Q&A: Taimour Othman, The ‘Creative Leader’ Behind #RoamEgypt
On the very last days of 2014, 29-year-old Creative Director Taimour Othman decided to ditch the overpriced parties, crowded gatherings and the countdown spent in Cairo traffic to go spend New Year’s Eve with his two best friends in Siwa Oasis.
2015 started with shooting stars instead of artificial fireworks.
But it didn’t stop there. The major turning point for #RoamEgypt was exactly three months ago when he decided to make it official with a campaign to start activating it more widely. The photos jumped from just 500+ pics since Jan. 1, 2015 by friends to 5,000+ pics from Jun. 12, 2015 to Sept. 12, 2015.
A photo posted by Taimour Othman تيمور عثمان (@taimouro) on
This year is also very special for Taimour as he turned 30, which was one of the main triggers for him to spend it roaming the country and capturing its beauty instead of traveling abroad.
Ever since then, he has not missed an opportunity to travel around, from Fayoum to St. Catherine and Dahab, Marsa Alam to Luxor and Aswan, Hurghada to Alexandria and the North Coast, and more.
The #RoamEgypt hashtag is now being adopted not just by friends, fellow photographers and travelers, but also by bloggers and brands.
Taimour’s love for engaging hashtags is unstoppable, starting with #ThisIsEgypt three years ago when he first started his Instagram account to #CairoSaturdayWalks, where he picks up his camera and captures the city’s hidden gems — not an average Cairean way to spend a weekend.
His sense of humor adds another filter to his photos; another hashtag he uses is #Ta3ashabShay, honoring Egyptians’ cultural generosity and love for tea.
Sabah el fol! #RoamEgypt #ThisIsEgypt #Ta3ashabShay
A photo posted by Taimour Othman تيمور عثمان (@taimouro) on
صباح العسل عليكوا! Good morning #Ta3ashabShay #RoamEgypt #ThisIsEgypt
A photo posted by Taimour Othman تيمور عثمان (@taimouro) on
And the latest: #FacesOfSummer.
It ain’t summer without this!! #FacesOfSummer
A photo posted by Taimour Othman تيمور عثمان (@taimouro) on
1. What triggered #RoamEgypt?
#RoamEgypt as a concept started when I realized that foreign media wasn’t doing Egypt justice, that other citizens of this world are being manipulated by some specific set of headlines and being blinded from seeing the reality, the big picture. So I decided to create it as a social media movement, as an open image database of Egypt and every destination possibly habitable in Egypt to show the country’s beauty through locals’ eyes.
2. Describe #RoamEgypt in two other words?
Explore and show.
3. If #RoamEgypt was a person, what would she/he be like?
I guess she/he would be a risk taker, analytical in a way, free spirited and a beauty finder.
4. Who are the Roamers?
Any image contributor is a Roamer, because she/he took the time to move around and see what’s out there, what others didn’t notice.
But I’ll always remember my two best friends, also co-founders and photographers, Omar Abouzeid (@omarzeid) and Ahmed Fakhry (@a_fakhry) because they were there on New Year’s when I found the perfect name for this movement.
5. What does it take to be a Roamer?
Well it takes passion and love for this country, and to be a person who loves to search for beauty.
6. What are your plans for #RoamEgypt?
Grow and grow so that it becomes the official hashtag for Egypt tourism.
8. What is the funniest reaction/comment you’ve seen about #RoamEgypt?
“IS THAT IN EGYPT, LIKE REALLY??”
9. The nicest?
There are a lot that moved me, but the most recent one was:
“u r one of the reasons I love my country, u take us to awesome places I wouldn’t have ever seen except thru ur eyes Egypt is beautiful, thank u for being positive and showing us the good side of it I’m a biggest fan of ur work… Keep moving FWD”
10. The meanest?
Don’t recall any really 🙂
11. Are you going to quit your job and travel and start a travel agency?
I’d dream about that, but I actually love my current job and not planning on leaving it soon. #ImmaBee
12. Why should people #RoamEgypt and use the hashtag?
Just because it would be for our own sake. It counter fights any media that’s trying to show only the worst! Wouldn’t anyone agree with me?
13. Do you plan to #RoamTheWorld?
I wish, but definitely after I’m done with #RoamEgypt or with the areas on my personal check list.
14. Are you going to turn #RoamEgypt into a fashion brand?
Maybe, or I might activate another brand that can be the source of funding behind #RoamEgypt.
15. Who are your favorite Roamers who aren’t your friends? Name five.
@khallafhamdy, @lamiahassan, @mostafaelnahawy, @suzeeoutofthecity, @ahmad.ossama
16. If you could choose one photo to represent #RoamEgypt, which one would you pick?
The Egyptian flag that I used to launch #RoamEgypt.
17. Are you planning on making a travel blog out of it?
Yes, but I need to hire a team of dedicated bloggers that would keep the posting regular as I wouldn’t want any #RoamEgypt platform to be inconsistent in terms of digital presence and possibly die, which is something I wouldn’t want to happen.
18. Is there a Roamers Code?
Of course, and it’s pretty simple if you do it out of the love of this country: “Leave nothing behind and take nothing but memories and a shitload of pictures!”
WE SAID THIS: You can follow along on Taimour’s travels through his Instagram account and, of course, the #RoamEgypt hashtag.
