The idea of putting questions to you that will make you think, itself made me think for a while about what do I think can make someone think, and is what I think, right? I thought about what makes me think, then thought about what can make you think, and then I started thinking about the process of thinking. This was quite a tongue twister; and even tongue twisters make you think, don't they? They make you think of how to go about saying them! Before this thought on 'thinking' becomes long, I am thinking of putting forth my first question that will make you think. The question is, Can you stop thinking? Think of this!

During these two weeks, in accordance with Chinese astrology, it’s the end of the year of the rat, and the start of the year of the tiger. Within these two weeks, comes great changes, positive and negative, so prepare yourself for it. I have been doing a lot of reading about the year of the tiger, as in this issue you will find an article about, and most importantly, I am trying to prepare myself for the year. All I can say, whether you believe in it or not, or whether you believe in Chinese or Hindu or universal astrology, the moral of the story is, wake your senses up, and prepare yourself for the year to come, and what lies ahead of you. That means, literally wake up your senses. Remember that you are a your karma. Give it a deep thought.

Much love,

Me.

This issue is all about change. I usually find that people never get accustomed to change too easily, so I decided to research it. I contacted several life coaches, therapists, and random people, and asked them why they think that? I found that the most common answer was the fear of the unknown. It struck me, that if most people were afraid of the unknown, how on earth can they embrace a new year, or even a new day. No one knows what tomorrow will bring, but we all wake up in the morning and manage to get through the day. Imagine if you woke up, and embraced the day feeling that you were ready and happy and willing to bring on what the new day has in store with you.

It’s a New Year, it’s a new line, it’s a new time, and with that all I can find myself feeling is very energized to approach this New Year, with full optimism and hope. 2009 was very hard, and from what I have been hearing, very hard on everyone. Everyone I speak to seems to be so drained, and not excited about the New Year. Come one people – use this as the refresh button to start all over. Fuel your mind with positive and happy thoughts, and you will find that is how you will start to see the world. So for everyone in Sharm, let’s turn our engines on, and all share that happy positive vibe together. Let’s all work hand in hand and do what’s best for Sharm as a whole.

Dear Readers,

Sharm is now in winter; however we are still lucky enough to have great weather during this period. The winter sun can be just as nice if not better as in summer.
There is also so much to do like walking, cycling, jogging and many other activities that usually it is too hot to do, so now is your chance.
Don’t be fooled by how the tourist dress though, as this to them is summer, dress warmly and look after yourselves, it is easy to catch a cold or any other ailment without noticing.  
So, get out there Sharmers and make the most of it, have a great winter…

Sincerely,
The Editor
 

Dear Readers,

We received this note, a farewell note from a loving Sharmer who requested it be published.

Dear Sharm,

You have given me so much over the years that I cannot even begin the repay you but now it is time to leave your mothering shelter and security.

 I am moving away and a part of me is so sad where a part of me can’t wait for the chance to break free. However, every road has an ending and I have reached the end of my road in Sharm.  A change may or may not be a good thing but I am ready for it…

As you probably know or have noticed that the big Feats is now upon us… however, what some of you may not know is that Thanksgiving is also at the same time, now isn’t that ironic?
So, people from different cultures will all be celebrating something in unison, which will bring Sharmers closer together.

Tis the season for the flu, nearly everyone I know has gone down with it in the past two weeks, from children and teenagers to adults and seniors.
Prevention is better than the cure as they say, so why not take the shots for flu a.s.a.p and help prevent it from spreading. These shots can also help prevent swine flu so it is definitely worth it.

Last week we received this e-mail from a Sharmer who requested it to be published. So here goes:

Dear Editor, 
  Refering to your page in sinai weekly last week, " celebrating Sinai", i think i have an interesting story  about sharm "the far distance dream",  thought you might like to hear it , or as for our case read it and maybe share it with the readers.

Dear Readers,

Rumour has it that schools are now off until December or even January. We have tried to contact the Ministry of Education to verify if this rumour is true or false, however, we were unable to get a definite answer. So, with this in mind, we got in touch with some parents in Sharm and here is what we found: many distraught parents are extremely worried about their children’s education in the meantime.Several of them are even talking about leaving Sharm. Several other parents have not heard of about such a delay.

After Ramadan, most of us have put on those dreaded extra pounds that we so hate, but now the feast is over it is time to get back into shape. 
It is a lot easier than you think…and a lot more rewarding.

You can start by eating earlier so you have the proper amount of time to digest the food and cutting out (or minimizing) the sweets such as basbosa, konafa and balah el sham. 

Another idea is to start exercising regularly, so hit the gym, work out, go jogging, start running, cycling or swimming , in Sharm the options are endless, there is no excuse. Look forward to welcoming the New Year by a new healthier, fitter you…   

Yes, the feast is now upon us with all the merriment and joy it brings with it…it is only just the start as this is the first of the two feasts. So this is a time to have fun and be merry, happy and cheerful. It is also a chance to spend quality time with close family and friends. Unfortunately, things tend to go a little crazy during this time (especially after having been denied from many things during the holy month of Ramadan) I know it’s a celebration and all, but at the same time safety should be a major concern. Especially in Sharm, where so much could happen, whether on the roads or at sea, as it is an extremely popular destination for many Muslims celebrating the Eid this time of year.
However, People can get over excited and it can be a dangerous time as many of the accidents and mishaps are the result of reckless driving, excessive drinking, outrageous partying, vicious fights and unforeseen events. Another common problem is the amount of cars that break down due to the speeding and travelling, not to mention carting all the heavy luggage and people about the place.

It turns out many of us are big fibbers maybe without even realizing it…
Recently I was reading an article about this topic that caught my eye, so really concentrating on the people around me, here are some of things I found that Sharmers tend to stretch the truth on:

•    About their age: everyone seems to be between the age of 16 to 35…Hmmm
•    About their weight: everyone seems to weigh next to nothing….Hmmmmmmm
•    About their finance: everyone seems to be either millionaires (who could buy the whole country) or near poverty (I can’t even feed myself)… then why are you both still in Sharm?

Ramadan, the Holy Islamic month is now here, even if we may not really feel it in Sharm, it is in everyone. Ramadan is period of time where all Muslims all over the world fast for the duration of the month as this is the month that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed.
Straight after Ramadan is Eid ul-Fitr also known as the small feast. This feast marks the end of Ramadan and fasting, hence the name. Eid Ul-Fitr is a three day celebration, in which all Muslims go out and have a good time having fasted for a whole month.
Sharm is a popular destination for Egyptians during the feast. So if you are not too keen on the crowds rushing from Cairo, maybe now is a good time to take your holiday somewhere other than Sharm.

I have spent the last 2 weeks contemplating whether Sharm is the land of hope. What I mean by this is, I was questioning whether I moved here because I wanted to be in Sharm, or if at the time hope was represented to me in a place like Sharm. I have spoken to many different people about this, and gladly we all conclude that Sharm is the land of hope, and whether it is Sharm that makes the hope, or the hope that makes Sharm – in reality it really doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we are all here for the same reason, which is to live and enjoy life. So to all your Sharmers out there that are feeling low and down, there is no need to be. Pursue your inner desire to live, really get to know yourself, and you will find that life always works it.

Hello Readers,
I recently joined the Sharm Egyptian Junior Business People Association and in one of our meetings, the issue of fraud was raised. Other members of this Association work in the tourism industry (directly) and had received reports on tourists being ripped off, by buying items under the impression that they are original pieces, when in fact they are not. This included items such as carpets, tickets, excursions and handbags. To be honest when I first heard this I was a little surprised, I guess I found it difficult to believe that, this too! I asked loads of questions to better understand the situation. There are people in Sharm, foreigners and Egyptians, which commonly rip tourists off. Now. My concern is what can we all do to stop this, as this badly damages the reputation of the Sharm, which is something none of us will tolerate.

Dear Readers,
It is now the summer season... and oh boy is it hot this year, so look out for the regular beach parties and events, where you can cool off and get over the intense heat.
The sun is definitely high and hot this time of year, so the beach is probably the best place to spend most of your days. 
Also, even though tans do look really sexy, it is very easy to get sunburned so be sure to take extra care when outside and apply extra protection; you may look like a snowman but at least you are safe….
So, enjoy the sun and enjoy the summer Sharm-style in all its glory, get out there and have fun.  
Sincerely,
The Editor

Dear Readers,

The heat is really kicking in at this time of year. Recently as I was shopping in the supermarket, I heard several Sharmer’s mention how easy it is to get dehydrated in Sharm especially at this time of year with how hot it is. They went on to say how a friend of theirs was seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital and were kept overnight. Please read this very carefully as dehydration is very common here.

Dehydration is a serious problem here, so you must make sure you drink enough fluids throughout the day as it can sometimes be critical. Symptoms appear when the body has lost about 2% of its total fluid and include:

Dear Readers,

There are certain situations that we are all prone to fall victim to; here is such a case I wanted to share with you about a friend of mine, so that you can all take care and try to avoid similar situations. Well, here goes; basically it all started when she had a really important meeting one evening at one of the hotels, so had one of her colleagues fix  for the new company driver to come and pick her up at the suitable time. However, having not actually seen the driver before she was a little confused staring around her at all the alike taxi’s parked as all she knew was that his name was Mohamed, she suddenly noticed one looking at her expectantly, so goes up to him and asks if he is Mohamed, the driver waiting for her, to which he replies yes and tells her to get in.

Dear Readers,
We recently received an e-mail from a pretty stressed Sharmer questioning the necessity of the new lampposts in Sea Street, and the added nuisance of all the dust and dirt and holes, and explained their distain at the mess of it all.
As well as the water and gas pipelines, they also stressed the point that the streets have only just been paved, so sees no point in digging them up again especially as the cost of all this is outrageous when there is so much starvation and poverty in the country. It is nice for the place to look good but at whose cost? 
Well, as you say; that is life here, and part and package of living in Sharm; that is the way they are and the way they probably will continue to be.  So, maybe you have noticed these lampposts too? Well, please let us know what you think on this topic…Thank you
Sincerely,
The Editor

Dear Readers,
The success of any business depends on the market they are targeting, and as a modern paper our market is of course our readers whose satisfaction is the main concern. 
Being an active paper, the best way of knowing the outcome and effect the paper has on people is through the feedback from our readers which is exactly what Vivian here has done, whether positive or negative it is always a help and this is the kind of feedback we are looking for as we are here for you and your opinion is extremely relevant and important to us and the success of the paper. 
Sharm is a multicultural place so of course people will have different ideas and thoughts as we don’t all think alike which makes us individuals that form a community and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
This is the kind of response we expect as an interactive paper that is all about sharing your comments and thoughts with us which greatly assists us in knowing whether what we offer the community is what they want or not.
So, thank you Vivian, and Sharmers, we want to know what YOU all think…
Sincerely,
The Editor

Dear Readers,
In need of advice; a couple of weeks ago, someone wrote to us asking our advice, but not being a mother myself, we thought it would be best to involve our readers and present you with the problem.  Well, this person is a proud mother of a lovely two year old boy and is in kind of a dilemma; her permanent nanny recently decided to have a career change and suddenly took up and left, thus leaving her nanny-less for the time being. So, this woman is trying desperately to juggle between work and her son which is not always easy, and as her job demands unstable hours, therefore, she cannot put him in a nursery. After looking for quiet sometime without much success, as either the nannies take things, only want accommodation or just plain leave without warning, in despair, she wrote to us.  Why is it so much trouble to find an honest, loyal nanny in Sharm? What do all you other working mothers do?  If you have any ideas, please let us know…
Sincerely,
The Editor

Dear Readers,
Happy Easter, Sham El Nessim and Sinai liberation Day! So many occasions and is such a short period of time. Enjoy this festive time with friends and family but don’t forget to enjoy Sharm as well, were it not for the peace signed in 1973 by Sadat, we would not be here.  Also, I couldn’t help but notice how much cleaner Sharm has been looking recently, maybe that is because a group of dedicated Sharmers initiated the first and second Clean Up, basically to clean up the streets of Sharm and make it a better place for us and our children and generations to come.
The second Clean Up that was held on March 28th was an even bigger success, and will not be stopping there, as the next destination will be Hay El Nour on the May 2nd.

Dear Readers,
Ahh Easter! With all the things it resembles such as happiness and joy…
However, I have recently noticed that some people have a tendency to complain about simply everything.
What I find ironic is that a most common complaint here is loneliness; well if everyone is feeling lonely or are looking for friends, there must someone in this lonely community that you will click with; someone that will fill that missing gap in your life, so if all those lonely people got together voila; no more lonely Sharmers.  
So, instead of complaining, do something about it,  get out there, and look for a solution You are not the only one, there are others suffering from the same thing as you, make a new start and a new you; complain-free…
Well, happy Easter Sharmers and a very merry April’s Fools day (don’t forget to let us know some of the things you came up with)
Sincerely,
The Editor
 

Dear Editor,
I have recently moved to Sharm and love the place and people…and I have only just started reading the ‘Sinai Weekly’.
However, things are a bit confusing, so I do have a couple of enquiries:
At the moment, I am looking for a job so, whilst flicking through several magazines and papers for offers, I noticed that all have the option of displaying your ad for free, but when searching for a link to post it, I couldn’t find one. This made me wonder where these other classifieds come from. The only thing I could think of was the internet, which isn’t fair or morally correct when there are others who go the long way round and not skimp and copy of the internet. Also, what is it with the ‘p’ and ‘b’? Browsing one of the websites, I was very surprised to see the words ‘Jop Offer’ or ‘loking for jop’ and other such examples... I don’t think it is very professional for a 5 star hotel to have ‘Jop offer’ written in front of it.
I would be extremely grateful if you could explain it to me. 
Best Regards,
Amy Hill

Dear Editor,
I am a regular fan of the ‘Sinai Weekly’ and like reading your articles that are always to the point and directly connected to Sharmers.
Having recently attended the 1st CLAEN SHARM initiative meeting, I was distinctly surprised that there were not as many people there as I had initially expected. But being at the meeting enlightened me on many topics and of really how endangered our fragile environment is.
We are extremely lucky to live in such an amazing environment, so we should do our best to protect and preserve its nature. Think of all the things Sharm has given us over the past years and let’s pay back even a small part of that by respecting it. However, some people just don’t seem to appreciate it at all!  Why is that people are so inconsiderate and thoughtless? Do they do it on purpose are they really tat blind to the effect they are causing?

Sincerely,

A Concerned Sharmer

Dear Readers,
Sharm is full of many different types of people but in general people can be divided into two main categories; Leaders and followers. Leaders are those born to lead being original in everything they do and always come up with the ideas, they have the strength and power to who guides or directs others and possess leadership qualities they thrive on it and usually succeed in everything they do. Whereas, followers are those who always depend on others; they are the people who copy or imitate something or someone else. They great soldiers at taking orders but will not be able to handle or deal with situations that involve making decisions. And the difference between them is that leaders will always be on top and will get somewhere in life, while followers will hover in the background, constantly needing the strength of others to survive and succeed
Now, you need to decide whether you are a leader or a follower and let’s face it; either you have it or you don’t …

Sincerely,
The editor
 

Dear Reader,

Cool weather and cold winds can’t stop us wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day…
So, are you in right mood or not yet? You should be with all the decorations in the shops, streets and hotels. Anyway, Valentines isn’t about It is not about where you are, but rather who you are with, that makes the moment special.
Valentines should be about spreading the love and showing that you care for those lucky enough to have found it. It is a day dedicated to giving as much as receiving and should be done to the best advantage.   
Even though it would be nice to just have a quiet day at home to spend some quality time with your loved ones, maybe you could suggest your favourite place to spend Valentine’s Day in Sharm, as I’m sure many of us are at a loss of where to go.
Well, wherever you go or whatever you do, have fun and make it a day to remember…

Sincerely,

The Editor