~ Experiencing Africa ~

Discovering the Sphinx and Great Pyramids in Egypt's burning sands
Chris Shirley MA FRGS Chris Shirley MA FRGS

Discovering the Sphinx and Great Pyramids in Egypt's burning sands

In September 2007, I was lucky to explore Egypt for 7 days, and see the one of the 7 wonders of the world, the great pyramids and the Sphinx!

Staying in Hurghada, a resort town located on the Red Sea coast that’s known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs, it’s a nice break after a busy 7 months in Osnabruck where I was based with 115 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.

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A road trip through the Atlas Mountains to the set of ‘Baghdad Central’.
Ouarzazate filming locations, Authentic Atlas Mountains filming, Morocco film industry, Baghdad Central, Behind the scenes Baghdad central, Muhsin al-Khafaji character, Post-invasion Iraq in Baghdad Central, Atlas Mountains road trip, Ouarzazate Hollywood of Morocco, Corey Stoll Hollywood actor, Baghdad Central TV series, morocco, africa, overseas Chris Shirley MA FRGS Ouarzazate filming locations, Authentic Atlas Mountains filming, Morocco film industry, Baghdad Central, Behind the scenes Baghdad central, Muhsin al-Khafaji character, Post-invasion Iraq in Baghdad Central, Atlas Mountains road trip, Ouarzazate Hollywood of Morocco, Corey Stoll Hollywood actor, Baghdad Central TV series, morocco, africa, overseas Chris Shirley MA FRGS

A road trip through the Atlas Mountains to the set of ‘Baghdad Central’.

In November 2018, I found myself in Ouarzazate (aka the ‘Hollywood of Morocco’), working alongside Corey Stoll, the Hollywood star of ‘The Bourne Legacy’, ‘Ant-Man’, and TV series, ‘House of Cards’, on the set of ‘Baghdad Central’, a gripping TV drama series set against the backdrop of post-invasion Iraq, following the harrowing story of Muhsin al-Khafaji, a former Iraqi police inspector desperate to find his daughter amidst the chaos, for which I got an IMDB credit for. Read on to hear about unexpected wardrobe blunders and what it’s like as a performer on set.

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‘Crossing the line’ with King Neptune, at ‘Null Island’
World Geodetic System, mantaray, shark, Royal Marines Commando, Royal Marines Commando officer, Neptune name, pilot fish, Loodsmannetje, PIRATA system, orthodromes, Null Island, Strava, Strava Null Island, Zero Zero Island, Colonel Bleep, the Most Real of Fictional Places, Royal Marines, intersection of the Equator and the Prime Meridian, longitude, latitude, cartography, geography, mapping, Prime Meridian, Equator, culture, Naval culture, Crossing the Line ceremony, experienced ocean goers commemorate the crossing of the Equator, Neptune ceremony, Neptune’s court, camaraderie, crossed the Equator, Order of the Shellback, where is Null island?, Royal Navy, Crossing the Line, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Morocco, WGS84 geographic coordinate system, WGS84, World Geodetic System 1984, The Equator, Null Island the Most Real of Fictional Places Chris Shirley MA FRGS World Geodetic System, mantaray, shark, Royal Marines Commando, Royal Marines Commando officer, Neptune name, pilot fish, Loodsmannetje, PIRATA system, orthodromes, Null Island, Strava, Strava Null Island, Zero Zero Island, Colonel Bleep, the Most Real of Fictional Places, Royal Marines, intersection of the Equator and the Prime Meridian, longitude, latitude, cartography, geography, mapping, Prime Meridian, Equator, culture, Naval culture, Crossing the Line ceremony, experienced ocean goers commemorate the crossing of the Equator, Neptune ceremony, Neptune’s court, camaraderie, crossed the Equator, Order of the Shellback, where is Null island?, Royal Navy, Crossing the Line, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Morocco, WGS84 geographic coordinate system, WGS84, World Geodetic System 1984, The Equator, Null Island the Most Real of Fictional Places Chris Shirley MA FRGS

‘Crossing the line’ with King Neptune, at ‘Null Island’

The ‘Crossing the Line’ ceremony is a traditional initiation rite that is held when a ship crosses the Equator. It is a time-honoured naval tradition that has been observed by many navies around the world, including the Royal Navy.

As relative newbies to maritime environment, we had to pay our dues to Neptune in order to get safe passage for the rest of our trip. During the ceremony, all sailors who have not previously crossed the Equator, are initiated into the "Order of the Shellback" by seasoned sailors who have crossed the Equator before. The ceremony typically involves a series of hilarious rituals, designed to induct the new initiates into a class of experienced ocean goers.

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