A few thoughts on my 'kidnap'

Yesterday's blog post about my brief kidnapping attracted a lot of attention. Most reactions were good, but I also got a lot of flack for supposedly being 'irresponsible' and 'naive', which I don't think is fair. 


As I posted as a reply to one of the comments on the original post, I don't think there would have been a much safer way to go about it. 

What I learned today (8): reporting can be dangerous

So, I got into a bit of a gnarly situation, trying to do some reporting...

The big news last night was that protesters had broken into (and later supposedly tried to burn down) the headquarters of Ahmed Shafiq, one of the two presidential candidates competing in the run-off for the Egyptian elections.

I had kept myself updated on the situation throughout the evening via Twitter, and had briefly attempted to take some photos of a small protest in Tahrir with a friend.

On my way home, I start thinking.

Picture post (10): Day two of the presidential elections in Egypt

Presidential elections in Egypt, day 2, a set on Flickr.

On the second day of the presidential elections in Egypt we went to a polling station in Muqattam, also known as Garbage City, and one on Zamalek.

Picture post (9): At the polling stations

Presidential elections Egypt 2012, a set on Flickr.

We visited a few polling stations in Imbaba today. People appeared very happy to be voting and in general the atmosphere seemed a lot more relaxed than during the parliamentary elections a few months ago.

Election day!

Banners for Amr Moussa (above) and Mohammed Morsi, on Sharia Tahrir in Doqqi.

Today and tomorrow, the 23rd and the 24th of May, Egyptians get to choose their first democratically elected president.

What I saw today (16): staircase

Most apartment buildings in Cairo come with their own outdoor staircase, to dump your trash bags (and other stuff you no longer need) on for the garbageman.

Picture post (8): Al Azhar park

View from Al Azhar park, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

Had a nice relaxing afternoon in Al Azhar park this weekend, with friends, food and a nice sunset.

What I saw today (15): The janitor's house

The janitor's house, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

Well, today, and every other day. This is what I see when I look out of my bedroom window. 

Working on my Photoshop skills...

Kitty drinking down town, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

So expect more picture posts (hopefully of other, perhaps more journalistically interesting things than cats...) soon.

What I saw today (14): More flowers

Flowers, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

I'll go easy on the flowers for a while now, I''m just very excited to finally have a decent camera that can focus on specific details.

Teaching in Egypt (10): those shite Shiites

I had my students read an article on the current situation in Syria. The word Shiite occurred in it several times.

What I saw today (13): Footprints on a dirty balcony

Footprints on a dirty balcony, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

I got woken up by the sound of rain this morning. When I walked out onto my balcony to have a look, I left these footprints.

What I saw today (12): New graffiti on Zamalek

Graffiti on Zamalek, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

Here's the full set.

What I saw today (11): Kitler street cat!

Kitler street cat!, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

Here are more kitlers.
Here are more Cairo street cats.

What I saw today (10): Lamp post

Lamp post, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

Wondering around Cairo one comes across many old and run-down things.

What I learned today (7) - S is for Football

Our internet connection has been a massive bitch lately, causing me to have to call those lovely people at the LinkDotNet helpdesk many times this week.

Why I won't be going to Afghanistan

A few weeks ago I was offered a job in Afghanistan. This rather bizarre article in Time Magazine neatly sums up why I declined to go.

Extreme Tourism: Couch Surfing Comes to Afghanistan

Learning Arabic (2): Flickr doesn't speak Arabic

Hala? In what Arabic country do they greet each other with 'hala'? I've never heard anyone use that, anywhere. According to my dictionary 'hala' means 'sweet' or 'delicious'. Flickr #fail? 

Learning Arabic (1): Teacher becomes student

Arabic, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

As of two days ago I started Arabic lessons again. The teacher becomes student.

What I saw today (9): Big eyed kitty

Big eyed kittie, a photo by Ester Meerman on Flickr.

This kitty came to check us out last night at a cafe in down town Cairo. Unfortunately I only had my iPhone with me and not the 600D, so this grainy image is the best I could do. From now on I'll always carry my camera around with me, everywhere.

Monthly roundup: most popular blog posts in April

Here are this month's best read posts:

1. What is 'blowsex'?

2. What I learned today (5): Hiring standards at Vodafone Egypt are low

3. Teaching in Egypt (5): ‘Are you Jewish?’

4. Teaching in Egypt (7): The one guy that stands out

5. Teaching in Egypt (4): What is karma?