Let there be light!

It's summer time, and with summer, comes extreme heat. With extreme heat, comes air-conditioning. In Egypt, with air-conditioning, comes mass power outages.

Having lived in Cairo, I am not unfamiliar with power outages. In Maadi during the summer months, the electricity would actually be routed to different power grids, so that at times one power grid would have no power, while the other one was just fine. Reason being? The power grids in Cairo are simply unable to keep up with the demand on electrical power that is being fueled by the hundreds of AC units running 24/7 throughout the city. I was just explaining to Karim yesterday that this doesn't usually happen in the States, because he has grown so accustomed to power just "going out" that he never thought twice about it. That is until we got here.

First you may ask yourself why the power grid is being strained. The answer is quite simple really. As the middle and upper classes in Egypt are growing, so are their living standards and ideals. Most middle/upper class Egyptian houses you walk into are flooded with cold air coming from the multiple AC units they have running at all times - taking a page out of the American's book...I have never seen people use ACs like the Americans do! So as more and more people in Egypt are starting to make a decent living, more and more people are buying ACs. Meaning more and more strain on the power grids. Which then should mean that the Egyptian Electrical ministries are doing something to resolve the problem and accomodate the increasing load on the power grids, right? Well, in typical Egyptian fashion, that response is "lets just re-route the power at certain times, that way we don't HAVE to change anything!" Woohoo! This makes taking an elevator in Maadi during peak summer hours a very precarious decision to make. I have been stuck in an elevator only once...and it is an experience I hope to never repeat!

So now we're in Hurghada, and power outages are unfortunately not obsolete. In fact, it sometimes feels as though we have taken a step back in time when it comes to the reliability of electrical power in this town. The other day I was trying to work on the computer at home, and within 30 minutes, the power surged and went out four times...I kid you not.

Unfortunately, it's not just certain areas of Hurghada that lose power momentarily (or for a couple of hours...lets be honest here) like in Maadi or Cairo. No. It's the ENTIRE city. Unless you are running on a generator, you can lose power for upwards of 2-3 hours. At Hed Kandi the other day for the pool party, power went out for almost 2 hours. It made such a huge difference in the atmosphere; one minute everyone is dancing and enjoying the sun and the music, and as cliche as it sounds, everyone somehow looked cool. The next minute, the power's blown, no music, and we're just a bunch of idiots standing around in a pool with nothing to do. Despite the staff's attempts to liven up the atmosphere by banging on their serving trays (wonderful music let me tell you) there was just no denying that the atmosphere was gone. Music was the life, and without the electricity, the life was gone.

Now, anyone who has been to Hurghada, driven here especially, will have noticed the miles upon miles of wind farms that stretch across the desert just outside of the city. Illogically enough it would seem, I presumed that much of the wind power that these farms were generating would flow into Hurghada. These wind farms were first established as a wind power testing centre in 1993, and developed in subsequent years, starting out with 42 wind turbines, total capacity of 5.2 MW. There are now over 400 wind turbines in the Zafarana area, and yield roughly 1,600 KwH EACH. If you take the time to do a little research into these wind farms, they are also specifically designed to deal with the summer months, when the electrical supply virtually doubles to accommodate the AC units running throughout the country. The target is for these wind farms to supply up to 12 % of Egypt's total electrical needs as the demand continues to rise. This project has already cost several hundred million Euros, and with the continued expansion expected, costs will only further rise. (Side note...only 25 % of these millions of Euros that have been invested have gone back into the Egyptian economy - or rather...some big businessmen's pockets - because average users of electricity sure aren't seeing this return on an investment!)

And here's the part that really gets me. The wind farm in Zafarana (just outside of Hurghada), sits on a location of land that has the world's highest average wind speed, with an average of 9.2 m/s. Egypt boasts a number of locations throughout the country that are ideally suited for wind farms, yet are not being developed due to a lack of investors (or at least, that's the official excuse). So despite the fact that Hurghada should not be suffering from power outages the likes that we are seeing, the continual "development" of the energy sector and wind power sector in Egypt is obviously disregarding this town. Here's an idea...rather than spending millions of pounds on testing out wind farms, how about the responsible ministries in Egypt actually get off their asses and try to do something about the existing power situation? And resolve the ever increasing outages that are affecting more and more people? Oh, that's right. Because that won't fluff your pockets with millions of dollars from outside investors. *sigh*.

Water, it does the body good

I read an article a few weeks ago about the health benefits of water, and why it is so crucial to make sure that you are taking in enough of the clear stuff. Since reading this article, I have objectively tried to make sure that I am drinking at least three litres of water every day. End result? I really am seeing my belly shrink, my hair is shinier, and my skin is much healthier. Not only that, but my energy levels are up, and I feel great! It seems tough at first to be drinking so much water, but, you really do get into the routine of it and it becomes normal. Only problem is...getting up at all times of the day to have to pee, constantly. Hahaha. Anyhow, let me share the wealth.

The water article!

Health Benefits of Water

How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.

Water supresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water,it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.

Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a treat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.

The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs -- plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.

If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.

But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy -- just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.

Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weigh loss -- shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of -- all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.

Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.

So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

• The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.
• Retained water shows up as excess weight.
• To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
• Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.

Water should preferably be cold. It's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o'clock.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it's fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point." What does this mean?

• Endocrine-gland function improves.
• Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
• More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
• Natural thirst returns.
• There is a loss of hunger almost over night.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."

Happy Drinking!!!

P.S. niff naff

So I just found this out this weekend. But it's such a good piece of information I had to share it.

Basil. The herb that adds delicious tang to any meal your cooking. Is also a fantastic mozzie repellent. So next time you're sitting outside on your patio, dreaming of a mozzie free environment, whip out some fresh basil. The citric tang that it emits is enough to keep all the mozzies away.

WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE KNOW THIS!?!??!

So, for me, clumps of fresh basil hanging around the house sound just perfect.

Niff naff and trivia

It seems that summer is finally on the way! (of course I complain as though I've been sitting in mountains of snow all summer...do two weeks in DC really count? :p). The weather is finally warming up, and yes! I can finally head to the beach on the weekends! Of course, with the warmer weather come some additional, and uninvited, house guests.

I decided to write the perfect desperate housewives blog, with a number of random pieces of niff naff and trivia that I have picked up along the way. I promise that these are tried and tested, and have worked for me!

Beasties are the bane of my existence. I can't stand them. Flies, mosquitoes, ants, roaches, BLECH! Naturally most of us are the same way, so we are all always looking for ways of getting rid of them and keeping them out of the house. Now unless you're like May in the Secret life of Bees, you're not going to lay out graham cracker crumbs to "lure" the beasties outside of your house...And on a sidenote I never understood that part, wouldn't that inevitably attract more beasties inside? Anyhow, I digress. Back to the nifty beastie tricks.

Flies

Considered by some as the "national bird of Egypt" purely because of their abundance in this country, flies are everyyyyywhere. I dread opening my window lest I let millions of these beasties inside. Fortunately, thanks to riding buddies, I picked up this nifty little trick that does actually keep flies out. Take a clear plastic bag (or ziplock) and fill it half way with water. Add four or five copper pennies, and hang next to any window that you want to leave open. For some reason this tricks the flies with the light reflections, and they don't realise there's an open window. Voila! Fresh air in the summer, sans flies! (Because lets be honest, fly screens don't let the same breeze through :p).

Ants

These little feckers are sneaky. They are the ninja's of the insect world if you will. I feel that almost no matter what I do, somehow they find a way BACK into the kitchen, living room, whereever they may have originally inhabited. As another side note...ants in Egypt prefer carby foods over sugar...wtf?

I have a few tricks that I use for ants. One is to spray raid or a similar insect repellant on every entrance into your house along the ground. If you're like me at the moment, that is raid-less, another simple trick is to use bleach. Because ants will follow the scent trails left by their fellow ant-friends, water alone won't remove the scent trail. Using bleach and cleaning with hot water along the path that they have chosen will eliminate the scent trail, and stop the ants getting in. Problem here, your house smells like a pool :p. Another trick that I like to use is to add a few sprays of raid to the water when I am mopping. This way you get into all the nooks and crannies, as well as all across your floor.

Finally, if you've found the source of ants coming into your house, or even better their colony, boiling water on top of their entrance will kill the ants inside. But here again rises another problem, if you don't kill the queen ant, you won't have eliminated your problem. It is however, a good quick fix, hopefully you'll burn off enough of the feckers to cause them to seek less warm real estate.

Roaches

Ech. I have yet to find a perfect solution for getting rid of roaches. The raid along the floor works, but unfortunately, roaches are one of the most adaptable animals in the world. It's disgusting that they are one of the few animals/creatures that would survive a nuclear fallout. I've found that the most effective method seems to be investing in a roach-hunting canine extraordinaire.

Trained to respond to the slightest roach movement, this guy will be sure to keep your house roach free. Side effects may include abandoned roach body parts :S.


Mosquitoes

So for this one, there's the obvious mozzie vanishing candles, burning incense thingies, or the little tablets that are heated throughout the night that emit a mozzie-repelling smell. Apparently there's an old wives remedy I heard of the other day, I've yet to find out what it is, but that has become my new mission. :p

For now, these are my niff naff and trivia tips on beasties. I'm sure there will be more to follow! Until then, happy beastie free house! ;)