On July 23, Egypt will celebrate Revolution Day, commemorating its liberation from the last vestiges of Pharaoh rule. So what better time to follow The Bangles’ decree and ‘Walk like an Egyptian’.

If you want to walk the walk, you should really learn to talk the talk too. The Hong Kong Communication Art Centre (1 King’s Rd, Tin Hau, 2877 8363) can help you out, with its regular Arabic classes.

Once you’ve got that mastered, move on to your looks. For a Middle Eastern makeover, visit Shabnam (Apt 9A, 70 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2369 3378), a unique beautician who does temporary henna tattoos in her own home.

If you’re feeling industrious, you can also bring the ambience of Egypt home with you. For that desert decor, hit up Horizon Plaza (Lee Wing St, Ap Lei Chau). The furniture warehouses have enough rugs to make you think you’re at a Cairo bazaar.

To fully set the mood, though, you’ve got to have the right meal. Whip up some baba ganoush with spices from the wide selection at SAFWAN Provisional Shop (Shop 35, G/F, 8 Wang Fat Path, Yuen Long, 2478 6866). Pair it with pita and hibiscus tea for a yummy snack.

If all that’s too much work, sit back on pillows and ottomans at a hip shisha bar. Medina Bar (G/F, 17 Hollywood Rd, Central, 2525 9493) is a good place to grab a luxuriously ornate hookah with apple or strawberry-flavoured tobacco. They also offer Egyptian wine, made with the intention of recapturing the flavours from 3,000 years ago. Modern man may find this ancient taste takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth a try.

Finally, you can recuperate from your Arabian night with coffee from Olympia Graeco Egyptian Coffee (4 Old Bailey St, Central, 2522 4653). The proprietor, known as Old Master Ho, personally roasts authentic Arabic coffee at the city’s oldest coffee shop. It’s like Hong Kong’s own time-honoured pyramid.

Anna Calinawan

Mostafa Mansour
Consul-General of the Arab Republic of Egypt 

What feels most Egyptian in Hong Kong?
There’s nothing very Egyptian here except one or two restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong. 

Things you miss most from home?
My language. I don’t use it much. Most of my day is in English, so I don’t get to speak even to the locals in their language. Also maybe some of our food. We have certain kinds of vegetables – of course you can find them here, but they don’t give the same taste.

What’s the best thing about Egypt for you?
The best for me is that I carry the nationality of one of the greatest civilisations in the history of mankind. That I am proven to be a person with great history, great values, very deep-rooted. Unlike other nationalities that are strong and big now and have nothing to talk about.