Fake or real Bedouins, a photo from Red Sea, Inland

Photographer's Note

After the stories of real or fake sadhus, here is my story about the real or fake Bedouins.

I have already written about my adventure in the shop near Hurghada Marina and later I went by boat with the glass windows to observe the reef.
After the boat trip, I went back to my hotel. I was rather in a hurry because I had a meeting with the resident and I didn't want to lose my lunch (you know, all-inclusive). I went quickly. When the taxi drivers see the women going, they stop offering the ride. I dismissed them but one stopped a few times and as he said, because of Friday we will take me to my hotel for 1 dollar. Finally, I agreed. He offered that the next day he will go with me to the real market in the old Hurghada and to Bedouins in the desert.

I didn't know what to do but my curiosity knows no limits. The next morning he came for me. I have already shown the photos of this market. I was really delighted. The real market with locals and no tourists.

Then we went to the Coptic Cathedral. I was lucky because I came at the end of the service and could observe peculiar scene. There was a queue of women and the priest, himself in a masque, gave them something from the cup - all in the same spoon. I rarely see the Coptic churches so it was interesting for me.
We were in the cafes to have tea and to talk with the owners.
Then we went 30 km out of Hurghada to the desert. I was a bit nervous on the way, as I didn't know where we were going. There was a kind of settlement there in the desert close to the mountains, with the nice structure looking like a dovecot. There was a big tent there. There were one Bedouin offering tea or coffee and two others. So I just sipped there my tea in a small cup and Beduins were talking with the driver, of course in Arabic. I wanted to take some pictures, so this guy went with me to show me a few old buildings, the sheep and goats, camels, there was a small garden, the well. He was very friendly. I took some pictures but he took quite many photos of me. Haha, so I was the star. I do not take any selfies, these are my only photos from Egypt.
After this time in the oasis, we returned to the hotel.

Were these men real Bedouins or not, I had fun and I took many nice photos, so this adventure ended well.

An Arabic-speaking nomadic people, the Bedouin live in the Middle Eastern and North African deserts, especially in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. As nomads, they have no fixed homes but travel continuously throughout the region. The Bedouins make up a small part of the total population of the Middle East and North Africa but use a large part of the land area.

See also two Workshops.
And from the GPS in my mobile it looks as I have flown above this place - see https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Africa/Egypt/Inland/Red_Sea/El_Gouna/photo1600522.htm

Royaldevon, pierrefonds, holmertz, PaulVDV, jhm, adramad, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, aliabazari, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Royaldevon (85932) 2022-01-21 2:54

Hello Malgo,

You had quite an adventure, travelling across the desert to the oasis.
This guy looks very friendly and certainly appears to be living like a bedouin. The bottled water seems a bit incongruous but I imagine water is a very precious commodity.
I like your w/s which shows the dovecote and suspended 'bell', as the most artistic shot.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

Silvio1953 (221695) 2022-01-21 3:58

Ciao cara Malgo, nice scene, wonderful colors, splendid light, excelent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (114516) 2022-01-21 4:43

Hi Malgo,

You have captured well the smiling expression of the man. The point of view is showing the details of his environnement and of his clothing. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

holmertz (102760) 2022-01-21 6:21

Hello Malgo,
The WS are somewhat more interesting photos, also well composed, but of course the main post is nicer and offers more details to watch, as well as a friendly smile and gesture. You obviously had a nice day, even though I wouldn't really call it an "adventure". It was just the good experience you can have when you break free from the other tourists in the "all inclusive" hotel or the sightseeing tours with a large group, (and possibly a guide with a commission from certain souvenir shops).
Real or fake beduins? What does it matter? They seem to have been nice people and you had a good experience.
Kind regards,
Gert
PS Thanks for your comments today. I deleted the photo later because of a very low quality (and partly because I seem to have shown it earlier). I am sorry for wasting one of your smileys.

PaulVDV (62970) 2022-01-21 7:25

Hello Malgo,
The dovecote in the WS reminds me more of a watchtower.
Splendid photo # 1 in the WS with a very attractive composition.
Fake appears to be possible everywhere.
I once saw an elderly man in the mountains in the north of the Philippines dressed as Ifugao. That was with a spear, just a loincloth and a feather headgear. He hoped I would pay to take a picture of him.
But he forgot to take off his glasses (probably he didn't see enough without glasses) and that made the sight of such a nature person quite unrealistic :)
I don't know if you've been to the camel market at Daraw, just north of Aswan. The market takes place a few times a week, is authentic because of the fact that camels from Sudan are sold, but of course you're not the only tourist there.
The man in your main photo has a very friendly and inviting appearance.
Best regards, Paul

jhm (211736) 2022-01-21 10:04

Hello Malgo,

I am really surprised by your adventure, you are a really special someone, but luckily everything ended well.
Your pictures are a nice addition
Composition an presentation are pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

adramad (73006) 2022-01-21 10:38

Hi Malgo.
You really are brave and you risk what few tourists would risk, especially in Arab countries, where there are so many who hate Europeans.
Magnificent portrait of this "bedouin" in his environment, stupendous photos of the WS with the curious tower.
Colour, sharpness and luminosity are effectively managed.
Very good composition, magnificent presentation.
Have a good weekend.
Warm greetings.
Luis.

lousat (139308) 2022-01-21 12:51

Ciao Malgo,after being 7 times in Egypt, I can guarantee you this is a fake Bedouin, probably friend of the taxi driver, and obviously very friendly, I hope you have not had any requests for money or to buy souvenirs. An experience perhaps not among the most memorable, also observing the place in the 2 WS, but nevertheless an experience, and you were lucky to be there during the pandemic. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

ifege (48135) 2022-01-21 20:46

Hi Malgo
Now after your trip it is probably best to believe that they were real. Good interesting photos and I would say that that is definitely a dovecote, something like ones I saw in Turkey.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (116560) 2022-01-21 22:56

Hello dear friend and have a nice
day and a happy week end
impressive capture with
interesting details
thanks for your description in details...
this guy looks so friendly
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147204) 2022-01-21 23:35

Hi Malgo,
Interesting note about adventure and fake or real local people ... always the same question in touristic aera ! But a pleasant photo with this smiling man, well taken, good sharpness and light, tfs.

aliabazari (22255) 2022-01-22 0:39

Hello Malgorzata
Nice portrait of this young man. I also like to have a real Bedouin in my photo, most of these people even in Iran show the traditions of that region for livelihood and attracting tourists.

jmdias (115230) 2022-01-22 11:48

malgo

a nice portrait of the man, I have not enough culture to say he was or not fake bedouin.
gostei muito do primeiro WS com aquela construção, a segunda foto do WS é mais explicativa do local.
você é muito corajosa, eu não sei se eu teria coragem de ir com um guia desconhecido para um local qualquer, só iria se o hotel onde eu estivesse hospedado me garantisse que a pessoa não era um golpista.
um abraço

jorge

mcmtanyel (68593) 2022-01-23 17:23

Hello Malgo,
I like all three of your photos. The main entry shows an authentic local giving you the thumbs up and the views from the oasis in your WS photos are charming.
Regards,
MT