Welcome to Maroc-Azure-Blog

Maroc-Azure have left this old blogger and have moved on with a much larger scale blog in mind using wordpress, simply click the link below or go to www.maroc-azure-blog.com

JOIN OUR NEW BLOG!

What is it like in the south?

This is one question I am going to answer, what is it like in South?

The South is different to the North like up nearer Taghazout, the landscapes are flatter around Tifnit and the towns are more authentic and tranditional, Maroc-Azure is actually based in a small fishing / farming community just 10 minutes drive from the beach through lunar like landscapes and desert like sea sides.

The beaches are wild and the reefs and surf spots get ALOT more swell than the north due to its north facing direction, anything over 3 metres causes the surf spots around here to max out (stop working) thus making us move north now and again.

The people are really kind and often give us fresh eggs, couscous and fish here at Maroc-Azure so when we say your going to eat the best couscous we mean it!

Also here we are based just 15 minutes drive to the airport and the city of Agadir.

This season we have been flooded with people joining us from all around the world that have been to Morocco before and the most common answer i could get from them is this.

What is it like in the South?

(Client) Amazing!

(Hassan) Why?

(Client) Surf, Sun, Food, Wild Beaches, No Crowds and i mean NO crowds

So there it is, a small yet simple answer, why wouldn't you head south and find out if you can answer that question your self in the same way!

Peace Out

Hassan Ingram

www.maroc-azure.com

Surf Accommodation / B&B

House for Rent | Tamraght | Morocco | Taghazout

Tamraght House For Rent in Morocco,

This large yet basic house has everything you need at a cheap affordable price, the house based just 5 minutes drive south of Taghazout has sea views and everything you need in the kitchen and includes water + electric in the bill.

The house has the following:

1 Double Room

1 Large Salon that could sleep up to 7 using sleeper sofas and floor.

2 Toilets

1 Shower

1 Kitchen with basics

Large Roof Terrace (Sea Views and Privacy Area)

Hot Water

Electric

The house based only 10 minutes walk to the famous surf break of Devils Rock is ideal for large and small groups of surfers or just a family looking for basic cheap good accommodation.

Prices:

Per Day: 800DH / £61

Per Week: 5600DH / £427

For more information on this property contact us.
Kind Regards
Hassan Ingram
Maroc-Azure

Days of the Week in Moroccan Arabic

Wondering how to say something in Moroccan Arabic? here is a fine example of the days of the week along with numbers one to ten!

The names used for the days of the week, in Moroccan Arabic, and the numbers used for counting in both Standard Arabic and Moroccan Arabic are similar. This is because words for some days of the week are the same words or similar (derivatives) as the ones used for counting. We will clarify this point with some examples.

When counting in Standard Arabic. The following words are used for counting:

one - wahed
two - etneen
three - thlata
four - areb'a
five - khamsa
six - seta
seven - sb'a

Here are the names for the days of the week in Moroccan Darija:

Sunday - lhad
Monday - etneen
Tuesday - tlat
Wednesday - larbe'
Thursday - lekhmis
Friday - jem'a
Saturday - sebt

Note, the similarities between the words for some of the names of the days of the week and the numbers used for counting. Sunday is regarded as day 1. Monday is regarded as day 2 and the word for 2 is 'etneen' while the word for Monday is also 'etneen.' The word for the number 3 is 'tlata' while the word for Tuesday is 'tlat' which is similar to 'tlata.' There are days of the week which bear no similarity to the numbers used for counting.

It should be noted that the word "youm" is sometimes used in front of the day of week. The word 'youm' means "day." 

Here are a few examples:

youm lhad

youm etneen

youm larbe

The days of the week, used in Moroccan Arabic, bear similarity to the numbers used for counting in Standard Arabic. Likewise, the numbers used for counting in Moroccan Arabic also bear similarity to the words used for the days of the week. The exceptions are the words "juj" which means 2 and the word "khamsa" which means 5. The words for day 2 (Monday) and day 5 (Friday) have no similarity to the words "juj" or "khamsa." The numbers used for counting in Moroccan Arabic are listed below:

one - wahed
two - juj
three - tlata
four - reb'a
five - khamsa
six - sta
seven - sb'a

The names for the days of the week and the numbers for counting in Standard Arabic and in Moroccan Arabic are similar. This is because some of the days of the week use the same words or are derivatives of the words that are used when counting.

Become BSA Qualified on Holiday in Morocco!

BECOME A BSA SURF INSTRUCTOR

We’ve come up with the perfect mini-gap or career break experience to improve your surfing and give you the qualification to become an internationally recognised surf instructor! What’s more is that it all happens in the sun spoilt coastline of south Morocco, in the perfectly located surf town of Taghazout just north of Agadir.

The outline for the 2 and a half week course is a Moroccan ‘Surfari’ for the first week to lesser known locations along the coastline to experience perfect, un-crowded waves so to get back into surfing and get to the level required for a BSA level 2 assessment. Come the second week and the assessments begin; first the BSA assessment, and second the SLS lifesavers assessment to give you the vital second part to becoming an internationally recognised surf instructor.

The dates this year are 13th February 2011 - 3rd March 2011.

Week One:

You’ll arrive on the Sunday evening and have a freshly prepared welcome dinner at the camp. After breakfast on Monday you start your surfari! We take you down south and up north in search of un-crowded, unspoilt and perfectly formed waves. The beautiful fishing village of Immsoune is on the cards first with it’s obscenely long right hand point break and big northly facing beach. You will stay in one of the hostels there, eat freshly caught fish from the markets, and surf all day.

After two nights, you’ll slowly make your way back down to Taghazout. Thursday is a day of Surfing in Taghazout. Our guide will take you to one of the many spots that litter the Agadir coastline in search of the best waves of the day.

Come 5pm we will be here to take you down south, to some of the most un-crowded waves Morocco has to offer. You know you’re getting off the beaten when you can only get to the breaks via a 4x4! You’ll stay in the surf accommodation down there, have freshly made fish or meat tagines for lunch and dinner and search out the best breaks of the day with the local knowledge of the surf accommodation owners – beaches and reefs galore!

Back up to the camp for early sunday evening for dinner and bed ready to start the assessments the following day.

Week Two:

Monday – Friday: SLS surf lifesavers course.
Saturday: SLS surf lifesavers assessment.
Sunday: Time for a well deserved rest. Go and visit the Souks in Agadir, see the water falls at Paradise Valley, have a massage, do some yoga, ride a camel, or a quad bike! The possibilities are endless. Or – surf some more!
Monday – Wednesday: BSA Level 2 surf instructors qualification.
On successful completion of the BSA Level 2 (Level 1 not necessarily a pre-requisite) surf instructor award, candidates will be able to:

• Coach a group of surfers with out supervision.

• Understand the ethical coaching process, the needs of surfers and related issues in Sports Science.
• Plan, conduct and review a series of coaching sessions in a systematic and progressive manner.
• Coach a programme of improvers to ride the open wave face with progressive and correctly timed turns.
• Promote and establish positive working relationships and high standards of behavior
• Ensure health and safety of all surfers
• Promote surfing in a positive manner
• Demonstrate an understanding of advanced surfing principals

What Pre-requisites Are Needed?

• Candidates must be able to show confidence in the water and the ability to catch a green wave of at least one metre and surf left and right.
• Some form of coaching experience in any sport is a pre-requisite. This doesn’t have to be backed up with qualifications, but references will be needed. This can be anything from professional coaching experience, to for example, School football coaching.
• Complete a swim of 200m
• 18 years +

NOTE: CANDIDATES MUST ALSO COMPLETE IN THEIR OWN TIME A BSA RECOGNISED CRB CHECK AND 40 HOURS OF SURF COACHING BEFORE THEIR QUALIFICATION IS VALID.

How much does this cost and what’s included?

Surfari:
£400 (£300 if booked with assessments)– Includes:

• Accomodation in shared room
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Surf Guiding to the best spots for the day
• Airport transfers

Suppliments:

• £10 a day for kit hire (board and suit)
• £10 a day for surf instruction

Doesn’t include:

• Flights
• Insurance

Assessment:
£1300 – Includes:

• Accomodation in shared room
• Breakfast and lunch everyday
• BSA Level 2 course and assessment
• SLS lifeguarding course and assessment
• Airport transfers

Suppliments:

• £10 a day for kit hire (board and suit)
• £8 per evening meal at the surf camp

Doesn’t include:

• Flights
• Insurance
• 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Maroc-Azure holidays are perfect for travellers looking to immerse themselves completely into the Moroccan culture and those who fancy a surfing adventure.  Morocco is a great destination and, as with any holiday abroad it is essential you purchase travel insurance after you have booked your Maroc-Azure holiday.  Although Morocco is an exceptionally safe holiday destination travel insurance is essential as it provides financial security while you are abroad. 

A basic travel insurance policy should be suitable for your Moroc-Azure holiday.  If you are planning on taking part in our Surf Acccommodation / Excursions you should find a travel insurance provider that covers surfing under their basic travel insurance policy.  To check whether surfing is covered under your insurance policy you should read the insurance provider's policy wording document on their website.  If you plan on taking part in any other activities while you are in Africa you must check with your insurance provider whether or not you would be covered for this activity should you have an accident while taking part in that activity. 

The most important feature you need from your travel insurance is cover for emergency medical treatment.  When you are abroad any treatment you need whether it is emergency or non emergency medical treatment would be your financial responsibility if you had no travel insurance.  Therefore you need insurance with comprehensive medical care to make sure you are not left footing the bill at the end of the day should you fall ill or have an accident while you are in Morocco. 

You should also make sure your insurance policy provides cover for cancellation or curtailment of your holiday, missed or delayed departure and loss of theft of personal belongings. Some insurance providers allow you to add specific belongings to your insurance policy such as laptops or ipods.  Therefore if you bring any valuables with you then you should add them to your policy to make sure your insurance would reimburse you should anything happen to them while you are away. 

It is worth noting that when you buy insurance you usually buy cover under the following area headings: 

1. Australia
2. Europe
3. Worldwide including the USA and Canada
4. Worldwide excluding the USA and Canada 

As Morocco is in Africa you may assume that you need to buy an insurance policy that covers “Worldwide”  destinations.  However, this is not the case as although Morocco is located in Africa most insurance providers cover Morocco under the heading of “Europe”.  This is beneficial to Moroccan visitors as it means your policy is cheaper. 

The Travel Insurance Guide provides more information and advice on travel insurance policies including reviews for each provider. 

Peace out!

Hassan Ingram

www.maroc-azure.com

Recipe 1: Moroccan Chicken With Olives

So i have been asked about Moroccan recipes and my first is going to be the Moroccan Chicken, a simple yet very nice dish, here at Maroc-Azure we provide all these dishes in our optional Extra evening and lunch meals and here is a taste of what your missing out on!

Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients: 
4 Pounds Chicken 
2 * 1/2 Tablespoons Oil 
2 Onions sliced
Salt And Pepper to taste 
1/4 Teaspoon of Ginger 
1 Teaspoon Paprika 
1 Onion finely chopped 
1/2 Pound of Green Olives 
1 Lemon for Lemon Juice








Preparation: 
Heat the oil in large sauce pan. 
Add 3/4 cup water gradually. 
Add onion slices, sprinkle with spices. 
Lay chicken on top. 
Cook over low heat, covered, one hour.
 Add finely chopped onion. 
Cook for another 1/2 hour. 
Place pitted olives in pan of cold water, bring to boil for 1 minute.
Drain water. Add olives to pan. 
Cook for 5 minutes. 
Just before serving squeeze on lemon.
Serving Ideas : Serve with rice or couscous!