Makani Beach Club: Great Beach Munching in El Gouna

June 1, 2021

Sun, sand, wind and sea sounds like a perfect combination to us. Makani Beach Club has all the ingredients for a perfect summer day. Throw some excellent food into the mix and you would have us won over.

So, next time you have worked up a ravenous appetite, head across to Makani Beach Club for some interesting bites.

Type of Cuisine: International. Some good vegetarian and vegan options as well.

What You Will Find

A browse through the menu will tempt you with a host of time-honored favorites, as well as some innovative items. Summer weather calls for salads for us, and a Beetroot Chèvre salad, with a mix of crumbled goat cheese, beetroot, quinoa, sour apple and balsamic vinaigrette would suit us down to the ground for a starter. Makani Beach Club

Then on to the wraps, just made for beachside eating. What could beat a Chicken Pane wrap, the chicken teamed up with grilled cheese, onions and peppers in a fresh tortilla? Or a Halloumi Burger with homemade mango chutney?

We have friends who would jump at the Vegan Curry, with vegetables, chickpeas and coconut milk, served with steamed rice, while some of us tucked into Chili Con Carne, with nachos, of course! Makani Beach Club

The pasta dishes also appeal, classics again, like Penne Alfredo with chicken and mushrooms, a hearty Spaghetti Bolognese, or an indulgent Smoked Salmon pasta. It’s good to know that gluten-free versions are available as well.

Heading in another direction, we might choose to stoke up our vitamin levels with some of the yummy Bowls of Power. Loads of fresh fruit and berries, topped with homemade granola and coconut milk, which should boost our energy levels a bit. Of course, we would check out the desserts, with Apple Crumble Cake high on our list. Makani Beach Club

Worth knowing: Pop in early to try the super-healthy breakfast options. Kids have their very own Mini Makani menu to choose from as well.

Beverages: Beer, wine, cocktails, smoothies, juices, milkshakes and other soft options.

Contact information

Opening hours: 9 am to sunset

Address: Makani Beach- North Beaches, El Gouna

Tel: 0122 737 5335

Facebook: makanibeachclub

Instagram: makani_beachclub

The Bagel Tree: Bagels Come to El Gouna!

7 Incredibly Useful Websites to Develop Your Talents & Skills

June 1, 2021

online courses — skill Concept. Chart with keywords and icons on white background

Stuck at home this summer? Perhaps you’re staying safe by quarantining? Make the most of your staycation with these super interesting online courses to enhance and develop your talents and hobbies! Read on!

By Malak Abd El Ghaffar

1. Put on your learning hat!

Coursera:

Choose from over 3,900 online courses across a really wide range of subjects. Some of which are university-certified and can even lead to degrees. Learn a new skill, sharpen an old one, or dive into a subject you’ve always found interesting but never had the time for.

2. Lost and seeking personal career guidance from a pro?

Coach.me:

Coach.me is an online website and free app for coaching and goal-tracking. It offers you the freedom to tailor the coaching experience you need. With exclusive access to over 8,000 personal coaches, across a range of subjects, these coaches offer you personalized leadership that caters to the specific workplace problems you’re facing and the goals you want to reach.

3. That language you’ve always wanted to learn!

Duolingo:

Duolingo is a free website that uses a competitive method in motivating users to learn a new language. Using points, levels, and achievements, users’ journeys of learning a new language become fun, beneficial, and highly addictive. Create a free account, pick the language you want to learn, and you’re ready to go.

4. In need of leveling up your brain?

Spreeder:

Spreeder is a website that helps you read faster and understand better. Through special techniques, tips, and tricks practiced by well-known speed-reading trainers and record-holders, you’ll be going through Tolstoy in no time. Spreeder also eases your reading process and makes it even more enjoyable.

Lumosity:

Lumosity is a free online game that targets all age groups and skill levels to increase mental alertness. It is the #1 training app that is highly personalized for users and works wonders in improving memory and increasing focus.

This is done by offering users scientifically valid tasks but in the form of fun and addictive games, which are most importantly accompanied with beneficial feedback that helps you gather insights about your level of cognition.

5. In need of a mental escape?

Calm:

Calm is an online website that comes with a mission of “making the world healthier and happier”. It is the #1 app in improving your sleeping habits, meditation, and relaxation. This app provides you with relaxing music that helps in focusing and sleeping.

It also provides users with lessons on meditation, mindful movements, and gentle stretching. This app also makes your working and studying time more relaxing and productive by providing you diverse nature scenes and sounds.

6. Ready to discover the chef within?

The Culinary Book:

The Culinary Book is a free website that is continuously updated with over 40+ packed and professional recipes provided by experienced cooks and master chefs, offering interesting tips, tricks, and mouthwatering recipes.

Online Poetry Courses You Will Fall in Love With

Amina Khalil’s Khally Ballak Min Zizi Sheds Light on Mental Illness

June 1, 2021

We met the impressive Amina Khalil after wrapping up filming for this year’s hit series Khally Ballak Min Zizi that openly tackled ADHD and mental illness in both adults and children.

The social drama stole people’s hearts, and Amina Khalil’s performance left everyone stunned. We just had to know more about how she prepared for such an important role and her views on the matter.

By Aliaa Elsherbini

Do you think that the audience got the right message, the one you intended?

Absolutely yes. There has been insanely amazing feedback and awareness on mental illness and the importance to treat it as no less than any physical illness that people might have. Amina Khalil

It is a very important subject, and I was blessed to be working with an amazing team of writers and a fantastic director that were able to treat this topic very cleverly through an entertaining show that also highlights an important aspect of our world.

How did you prepare and research for such an intricate role?

This is by far one of the most challenging roles that I have played. There were a series of things that I did to prepare. The first thing was to read the script because a lot of the answers to the questions I had were already in there.

When you understand the story and Zizi’s reactions towards different things, they already give you this graph of how she functions, her triggers, and where she comes from, and this was a very big gift that the writers were able to create.

Having such wonderful writers, Mariam Naoum, Mona El Shimi, and Magdi Amin, was a big help. Mona is also a psychiatrist, so the script was coming out of research and factual evidence, not guesses.

The second step was to understand. There was a lot of reading involved to understand ADHD, childhood trauma, and dysfunctional parental relationships. I had to understand what mental illness does to a person if it is not acknowledged until old age, how to grow up your whole life not understanding and just being labeled as “crazy” and how tormenting that might be. Amina Khalil

I had to understand, chemically, what happens to the brain of people who live with ADHD and the different turbulences that they go through. I also had to understand more about what it’s like to live with ADHD and around people who have it. It took a lot of Googling to be able to truly wrap my head around what a person with ADHD looks like.

Thirdly, there was a lot of observation. I have a lot of people in my life with ADHD. I know people in my family, friends, people that I have seen occasionally, and people who are close to me who have it.

As an actor, you become very observant of the people around you in general, for whatever role you are playing. There are certain evident mannerisms, physicality, and ticks that people with ADHD have, so I observed them and was inspired by the lives of people around me. I took some of those things, and I put the puzzle together of how I wanted to create the character of Zizi. Amina Khalil

And that is when the last step came in, where there was a lot of work between me and the director, Karim El Shenawy, where we were able to lay down all of the information we had and create Zizi. Which mannerisms is she going to have, physicality-wise, how does she move, how does she walk? How does she sit? And how are we going to hold on to that throughout the series? Because there had to be a sense of continuity.

Continuity is important because she can’t start the series walking a certain way then be different halfway through. However, some things are liable to change after she starts her healing process and going to therapy.

It was such an interesting journey to go through and to create this character. Then it was interesting to un-become a lot of things that she had become over the past thirty-some years of her life.

Mentioning dysfunctional parental relations, do you think if Zizi had gotten the required attention and care from her parents when she was younger, she would have grown up to be different?

Absolutely. The earlier you notice, and the parents accept, research, understand and take action towards the mental illness, in Zizi’s case being ADHD, then definitely this person’s journey changes. We have the characters of Tito and Zizi in the show. Zizi was unaware of her ADHD until old age, and the reason she started to get help was that her life was falling apart.

Zizi couldn’t keep a job she had never really worked before, had a series of failed relationships, was getting a divorce, and did not have a good relationship with her family. She was suffering in her life, which led her to seek help, as opposed to Tito, who is still very fresh and young, which allowed her mom to learn how to deal with and handle her.

You can see Nariman (Zizi’s mom), who has lived her whole life unable to deal with Zizi, and on the other hand, Hoda, who can comfort and help Tito at a young age. Because Hoda had noticed and accepted that Tito has ADHD, so she started behaving accordingly.

ADHD patients are not crazy, they are just different. They need a different way to handle things, and you need specific ways to get in their head. So, of course, it is much easier when the person themselves knows they are touched by a mental illness because, in turn, they can understand why they do certain things and it’s not because they are crazy or energetic, but it is because they function differently.

So, in turn, people around them will learn how to act. The problem when people go undiagnosed is that they get into a loop of misunderstandings and sadness. The earlier you find out and acknowledge that you have a mental illness the better way to live a better life.

Watch the quickfire round:

The 10 Best Books for your Mental Health

Crave’s Chicken Dukkah Salad Recipe

June 1, 2021

Hot weather calls for light choices and this recipe for chicken dukkah salad by Crave is perfect for a light summery lunch that will fill you up and keep you healthy and fit for your summer beach outfits!

Chicken Preparation

Ingredients:

500g chicken breast
2 cloves garlic
Lemon
Olive oil
Dried thyme
Salt
White pepper
Dukkah

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or a freezer bag, add chicken and marinate at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours
Toss marinated chicken in dukkah until fully coated
Grill, bake or broil as desired and then cut into cubes

Salad Preparation

Ingredients:

Mixed greens, cut as desired
2 eggplants, cut into cubes
Cooked fereek
Fresh mushroom, cleaned and cut into quarters
Raisins
Tahini

Preparation:

Spray the eggplants with oil and roast in the oven or in the air fryer
Prepare the dressing using lemon, herbs and balsamic vinegar and salt to taste
Prepare a tahini paste as desired or get a readymade one
Mix all ingredients together (chicken, fereek, greens, eggplants, mushroom and raisins) with the dressing and drizzle it with the tahini paste
Enjoy with sliced bread, oven-toasted (optional)

Et voila! Enjoy healthy indulgences

More Yummy Soups and Salads Recipes

Ni: Italian-Japanese Fusion in Park St.

June 1, 2021

Even the most jaded palates should get excited at the prospect of a new culinary adventure at Ni in Park St. Who could have dreamed that two distinctive cuisines could complement each other with such stunning results?

Type of cuisine: Italian-Japanese fusion, along with a host of international favorites.

Signature dishes: Truffle Pizza, Crispy Spicy Salmon, Rock Shrimp, Apple Ginger fruit cocktail, Chili Passion fruit cocktail

What You Will Find

Ni boasts an impressive menu, so diners will find themselves spoilt for choice. There are options for every mood and all tastes, ranging through salads, sharing platters, Focaccia sandwiches, pasta, wok stir-fried noodles, Robata grill, various side dishes and a comprehensive Japanese corner with specialties from teriyaki to sushi and sashimi.

I suspect we would mix it up a bit and try something from each section. How about Red Quinoa Salad, with a mind-boggling combination of red quinoa, tomato, apple and pomegranate with pesto sauce, cucumber, black raisins, iceberg lettuce, baby rocca, pine nuts and walnuts, drizzled with a lemony oil dressing? Ni Park St.

Followed up with Zukury Salmon, thin slices of salmon, coriander, togarashi, green chili, spring onions and sesame seeds? Of course, we would leave space for a selection of sushi and maki from the Japanese corner before heading for our main dishes. A plate of Homemade Gnocchi Truffle would go down a treat, as would Sweet & Sour Crispy Prawns from the Robata grill.

Dessert would have to be a brownie served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, fresh strawberry, caramel and chocolate sauce. That is just too irresistible. Although, we would definitely be back to try the crêpes. Diet on hold!

Top tip: Don’t miss out on trying Ni’s unique breakfast menu. It includes authentic breakfasts from Oslo, Rome, London, Beirut, Vienna, Paris, and even Eden, a truly global experience! Beverages: Smoothies, virgin juice cocktails, fresh juices, hot beverages and other soft options.

Contact information

Opening hours: 10 am to 11:30 pm (currently 9 pm due to Covid-19 restrictions).

Address: Park St, Sheikh Zayed Ni Park St.

Facebook: NI-110285601135576

Instagram: ni.egypt

Takosan: Japanese Meets Mexican Cuisine at Palm Hills Street 88

4 Online Fitness Trainers You Need To Follow Now

June 1, 2021

Get that summer beach bod all-year ‘round with easily accessible big-name fitness trainers, right in the palm of your hands. Everything you need to tone, build, eat healthy and live healthy is available from the apps or social media accounts of these four well-known and highly respected fitness trainers.

So, get your phones or tablets out, and get ready to swipe your way to a better, fitter, healthier, happier you! Online Fitness Trainers

By Ahmed Talal

Monir Kansoh

Leaving no fitness stone unturned, Monir Kansoh has created the perfect online program to help you achieve your body goals. With the Monir Kansoh Fitness application, each user can answer a questionnaire that defines specific measurements and goals.

From workout walkthroughs to a detailed meal plan, this application is second to none. It features a unique shopping plan that reflects your customized meal plan; a nutritional guide designed to help replenish your body. He also offers an e-book full of calisthenics-based exercises with the appropriate rest times with reps and sets, with videos and healthy recipes. Online Fitness Trainers

If all of that wasn’t enough, his Summer Shred Challenge ought to do the trick by motivating people to become the best versions of themselves through a 3-month shredding challenge with enticing rewards at the end of their transformations. The top three rankings in terms of best transformations get a voucher that affords them a bunch of products from Optimum Nutrition to help them continue their fitness journeys.

Instagram: monirkansoh

Karim Ebeid

Karim Ebeid is a coach with a wealth of experience, leading people to the body of their dreams. Handling users of his application with the utmost care and attention, he works with people individually to improve their fitness goals. He customizes plans that cater to their nutritional needs without sacrificing all the foods people love to eat.

He trains a wide array of people who have a goal of getting on stage for bodybuilding shows or people who are just looking to lead a healthy lifestyle. Ebeid also checks in with people he trains to track their progress on a regular basis. Whether the goal is to build the right physique or build a healthier life, Ebeid is up for the task. Online Fitness Trainers

Instagram: karim_h_ebied

Mahmoud Ezz

A trainer who has changed the lives of all those who have trained with him would be an understatement. Displaying several before and after photos on his Instagram account inspiring people to join the movement, Ezz uses a very measured approach for people to see all the numbers involved with where they are physically and where they are headed.

An InBody test is conducted to reveal the internal composition of any trainee which allows Ezz to then customize a program for them. He coordinates with trainees through email and creates an invitational link to download his application full of ready-to-complete training sessions with video tutorials to act as a visual guide.

Ezz also personally messages his trainees with nutritional plans which can help them attain and maintain the results desired. Mahmoud works with his people hand-in-hand to provide them with everything to make sure that their goal is achieved.

Instagram: Mahmoud_ezz_11

Mizo Sultan

Specializing in resistance training, Mizo Sultan molds people into fitness fanatics that learn all the secrets to a healthy life. Whether the goal is to cut, maintain, or build; Sultan communicates with the people he trains to teach them what to do and how to continue leading healthy lives.

Sultan’s main objective is to educate people on things like flexible dieting and how to measure food quantities. He does so by helping people devise a user-friendly plan for their diets. Sultan delves into the scientific side of weight loss and weight gain by teaching people all the ins and outs of calories, as nutrition is primary and working out becomes secondary. Online Fitness Trainers

Teaching people compound movements in the gym to enhance their muscular endurance and to improve their stamina through these demanding workouts is a truly lethal combination that has proven to positively change the lives of many that have trained under the wing of Mizo Sultan.

Instagram: mizosultan

Reset Your Circadian Rhythms: Sleep Better, Live Better

June 1, 2021

Ramadan has come and gone, and so, unfortunately, have our normal sleep patterns. The human body works according to an internal timekeeping system known as a circadian clock, which regulates the body’s natural “circadian rhythm,” our daily cycles of sleep and other bodily processes.

It can take time to get back on track when a change of habits occurs, but a few tips can get us back to our vital 8 hours a night. If you are feeling a bit below par and having trouble catching enough rest, a quick rebalance could have you back on track in the blink of an eye. The Sleep Foundation offers this advice:

Wake up every day at the same time

Keeping a regular sleep schedule will help reset your circadian rhythm. By going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, your body will learn to adjust to the new rhythm. Even if you are unable to fall asleep at your desired time, make sure to set an alarm and wake up at the set time anyway. This will keep you on track.

Bright light therapy

Exposure to bright artificial lights can reorient circadian rhythms quite effectively. Timed exposure works particularly well for shift workers, or those whose job schedules include late night and/or early morning hours. Different light therapy devices are available, including light-boxes, desk lamps, and sunrise simulators.

Melatonin supplements

In addition to the natural hormone produced in the pineal gland, melatonin is also available in supplement form. Melatonin supplements were not developed to treat insomnia, rather to help reschedule circadian rhythms when timed correctly.

Always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Different meal times

Circadian rhythms regulate when we feel hungry and how we digest food. Some studies have found that advancing or delaying meals can alter how your circadian rhythm regulates these processes, causing you to feel alert and tired at different times than those you’ve become accustomed to.

Exercise

Exercise and sleep share a somewhat symbiotic relationship. Proper exercise can improve sleep quality and duration, while a healthy sleep-wake cycle ensures more strength and endurance when you work out. However, exercise is also stimulating if you work out too close to bedtime.

If you find you don’t get enough sleep at night and want to reorient your circadian rhythm, try incorporating regular exercise into your routine. But as with all things related to the circadian rhythm, timing is important so do not exercise within 1-2 hours of your bedtime.

Caffeine

As a short-term energy booster, caffeine can be very effective. For best results, consume a moderate amount of caffeine for the first few hours when you’re awake, but stop consuming it at least 5-7 hours before bed.

If you continue having problems with your sleep schedule, consult with your doctor about the safest and healthiest measures that are right for your particular circadian goals.

8 Tips to Help You Sleep Better

Bilhana: Wholefood Recipes from Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco

June 1, 2021

Bilhana (Egyptian for ‘bon appétit’) brings a contemporary twist to traditional Middle Eastern dishes with the use of healthy cooking methods and the freshest ingredients the region has to offer.

This hot weather calls on something sweet and refreshing, with a traditional flair. How about Orange Hibiscus Ice-pops from Bilhana: Wholefood Recipes from Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco by Yasmine Elgharably and Shewekar Elgharably. Photography is by Yehia El-Alaily, the book is available at the AUC Bookstores and all other good bookstores in Egypt this month.

Orange Hibiscus Ice-pops

Makes: 4 servings

2 tbsps dried hibiscus flowers or 4 hibiscus tea bags
1 star anise
1 cm (½ inch) piece of fresh ginger
2 tbsps orange juice
2 tsps raw honey, or to taste

REFRESHING, FUN, AND EASY TO PREPARE!

These ice-pops are a summertime favorite. Kids love their sweet fruitiness, while adults are seduced by their tart berry and spice notes, so you can tailor the amount of honey you use to suit your audience.

Time: 10 minutes + time to freeze

Put 2 cups water and hibiscus into a medium pan, and add the star anise and ginger. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat, let it cool for just a couple of minutes, add the orange juice and honey, and stir. Once the honey is dissolved in the liquid, remove the hibiscus flowers or tea bags, the ginger and star anise.
Let cool to room temperature, then pour into ice-pop molds, filling them only three-quarters of the way up: the liquid will expand as it freezes.
Put in the freezer for 2 hours minimum; once they’re out, hand them around immediately!

Summer Hair Protection: Tips and Tricks

Zia Amelia: The Heart of Italy Transported to El Gouna

June 1, 2021

Italian cuisine stands out as one of the most loved worldwide. And Zia Amelia upholds the tradition in incomparable style with authentic, beautifully prepared and presented dishes that never fail to please. This is why we keep coming back, again and again.

Signature items: Don’t forget to try the wide variety of homemade pasta dishes. But in our opinion, every item stands out, so just dive in!

What You Will Find

We warn you, this is a seriously long and comprehensive menu, with intriguing options. Settle in for a long read over a cool drink, or alternatively, ask the knowledgeable team for their suggestions.

Our pick for appetizers on a summer day would most probably be Affettato Misto Di Maiale, a selection of imported Italian cold pork cuts, or Insalata Di Polpo Con Patate, and octopus and potato salad.

A guilt-free salad of mozzarella, rocket, tomato, cashew nuts and sun-dried tomatoes would keep us busy while we waited for our Linguine Alla Bottarga, slim ribbons of al dente pasta with shavings of bottarga (fish roe) and Fusilli Ai Quattro Formaggi, with an indulgent mix of four types of cheese in a creamy sauce.

Or possibly a Tagliatelle Al Tartufo Nero, fresh homemade pasta with shavings of rich, earthy black truffle, our weakness. Worth noting, for anyone avoiding gluten, just ask to have the gluten-free pasta.

At the risk of overdoing things we would still head for an Italian classic, Scaloppine Al Marsala, tender scallops of beef bathed in a Marsala wine sauce. If we were in the mood for something a little lighter, it might be Filetto Di Pesce Con Capperi E Olive, another time-honored combination. Pizza would wait for another day, even though the menu has an array of mouthwatering options.

Dessert? Yes, please! We are devotees of Tiramisu, and Zia Amelia does it soooo well. Then just time for an espresso before heading contentedly home.

Beverages: Beer and wine, soft options.

Worth knowing: Take-away and delivery are available.

Contact information

Opening hours: 12:30 pm to 11 pm. (Subject to change according to Covid- 19 restrictions). Check at time of booking.

Address: Downtown, El Gouna

Tel: Phone: 0122 527 1526 – Ext.34004

Facebook: ziaameliaelgouna

Instagram: ziaamelia_elgouna

Noi: Italian on the Shores of El Gouna

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