Blogs from Valley of the Kings, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa

We had breakfast this morning watching the balloons floating over the West Bank of the Nile which was very atmospheric. There is something very restful about watching balloons hanging in the sky. It's nice to see the balloons floating over Melbourne on the odd occasion that I see them, but it was spectacular to see balloons floating over the West Bank of the Nile with the mountains that surround the Valley of the Kings in the background! After our breakfast we left for our visit to the Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately no photography is allowed in the Valley of the Kings so we had to leave our cameras on the bus. We might have to download a few images from the internet or buy some postcards?! Just behind the entry to the site there is ... read more

Super early wake up call this morning at 5:45am:( Had breakfast and then off the boat and onto our Spring Tours bus for our early drive out to Valley of the Kings. Got there at 7am; we were the first group to arrive, there was not another sole in sight! You can tell the normal size of the crowds by how big the bus parking lots are sitting empty. No lines. It was very cool to go down into these tombs where the Pharoahs were originally found! Some of them were extremely deep staircases going into the ground. It was really hot here today so we can hardly imagine what it would be like here in the summer! Sherif mentioned some people faint while he does his history lessons. We got to go in King Tut's ... read more

LUXOR Our arrival in Luxor was a welcome one. Cruising on the Nile in a Felucca, basically a floating mattress shared with 13 other people after 3 days and 3 nights, was a wonderful experience but it was so nice to put my feet on terra firma once again. We were transported to our hotel by horse-carriage where we finally had a proper shower and hot water! Then once again we were taken by horse-carriage to the Karnak Temple, dedicated to the God Amun, and considered one of the greatest of ancient Egypt’s monuments. TEMPLE OF KARNAK This is considered the most extraordinary complex of temples, pylons, obelisks and sanctuaries in all of Egypt. It’s a stunning example of the power and prestige of the pharaohs and their Theban gods. I truly felt like an ant ... read more

Nukuin oikein kunnon younet: klo 20 - 6.30. Jossain valissa yota oli uni, joka sijoittui Hakatielle (josta muutin pois 1997). Eras tyokaverini valitti, kuinka on vaivaa lapsistani (jotka ovat taysi-ikaisia), ja paikalla oli viela yksi bridgenpeluututtu. Kaikenlaista unta sita nakeekin Niilin varrella. Sovittiin huomiseksi retki Assuaniin Annen kanssa. Teijan lankomies lahtee kuskiksi, hanhan ajaa taksia. Paasin kymmenen jalkeen joen yli. Vuokrasin 15 punnalla pyoran kaverilta, jonka kanssa asiasta oli sovittu eilen. Pyoraily sujui hyvin, vaikka ei ollut vaihteita ja istuin oli matalalla. Paatin rikkoa paikallista pukeutumiskoodia ja lahdin liikkeelle sortseissa, koska farkuissa pyoraileminen olisi ollut turhan hankalaa. Takki oli paalla yleensa, tosin annoin vahan kasivarsille aurinkoa. Onneksi maasto oli aika tasaista. Katsastin ensin Hatsepsutin temppelin. Siella oli liikkeella ... read more

Leaving Egypt tomorrow. I’m kicking it Bedouin style again—sitting on a cushion, holding a shisha pipe, listening to Moslem prayers over mosques’ loudspeakers. This hasn’t been a kind trip to my lungs; shisha is hard to resist. On the other hand, after two months catching up with friends in the U.S. and, just as impactfully, two days in England, Egypt has been a good break for my liver. Alcohol is rare here. Most of my time in Indonesia was in Hindu Bali so this is essentially my first time in an Islamic country. Turns out Moslems take religion seriously. Who knew? Booze is rare in the big cities and unheard of in the small ones. One positive side of genuine religiosity is a lack of petty crime. I haven’t heard a single story theft story and, ... read more