دوجو دهب

 

Doggo Dahab belongs to my cousin Rasha from A Letter That Hit Me In The Feels. After the passing of Caramella in 2013 Toronto, he remained as a trusted heart-warming connection to the canine world. During later trips from the U.S to Egypt I would take him for daily walks around Zamalek, which we both seemed to love.

After eventually returning to the country we kept at those daily walks until I left Cairo to Sokhna for a full 2.5 years. During this solitary time-out for the soul I would often take him along to enjoy the beach and the quietude for few days. When later moving to Dahab ― the actual Sinai Bohemian enclave ― I remain fortunate to reconnect with him in the summers on the North Coast.

Here’s to one loving and adorable doggo. Woof Woof 💜.

“When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.”

― A.D. Williams

واحشني إبن إلايه

إيه A-Hole؟

ده أبو أبو الهول

يعني أباً عن جداً جداً

ولا جداً عن أباً أباً؟


*
طب فين دوجو دهب؟

يا قليل الأدب

طلعلك شنب

من تحت الكنب

ذي أبو لهب

*
فين دوجو دهب؟

نرجع تاني وهاني

للاماني والتهاني

والوزن والقافية البتنجاني

بتاعت اللغات المجنناني


*
هو فين دوجو دهب؟

يمكن بين الكلام والتفاني

دهب قاعد يستناني

أصله كلب إنساني وعمره ماهينساني

اه ياني ― حلاوة الحب يا سيدي إنه مجاني
.

*
أللا هو فين دوجو دهب؟

يكونش إبن الحافية

متكاوزز فحتة دافية

يمكن لقي الأبيات مش كافية

قام إستخبي بين السطور واللا حتي تحت قافية
.
*

— و عجبي يا cher ami
إمضاء: Doggo Dahab & Me
ABC
123
DO-RE-MI

Probably his first time to ever be carried like this as an adult

ALSO VIEW:

خزعفرات ٢٥ قيراط 🌀🧪

🌛✧ الخوض السكوني ✧🌜

ألوان الطيف 

Journey Into Oneself

قهقهة كونية

هذياني ياني

Reefer Reverie: An Ode

Rebirth

الوقت من دهب يا أبا لهب

دوجو دهب

Intention Connection & Reflective Introspection

Minimalism

حوار سفيه ساخن

Moon Magnoon

Phree Phlow

(H)ero

When The Sky Spoke Back

Thinking Allowed Is Aloud

The Womb

The Mystic and the Tripper

Trump Le Trompeur

Living On Insanity’s Brink

Tamarack Over Jack

قصيدة تسلم الأيادي ... لو كانت نضيفة

Sophia And The Djembefola

The Alpha-Beta Poem 

Francophun يا WaladéStaYin Yang ☯

Anastasis of the Poetry Quizard

Poème Tragique

Find Your Tao: Phoolosophizing en Prosoetry

Poetitude

Meet Alf عقبة [Video]

Lunacy — Written at 19

Coming Back To The Real

Mima 56 — Written at 20

Beth’s Death — Written at 21 

Have No Morsi —هاف نو مرسي

Nena Ya Nena: a Bilingual Duet with Vaya Con Dios — نينا يا نينا: ثنائي ثنائي اللغة مع ڤيا كون ديوس

From Ritsa to Uni: a Sea Urchin Story

 

I have been meaning to write about this topic for quite a while and somehow it kept slipping through. So here it is. 

I first came to know what ‘ritsa’ ( ريتسا ) is from my childhood on the Mediterranean beaches of Alexandria. More formally known as ( قنفذ البحر ) or hedgehog of the sea, they were sold by vendors along with clams, as well as sugary treats like ‘fresca’ and other snacks. 

As a 3-4 year old kid, they terrified me — repulsed me, more likely. Why? Due to their hostile and dark spiky appearance. Also, because people would often step on them, which was a heck of an unpleasant experience to say the least. 

If you never stepped on a sea urchin before, let me tell you that it’s somewhat horrible, as the pain can be excruciating. While sometimes we are able to extract the spines by ourselves, probably using a tweezers, others have to go to doctors or even hospitals for help. The round shape and the abundance of spines make it almost a certainty that you get stung by more than a few. In some cases they cannot be taken out as they break off inside the skin, then one has to carry on living with them planted deep inside their soles or heels — or anywhere else throughout the body — where they dissolve with time. Vinegar expedites the process; a reason why it is advised to first soak the affected area in vinegar before trying to remove the spines.

 

As such, younger me has never ever eaten ritsa on any beach. Actually, I wouldn’t even come close to whoever would be eating them. Not that many in my surrounding did anyway. So I never really knew how people managed to do it with all these scary spines around the core — shell. What naivety.


 Let alone know what the edible part looks like.

I do remember that my first injury came a bit later in Hurghada on the Red Sea when snorkelling was an enjoyable activity for my then 8-9 year old self. But I was relatively fine. I mean, I took it “like a man” until we got the spines out. Still by then I had never tried consuming them. 

 

Many moons then passed by while ritsa became a distant childhood memory… until I began getting into sushi. For a few years in North America when dropping the meats completely out of my diet, I would from time to time indulge in seafood and sushi. By the early 30s, sushi had become that rather expensive drug used on occasions — as a reward system to hack into my brain. Naturally I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur one could say. 

 

Starting in Toronto then later in L.A, I began coming across one type of Nigiri sushi, which always left my taste buds in utter ecstasy: Uni in Japanese, or Sea Urchin Roe in English. It is a light brown paste that is usually one of the most expensive Nigiris. If a portion of salmon/tuna/crab costs $2 or 3 Dollars, Uni would be about $4.50. I once asked an Asian chef about the reason behind the price; to which he said it takes a whole animal to make a single two-piece Nigiri portion. 



Note that by then I still had not made the connection between this yummy brown paste and the spiky black ritsa from my childhood in Alexandria and Hurghada. As mentioned, I had never even seen it — the edible part that is. Then one day I decided to Google “sea urchin”, and Lo and Behold: A variety of images came onto the screen: Ah, YOU, dear ol’ Ritsa Bitcha?! 

Delicious sea urchin roe or Uni (bottom right), flying fish roe
or Tobiko (bottom left), then the 4 salmon roe or Ikura

The above photo was taken at Sushi Raw in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles where I would go whenever spending few days at my aunt. You see, sushi prices in Venice Beach, or the Westside in general, are a tad too much for this Bohemian artist. So I would take advantage of being in The Valley and go enjoy some hot sake along with this filling and fulfilling meal.

Ironically, one of the very few things I feared as a kid turned out to be one of the tastiest delicacies my adult self would enjoy. A reminder of the George Addair quote: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” Or in words of  Joseph Campbell: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

With that being said, and before we proceed, I now feel compelled to add that back in 2014 I was one night harassed by cops on the way back from dining at Sushi Raw. On a bicycle, mind you. Yep. Stop-n-Search That Hippy then came into being. 

— ☙ ❊ ❧ —— ☙ ❊ ❧ —— ☙ ❊ ❧ —

 

So what exactly are ritsas/sea urchins?

 

Sea urchins (Echinoidia) are spiny globular animals, echinoderms, in the class Echinoidea. There are about 950 different species scattered around the world’s sea beds across all oceans — in hot and cold water alike. They usually range in size from 3 to 10 cm (1 to 4 in). However, only 18 out of 950 are edible.

Sea urchins are members of the phylum Echinodermata, which also includes sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and crinoids. With Echinoidia as their class, they are in the Camarodonta order and some belong to the Echinidae family. This family contains genera including Strongylocentrotus and Lytechinus.

Like other echinoderms, they have five-fold symmetry (called pentamerism) and cannot swim; instead, they move by means of hundreds of tiny transparent, adhesive “tube feet”. Sometimes they push themselves using their spines.

Etymologically, ‘Echinoidea’ originates from the Greek ekhinos, spine. The word ‘urchin’ is conveniently an old word for hedgehog, which is the same in Arabic with ( قنفذ ) [konfez] meaning hedgehog while ( البحر ) [al bahr] is the sea. Apparently, they were archaically called “sea hedgehogs” in English as well. The name is derived from Old French herichun, from Latin ericius, hedgehog.

Purple and red among other colours.
Photos from Associated Press, KPBS (top), Hakai Magazine (bottom)

For consumption, sea urchins are harvested for their gonads. The following is taken straight from Wikipedia with minor editorial polishing:

The gonads of both male and female sea urchins, usually called sea urchin roe or corals, are culinary delicacies in many parts of the world. In Mediterranean cuisines, Paracentrotus lividus is often eaten raw, or with lemon, just like on the beaches of Egypt.

In Italian menus they are known as ricci and are sometimes used in pasta sauces. Notice ricci/ritsa — Words With Italian Origin That Are Still Used Today In Egypt has a lot more similarities. The article ranks number 2 in the all-time views list on One Lucky Soul. 

Also used to flavour omelettes, scrambled eggs, fish soup, mayonnaise, béchamel sauce for tartlets, the boullie for a soufflé, and Hollandaise sauce to make a fish sauce.

In Chilean cuisine, it is served raw with lemon, onions, and olive oil. Though the edible Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis is found in the North Atlantic, it is not widely eaten. However, sea urchins (called uutuk in Alutiiq) are commonly eaten by the Alaska Native population around Kodiak Island. It is commonly exported, mostly to Japan. In the West Indies, slate pencil urchins are eaten. On the Pacific Coast of North America, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus was praised by Euell Gibbons; Strongylocentrotus purpuratus is also eaten.

In New Zealand, Evechinus chloroticus — known as kina in Maori — is a delicacy which is traditionally eaten raw. Though New Zealand fishermen would like to export them to Japan, their quality is too variable.

In Japan, sea urchin, known as uni (うに), and its roe can retail for as much as ¥40,000 ($360) per kg; it is served raw as sashimi or in sushi, with soy sauce and wasabi. Japan imports large quantities from the United States, South Korea, and other producers. The Japaneses consume 50,000 tons annually, amounting to over 80% of global production. Such a high demand for sea urchins has raised concerns about overfishing.

Native Americans in California are equally known to eat sea urchins. The coast of Southern California is famous for being a source of high quality uni, with divers picking sea urchin from kelp beds in depths as deep as 24 m/80 ft. As of 2013, the state was limiting the practice to 300 sea urchin diver licenses. 


Other well-researched foodie storytelling here on One Lucky Soul: 

• New Kreation: Jambalaya with Salmon and Shrimps

• The Origin of Ashoura Dessert — aka Noah’s Pudding  

• Eating Cows’ Trotters

• The Meaning Behind Different Colours of Egg Yolks 

• The Difference Between Mandarin, Tangerine, and Clementine [ranking number 3]

— ☙ ❊ ❧ —— ☙ ❊ ❧ —— ☙ ❊ ❧ —

To finally reach closure, two summers ago while back on the Mediterranean Northern Coast of Egypt, I came across a vendor selling ritsa on the beach. Knowing then its full story, I decided to finally go for it, almost four decades later. All I remember is how tiny each ‘portion’ was. Ridiculously so, ending up licking what could fit on a single thumbnail. For now, sushi is the best way to enjoy them. I just wish they weren’t that pricey.

By the end of writing this article I came to remember what made them initially come to mind after slipping through the cracks for so long. Two factors contributed, actually:

The first is how they are by the gazillions here on the Ein el Sokhna beach by the Red Sea where I had been residing for more than a year. Literally few metres away from the shore.

The second is missing the overpriced uni. Speaking of, mayhap I can just dive in, pick some up, and make my own? Or just enjoy them in the raw à la Mediterranean? Hm.
Unfortunately, however, those Red Sea ones are not part of the 18 edible species.

Having been living the beach life for almost seven years now, one cannot help but be drawn to all kinds of seafood.

Eventually one day I thought to end this age-long lesson by watching the below educating YouTube video — shot in California. It basically covers how sea urchins are processed commercially: Starting with opening, scooping up, cleaning, then packing it and making ready to be devoured. It goes on to show how they are graded according to the colour and texture, starting with premium and followed by three lesser quality grades.

One must say that the sizes of sea urchins shown in the video are significantly larger than the ones I finally tried on the Northern Coast.


And now we know. Salute. Nom Nom Nom. 

SOURCES:



*Featured image: Diadem sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) by Flowergarden.noaa.gov (top left)

• How To Dive For Sea Urchins, And Tips For Eating Them by FoodRepublic.com (top right)

• Norway’s first onshore sea urchin farm up and running by Nofima, Sciencenorway.no (middle)

• Open sea urchins in Sicily, Wikipedia (bottom left)

• Japanese uni-ikura don, sea urchin egg and salmon egg donburi, Wikipedia (bottom right)

*Second image: Sea Urchin Invasion Wreaks Destruction On California, Oregon Coasts by KPBS (top)
Sea Urchins Stress Out by Hakai Magazine (bottom)

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New Kreation: Jambalaya with Salmon and Shrimps

The Origin of Ashoura Dessert — aka Noah’s Pudding
 
Eating Cows’ Trotters — كوارع

The Meaning Behind Different Colours of Egg Yolks

Arugula: The Healthy Ancient Aphrodisiac

The Difference Between Mandarin, Tangerine, and Clementine

Dropping Two Waist Sizes in a Few Months

Kicking That Sweet Habit: Why and How to Dorp Sugar

New Kreation: Onion-n-Garlic Pasta with Mussels and Other Yummy Stuff

New Kreation: Veggie Pasta

Cooking My Catch, Finally ― Pasta with Calamari [With Video and Recipe]

New Kreation: Sliced Baked Potatoes with Herbs

Most Expensive Food in the World

Top 10 Most Expensive Scotch in the World

Words With Italian Origin That Are Still Used Today In Egypt

Izzy The Egyptian American Doggo [Video]

Dogs I get to spend time and connect with always have a special place in my heart. Because their lives are quite short, every once in a while I hear the news about one of them passing on to Doggo Heaven. Recently it was Shay the Saint Bernard, before that was my own Caramella, and sadly this time it’s Izzy, or Izabella, who belonged to my second cousin Teymour.

Luckily, though, I shoot and keep a whole lot of photos and videos; many of which are of those lovable canines. When they are gone, these memories serve well by reminding us of how great it was to have such faithful companions in our lives, even if for a relatively short time. Other than a few photos, there is also a video at the end of the article which I created out of some footage of Izzy.


Izzy’s story begins in 2004 in the streets of Cairo, Egypt as a tiny abandoned half Baladi-half Husky puppy. Baladi is the Egyptian word for stray, which literally means “my country”; it could also be used as a derogatory term meaning vulgar or lacking in taste.

Teymour was visiting from Michigan when he found her all alone under a car in Maadi, so he rescued and took her home. Around the same time, he would come hang out at my place and ended up spending a few nights, along with Izzy. She was so small and helpless, that I didn’t really mind her regular pee stains and tiny poopies around the house, even though the guy was always cleaning up behind her and apologising. 

I remember we called one of the local vets, Dr. Rafik, who issued a certificate stating that she’s younger than six-weeks old. Then called the airport to inquire about the procedure; and they said no extra paper work was needed due to the young age. That was simply it as off they both went. He took her to Michigan and started a new life together. A rescued Egyptian stray just “immigrating” and becoming American. A dream coming true for many humans. Kudos to Teymour.

T and pup Izzy fresh off Maadi’s streets, 2004

Fast-forwading to almost 10 years in February 2014 when I went to visit T in Michigan. It was one harsh winter; my loving dog had recently passed away, I had to leave Canada after three years of visa renewal, and the relationship I was in didn’t seem like it had any future. I had began writing the book and had no other option than to just keep going. So I got on the road coddiwompling across America for a few months before ending up in Venice Beach in Los Angeles. 

But before that I got to spend about six days with Teymour and Izzy. There wasn’t too many things to do in Birmingham, Michigan, especially without a car, and especially in such cold. So in the mornings T would go to work and I spend the entire day at home with the dog. A lot of time to connect.

The night I first arrived she was showing her teeth, something she usually did according to T. Nothing too aggressive, but untrusting. She obviously didn’t remember me as she was literally three or four weeks old back then.

Being alone in the house with a dog person who was tremendously missing his recently departed dog meant that there was lots of contact and body language play between us. Eventually I gained her trust, but it was a gradual process.

Assessing the situation, the first thing to consider was her breed. She is a Baladi stray dog after all, even though also being a Huskey mix. Those wild ones are pack-oriented and tend to get territorial; without enough time socialising with humans as well as other dogs they wouldn’t learn how to become friendly, which happened to be the case. 
 
The following step was to establish my dominance as a pack leader. So when she slightly bit my hand on that first morning, I knew what was needed. A jog. In the snow. In the middle of nowhere. Rocky Balboa mode!

I also showed no signs of fear or panic; just more determination to add her with some love.... and discipline.
 
I asked Teymour for the outdoors collar and leash, got them on her, wore my Adidas, gloves and beanie and headed out there. 

Getting ready before that first run and commemorating it

From the sheer excitement and energy level, I could tell that Izzy had probably never been taken out for jogs before. Being confined to the house for long hours while the owner is out working is something I know quite a few things about. Just like us humans, dogs get bored and lonely and should all should get enough time outdoors. Though the house garden is not really considered outdoors. Again, because there is little to no socialising. 

For certain dog breeds, exercising is actually essential to remain healthy, sane, and most importantly, to feel useful. Running, walking, or hiking together can be also be a great and healthy way to bond. Not only because the furry ones need to move, but also because this is how they look up to you as a pack leader. Seeing your physical capabilities will earn their respect.

Besides, it’s pure joy to be outdoors with our canines; regularly connecting with nature is one sure way to sharpen their senses.

Actually I had done the same with the Saint Bernard Gentle Giant in Toronto a few years earlier. Though I had much more time with Shay, rather than just a few days with Izzy. 

That said, I made sure the run wouldn’t be too long, since it’s the first — maybe 2.5 miles or so. Once back home, she was visibly calmer and more docile.

By the second run she was adapting and clearly enjoying her time outside of the house. The enthusiasm and anticipation showed all over her eyes when she would hear the sound of the collar and leash. This time it was a bit longer.

The remarkable thing is that it was a two-way thing. As mentioned, I had just lost my Cocker Spaniel after 8 years together; for us, too, moved from Egypt to Canada. It was quite a love story. So as much as handling Izzy seem to have worked for her, the experience was almost therapeutic to myself as well.

Additionally, it was a way to start moving again, with a dog. Following Canada and before being back to the States I spend six weeks in Egypt with no exercising and lots of yummy food — after being away for three long years during which I was cooking every single day. So I needed to get back in shape after regaining my health. 

Iz, Izzy yum yum, Biz, Bizzy, Bizznass, Zakia, Zakia-Hanem, and Stinker Bell
were different nicknames

Izzy and I enjoyed three runs during this short stay in Birmingham. Naturally, this led to more bonding and more trust. She was slowly becoming more playful and less aggressive. She seemed happy as she would wag her tail, giving me her squeaking toy to play with. I showed her that, first, I’m not afraid of her growling. Second, that playfulness is indeed good and healthy. In fact, it is needed for a dog’s well-being. 

The last thing I made sure to do is to let her know she’s a good girl as often as possible. Because I know how Love is capable of changing everything.

As written in Things I Wish All Dog Owners Would Understand, when you reward your dog with a simple “good girl/boy” they really do act as a good girl/boy. In fact, researchers have found that social interactions make pet dogs release Oxytocin — the same “love hormone” that humans feel when they are in love or bonding with friends. So that was something I had in mind whenever I would come across her around the house.

You can see the progression in the video below: How at start she growled and barked after coming in from the garden so I can give her a treat. I didn’t take any of that, and using body language I showed her who is the dominant one. It worked and Izzy Iz submitted to what iz.

Later — the part where I was telling her story — the bared teeth still showed a little but she was much more playful and submissive, bringing me her toy to share. In fact, in the dog world this may be called a submissive grin or even smile. By the time I was comfortable enough to playfully spank her butt as I used to do to Caramella.

Then finally looking relaxed lying down with one paw tucked under, no teeth. Because she was a good girl.

Fierce look captured during one of our tête-à-tête days at home 

On a Friday, Teymour took me to Detroit for the day. While he spent it at the head office, he got me in touch with a hippie-minded friend of his who ended up showing me around the city.

She was a lovely Egyptian American girl who also had another American friend with her. Equipped only with a camera, we went Downtown, visited the Botanical Garden, and the historical Belle Isle Casino. I remember we met other people at this coffee shop; and when I shared that I am just travelling around without any plans, they sympathetically said: “Auwh, he’s homeless”. I had never thought about it that way, but yes, homeless it was.

Another day, Teymour and I went out to some fun party/exhibition when we double dated. It was followed by a fancy dinner somewhere.

By the end my stay, the bonding wasn’t just with Izzy or just with T, but with both. I left Birmingham without knowing anything other than my next destination: Denver, Colorado. In fact, only because Teymour suggested it as we chillaxing at home a couple of days prior. This was February of 2014 and marijuana legalisation there was just beginning. So considering that I would probably enjoy this new American Amsterdam, he shared the idea, and Denver it was.

I first had to head back to Sycamore, Illinois where my main luggage was — at a kind friend I had met online, Ahmed. Yeah.     

Once ready, I headed to Chicago and got on a train for an 18-hour ride to the Mile High City. It was a lovely the experience as it was my first time to sleep in a train. I had a tiny cute cabin, including dinner and breakfast, served at the “restaurant”. There, I met a Canadian couple and we genuinely began chatting.

While I met Teymour a few times since then, it was the last time I saw Izzy. Just a couple of weeks ago, she went on her next journey, joining Caramella and Shay and all the dogs that have ever lived. Ah. 

 

From the streets of Maadi to Michigan, this doggo was given a new beginning and a wonderful life. May her lovely soul Rest In Peace.

ALSO VIEW:

A Dieu Caramella

Training a Gentle Giant — Shay The Saint Bernard

Things I Wish All Dog Owners Would Understand

Why Cats Are Not Dogs

When Lady Ran Away

When The Puppies Ate The “Chocolate”

The Most Loyal Dogs in History

Some Animals I Shot

From Insects to Crows: Dogless and Searching for Companionship

One thing I’m truly yearning for these days is a loving furry companion. I think I’m ready now that four years had gone since the passing of Caramella. However, because I haven’t yet ‘settled’ anywhere, it wouldn’t be fair to get a dog. As such, you find me looking for connection in all sorts of weird places.




It started with ants a few years ago when I briefly resided at my aunt’s pace in Los Angeles. This ended with writing three well-researched pieces about some of the odd behaviours of these magnificent creatures: Why Ants Carry Their Dead and Other Fascinating Facts and Ants Carry Other Live Ones As Means of Transportation. 

When I later shared a lovely Venice Beach bungalow I was blessed by a couple of temporary mates who had their dogs that I used to take for almost daily walks: Blackjack shown in the featured collage and Lady the Shiba Inu. In Cairo, when I go back for visits there is my sister’s cat, also shown up there. In addition to three of my cousins’ dogs who throughout the years became walking companions. 

The following encounters with other life forms were back in L.A with bees and other insects, which I happened to save from drowning in the pool. 

I even befriended one for a good 15 minutes.

After that, it was the fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) who love sipping on me wine and getting drunk. They truly go berserk around it. They are also into fermented fruits, like ripe bananas, but the attraction seems different in nature. Since this happens indoors, I got more time to study and film the little buggers. I even gave them names in an effort to identify them. Laurel and Hardy pictured in the below photo were two. 



A repeated happening with fruit flies is that they would get into the glass of rosé wine, keep sipping over a period of time until they’re tipsy and unable to escape. This is when I usually take notice — when my time comes to sip. If they are still outside the wine itself I tilt the glass with an angle, making it easier for them to fly out, which usually works. But sometimes they’re too plastered, so I use my finger to gently escort them. Yep.

Buzzed Laurel and Hardy waiting atop a covered glass of rosé wine:
The Elixir of Life

Other times, the drunkards are already swimming in. Like many, back in the days I would throw the drink. Now, never. I get a spoon and gently pick them up, then place them on a solid surface, giving them time and space to come back to life. I did this many times and filmed it twice. It does feel good to watch them fly again. Though if the glass is left for too long they just drown.



After a while I learned to cover the glass with a tissue. Even though if left long enough, they would sneak from the tiny gaps underneath and find a way in, but never out. Like a concerned parent, I began using something more solid like a paper or coaster. But then I would feel sorry for them, remembering how I personally enjoy drinking wine. Wine-not share? 



I would remind myself of the same when having them around ‘bugs’ me, that with a single hand gesture I could easily end their lives. But do I have to? “Understand that this is what a two-month life is for these harmless tiny ones,” I’d ponder before going back to the peaceful, non-bloody method.   



Eventually, by the end of this coexisting I wanted to think that the survivors fruit flies may be aware that I helped and save them from a certain death; that they have sentience. The others with whom I shared drinks, maybe they know that I’m the one who offers them their food source, which they love to death — pun intended. 


As a result of these interactions I was also inspired to write Animals Getting High: Weird Nature ― Peculiar Potions. 

The little one who befriended me after saving it from drowning in the pool

As usual, the more you dig, the more things get unusually interesting. Further observation revealed that fruit flies possess sophisticated senses; how they smell through antennae rather than noses, which help them detect odours in the air; also how they use visual and olfactory cues to navigate and locate food sources.

It turned out that fruit flies are useful organisms for studying the neural mechanisms of their navigation behaviours. A reason why from UCLA to the University of Washington, there is a significant amount of studies involving them, their poppy-seed brains, and how efficiently they use their mere 200,000 neurons — as opposed to 300,000 for house flies and billions for humans.

For the curious, more readings can be found on this “fruit flies” link on Popular Science with a selection of different articles. 


The last insect species to try to interact with is a tiny little spider in the bathroom, which I named Spy. I didn’t relocate it outdoors as I normally do with most insects found inside. You know, it’s cold these days, so I let it hang in. It’s quiet, keeps to itself, and always in that same upper corner. I even greet it with a high-pitched “Hey Buddy!” every time I go to the bathroom. 

Compared to fruit flies, spiders live much longer — up to two-three years, with most dying after one year.

Ultimately, after months of interactions and research I wrote a story including some of these insects, which one day could become an animated film with a witty existential twist.  



All that said, insects are a different order of life as we know it. Their relatively small sizes make their world almost invisible to us … until we come into contact. These ‘relationships’ I am recounting herein are certainly cool and they teach one a whole lot. Personally, they polish my observation skills while reminding me of what pure awareness is.

But, unless perhaps we’re talking about preying mantis or jumping spiders as pets, the rest of the insects are missing some reciprocation or mutual connection when dealing with us humans. Let alone the fact that they are short-lived — the encounters themselves as well as the lifespan of insects in general. More is needed.

Whether Spy is a Spiderman or a Spiderwoman, it doesn’t matter.
At least we’re under the same roof.



Crows were all over the Gezira Club where I used to play as a kid in Cairo. They seemed like wily, opportunistic birds who would steal unattended hotdogs and burgers right out of the bun. They had another role in my childhood, which is through the poem Le Corbeau et le Renard (The Fox and the Crow) of Jean de La Fontaine, originally one of Aesop’s fables. La Cigale et la Fourmi was another which had equally invaded my growing imagination.

We know from legends, literature, mythology, and folklore that crows/ravens get a vile rap among birds. Often associated with bad omens, witches, and death, in various cultures and religions they are a symbol of bad luck and the mortal world.

But for younger me, crows were never regarded as aggressive or unfriendly, or even ominous. Instead, they aroused my curiosity as I somehow found something mystical and msyterious about them. What’s more is that I sort of sympathised with them because le corbow lost his piece of cheese to the wily renard. So he was the one who learned through loss and experience. 
 
Later on in life, I came to know how these fascinating birds are remarkably intelligent and adaptable creatures — solving elaborate puzzles and problems — and how they can befriend humans. At the top of the intelligence list, the entire corvid family of crows, ravens, and jays (genus Corvus) along with parrots are considered the ultimate brainiac birds. The genus also includes rooks, jackdaws, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. 


Another notable poem which more mature me was introduced to is Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven
.

My own human family once had a pet African Grey parrot, Chico, for 18 years — the last six he moved to my place. So I can more or less say I know how it is with birds. They are no dogs or cats, which they could sometimes outsmart, but they are no insects either. A reason why many people have them as pets.

More recently, I heard of an 8-year-old Seattle girl who would regularly feed crows in her garden, so as thank yous in return they kept getting her all sorts of small shiny gifts. From beads, buttons, paper clips to ChapSticks, coloured pieces of seaglass, with the favourite of the trinkets being a little heart pendant. How cute is that. Seriously.

Apparently, however, the girl’s parents are now facing a lawsuit because the neighbourhood does not seem as amused as everyone who read the viral Story or watched the Video from all over the world.

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore”



As mentioned with insects, the more you follow your curiosity by wondering and inquiring, the more things get interesting. The following are some compelling facts about crows:

• Crows recognise individual faces. So they recall those who was kind and who have wronged them; accordingly they can hold grudges. 

• They inherit the land — habitat — from their parents, sometimes going back to hundreds of years in one location.

• They can mimic the human voice just like some other birds.

• A group of crows is called a murder — which does not help much their alleged notorious reputation. Today some scientists argue that it is time to find another term because a “murder of crows” keeps feeding the public’s negative outlook on the animals. I do agree with that.


• They adapted to our modern life so well, they have been widely seen to drop uncracked nuts on busy streets from the air, so that passing cars do the job. Naturally, this shows they grasped the concept of traffic light. Red fly; Green OK. 

• Crows have regional dialect, which they can deliberately change.
  
  
• Crows are different than ravens. The cousins may look quite similar, but there are differences between the two birds. Discussed herein, we have the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and the common raven (Corvus corax). Ravens are larger in size and are more solitary, usually seen in ones and pairs. As for crows, they are normally found in larger groups. In addition, the shape of their tails as well as the sound of their calls are slightly different. the latter distinctions may remain hard to tell apart by the average person.
  
  

More can be found in the 2005 book by John M. Marzluff and Tony Angell: In the Company of Crows and Ravens.

Sweet Chico

With all that in mind, when this dogless dude saw a few crows hanging around close to his place he thought that maybe he should try to befriend them. According to the many sources on Google, they eat a whole lot of different things. From frogs, lizards, insects, to mealworms, crickets and mice, or “anything else they can catch and swallow”. They also like fresh fruits. 



Then fruits it was, since I don’t carry around any of the other items on the menu. The first time I had some peaches, like half one. I stepped outside and walked towards the side street where I usually spot the crows and just stood there watching. A couple of minutes through, one appeared above by the tree.

Now here was I wearing nothing but a swim suit while spreading my arm ahead with the peach in hand, trying to get the wild bird attention with all sorts of weird noises. I whistled first; then tried waving my hand like a street crazy listening to some music only him can hear. I wondered what would onlookers think, but I honestly didn’t care much as I was fixated on the experience.

After maybe 10 minutes I left the peach on the ground and went back inside. Two hours later it was still there. Another two hours and still there, so I picked it up and threw it in the garbage. 



Weeks had passed and I am still dogless and still yearning for connection. Hm. It’s winter as it is also the holiday season, all the fruit flies drinking buddies who kept me company have died. O’ The sorrow. Then, there is Spy the spider just minding his or her own business in that corner. Yet there is no dog or even a kitty cat around to share its love with me. Maybe the smart, social crows would.



I got out once more with the intention to feed some birds, or just one, this time with grapes. I looked around up and down and all around, but couldn’t see any for 10-15 minutes. So back in again.




After more digging, I learned that sunflower seeds is something crows eat. I had some, so on another day I went out with the full plastic box and stood there under the trees. This time I tried called them by shaking the container; you know, as you do with dogs and cats. No birds though, but the mailman passed by and gave me a funny look. 



I then decided that timing their visits is probably essential, so I began noting down the hours when they come visit. Obviously this will require time along some trial and error; but eventually if the patterns are carefully observed, then one could find and feed them.

“How to befriend a crow?” was another Google search, and the answers were more or less saying the same:

“The best thing you can do is put out peanuts consistently and don’t look directly at the birds when you do so (at least initially). Be conspicuous about you being the one to drop the food, but do not throw the food toward the crows or look at them initially, but do make sure they are in the area. Then, go back inside.”

 It seems that the key to success lies in establishing a regular feeding schedule.

Other articles are more like step-by-step guide for those who want to make friends with crows. Apparently lots of people are allured by the birds I’m actually flabbergasted from the amount of information available online. 

Finally spotted at 15:15

Amusingly, while finalising this article I still didn’t have a photo of a crow. I was leaving it as a last step, thinking that I could probably settle with one off Google or Wikipedia. After all, all other photos are mine. But then, I took the sunflower seeds and went out for one last trial.

This is when I saw that a flying black bird was sort of eyeing me — as soon as I stepped out. It is like it has been waiting for that moment. First thing I did was to wiggle the sunflower seeds plastic container to attracts its attention, and it did. The bird proceeded to rest up there by the wire, still keeping an eye on where I was located. I then swiftly went in to bring the camera. Once out, I started again with the wiggling and I could see that it was carefully watching me. Between handling the camera while trying to open the container at the same time, the bird flew away. I still kept some seeds on the ground before going in.    

Back out after a couple of hours, the sunflower seeds were gone. All of them. Tomorrow at 15:15 I will go out, making the sound noises and leaving the same seeds in hope to set a regular feeding schedule.

This time, two of my next-door neighbours passed by, looking at me with intrigue. I told them that “I’m writing an article about crows”. Aha.

Let us see what shall follow next and how the tail will unfold. What if I get to befriend the bird and then one day, after a moment of silence, it looks at me and says: “Nevermore”? Or maybe it’ll communicate in French, asking why did the fox take the cheese. Either way, if something does occur you will certainly know about it.

Until then, I still remain yearning for a doggo ... or any close companionship.

“I’m looking for love all around me
Looking for love to surround me
The love that I need
To rescue the state of my heart”

— Whitesnake, Looking For Love

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