Interesting Domyat + activities with Friends + COCKLES!!!

mist makes blurring of vision

like a drawing

must bring~chocolate+choc milk!

date palm tree

cumulus+building@new Domyat

as usual, :) ~ from wiki

Damietta, Damiata, or Domyat (Arabic: دمياط‎) is a port and the capital of the governorate of Domyat, Egypt. It is located at the intersection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Cairo.

In Ancient Egypt, the city was known as Tamiat, but it became less important in the Hellenic period after the construction of Alexandria.

The Abbasids used Alexandria, Damietta, Aden and Siraf as entry ports to India and the Tang Empire of China

Damietta was important in the 12th and 13th centuries during the time of the Crusades. In 1169, a fleet from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, with support from the Byzantine Empire, attacked the port, but it was defeated by Saladin.

During preparations for the Fifth Crusade in 1217, it was decided that Damietta should be the focus of attack. Control of Damietta meant control of the Nile, and from there the crusaders believed they would be able to conquer Egypt. From Egypt they could then attack Palestine and recapture Jerusalem. When the port was besieged and occupied by Frisian crusaders in 1219, Francis of Assisi arrived to peaceably negotiate with the Muslim ruler. In October 1218 reinforcements arrived including the Legate Pelagius with the English earls Ranulf of Chester, Saer of Winchester and William Aubigny of Arundel together with one Odonel Aubigny, Robert Fitz Walter, John Lacy of Chester, William Harcourt and Oliver the illegitimate son of King John.[2] In 1221 the Crusaders attempted to march to Cairo, but were destroyed by the combination of nature and Muslim defenses.

Damietta was also the object of the Seventh Crusade, led by Louis IX of France. His fleet arrived there in 1249 and quickly captured the fort, though he refused to hand it over to the nominal king of Jerusalem, to whom it had been promised during the Fifth Crusade. However, Louis too was eventually captured and defeated and was forced to give up the city. Because of its importance to the Crusaders, the Mamluk Sultan Baibars destroyed the city and rebuilt it with stronger fortifications a few kilometres

Damietta postal code (zip)

  * kornish elnile 34511

  * el Aser 34512

  * harit elperka 34513

Monuments

* Amr Ibn Al-a'as Mosque (Al-Fateh) the 2nd mosque to be built in Egypt and Africa by the Arabs after entering Egypt. It has been converted to a church twice during occupation by the crusaders and Louis IX of France's son Jean Tristan of France was baptised by legate of the Pope in this Mosque.

    * Al-Matbuly Mosque dating to Mamluk era.

    * Al-Maainy Mosque dating to Al-Naser Mohammed Ibn Qalawon regin.

    * Al-Bahr Mosque dating to Ottmon rule era.

    * Al—Hadidy Mosque in Faraskour 200 years old.

    * Tabiet Ahmed Urabi, ruins of Damietta Fort at Ezbet El-Borg.

    * Al-Radwaniya Mosque dating to Mamluk era.

    * The Old Bridge " Elkobri Elqadeem" dating to early 1900s.

    * Souk Al-Hesba, the old dowm town, dating to Abbasi rule era.

Damietta today

Today there is a canal connecting it to the Nile, which has made it an important port once again. The modern city has a population of about 1,093,580 (2006). It contains the SEGAS LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plant, which will ultimately have a capacity of 9.6 million ton/year through two trains. The plant is owned by Segas, a joint venture of the Spanish utility Unión Fenosa (40%), Italian oil company Eni (40%) and the Egyptian companies EGAS and EGPC (10% each).The plant is unusual since it is not supplied from a dedicated field, but is supplied with gas from the Egyptian grid. EMethanex, the Egyptian division of Methanex Corporation a Canadian owned company, is currently building a 3600 MTPD methanol plant. Construction is scheduled to be finished in mid 2010.

Damietta Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is in the north of the country. Its capital is the city of Damietta. The governorate of Damietta is famous for its guava farms, as well as the palm trees that cover the coast from Ras El Bar in the east to Gamasa in the west. Damietta exports millions of palm trees to many countries every year, including Greece and China. Damietta is also famous for producing wheat, maize, cotton, rice, potatoes, lemon, grapes and tomatoes. It's also famous for its sweet industry, sardine packing, and Domiati cheese.

  

Ras El Bar, one of the oldest summer resorts in Egypt, is located at the point where the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile meet. 

Ras El Bar (Arabic: راس البر, transliteration: Ras El-Bar), which means "head of land" or the "golden triangle", is a city located in the Governorate of Damietta, in Egypt

Location

The city of Ras El Bar lies in a peninsula on the coast of the Mediterrenean Sea, and it is bordered on the western by the Damietta Nile branch. The area of "Lessan" is located in the extreme Northern part of this peninsula, and it is at this point where the Damietta Nile arm flows in the Mediterranean sea, which gives Ras El Bar the shape of a triangle.

Climate

The climate of Ras El –bar is Mediterranean, and contains a high percentage of iodine.

 Shores

The uniqueness of Ras El Bar as one of the world's rare points where a river meets the sea has offered it a great advantage which is having shores that overlook both the Nile and sea. It's even said that Ras El Bar existence is a result of that unique meeting as both the sea and the Nile left sand and alluvium.

Type of sand

For Ras El Bar to be a sandy beach instead of an alluvial farming land like the rest of the delta takes us back to ancient prehistoric ages. Initially, the Mediterranean Sea covered the whole delta, and then it began to fall back and the river deluged over the delta and covered the lower areas with alluvium. When it comes to Ras El Bar the sands of the sea played a main role in turning the spot into a sandy beach instead of normal muddy farming land. These sands are believed to have great medical benefits especially in noon times.

Animals and Plants

    * Many dolphins visit Ras El Bar shores

    * Many kinds of wild birds actually live in the Manzala lake

    * Also in the fall season many of the immigrating flocks of European birds pass by Ras El Bar in her course to South Africa

Demographics

There are approximately 15,000 to 25,000 inhabitants in Ras El Bar. However, during the summer season (July - August), it becomes a well known local resort and receives between 200,000 and 250,000 visitors during that period.

Houses

The land renting system started back since 1898, then started building houses and villas that were named "e'sha" (hut). In 1902, the first civic time for that town was implemented, and it was considered that the streets are straight and parallels to maintain the town’s beauty. At the very beginning those huts were built of wood and other simple materials, had only one floor and hosted only one family. Actually they were built at the start of the summer and removed at its end. Nowadays, Damiettans preserved the design of the town and the spaces between every villa and the other. They built new villas using cement and bricks. Now single blocks have twelve units most of them with a garage. They are still named "e'sha" (hut) among locals, but in reality they follow the structure of a villa.

 Roads

Inner:

    * Port Said Street: is the main access in Ras El-Bar and it connects its entrance to the beginning of "Lesan".

    * Nile Street: more like a shopping centre full of shops and hotels, and it exactly parallel to the Nile.

External:

    * Older roads that links Ras El-Bar with other governorates are available all year long.

Sports

    * There are many kinds of sport like Beach sports; swimming competitions which involve crossing the nile from Damietta to Ras El Bar.

    * Many clubs and gyms for sports like football, volleyball, handball, cong fu, karate, judo, etc.

 Health

There are three main hospitals located in Ras El Bar: 1. "El Yoom El Wahed" (the sole day) 2. "Ras El Bar El Markazy" (central Ras El Bar) 3. "Da'wet El Hakk": which is a smaller one but offers a variety of medical services. There are also many small medical centres that deal with beach injuries.

Education

Ras El Bar as a summer resort has a small number of settled families all year long, therefore one finds lesser number of schools and universities.

 Economical activities

Since early ages, Ras El Bar has been a main port for all kinds of goods that pass through the Nile and/or come from the sea.

Fishing

Ras El Bar is a huge centre for fishing boats that leave into the Mediterranean sea and returns loaded with different kinds of fish that helped in enriching this industry all over the country. It is also a spot for manufacturing ships of all kinds and sizes especially fishing ones.

 Maritime transport and trade

Ras El Bar is closed the main port of Damietta, which handles international trade.

Pharaohs

Actually Ras El Bar has been called many names since the Pharaos. Pharos called it the Mediterranean Sea (the great green sea), then came the Romans and called it "The Romans Sea" on 30 AD, and the spot where sea could meet a river was called (Be Tamosh) and it meant the place between two waves or two seas. The name itself Ras El Bar came from some sailors who felt that this place can be the shelter from the sea’s dangers. "Ras" is the start and "El Bar" is the land so it is the start of land and the shelter of any sailor. This place was mentioned in the Quran for three times only to stress out the mighty power of god that made both river and sea meet with a separator that can never be seen and stops them from blending.

[edit] Greek and Roman eras

Damietta was known as "Tamiats" during the Greek and Roman eras, and it was known as "Tamiat" during the time of Veterans Copts.

 Islamic era

According to the Historical Documents, "Tamiats" was an important Coptic Bishopric during the Fifth Century. The name "Demt", which means "the ability" in the Syriac Language, was also mentioned in a verse sent to the Prophet "Idris" or "Herms". The sense behind the name is the ability that combined the fresh water and the brine water together in that place.

After the revealing of the Quran and before the Islamic Opening for Egypt, it was mentioned that Omar Ibn Al Khattab recalled Prophet Muhammad's words as follows "Omar, you will open two ports in Egypt, Alexandria and Damietta. About Alexandria, it was destroyed by barbarians. About Damietta, its people are martyrs; this who will. For a night will be with me along with the other Prophets at Al Kuds".

According to Anas, who was one of the Prophet Muhammad's friends, he said that the Prophet Muhammad said "Muslims will open a port that is considered the "ability" place, in which the olds of my 'Ummah' will live; a one night in this place is better than a thousand months worship; it is the "ability" place for those who sacrifice their souls for God." Then, Anas said "and what is that "ability" place, Prophet?" The Prophet Muhammad said "It is the place that is spelled with D, M, and T"

Damietta was also mentioned in the Torah as "Kaftor". Being mentioned and described in the three Holy Heavenly religions is a great pride that Damietta had out of many beautiful places.

Crusades

Damietta' position on the west bank of the Nile river is a strategic location that urged many enemies' fleets to conquer the city, and that also urged its people to build a number of fortifying castles and towers to protect the city.

In 1218, The Crusaders started to approach Damietta, and they made a dike surrounded by a bailey to protect them, and they settled there where they initiated their assaults against the strong resistance from the Dumyaty people. The resistance stilled strong for four months, but the Crusaders condensed their attacks and they surrounded the whole city abandoning it and its people from any coming support. However, the Dumyaty people stand strong and kept resisting till the summer season came, and the flood filled the Nile river with water till the baileys were destroyed, and the dike became like an island surrounded with water. After that, the Crusaders were seeking a conciliating treaty to get out of the city and the whole country. After thirty years, the Crusaders came back to conquer Egypt as a starting point for invading Palestine and the other Arab countries.

In 1248, the king of France at that time Luis IX sailed from south France with a great fleet till he reached Damietta' beaches. At that time, the Prince Fakhr El Din left the city with no army and ran away. However, the Dumyaty people resisted that fleet. The burnt their shops and everything that the enemy can make use of, and they retreated to the jungles and the inner places in the city to inveigle the enemy. Then, they started their enchorial stood out and they beaten the French in a number of battles. The last battle was at Faraskour, which is a city on the Nile River, where Dumyaty people killed a number of ten thousand men from the French, and they captivated the others along with the king Luis IX, and they imprisoned him. Later on, King Luis IX paid four thousand Egyptian Pounds to be released along with his men, and he left the Damietta on May 8, 1250, and that date became the National Day of Damietta later on.

The battle was known as Mansoura battle it toke place at the recent mansoura city on the river nile and the king of France at that time was imprisoned at Dar Ibn Lokman.

 Modern Era

Damietta started to create a new path towards peace and safe life after struggling against invaders. The new path is representing its natural rule that it was created for, which is tourism.

Recently, an alleyway by the side of the Nile River was made at the city of Ras El Bar. The other side of the alleyway contains a number of shops and restaurants till it reaches the area of "El Lesan". "El Lesan" is the place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Nile River, and it was also developed to compete with worldwide tourist places.

wallahu'alam

 ok.i want to tell you all that how interesting experince ever in my life. yeah..for the first time. searching for cockles.shore,deep in sand..ok2.so excited.~

this programme was organized by Unit Pembangunan Insan, PCZ.

grouping according to usrah's group. SYMBATCH stand for Symphony of Batch's Day Out 08/09. the director was Sya'fiah helped by adhocs, and other friends.

we boarded bus. started our wonderful journey about 8 a.m. arrived at destination about 11 a.m. On bus, we made a chit chat. talk to friends some. huhu. everyone hoping cockles still on shore coz our mushrif, Ustaz Hanif said, cockles would return back to sea if sun was on head means NO COCKLES IF ARRIVED LATE..coz its already 11 a.m..aiseyh~

yeah, our mistake preparing, packing bags late. huhu. Pakcik driver stopped about 15-20 minutes to get his breakfast too. Not blamed him coz dia mesti lapar tahap gaban coz long driving tu. huhu

on beach, we did light exercise. warming up lah kire before doing the heavy one ( considered searching cockles was heavy, straining exercise. haha ). senam aerobik in a big circle (halaQah) then, after that, made a small circle. said to your friends at right & left side: I loVe you. eh before thet, kiss their cheeks too. hehe. well, nak eratkan lagi ukhuwah..boolehlah :)

k the, 1 hour for searching cockles.

see.i got them.yuuhu

Farihah opened the cockle. ops, blood squeezed out

showed 8. nails fully filled with sand

~my girls~

penat ke?

actually, i was not too excited to collect/seach cockles. coz no experience. i thought it would be bored, BUT uh.yeah! hehe

i looked down. beach. yes. beach..but i only saw the shell..which one was cockles? huhu..macam blurring tiba2 coz banyak. bersepah kulit2 macam lala and those species la an..

then, one by one i picked up. filling the plastic bag. hehe. unexpected la. I caught about ** entah..somewhat berkilo jgk kot. ngeh2..look at the above pictures

abes. lencun baju kurung, tudung, purdah..mereka pakaian penuh dgn pasir.

there was toilets nearby. so senangkan :)

then, we got our lunch together :). I brought some nasi goreng and sweet waffles. K.Amirah also brought nasi goreng ( as planned ), caramel pudding, burger meat, chicken nuggets. Aina made curry puffs. drinks brought by k. Aizah and others. eh, who made bread pudding eh?

berkelah di tepi pantai~

then, boarding bus to our next destination. Ra'sul Bar...what was it?? ok. read info above ^_^

before that, dropped by mosQue for praying asar+zohor. (jama' ta'khir)

beauti...ful?

egypt!!

abaikan kata2 itu *_*

sun shining bright

..pageant Queen..

..sky became dark.light on..

so, balik umah la..ape lagi bai (bak kata org Sabah)..hehe

trivia¬moga ukhuwah yang terjalin kekal sampai bila2

banyak pic upload. sori klu lambat..well, hope enjoy this post

p/s: Izzati jeles kitorg gi Dumyat..em, Izzati, my new housemate. 1st year. so secara jelasnye beliau mana blh pegi sbb bkn batch kitorg... kn2? haha.. i know, u read this..peace ^=^

eh, almost forget these pictures.hehe

big right? Egyptian cockles

preparing them for dinner

veg+cockles

must boil the cockles first.banyak pasir. i brushed some shells.others cuci gitu2 je. lambat nak berus semua. rendam dgn asam keping, baru rebus. tak lama pun. 10-12 minit je..klu lama sgt, hilang kemanisan kerang..makanan laut tak ley masak lama2..

ok then.

syukran for reading. hope u guys enjoy reading this long post.:)

assalamualaikum