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Cigar World Records
In this day and age it seems people can make a record out of anything. Ever since the publication of the Guinness Book of World Records, people have been attempting to set records of all sorts. From people who attempt to stay under water longer than anyone else, to those who hope to have more nipple rings than physically possible, records are being set everywhere.
Not immune to this are cigars. Ever a tangible item, people have found a way to make a record out of them. While Bill Clinton perhaps set the record for oddest way to use them, and deny use of them, others have taken more subtle routes and found ways for cigars to put them on the map.
Cigar Box Juggling
Queen Hatshepsut – Egypt’s Queen Who Would Be King
Thutmose II married Queen Hatshepsut who was his half-sister. As the new Queen she started to build her royal tomb in a remote area called Wadi Sikkat Taka El-Zeida on the west bank of Thebes (Luxor). She had a quartzite sarcophagus inscribed with a prayer to the Goddess Nut. This tomb was later abandoned before the burial shaft could be completed.
Queen Hatshepsut had one daughter Neferure, but no sons. Thutmose II reigned for 13 years and when he died a son born to Lady Isis from his royal harem was crowned King. As he was an infant and his mother was not considered royalty, Queen Hatshepsut was asked to rule on behalf of her stepson. Queen Hatshepsut allowed the young King to preside in all activities. By the 7th year of his reign Queen Hatshepsut acted as and was crowned King, and her new titles were engraved on her monuments.
Thutmose III was not forgotten, he was acknowledged as a co-ruler and the regal years we counted from his accession to the throne. There was not doubt that Queen Hatshepsut was the dominant King of Egypt, however towards the end of her life Thutmose III acquired equal status.
Photography in the Middle East
Visitors to the Middle East who want to have photographs as souvenirs of their travels often find problems not encountered in other parts of the world. Cultural sensitivity is most important for any photographer travelling to the Middle East and other Muslim countries.
Most of the people that you will meet will be more than happy to have their photo taken but you must always ask for permission first! Often women, particularly in those countries where women only go out in public with head and often face covered, will refuse to have their photograph taken.
Taking photographs without permission of certain government buildings can lead to a unwanted visit to the local police station. If you are not sure of what a building is, don’t shoot it. In Saudi Arabia it is basically illegal to take photographs of ANYTHING in public without a government issued permits. I was once stopped by security people in an industrial complex in Saudi Arabia and told that I did not have permission to photograph where I was standing – the permit was for a section of the plant 20 meters away from me.
