This blog item and video was posted today by the travel writer Rolf Potts -
http://www.rtwblog.com/2010/09/an-egyptian-straight-razor-shave-in-21-easy-steps/. He goes into all of the steps involved in getting a barbershop shave while traveling through Egypt... pretty cool what they do.
A little background on Rolf and why he's not carrying a razor while traveling..... He's traveling around the world for 6 weeks with no bags, just what he can carry in the pockets on his travel jacket and pants, so space is tight. One of my clients is outfitting the trip, so that's why I'm following his progress.
Great shave...what is Baksheesis.?
That is quite a ritual. Maybe we have become too rushed in our culture. Need to take time to smell the rose water or something.
Oh OK...I thought it was something exotic.
Great shave...what is Baksheesis.?
It is a tip.
I think that is the corrupted sense of the word, it has more to do with alms to the poor--a duty in the Islamic religion.
I think that is the corrupted sense of the word, it has more to do with alms to the poor--a duty in the Islamic religion.
Thanks for the clarification.
We could of saved some baksheesis........we would skip the hair comb step.
Great shave...what is Baksheesis.?
It is a tip.
I think that is the corrupted sense of the word, it has more to do with alms to the poor--a duty in the Islamic religion.
Nailed it on the head....couldn't have said it better myself.
I got some knowledge about Egyptian straight-razor shave here. It is some funny but very useful.
spam from the above poster
The United States has effectively ruined both a pleasure and an occupation. All around the world one of the greatest pleasures is to find out what the custom for shaving is-and they vary. What does not vary is that the barber is a professional, that is his trade, his only trade apart from selling mens grooming products or lottery tickets. To enter his shop, wherever, is to honour him, to acknowledge his (presumed) skills. Things don't always work out as perfectly as one might hope but it will never be less than an experience. My favourite country for being barbered and shaved is Turkey. There, "the full treatment" includes everything from a haircut and shave to a facial, a back massage, a shoulder massage, hot towels, cold towels, ear and nose hair being removed by flame on a ball of cotton soaked in metholated spirits...pauses here and there...and, not infrequently, coffee, snacks a beer etc. In one place, where the family lived above the shop, the wife pressed my jacket and, in the process, repaired a very minor tear in the lining. Of course Baksheesh was expected and I fully expected to pay it. For what I got, t was worth it. The cost? Then about six or seven U.S. Dollars but I paid with a ten and insisted that I needed no change. On leaving I was helped into my coat, my tie was adjusted, the knot made perfect and I was given a brush down find that in the United States.
The United States has effectively ruined both a pleasure and an occupation.
That is not all us Americans have ruined in this world. The list is long. I've never experienced a full on facial servicing like that but it looks like a very enjoyable experience.