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Show Egypt The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, September 30, 1984 T3 Where baksheesh is a way of life by Hala Khoury UPI Writer SAQQARA, Egypt Undaunted by a high-noo- n sun so harsh it scorches the cream-coloredesert, a girl straddles a donkey outside Egypts largest necropolis. Every day she positions herself outside the great Step Pyramids and waits for the tourists who will take her picture and, in exchange, give some baksheesh a tip. A turbanned man in flowing gala-biy- a squats yards away. When the first busload of tourists arrives he plunges forward and picks his prey. he tells an "Picture, picture, American youth who shuffles across the hot sand, weighed down by heavy camera gear. The little girl quickly fixes her gray scarf, smoothes her d d dress, sits taller on the donkey and offers the American a coy smile. Picture, she says, fluttering her eyelashes. The old man orders her to be silent. She reminds him that the coming baksheesh is partly hers. Of mixed Turkish and Arabic origins, baksheesh is a popular and more than frequent tune that assails tourists in every Egyptian site from the banks of the Nile at the foot of Saqqara, a village on the southern outskirts of Cairo, to the feet of the Sphinx in nearby Giza. baksheesh is spoEverywhere ken. It can mean anything from 30 piasters (about 30 cents) on up to buy a meager lunch of beans and vegeta rainbow-colore- bles, to a cigarette, a lighter or bon- bons. And instead of saying baksheesh, Egyptians sometimes will ask you for a "halawa a sweet to sugar a life of poverty. Indeed, a few piasters will often make a difference to a man whose monthly income may not exceed 100 Egyptian guineas ($82). But baksheesh can be annoying. Sophie Pommier, a French Egyptologist, and two compatriots stood on the esplannade outside Zosers the earliest of the resting home Great Pyramids the architect Imhotep built during the Old Kingdom by or stacking six large mastabas, steps of diminishing size, one on top of the other. The French women fiddled with their Guide Bleu to locate the richly decorated mastaba of Lord Ti. A r came to the rescue, flashing a broad smile and pointing north. The women thanked the man and prepared to head for Ti. But the tomb-keeptagged along behind, still flashing a broad smile, and asked for his halawa. Its always like this. Ill be charmed like a snake by a child or a man and find myself paying for a service I never asked for, said Pommier. After many return visits to Egypt and countless Arabic lessons, Pommier has mastered the two key words tomb-keepe- Baksbeesb is a way of life ia Egypt, including tbe Temple of Kom Ombo. The Temple the road Staying Dr.fitKarlon Neumann "A good way to stay fit when stay-- , ing at hotels is to forego the cocktail hour and, instead, spend that time in . the exercise room, out j', the swimming pool, s.-a football dent of Marriott Hotels. 1 obvious advantages: efficient use of time, no drinks, no smoking your smoke or , that of others working off calories, ' and getting that pleasant high that exercise gives. m er -- Exercise when traveling is just as important as exercise at home, some-- " , ' times more so. The reasons: exercise - helps counteract some of the vagaries of travel stress, fatigue, long and irregular hours, new foods, too much food, backaches and stiff joints Dr. Karl Neumann lives in Forest Hills, New York. CbfTK TRAVEL EXPERTS J tSDS)7D not keeping up with the pack. Here are some examples of the facilities now available: Many Marriott hotels have state- exercise rooms and in many cases, professionals to help you use the equipment. Hilton International offers martial arts at its Kuwait Hotel, bicycle tours at its hotel in Basel, Switzerland, calisthenics and acquacises as part of conventions at its hotel in Toronto and an executive cardiovascular control program at its Vista International Hotels in New York and Washing- from prolonged sitting in cars, buses and planes, and jet lag. Exercise also helps you build stamina and sleep better. And if you exercise at home and abruptly stop on trips and vacations, you may experience a feeling. Not too many years ago finding exercise facilities away from home was a hassle. No more. Says Mr. Huff, Now there are two kinds of hotels: those that are health conscious and those that are planning to become health conscious. In another 10 years, physical fitness facilities in hotels will be as common as color television sets. Already several thousand hotels in the world boast exercise facilities. And having just swimming pools, saunas or nearby jogging tracks is Hyatt hotels are using the expertise of the editors of Sports Illustrated in setting up fitness centers. And at several Atlantic City casinos, you can now exercise in ultra modern fitness centers that cost more to build than many medium size hotels. Heres how to find exercise facilities when planning a trip: Holiday Inns have elaborate indoor recreation 200 Once I gave a tomb-keep30 piasters and he insulted me because the American tourist ahead of me had given him one dollar, said one of them, a former tour operator who has traveled extensively in the Middle East. The demand for baksheesh is greater here than in the other countries I have visited, she said. er oil-ric- Call the reservation number of the hotel you are interested in. Ask for or nearby facilities. Even better, call the hotel directly. Speak to the front desk. If you have a favorite hotel chain, ask for a listing of health facilities at their hotels. Hyatt has Spirits of Sports Direction. Holiday Inn has Sports Hotel Directory. Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton will send you listings of exercise facilities. Do you belong to a spa or exercise club? Ask if they have reciprocal arrangements with similar facilities where you are going. Such facilities may be available to you at no charge. Contact the tourist office of the city, state or country you are planning to visit. Many have lists of facilities, dates of special events such as walking and running events, and maps of jogging courses. In Stockholm, Sweden, for example, in the summer, calisthenics are held daily in a downtown park. Books and magazines about your favorite sports often have listings of facilities across the country and around the world. There are more and more tours which cater to people interested in specific sports. Check magazines of your sport or with your travel agent. See More of Europe for Less. Take Advantage of these Specials! ton. Over Her friends say they dont mind departing with a few piasters but hate having to give Egyptians baksheesh after Americans. Egyptians also lament the baksheesh plague and blame it on American and h Arabs. I dont care what the dictionary says about baksheesh, says an EgypIn English, it tian accountant. means tip and the Americans invented the tip. A taxi driver on the airport beat admits that baksheesh has blemished Egyptian society, but says he happily drives rich Saudi Arabians knowing they can be very generous. They have it, and they are willing to share it with you, so whats the harm? he asked. "I know its not pretty, but I will insist on my baksheesh because I have a large family and my salary is not enough. of Luxor, built on tbe Nile by 18tb Dynasty Pbaraob Amenbotep III. the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The brochure offers a series of exercises specially designed for travelers whose busy schedule may interfere with regular fitness programs. by to shoo the baksheesh gangs away. I say to them imshee" (go away) or ma feesh" (there isnt any), she says. Holi-dome- s, Off-Seaso- centers. Many Sheraton hotels offer a brochure developed in conjunction with n TOURS & TRAVEL, INC. BEEHDVE Your Cruise Headquarters All tours Include round-triair fare from Sail Lake City, hotel, tour accommodations, taxes and several meals We urge you to book soon. Prices are subject to change. p 302 West 5400 South, Suite 108 Salt Lake City, Utan 84107 sundial travel, inc. 404 4500 33 Utah (801)266-810- 0 (800) 223-436- (800) 824-649- To Free) 7 National (J 0 Cruises Free) Utah WE OFFER: E So B (801) World-Wid- e SLC. 84107 263-381- 3 SAME DAY DELIVERY LOWEST FARES AVAILABLE CORPORATE RATES FOR YOUR BUSINESS TRAVEL AtE) CAR RESERVATIONS FREE) HOTEL UTAH AND NATIONAL (TOLL NUMBERS VACATION ! 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