Shanda Lodge: Wellness and Exploration in Dakhla

Nestled within the greenery of Dakhla Oasis is a retreat that promises calm and therapeutic nature. Located 750 km from Cairo’s din, Shanda Lodge offers environmentally friendly facilities built in a Nubian style with respect to the surrounding environment. Treatments such as sand bathing, hot spring dips, and mud treatments are also available in addition to an ideal location to practice yoga and meditation.

Facilities and Benefits

With 24 rooms and suites available, the location for Shanda Lodge was primarily chosen due to the climate, historical significance, and surrounding water wells and hot springs. The New Valley contains an astonishing 800 mineral water eyes and wells, many of which are heated to 28 – 45 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Containing iodine, sulfur and radon gas, bathing in these hot springs is said to assist in the healing of kidney diseases and allergies.

This area has been popular with environmental therapy since ancient times. The hot desert sands have long provided comfort and healing in the form of sand bathing, argued to heal arthritis and rheumatic pains. The New Valley has attracted holistic healers from around the world to take advantage of the climate, natural mineral water hot spring springs in an effort to alleviate pain and cure numerous bone, muscle, kidney, skin and stomach diseases.

Ancient Civilizations and Exploration

Shanda Lodge offers a chance to explore ancient civilizations in the surrounding areas, combining ecotourism with exploration of history. The New Valley boasts a mix of cultures and historical periods of interest beginning from the prehistoric ages to the Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, Roman, Christian and Islamic eras. Pharaonic sites can be found in various parts of the oases, most notably the Temple of Hibis. The Ptolemaic era is recorded at the Al Goath Temple, while the Romans left their mark at the Dush Temple, Deir El Hajar Temple, and Temple of Azayan. In the third and fourth centuries AD, Christians left significant monuments in the region of Al Bagawat in Kharga.

Cuisine and Activities

Cuisine on offer also borrows from the surrounding environment and draws from the organic goodness of the land. Oriental dishes are prepared using ingredients void of any agricultural pesticides or chemicals. Meat is sourced from the valley, and all dishes, feteer and breads are baked on the premises. Classics like cheese feteer, local olives, lamb tajen with vegetables, molokheya with rabbit or chicken, kabab and kofta, grilled chicken and pigeons are all on offer.

Additional activities can be arranged by the lodge staff such as desert safaris, sand boarding, Bedouin dinners and star gazing, a visit to Magic Lake, camel rides, and desert yoga and meditation retreats.                                               

Historical Sites & Monuments to See

  • Bashandi Village
  • Ballat Village
  • Al Qasr Islamic Village
  • Mowzawaka Cemetery
  • Deir El Hajar Temple
  • Bagawat Necropolises
  • Hibis Temple
  • Nadura Temple
  • Ghaweta Temple
  • Zayan Temple

Fashion: Day Looks for Women

DAY LOOKS

Stylist Shaimaa Eissa shares some fashion forward looks to make it seem like you attend the runway shows and consult fashionistas without actually going through all the trouble! Replicate any of these looks with items from brand-name stores and local designers.

 

8 Types of Coffee Around the World

Ever wondered how a coffee bean’s taste differs from place to place? 30 North has provided us with a comprehensive guide for how the taste varies from one region to the other! Read and discover, and be armed with knowledge the next time you visit a premium coffeehouse!

Colombia Supremo: With chocolate and hazelnut notes, it has a citrus acidity wrapped in a full body that leaves you with a liquorish after taste in every sip.

Brazil Santos: With no acidity, it is one of the softest coffees with a smooth and light aftertaste along with a pleasant cinnamon nuance and a great crema.

Brazil Yellow Bourbon: With no acidity at all, it is full bodied, but light and juicy with bittersweet chocolate notes.

Costa Rica: With a lively acidity and a hint of fruit and almond chocolate, it is a very smooth cup.

Guatemala: With a spirited and intensely aromatic feel, it cloaks in a heavy body with rich notes of spice, leaving you with notes of smoky chocolate.

Yemen: Bold, striking, clean, exotic cupping. Dark chocolate with a tongue coating mouth-feel. Racy, distinctly Yemeni Mocha flavor notes. No other coffee tastes quite like this one or has its lingering mouth-feel.

Ethiopia Sidamo: With vivid acidity, it has a rich and full body, with a floral aroma and a bright and soft finish.

Uganda Kilimanjaro: With a very fine body, it has an exquisite balance and a zesty, clean tasting cup.

Fashion: Valentine Mood

VALENTINE MOOD

Flirty, casual, or classic – what’s your style personality? We have selected some looks to help you choose the right mood for the most romantic night of the year. Click on each image to get product details!

Go Natural on Valentine’s Date Night

Getting the right look on the most romantic night of the year can be a challenge, every woman is unique in the way she likes to apply makeup and present herself. But dare we say, you can go minimal to emphasize the outfit?

Check out our do and don’ts for going natural on date night!

DON’T over-do the foundation and mess with a good thing! The mercy of a dimly-lit venue will already do half the job.

DO accentuate your features with some glow and healthy color. Some tinted moisturizer; light concealer and cheek and lip stain will look fresh and hide any blemishes.

DON’T choose a glossy lip color; avoid the smudging and stickiness factor.

DO stain and smudge proof your lips. A good trick is to go for a reliable lip liner, lining and filling in your lips entirely then blotting until the excess is off. You can also dab some lip balm on top for moisture after applying and blotting.

DON’T go too heavy on the eyes and lose yourself. That heavy smoky eye effect is great for professional movie star photo sessions, but too much for a nice night out.

DO opt for a nice subtle grey shadow for a sultry look and line the outer upper and lower edges of your eyelids to make your eyes pop. A healthy coating of mascara on your lower and upper lashes is always a good idea!

6 Ways to Meet New People in Cairo

Isn’t it time to broaden your horizons? If your daily routine seems to be split between the couch at home and the workplace, maybe you should become more connected. There are some great things to do in our city, and places where you can meet people who enjoy the same interests. Or, even better, try something new and different.

Art Classes

Is there a Picasso or Jackson Pollock lurking somewhere inside you? Sign up for a drawing or painting course and see what hidden talents can be unleashed.

Art Café, Diwan, Sane, and Soma Art all have talented art teachers and regular classes. Wanas Art & Design Hub also hosts a variety of art courses in addition to offering classes in leatherworking and other crafts. Zamalek-based Drawing in Cairo offers drawing and painting classes for adults, a great place to learn the basics and develop your potential.

 

Cooking & Cuisine

For dedicated foodies, there are some spots where you can link up with fellow gourmands.

Eatery in Cairo Festival City is more than just a fun restaurant. Follow them on Facebook to learn more about their special cooking lessons and food workshops.

You can also learn how to cook up a storm at The Cookery Co. Although widely known as a catering company with an edge, you will find seasonal cooking classes where the talented young chefs will guide you in creating some stunning dishes. Check them out on Facebook so you can hone your talent for some memorable dinner parties.

For a good grounding in culinary skills you should consider Lulu’s Kitchen, a creative cookery class that hosts pop up cookery classes in a lot of fun places. By the time you have learned how to create some amazing dishes you should be ready to explore some of the other activities on offer in the various venues.

 

 

Music Production

While it can be rewarding to turn out some tunes on a piano or strum along with your guitar, you can now go a step further and learn about musical theory and how to write tracks. To get more information just head along to Sane. The first workshop has taken place, but there are sure to be more.

For a solid six-week course in music mixing and technical production skills get in touch with Epic 101 Studios. It is a leading media production studio with hands-on knowledge of the industry, so what better place to learn the basics?

Photography Courses

With all of those calories piling up you should be ready to burn a few off by exploring around town, with camera in hand. If your photographic skills don’t quite reflect your enthusiasm, it may be time to sign up for a course.

Khaled Abul Dahab, a photographer who works between Dubai and Cairo, offers regular courses and classes for all levels, as well as workshops and excursions to scenic locations. He covers fashion and commercial photography in addition to landscape and portrait techniques, too. Here is the place to learn how to make the most of your photographic equipment or smart phone, along with composition, lighting and other technical skills.

Art Café in Maadi also offers photography courses, including beginners’ classes. Also, don’t overlook Sane in Zamalek, as mentioned before. They hold photography classes from time to time, just call them or check their schedule online. Soma Art, and Diwan offer classes occasionally, so put them on your list.

 

 

Sandboarding

When the great outdoors beckons the time is ripe for getting a little physical. Regular sand boarding excursions take place to pristine sand dunes in close proximity to Cairo.  Just envision a day of adrenalin-packed fun, great company and the beauty of nature. The day package to the Fayoum area with Egypt Sandboarding includes transportation via 4×4 vehicles, a visit to Wadi El-Rayan waterfalls, a safari, sand boarding at the Magic Lake, a BBQ lunch, a campfire with roasted marshmallows, unlimited water and soft drinks, professional photography and all tickets and permits.

Sandboarding Cairo Club meets up each Friday in Fayoum, so you could check out what is going on through their website.

Arts & Crafts

Whether you would like to learn to make simple but colorful pieces for yourself or as gifts, or tackle metalworking and stone setting, there are plenty of great courses to suit everyone. Art Café and Sane are good starting points, as they offer regular courses for beginners.

If you want to pursue a certificate or diploma in silversmithing, enamelling or jewelry design, then The Design Studio by Azza Fahmy should be top of your list. This iconic brand is collected by design-savvy celebs and fashionistas worldwide, so you would be in professional hands.

 

 

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Contact Information

Art Classes

Art Café

Facebook: ArtCafeegypt

Web: www.artcafe-egypt.com

Tel: 0122 705 0753

Diwan

Facebook: diwanbookstore

Web: www.diwanegypt.com

Tel: 0122 600 0168

Drawing in Cairo

Facebook: DrawingInCairo

Tel: 0122 235 3518

Sane

Facebook: SaneEgypt

Tel: 0115 694 8295

Soma Art

Facebook: somavisualart

Tel: 0122 242 9292

Wanas Art & Design Hub

Facebook: Wanas-Art-Design-Hub

Tel: 01155593998

Cuisine

Eatery

Facebook:  EateryEgypt

Tel: 0122 552 2300

The Cookery Co

Facebook: thecookeryco

Tel: 01144200044

Lulu’s Kitchen

Facebook: luluskitchenegy

Sane

Facebook: SaneEgypt

Tel: 0115 694 8295

Music Production 

Epic 101 Studios

Facebook: EPIC101Studios

Tel: 0100 606 6944

Photography

Khaled Abul Dahab

Facebook: khaled.abuldahabphotographer
Email: reachus@khaledabuldahab.com

Sandboarding

Egypt Sandboarding

Facebook: egyptsandboarding

Tel: 0102 853 3774

Sandboarding Cairo

Facebook: SANDBOARDING.cairoclub1

Tel: 0102 828 0975

14 Florists for Valentine’s Bouquets

Flower Power Bouquet

 

Awan El Ward
Sheikh Zayed
Facebook: AwanElWardofficial
0115 933 3344

Royal Flowers
Facebook: RoyalFlowers.eg
0111 009 1010

Zinnia Flower Factory
Sheikh Zayed
www.zinniaflowerfactory.com
0109 840 0303

Fleurtation Flowers
Dokki
Facebook: fleurtation.eg
0106 848 2217

Bellissimo Flower Boutique
Maadi
Facebook: Bellissimo Flower Boutique
0100 585 7070

Flower Mart
Sheikh Zayed
Facebook: Wedding & Event Planner Zinnia
0109 840 0303

Dina Iskander
Dokki
Facebook: DinaIskanderWeddingPlanner
0122 775 5749

Box of Roses
Heliopolis
Facebook: boxofrosesegypt
02 22914800

Zinnia Flower Factory

Flower Power
Mohandessin
Facebook: FlowerPowerEG
0127 770 5777

Hope Flowers
Heliopolis
Facebook: hopeflowerscairo
02 24144840

Florens Flowers
Downtown
Facebook: florensflowers
0128 857 4445

Lotus Flowers
Zamalek
Facebook: Lotus Flowers
0114 025 6660

Salah El Din Flowers
El Manial
Facebook: Salah.eldin.Flowers
02 23622610

Kenni Flowers
New Cairo
Facebook:KenniSalon
0122 002 0201

For Him & Her: Our Valentine’s Gift Guide

Still searching for the perfect gift for your loved one? We have gathered a selection of gift ideas to inspire you – for both him and her! Click on each image for product information and more details.

FOR HER

FOR HIM

Self Juicery in Zamalek

On a very busy main artery of Zamalek lies a small shop boasting enormous flavor and nutrients. Every menu item is carefully constructed and blended to provide the body with a healthy treat while not skimping on taste. We visited on a Friday afternoon to scope out what this new eatery has to offer. Self Juicery is considered one of the best healthy food restuarants in Zamalek.

Type of Cuisine

Food to nourish your mind, body and soul. Almond, Coconut and Pistachio Milks and Nut Butters (also on sale!) are freshly made on the premises, and ingredients for all the delicious salads and sandwiches are locally sourced from the top vendors in town.

Juices and Food Sampled

We began our gastronomic journey with a sampling of several Self Blends. The All Green was a delicious and well-balanced treat, consisting of kiwi, arugula, avocado, coconut milk and honey. The mix of flavors was spot-on and not at all tart. The Espresso + Banana came next, and gave a pleasant kick of espresso along with banana, dates, peanut butter, coconut milk, cinnamon and honey – absolutely delicious and coffee lovers will enjoy. Carrot + Ginger and Strawberry + Banana came next, and were appealing to both citrus and sweet lovers alike – the key takeaway here is the thoughtfully balanced flavors and lack of diary, Coconut Milk is the base for all these blends!

We moved on to sampling the salads and were blown away. Each salad comes with a different and flavor-packed dressing, and with the option of adding the protein of your choice – beef bacon, roast beef, sliced steak, BBQ/grilled/shredded chicken, smoked turkey or salmon, tuna or prawns.

A stand-out salad was the Honey Chèvre Salad – a mix of greens, honey-whipped goats cheese, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, caramelized and spring onions, orange, and roasted pistachios. Accompanied by maple vinaigrette, this salad was a feast for the taste buds! The creamy goats cheese mixed in with the greens, crunchy onion and pistachios was a dream along with the citrusy burst from the orange. The real stars in all the salad offerings are the complementary dressings for each one. The Green Salad may seem like an average choice – greens, cucumber, kale, broccoli, mushrooms, spring onions and Parmesan – but with a delicious citrus mustard vinaigrette drizzled on top, the overall taste shoots up several notches.

Sandwich samplings came next, and as sandwich lovers, we were very impressed. The soft brown bread is freshly baked and piping hot, filled with yummy goodies like the Chicken Pesto topped with Parmesan, Turkey and Swiss Cheese with garlic mayo, a kicky Sriracha Tuna with salad, Hummus + Veggies with feta and pesto, and a packed Grilled Cheese with Cheddar, Emmental, mustard and pickles.

For dessert, Greek yogurt pots are on offer in two varieties – Fruit + Nut, a mix of yogurt, seasonal fruit, granola and honey topped with pistachios and the PB + Banana, a mix of yogurt, peanut butter, banana, oats and granola topped with almonds, chia seeds and coconut flakes. Both are exceptionally fresh and filling, great as either a dessert or midday snack.

Overall, a very hearty and happy visit and a welcome addition to the healthy food scene! Customized salads are also available for those who want to build their own creation. A breakfast menu is also coming.

Other Options that Appealed

The shots menu offers on-the-go boosts for antioxidants, heart + head, immunity, and vitamins – a mix of a number of veggies, spices and fruits!

The Décor & Ambience

Inviting and well organized, you are greeted by a full service station upon entry to order what your heart desires. A peanut butter machine sits on a countertop for those who want to “make their own nut butters” on the spot! Upstairs, a cozy seating area with comfy chairs and couches in a neutral palette welcome in-house diners, but decorative touches are still coming with wall art on the horizon.

The ambience is cosmopolitan and on the go! This is the perfect spot to grab a quick lunch or dinner with a friend, or dine alone and catch up on some reading. Low-key and no annoying music blasting to interrupt your experience.

Clientele Mix & Price Range

The established Zamalek crowd and the young, health-minded generation. The price range is moderate, considering quality!

Contact Information

Opening hours: 7 am – 12am.

Delivery/Takeaway: Both available.

Address: 159, 26th of July St – Zamalek.

Tel: 0110 177 7706

Facebook/Instagram: selfjuicery

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