22
S. H. I. Mohamed
the Labkha area which is one of the natural attractions. It was discovered recently
and is under study now called the monastery of nuns.
Siwa Oasis is located in an extremely dry region with a continental climate.
Because of hot summer and mild temperature in winter, people prefer to visit it in
winter to enjoy sun and a healthy atmosphere. The oasis is famous for treating various
bone diseases and has many archaeological sites to visit: Mount Shali, Temple of AlWahaa, Temple of Umm Ubeida, Ain Shams, Umm Al-Sir, Mount Al-Dakrur, Mountain of the Dead, Colored Tombs, etc.
Oases thus include many monuments and locations that have witnessed several
historic eras, yet many are still unexplored till now. Since ancient times, the people
of the desert have set up homes without digging deep in the ground. As a result, many
houses are built over the remains of ancient civilizations. This is exhibited by the
presence of many statues. The people of oases call them Shukhus (meaning statues)
found at the bottom of the old houses as they built new ones.
Working in tourism is relatively a new activity and direction for the oases people.
It is an activity and livelihood that brought them a lot of money, changed their original
lifestyle, and influenced the layout of kinship and social and ethical strong values
that were displayed by the farmers’ population of the oases. They have lived a quiet
life in the past, and have enjoyed complacent and cooperation among members of
the community.
Now, many oases communities witness the collapse of such values such as a
reduction in the safety of the roads. For example, in the past, during the animal
mating and breeding operations, animals were left in the desert in several natural
areas with wild plants, such as Al-Mahmiya, Al-Asila, Al-Jahif. After nine months,
its owner would go back to pick up the new offspring. This is no longer possible
without supervision.
This security system has faded due to the spread of outsiders from the Nile Valley
north and south to work in the oases or to buy land and invest in agriculture. Also,
unemployment among the youth of the Egyptian society in general and the oases
in particular led to the emergence of negative values (new unusual values) among
themselves. This included many acts of crime such as the sale of land owned by
others to new investors. Young people in the oasis prefer to get married to the
foreigners to earn financial benefits like having a Safari car to work in the tourism field
instead of agricultural, or building modern houses instead of oasis traditional houses.
Usually, tourism activities return more profits than working in agricultural activities.
Therefore, there is a shift from agricultural to tourism among young people. This
phenomenon might affect the future of the agricultural activities in the oases which
are not stable and have fewer profits compared to tourism-earned profits. Agriculture
is no longer desirable. Date cultivation depends on the sale of date fruit once a year,
where profit fluctuates as it is associated with critical climatic conditions.
With the rise in prices of daily food, the rural youth now refrain from working in
the agricultural activity and resort to everything that generates quick profits.
S. H. I. Mohamed
the Labkha area which is one of the natural attractions. It was discovered recently
and is under study now called the monastery of nuns.
Siwa Oasis is located in an extremely dry region with a continental climate.
Because of hot summer and mild temperature in winter, people prefer to visit it in
winter to enjoy sun and a healthy atmosphere. The oasis is famous for treating various
bone diseases and has many archaeological sites to visit: Mount Shali, Temple of AlWahaa, Temple of Umm Ubeida, Ain Shams, Umm Al-Sir, Mount Al-Dakrur, Mountain of the Dead, Colored Tombs, etc.
Oases thus include many monuments and locations that have witnessed several
historic eras, yet many are still unexplored till now. Since ancient times, the people
of the desert have set up homes without digging deep in the ground. As a result, many
houses are built over the remains of ancient civilizations. This is exhibited by the
presence of many statues. The people of oases call them Shukhus (meaning statues)
found at the bottom of the old houses as they built new ones.
Working in tourism is relatively a new activity and direction for the oases people.
It is an activity and livelihood that brought them a lot of money, changed their original
lifestyle, and influenced the layout of kinship and social and ethical strong values
that were displayed by the farmers’ population of the oases. They have lived a quiet
life in the past, and have enjoyed complacent and cooperation among members of
the community.
Now, many oases communities witness the collapse of such values such as a
reduction in the safety of the roads. For example, in the past, during the animal
mating and breeding operations, animals were left in the desert in several natural
areas with wild plants, such as Al-Mahmiya, Al-Asila, Al-Jahif. After nine months,
its owner would go back to pick up the new offspring. This is no longer possible
without supervision.
This security system has faded due to the spread of outsiders from the Nile Valley
north and south to work in the oases or to buy land and invest in agriculture. Also,
unemployment among the youth of the Egyptian society in general and the oases
in particular led to the emergence of negative values (new unusual values) among
themselves. This included many acts of crime such as the sale of land owned by
others to new investors. Young people in the oasis prefer to get married to the
foreigners to earn financial benefits like having a Safari car to work in the tourism field
instead of agricultural, or building modern houses instead of oasis traditional houses.
Usually, tourism activities return more profits than working in agricultural activities.
Therefore, there is a shift from agricultural to tourism among young people. This
phenomenon might affect the future of the agricultural activities in the oases which
are not stable and have fewer profits compared to tourism-earned profits. Agriculture
is no longer desirable. Date cultivation depends on the sale of date fruit once a year,
where profit fluctuates as it is associated with critical climatic conditions.
With the rise in prices of daily food, the rural youth now refrain from working in
the agricultural activity and resort to everything that generates quick profits.