Blogger Matthew Firestone

by Matthew Firestone on

Introducing another new blogger at Gadling, Matthew Firestone…

Where was your photo taken? This shot was taken at the summit of Mt. Sinai in Egypt shortly after sunrise. Although I’m trying my hardest to look awake and alert, I can hardly keep my eyes open. The trek to the top of Sinai was a gruelling overnight trudge, but it was worth every blister, stubbed toe and twisted ankle.

Where do you live now? Tokyo, Japan (???????????)

Scariest airline flown? Egypt Scare, er, Egypt Air. Call me crazy, but it should cost more than the price of a decent meal back home to fly across a country as enormous as Egypt. Then again, when the plane is a 1970s Russian-built Aeroflot complete with a tweed and beige interior, perhaps not.

Favorite city/country/place? Namibia – for the beauty and isolation of its landscape – though fresh sushi on any of Okinawa’s beaches is a close second.

Most remote corner of the globe visited? Against both my better judgment and my survival instincts, I trekked through the Darien Gap, the infamous no-man’s land between Panama and Colombia famous for FARC rebels, paramilitary and a healthy dose of pit vipers. My mother still hasn’t forgiven me.

Favorite guidebook series? Lonely Planet, particularly the editions I write.

The most unusual food I’ve ever eaten is… odorigui, which translates to ‘dancing-eating’ or the practice of consuming live animals. I assure you nothing can compare to the sensation of eating a writhing octopus tentacle that has just been chopped off its still-breathing host.

Worst armpit visited? Zimbabwe in summer of 2006 was about as bad as it gets, though I’m told it’s worse now. At the time, hyperinflation was nearing 1000%, which meant that a bottle of coke was priced at about 630,000 Zim Dollars. Of course, this was assuming you could even find a bottle of coke due to a nationwide shortage of sugar, petrol and just about every other commodity.

First culture shock experience? I grew up in a small town in New Jersey famous for drag-racing, strip malls and suburban discontent. Needless to say, you can imagine my culture shock when I found out that New Jersey wasn’t exactly like the rest of the world.

Snakes on a Plane — Almost

by Catherine Bodry on

The campy movie “Snakes on a Plane” played up a common phobia of many people — that’s right; snakes. But it was just a movie, right? Surely with modern airport security no one could get on a plane with a suitcase full of reptiles, right?

Right — so far. But a 22-year-old Saudi passenger in Cairo, Egypt made it all the way to his departure gate before officials stopped him to check his suspect suitcase. Inside, they found baby crocodiles, chameleons, and several snakes, including “at least one cobra, squirming to escape.” The man claimed not to know about any rules disallowing reptiles, and that he was transporting them to a Saudi university for research.

In May, another Saudi was caught at the airport with 700 live snakes in his carry-on luggage.

Samuel L. Jackson, this is not a dress rehearsal.

Photo of the Day (07/30/07)

by Iva Skoch on

This picture was taken by Alexia Etsios in Cairo, Egypt last week.

Stark and impersonal, nothing says “urban struggle” better than this apartment block. The only indication that a lot of people must live there is the amount of laundry hanging up. The satellite dishes are a nice touch, too. It seems that the poorer the country, the more satellite dishes. What do they watch, I wonder. Soccer, CNN, Al Jazeera?

***To have your photo considered for the Gadling Photo of the Day, go over to the Gadling Flickr site and post it.***

The Most Dangerous Job in Cairo

by Iva Skoch on

Today’s NY Times’ article on Cairo’s most dangerous job–traffic officer–grabbed my attention. I remember the crazy drivers in Egypt and have immense respect for anyone trying to control the traffic in any way. I always just closed my eyes when crossing the street.

I especially liked the quote of Salah Eissa, editor of Al Qahira, a weekly newspaper published by the Ministry of Culture explaining that the problem of Egypt is not that the Egyptian people do not like order: “It is the problem of making exceptions in enforcing this order – and this applies to traffic. It is something that provokes Egyptians and pushes them to think that since it is all a question of bullying, then every man to himself and everyone becomes a bully.”

Every man to himself. Sounds like capitalism in its purest form.

“Strangely Fat” Woman at Customs Actually Wearing Girdle of Live Crocodiles

by Jonathon Morgan on

It must be difficult to look inconspicuous with 3 live crocodiles strapped to your waist.

At least it was for one woman trying to cross through the Gaza-Egypt border crossing. Despite the woman’s veil, and many layers of clothing, border guards couldn’t help but notice something odd.

When a female guard did a body search on the “strangely fat” woman, the truth was revealed — 3, 20-inch-long crocodiles hidden under her loose robe.

The woman said she “was asked” to carry the animals — that, incidentally, could each be sold for the equivalent of 2 months of her salary. And while the events initially caused panic, in the end, “everyone was admiring a woman who is able to tie crocodiles to her body,” said Maria Telleria, spokeswoman for the European observers who run the crossing.

Seems a little more exciting than the cigarettes, prescription drugs and car parts that border guards usually confiscate from travelers.