Burning Man by night – 30 pictures that will encourage you to stay awake
Lunapark. Funfair for adults. With music, fire, dancing and colors.
And when the night is getting over….
Moroccan liquid gold – how to buy argan oil?
Called liquid Moroccan gold, argan oil is for sure number one on the list of souvenirs worth of bringing from this country. Also one of the most expensive oils in the world so very easy to find fake mixtures. Made from the fruit of the argan tree, occurring endemically only in southern Morocco between Essaouira and Agadir. To produce 1 liter of this precious oil, 30-35 kg of fruits is needed.
FOR WHAT?
Argan oil is produced for cosmetic and culinary purposes. In the kitchen, added to salads, meat or dips is treated as a healthier alternative to sunflower oil. Its expensive, cosmetic and cold-pressed version is used for body and hair as well as serum for hands and nails.
APPEARANCE
Edible argan oil has amber color as a result of roasting argan fruits. Cosmetic oil is a little bit brighter, similar to gold. Only stored in glass bottles, so that it does not lose its benefits. The label describing the composition should contain only 100% Argan oil without the addition of parabens or other vegetable oils. The safest products are marked by ECOCERT certificate, which also indicates that the oil is organic.
SMELL AND CONSISTENCY
Edible argan oil has a very characteristic nutty aroma, stronger than cosmetic version. Therefore, it is important always to smell the product before purchasing. If also the color is similar to brown, there is high probability that this is culinary hot-pressed oil, often sold for cosmetic purposes at a higher price. Pure argan oil does not solidify at room temperature, so any lumps or nonuniformed texture can indicate the presence of fillers.
WHERE (NOT) TO BUY
Argan oil loses its properties in contact with sunlight so certainly it`s not the best idea to buy the product from roadside sellers even at a bargain price. It is also better to avoid the shops “with everything” and go to a small cosmetic stores or pharmacies, which often produce oil (still with certificate) or work with particular factories. Between Essaouira and Agadir are plenty of workshops where you can directly buy the oil at the best possible price (be aware of typical factories for tourists, they are rather situated on Marrakech – Essaouira road). A verified place in Marrakech is the Firdaous Herboristerie shop, in a small shopping center, approx. 2 minutes walk from Jemma El Fna square. Prices are fixed so no need to bargain.
Bottle of 100% Argan oil can be stored approx. 2 years in a dark place. How do you know that the oil is already stale? It will just smell like rancid.
Let there be colours – Burning Man Festival
Every year the Black Rock desert in American state of Nevada turns its sands into a bustling city. At first glance a city full of oddly dressed people, surreal installations, loud music and cosmic vehicles. Or maybe the city of modern hippies, freedom expressed in every possible way and celebration of life in each of its aspects. City of multicultural community which follows its own rules. Rules created to be a better version of reality.
No, Burning Man is not a typical music festival, which main attraction are live concerts. There is no lineup, sponsors and fast food booths. But anyway thousands of tickets are sold out in just a few minutes.
Burning Man is a place where the community from around the world meet once a year, building a self-sufficient city. A place where you can express yourself through art, music and dance and exceed the limits of imagination. Population without religion or money but guided by 10 principles.
The idea of the festival emerged already in 1986. Starting with a few friends on the beach in San Francisco, the festival has grown to an event for approx. 90,000 of participants.
It doesn`t matter where you come from, what your skin color or religion are. On Burning Man you can meet either older people or newly-born children. Everyone can find something for himself regardless why he went there. It may be an opportunity to know and associate with fascinating people from all over the world with a similar worldview, crazy parties at sunrise, meditation during a sandstorm or getting lost on a bike somewhere between great and surreal sculptures. All of art installations and events are organized by the participants. At the end of the week most of them are burnt, as well as the greatest symbol of the event – a wooden, giant sculpture of the man, set in the central part of the festival.
And yes, it‘s true that most of the people who came back from Burning Man have somehow changed. It is not about switching to veganism and meditating all day. It’s about finding the joy of life in simple activities and transfer everything we have learned in the past few days to our everyday lives. And then remains only the countdown to the next edition of the festival.
Truths and myths about life in Saudi Arabia #1
Every time when I come to Europe I am questioned how is to live in a “golden cage” as Saudi Arabia is often called. Especially in Poland, a country where basically there are not many Saudis, people can not imagine how an ordinary day looks like. Oil, dollars, princess, terrorists, camels, desert … I didn`t know more three years ago.
1. I HAVE TO COVER MYSLEF
Truth. In Saudi Arabia every woman in public places mandatory has to wear abaya. It is a kind of loose cloak covering the feminine shapes. Usually in black, although becoming more common concessions to this rule. But not every abaya is the same and you can find really beautifully crafted ones. Saudi mastered the art of decorating: flowers, colorful ornaments and stones make even an ordinary black cloth looking nice. The greatest proof of this is the fact that such designers as Gucci and Dior sew special collections for Saudi women.
In addition, every woman should cover her hair wih scarf called Hijab. This law is less strictly followed and you can meet on the streets a woman with uncovered hair, but always with a scarf around neck, in case of religious police called muttawa ask for it.
Saudi women with their own choice often cover also face by niqab and even hands with gloves.
2. WOMEN CAN NOT DRIVE
Truth. In Saudi Arabia is strictly forbidden to drive a car by a woman and attempts to break this law are punishable by lashing. However, most families employ their private driver. Also the city is full of taxis as well as applications like Uber or Easy Taxi have become extremely popular. Actually there is no public transport but this will change soon due to building of first subway in Riyadh. Increasingly, we hear that the government is slowly preparing society for the abolition of this law.
3. BESIDES CIVILIAN POLICE LIFE OF RESIDENTS ALSO CONTROLS RELIGIOUS POLICE
Truth. Called muttawa or oficially Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Deals with enforcement of compliance with Islamic law, such as dress code and covering, separation of women and men and respect of prayer times. Personally, I had contact with them only a few times when I was asked to cover my hair. Quite easy to recognize because they do not wear uniforms only characteristic Saudi robe – bisht and long beards.
4. SAUDI ARABIA IS BACKWARD COUNTRY
Myth. How many times I have heard the question if I live in a tent and if I ride a camel... No, I live in the house and go to work by ordinary car ;( There are new universities, also many Saudis study abroad, coming back to the country and trying to implement Western lifestyle. As a very attractive market to invest, many companies opened here their branches. Riyadh is exploding city, despite the crisis still full of investments.
5. ALCOHOL AND PORK ARE PROHIBITED IN SAUDI ARABIA
Truth. Alcohol in Saudi Arabia is completely prohibited. Completely means that there is no in hotels and shops (well, unless Budweiser 0%) and attempting to smuggle severely penalized.
6. I CAN GO OUT AND TRAVEL ONLY ASSISTED BY MAN
Myth. Quite the opposite – company of a man who is not husband or family is forbidden. So in my case I would not have any option to do anything. I go everywhere alone – to shops, banks, restaurants and never heard the command to come back with a man. I can also leave the country without permission of my company.
7. THERE ARE NO CINEMAS, THEATERS AND CLUBS IN SAUDI ARABIA
Truth. First of all any form of public music is banned – it means when you go to Bershka or another shop in the mall, you will even not hear loud songs like in any other country. The second reason for banning on cinemas and theaters is that in such places it is easier to mix between sexes. As well harsh censorship does not allow to display many movies.
8. DAY IN SAUDI ARABIA DEPENDS ON PRAYERS
Truth. One of the main pillars of Islam is prayer 5 times a day. In Saudi Arabia all restaurants, offices and shops are closed for prayer time, even the ones in shopping malls. If I plan to do some things in the city, I always consider that at the time of my arrival everything may be closed. After some time expats get used to it and treat prayer time as the next coffee break.
It is also forbidden to cultivate a religion other than Islam, this also applies to holding a Bible or even a cross.
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9. SAUDI ARABIA IS FULL OF MONEY… AND OIL
Myth. Not all Saudis are rich and earn a fortune. Many of them earn as much as the average in Europe and live on modest level. Saudi Arabia is a country of contrasts, so you can see a woman begging on the street and right after Saudi spending fortune on shopping. The truth is that average citizen employs maid and driver, also children have nanny but here this is not a sign of luxury. Middle East countries have become rich quickly on the extraction of oil. Price 0.23 $ per liter is still impressive (last year was approx. 0.15 $), but the truth is that some day oil will finish so Saudi Arabia is looking for alternative sources to finance its expenditure.
10. I CAN`T GO TO RESTAURANT IN MIXED COMPANY OR GO ON A DATE
Truth, but expats have found way to circumvent the law. First of all, in the closed areas for expacts, called compounds life looks quite the same as in Europe. There is no abaya, religious police and harsh rules. In order to legally go out to a restaurant in a larger, mixed company, just take with you one marriage and you will be treated as a family. All restaurants, offices, banks have separate entrances for men (single section) and women and families (family section). Even queues in MacDonald are determined according to these rules.
11. AS A TOURIST I CAN NOT COME TO SAUDI ARABIA
Truth. If you’re not a Muslim going to Mecca, it is not possible to come to the country as a tourist. Saudi Arabia only issues business visas.
Traveler and Vip flight attendant working and living in the most mysterious country in the world – Saudi Arabia. This blog gives a glimpse of lifestyle and undiscovered culture of Saudi and useful travel feed from around the world. Follow my Instagram to stay in touch with me: @olasupertramp
