CAIRO: Ramadan is a holy month where people fast, feel at one with the poor and are very charitable. It is also a month where people go out late, smoke lots of shisha and play backgammon. Egyptians have created a Ramadan culture, based mainly on the local love of staying up late and socializing; we Egyptians have created a Ramadan night scene that may be even more 'happening' then the rest of the year. After scanning this year's Ramadan nightlife, I discovered one specific tent that has been getting a lot of attention. A Ramadan tent, for those who are unfamiliar, is not really a tent at all. It is actually a venue were both men and women go starting 9:00 p.m., where people eat, chat, play various board and card games and smoke a whole lot of shisha. The most talked about tent this year is 3al Nil (on the Nile) which has been around for three years running, but interestingly has venue hopped to diverse spots along the Nile. The idea started at the Cairo Sheraton, moving on to the Imperial boat in Zamalek last year, and now is on the deck of the Nile Pharaoh in Giza. Founder Hassan Abaza explains, "We were going for variety, sticking to the same theme of being on the Nile. we don't want people to be bored. Abaza, along with his brother Fayez and his sister Reem, decided to decorate the place a little differently this year. In contrast to the darker hues of the other tents, this one has a fresh theme. The main colors are fuchsia, lime green, orange and white. The lighting is perfect, not too bright or overly dim; hundreds of candles combine with ultra modern lights like long strands of small round lights dangling from the curtains. The general theme makes you think funky Arab. Like Arabian Nights meets Andy Warhol. The beds and flowing curtains complement the Arabian Nights motif and are also very comfortable, especially since they are covered in pillows. As the deck is 50 meters inside the Nile, you are surrounded by a spectacular view of the Nile. The center is filled with tables, but if you're looking for some privacy, you should book one of the lounges that border the deck. These are almost like your own private living room. You even have your own television and PlayStation2. The menu has a good variety of Arab - leaning towards Lebanese - cuisine. They offer all the typical mezze like tahina and babaghanoush, as well as some special dishes like sharkasiya and fattah. Of course shisha is available in all flavors, and backgammon, chess and playing cards are brought to you on request. The music is mainly Arabic and some chill out Buddha Bar type tunes blasting from loudspeakers. Now for the really special touch (drum roll.): they also offer a private felucca, which you can rent for an hour. Food is brought to you hot on a zodiac into the Nile. 3al Nil is truly an enjoyable place to go out, especially if you want to enjoy the nightlife and be seen. But if you don't tend to follow the herd, you'd better avoid it or you will most definitely be stampeded. For reservations call (012) 2420000.
