Osama’s Blog

I just posted a few photos from this trip on flickr…

still sorting and tagging them…

 Have a look at these security experts:

Electronic Door Lock Security - Worse Than Failure

 No comment! WOW!

I have noticed that some companies do not put the telephone numbers that the customers need to call.

Regency

For example, when I wanted to reserve a ticket (before the electronic ticket problems) I wanted to call Regency Travel, Q-Tel’s information directory at 180 usually takes a long time to respond so I visited their website, clicked on Contact Us, where it lists many numbers:

• The General Manager’s Office Number.
• Four Mobile phone numbers of Managers and Supervisors.

The problem here is that I was at the office, and my mobile’s battery was dead (my office phone does not call mobiles).

I called the General Manager’s office, got an answering machine and hung up, I remember they used to have an easy to remember number, so I called directory assistance. The number they gave me 4344444 is not listed on the website!

Qatar Airways

I wanted to reconfirm my return flight to Doha, I had a ticket on Qatar Airways and visited their website,

I scrolled to the bottom of the page, clicked on the tiny Contact us link at the page footer, then clicked I want to contact a local Qatar Airways office:  click here, then chose Egypt from the list. then clicked the almost invisible link Cairo, then I get 7 different phone/fax numbers sales? cargo? airport? and some cryptic information about check in closing time (yes I know what it means but the average traveler would not).

That’s 4 clicks from the homepage.

Qatar Airways has a 5 digit short number in Cairo 19950, this number is not on their website, and there are no numbers labeled confirmations or reservations, you can only see it on billboards in Cairo.

I just called their main number in Doha.

I went to Chilli’s the other day for lunch/dinner (it’s a meal I try to have once a day), it was packed and no tables were available, I agreed to sit at the bar.

I ordered a Quesadilla Explosion Salad, and a diet coke, the server asked me if I wanted it Kenz or Normal.

The word Kenz is Arabic for treasure, and I gave him an expression full of question marks, so he repeated the question.. ???? and then he repeated again … kanz (also gestured with his hands) or from the machine… he meant do you want the diet coke as a Can or from the Draft machine….

I told him to forgive me, my English is not that good … and I could not understand him…. Give me Kenz!

The people here in Egypt always use fancy names, I don’t know what they tell people who speak English (do they just say Sir?), but in Arabic,it’s more complicated your Sirness, your Excellency, your Excellency the Pacha … and many elaborate titles… I’m sure someday, someone will call me your majesty…

A funny thing happens in cinemas here in egypt, something I have never seen in cinemas in Qatar, Dubai, Bahrain, France, USA (where I’ve been to a movie theatre)…

In the middle of the movie, while your concentrating on the story, the screen says “We now pause for a break” and the lights turn ON!

Some people go out, and when they return they smell like smoke.

The movie continues like nothing had ever happened.

This is bizarre!

 I never imagined that solar power could be used for an air conditioner, this is a cool idea…

Coolerado Coolers: Getting Close to Solar Powered Air Conditioning (TreeHugger)

 At first I thought these were digitally Colorized, they are amazing color photos taken during WWI, in the forum discussion, an anonymous french guy (ribouldingue?) reveals this is a Lumiere technique called AutoChrome.

Look at the photos at World’s Armed Forces Forum

I’ve been posting multiple blogs each day, it’s probably being alone in Egypt, and having all this time online, with nothing better to do. without any inclination to do anything useful.

It really is the only way to sanely talk to oneself.

I’ll just imagine somebody is reading my posts.

I know exactly how many reads these posts get, through Google Analytics, and it’s not much. I did not start this blog for a readership, it has always been a way for me to write some sort of diary, when I feel like it. And to post links and videos.

Looking at the dates of the posts, there have been months without a single post, and days with many posts. I write about whatever I want, whenever I want.

I really enjoy writing - sometimes.