Felucca is a small, primitive wooden sailboat used in Egypt. In Aswan, tourists love to be part of a felucca ride on the Nile River. While observing the exotic nature, maybe singing and dancing with the tour guide and the small crew, they see a curious scene: children in a tremendous effort to approach the boat.
The kids use rudimentary mini boats. Intelligent and kind, they know popular songs from a lot of countries. By paying attention to how a tourist speaks, they spot his or her origin. Next, they sing a piece of popular music from the tourist’s land. For this reason, people call them “the singing kids of the Nile.”
The kids are trying hard to captivate our attention to get some money — a tip, or baksheesh, as we say in Egypt. Yes, it’s a wise strategy, but we can feel the innocence and sincerity involved. Always humble, they don’t want to ask for money, so they appear to offer “a service” in exchange for it.
Heart touching.
I will publish a detailed post to cover felucca rides on the Nile, with photos and tips for your ride. Today, I come just to talk about those kids and ask you one simple favor: to pay attention to them. To see the grace in what they do. And to give them some money. I mean, baksheesh.
Agreed?
GLAUCO DAMAS
» I live in the Algarve (South of Portugal). My first fiction book, for young adults, was published in 2001 in the Portuguese language — a time travel adventure with thousands of readers. I also wrote books and guides about travel and technology. Screenplays are my greatest passion.
» This is the English version of my blog G. DAMAS (Portuguese language, online since 2010). English is not my native language.
[ More / Contact ]
