EGYPT, NOVEMBER 2010

28 November 2010
Cairo. Seem again I have not written a lot. I was home only for five days before I had to go to Egypt to attend the African Technology and Policy Studies (ATPS) meeting.I arrived rather late on the evening of 24th but was collected from the airport.  As soon as I landed there were messages from Hussein and Ahmed.Mehres my former students

On Thursday evening Hussein Abou Donia and I met and then we went out for an evening meal about 30 min along the Nile. Cairo changed a lot with more traffic. Next evening Ahmed Mehrez took me out to a family party at a restaurant; a very large meal I surprisingly could not eat it all. Then today Sunday Hussein took me out for a meal after a visit to the Cairo Museum and the Pyramids.

The meeting for ATPS in the Conrad Hotel has been interesting but a bit disorganised. About 20 African countries were represented here to discuss a lot about future Agriculture taking into account climate change issues. Many diffent aspects were discussed. I was stressing again that research worker in Africa has to be rewarded by their impact on rural development and poverty alleviation rather than publication in Western peer reviewed journals. Maybe my contribution was not very good.

Today again meeting up with Ahmed and Hussein has been very exciting. They really spoiled me. Today again at the Pyramids riding on camels and the museum certainly show how Egypt was formed. So many of the memories in both places. Memories from up to 5000 years ago. Much older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia which is about 1000 years old. One can but admire the whole thing. Tomorrow I am to visit another institute with Abo Donia. I do not know what will come out of that. They like to set up an Orskov lab! So now to bed and on way back tomorrow.