According to a recent English-language Gulf News wire report published in The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), teenagers in the port of Dubai, located in Bahrain, who are searching for "exotic highs" are smoking ants or inhaling the fumes they emit when burned. In fact, a small packet of Samaseem - Gulf Arabic for ants - sells for up to $135 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. According to the report, Dubai police said youngsters are trying ants because they can't afford the usual narcotics, or they believe they won't be prosecuted for getting high on ants.

Maybe I can try this some day.


Competition for Handsome Boy Steven Lim, the eyebrow plucker!

How did this get into my subdomain?!

SMS I just got: "Hygiene inspection on mon. Specs will be inspected by rsm"

Ooh. Nasty.


I won't be going for this (Pared itinerary)

12 Days Best of Egypt & Red Sea

Day 1 - Singapore/Cairo

Day 2 - Cairo-Alexandria
Arrive Cairo and transfer to Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city for a visit to the Turkish/Florentine-styled Montazah Palace and Gardens, Fort of Qaitbay, built on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse and Pompeii's Pillar, a prominent Ptolemaic landmark

Day 3 - Alexandria-Memphis-Saqqara-Cairo
Visit the ancient capital of Memphis and necropolis of Saqqara where the first Pyramids were built for King Zoser - The Step Pyramids. Transfer to Cairo next to visit the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. After Lunch, visit the Egyptian Museum with the world's greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities including treasures from King Tut's tomb.

Day 4 - Cairo-Aswan (Nile River Cruise)
Take an early flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, granite quarries, Aswan Dam, old Dam and Philae Temple. Transfer to cruise ship for embarkation.

Day 5 - Nile River Cruise
Enjoy a felucca boat ride and view the Aga Khan Mausoleum from afar. Then sail for Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the two gods of Sobek and Haroeris. Continue sailing for Edfu.

Day 6 - Nile River Cruise
Visit the Temple of Edfu dedicated to Horus the Falcon God. Sail on to Esna for the lock crossing to Luxor.l

Day 7 - Nile River Cruise
Cross over to the West Bank for a visit to King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple and Collossi of Memnon. IN the afternoon, visit the Temples of Karnak and Luxor.

Day 8 - Nile River Cruise / Hurghada
Proceed to Red Sea Resort of Hurghada. A simple fishing village once, it is now Egypt's best tourist spot with crystal clear waters and pristine reefs. Go on a desert safari and enjoy a Bedouin Dinner under the stars.

Day 9 - Hurghada
Day is free at leisure. You can "catch" the Red Sea Big Five in a glass-bottom boat, go for a dive in the azure sea, or enjoy the many sports available. Relax with a Turkish bath, massage or sauna.

Day 10 - Hurghada-Cairo
-Free and Easy-

Day 11 - Cairo-Singapore

Argh. Alexandria! The Aswan Dam! Thebes! The Pharos! The Pyramids! The Valley of the Kings! All that's missing is a visit to the Oracle of Siwa.

Maybe at the end of the year... I'll go look at what Greece has to offer

In other news:

Mathematician explains parting of Red Sea

"Naum Voltsinger used differential equations to show that strong winds and a hidden underwater reef would have allowed more than half a million Jews to flee to the Promised Land - without getting their feet wet. "

Fascinating.