Ian Bassingthwaighte
At heart, I'm a traveler, and my home is just wherever I happen to be standing.
Hometown: Missoula, Montana
School: University of Montana
Abroad Program: Fulbright Program
Where I've Lived Abroad: Cairo, Egypt - Xela, Guatemala - Accra, Ghana - Various cities, Thailand - Montana, United States
Sand and Sunshine
Sand as a Crisis Point: A Pictorial
26 Apr 2010
Sand has a way of weaseling its way into a person’s nooks and crannies—you know, in your ears, between your ... read more
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Israel
From Egypt To Israel And Back Again
I’m standing on the Israeli side of the border between Egypt and Israel at Taba, and I’m sweating. I’m on my way to The Jerusalem Conference, a ... read more
02 Aug 2010
Insider Tips
Egypt
How to Take a Taxi in Cairo Part 1: Intro
Taxis are essential in Cairo, a sprawling city whose streets signs are often misspelled or nonexistent. There are three types of public taxis in the city, all of which can ... read more
12 Apr 2010
Egypt
How to Wait in Line in Egypt
Lines in Egypt do not always operate in the same front-to-back order we’re used to. They are quick, messy, and often frustratingly three-dimensional. This is not meant to be ... read more
12 Apr 2010
Egypt
Otlob: Egypt’s Solution for people that can’t cook
If you can’t cook, don’t worry. One thing that redeems Cairo from its heat is the availability of cheap delivery. Cairo is one of the rare cities in ... read more
12 Apr 2010
Egypt
How to Take a Taxi in Cairo Part 2: Black Cabs
Now that you know the types of cabs, it’s important to understand the differences between them, and the related expectations. Since black cabs have no meter, rates are negotiable ... read more
14 Apr 2010
Egypt
Where to Live in Cairo
Most expats in Cairo congregate in a few neighborhoods: Zamalek, Downtown, Maadi, Dokki, and Mohandiseen. Maadi and Zamalek are very Western-oriented, and cater to longterm or permanent residents, and also ... read more
19 Apr 2010
Egypt
How to Take a Taxi in Cairo Part 4: Get to where you need to go
There are so many streets in Cairo even maps can’t keep them straight. Cab drivers aren’t always licensed, and aren’t always “career cabbies.” So how do you ... read more
14 Apr 2010
Egypt
How to Take a Taxi in Cairo Part 3: White Cabs and Yellow Cabs
White and Yellow cabs are nearly the same. They are usually nicer vehicles, and often have air conditioners. Though you might have to ask the driver to turn it on ... read more
14 Apr 2010
Egypt
How to Score Import Booze in Egypt
Outside of expensive hotels and embassy clubs, it's very difficult to find import liquor, wine, or beer for sale anywhere in Egypt. In fact, the only truly legal way ... read more
28 Jun 2010
Egypt
Cairo Scholar's: Egypt's Craigslist
If you're looking for an apartment, trying to find a restaurant, don't know where anything is in Cairo, want a recommendation for a weekend getaway, or want to ... read more
28 Jun 2010
Egypt
A Moment of Peace in Al-Azhar Park
Named after the famous mosque, Al-Azhar Park roughly equates to Central Park in New York: it is a break from the fray of a loud, polluted city. Built over an ... read more
28 Jun 2010
Egypt
Vacations out of Egypt
Spending too much time in the midst of Cairo heat and havoc? Living there and need to leave? The nice thing about Egypt is that the Cairo airport is a ... read more
14 Jul 2010
Egypt
Basic Need-to-Know Arabic
Egypt is fairly easy to navigate with English. But there are some key words that will go a long way to reducing the gap between you and the locals. Insha ... read more
14 Jul 2010
Egypt
Can I go into a mosque in Egypt even if I'm not Muslim?
The easy answer to this question is yes. But always be conservative: wear long, loose-fitting clothing, be willing to take your shoes off before you enter, and in some of ... read more
