Over the years I have travelled to many far flung places on business and in many of them I have tried to blend in so as not to become a target and frankly just to be left alone.

In Yemen, I first realised (to some extent) how women must feel, as being a 6foot tall well fed westerner I stood out like a sore thumb and was VERY aware of being stared at. Nothing nasty, just curiosity, although you would get poked in the ribs every so often by an AK40 or kalsnikov machine gun by a 14 year old who wanted to talk to you.

In Russia - Siberia in fact, I did not want to stand out as a target to theft or worse and so wore old dark clothes and had well worn luggage etc.

Sudan was another country where the poverty was so bad, there was definitely a case for dressing down, but only because I felt bad pushing my (relative) wealth in their face.

When I was in Sharm recently and going up and down the road in the local minibus taxis, I found that I drew less attention wearing long trousers rather than shorts, and a normal shirt, rather than some branded item that we were so much in England. I felt that I didn't stand out so much and that I was left to get on with it.

Again in Sharm, you would see girls on holiday walking along the road in next to nothing, beachwear, very low cut tops etc. and attracting a lot of attention.

we have got used to this in the west and perhaps realise that it's not meant to (necessarily) draw attention, but I don't think Egyptian men have any idea other than "why would you dress like that if you don't want the attention?"

This is of course the worst thing you can say at home, women say they dress for themselves and that's fine but there is quite a different mental attitude to contend with in Egypt.

So really I can only agree with what others have said and that is to dress with consideration of the local culture when out and about.

I do think that overseas travel has become less interesting as each Country becomes more like each other and that is part of the beauty of Egypt for me - it is still a very different place to travel.

The rights and wrongs don't really come into it, if you don't want to get hassled, dress considerately adn you will be well respected 99% of the time.

Iain

Great post Iain - enjoyed reading it.

That's kind of you. I just think we need to encourage an attitude of seeing the other point of view a bit more - the older I get the more I think there are almost no 'rights and wrongs' just different ways of looking at things. Probably just my mid life crisis!

Unfortunately I'm turning into a 'grumpy old woman' during my mid life crisis . Thankfully for all concerned, I mostly keep my opinions to myself though!!!

I agree with respecting the customs of any country you should be lucky enough to visit, and I also think that its only courteous to learn a few rods of that country's language too. Just please and thankyou is always gratefully received even if you haven't a clue as to the rest of the conversation. I'm about to enrol in Arabic for beginners at night school lol but I bet I won't be allowed to practise it in Egypt because they so enjoy practising their English on us. 1 thing when I was in Hurghada that even I found really distasteful was a certain country's people who had no manners, totally disregarded the 'dress code' for out and about town and even worse the 'dress' or lack of it at the hotel and on the beach and by the pools. Thankfully that country's travel concessions for cheap hols is ending this year.

oops rods should read WORDS lol

Hi CMChris, I agree with you. And some Egyptians told us exactly what they thought of them too. Wayne went to night school years ago to learn spanish, but he only lasted 3 sessions, he said they went too much into it, and his tutor said it would be easier to learn if you lived their with them. An Egyptian guy whom works in the winking frog has offered to give arabic lessons, he wants to start his own business teaching Arabic. So I have said I would like to learn some when I go out again in December.

Dawn

Hear Hear CMChris, bikini's with see thru sarongs is NOT appropriate street wear,seen yesterday, but better than the guy who walks down the road in his trunks!!!!
Dawn , it was great to meet you two here, and Rod and Ann, see you next time. X
Helen

Yes exactly what my husband says, he is Egyptian and says that locals are really scared of the police, even shop keepers (the tourist police especially) as even he says they think more about the tourists than the natives. So just threaten with the police and i think you'll find this will get rid of them. IMSHI usually does the trick lol.

We recently complained to the police about a company that bodged our kitchen and they sent someone round with a court order (or egyptian equivalent) and they had to go to the station to make a statement.

I never got hassled in Egypt I've always found the people extremely friendly and respectful but you have to understand that the way women dress here is not widely accepted over there so in the tourist areas they will stare (not subtly like here) so just be careful. So if you walk around topless or in skimpy clothing I'm afraid to say you'll get what you portray! (What did my grandad say, show a dog a bone and it'll lick it!) Don't get involved in conversation on the street as they'll take that as a green light I should think.

me

Yoohoo, that's the way!! I love the way you say it.
Costa del UK, LSAB, wallahi, great way of expressing it!!!

Huda