a different outlook

Submitted by Lina (United Kingdom), May 1, 2009 at 18:42

Yes, Isis, it's definitely important for readers to see another spin on things. Sex tourism is very common in Egypt, & I've also been unfortunate enough to witness some of the behaviour that you mentioned. In conclusion, it disappoints me, as it gives the rest of us - respectable, educated women - a bad name, and people assume that we all merely want an Egyptian "accessory".

Cities such as Hurghada and Sharm are, in my eyes, extremely vulgar. There is very little there to serve as a reminder of Egyptian history or culture - the only souvenirs on display are young men. And it is worth noting that, although a lot of men from these cities appear "modern" and dress in jeans & bold apparel, they are usually from very poor backgrounds - either lower Egypt or the slums of Cairo - where they have no opportunities. No education, nothing. Simple boys from simple families. And then they hear about the sordid yet "glamorous" lifestyle of red sea resorts, where hundreds of tourists fly in every week... and they think that, if they replace their galabeya with more modern clothing & sneakers, they can re-invent themselves as a "don juan" & earn more than most honest workers do in a week (via their body and massage work). And then they see tourists flashing their riches & disrespecting local values, & they receive a whole new education.

You could see it as a form of arrogance on the part of the western tourist. The whole "I'm wealthy, therefore you must have sexual relations with me". And North Africans detest this kind of attitude, especially regarding their colonial history.

I'm sorry that your husband had to encounter that vulgar woman. My partner has also been propositioned in such a manner, while I previously would have never guessed that such women even existed. I used to think that this behaviour was reserved for old men in the bars of Cambodia. I sometimes wonder if these aforementioned women have any self-respect... in fact, when I was in Luxor, I saw various sex tourists whose sole intention was to prey on young boys. Some might find the word "prey" inapporopriate, but really a lot of Egyptian boys from villages aren't half as worldly as they seem. Let's face it, sex isn't high on the list of dinnertime topics in Egypt. In my hotel, I even saw a man in what looked to be his 50s, with a very young Egyptian man (hopefully, for the love of God, over 18)... and I felt almost physically sick. My family members asked me what the hell was wrong with me, so I blamed it on dodgy food lol. It just aggravates me to such an extent, the idea of travelling just to have sex with someone exotic or young... it's such a spit in the face of humanity, ergh...

As is visible, Isis, these men and women have no respect for Islamic culture. They think, the men are hot, to hell with the values. My advice to women would be: if you like the Middle Eastern look, at least choose a latino, or even an Italian with a similar lifestyle; if you feel undesirable, do whatever it takes to build your self-esteem, but don't find it necessary to travel across continents in order to do so. Because in the end - playing with fire just because you find a man "hot" (no pun intended), then finding yourself covered in burns really isn't worth it.

At this rate, Egypt will turn into Africa's very own Thailand, where anyone of foreign appearance will be looked upon as a sex tourist... and it's sad, really because Egypt has such an incredible history & it's being destroyed by this cheap behaviour. Hell hath no fury if the pharaohs rose from the dead lol. And, while it is appalling that all these women are being preyed on by Egyptian lotharios, also take the time to remember that young Egyptians of both sexes are being preyed upon by western & emirati visitors as we speak.

To any women seeking a serious relationship with a muslim man: do your research first. If you shower a man with gifts and money, yes, his mother & sisters will "love" you to your face, but behind the curtains they will have another, more unpleasant outlook on you. Age is not the main issue here, it's self-respect. Muslim wives are expected to be demure & chaste; you won't find too many Muslim men who want a naive "mummy warbucks" as a prospective mother to their children. It sounds harsh, I know, but it needs to be known before more people get hurt. If you truly love your man, get to know his culture, read up on his religion & don't dive headfirst into something just because it seems like "a bit of fun". And ignore what others think...

Haha, well I do think that there should be stricter regulations imposed in travelling to Egypt. That said, Egypt is rather bureaucratic as it is but maybe it needs to up the ante to Soviet standards. I also think that resort towns should have more "public indecency" police present - they are too lax when it comes to sleazy acquaintances in those places. Or perhaps visitors should all take an exam on Common Sense and a short test of the history of Egypt before they are allowed entry.

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