Geo: 25.7024, 32.6421We have spent the last two days in Luxor, real home of Egyptology and the most amazing antiquities. We flew here on Saturday morning from Cairo and boarded our Nile cruiser, MS Crown Jewel.. Saturday afternoon was spent viewing the wonders of Karnak and Luxor temple. These are amazing. Karnak is huge, with massive columns and amazing hieroglyphics. I did expect to see James Bond emerge from between the 132 columns that adorn this place. This was built by Rameses the second and the size is breathtaking. Each of the columns are covered by deep cut hieroglyphics which still retain their splendour even after 4000 years. There are also huge statues of Rameses standing guard to keep watch over this special place. You approach it through an avenue of ram headed sphinxes and then ... read more

Geo: 30.0982, 31.2461Here are some more photos that Fletcher has taken in Egypt... read more

Geo: 30.0982, 31.2461 Cairo is truly a city of contrasts. From the very elegant and expensive to the very poor and dusty there are many extremes but we are enjoying seeing them all. After nearly 30 hours of travelling we were glad to reach Cairo and find our guide waiting for us in the arrivals hall. He purchased our visas and after collecting luggage etc we were taken to the van where we met a second guide and driver. Amir explained the main attraction in Cairo is the chaotic traffic where traffic lights are there "only for decoration!". Our hotel is magnificent. We are staying at the base of the Pyramids, in the Mena House which was established in 1895.It is five star and the staff are very attentive. All regret that there are very few ... read more

Geo: -34.9258, 138.6Today we are heading off on our Middle Eastern adventure. We are both very much looking forward to exploring these ancient sites and especially seeing the pyramids and tombs of Egypt and the amazing city of Petra. We are flying emirates, me for the first time, and we have been upgraded to the Menna House hotel in Cairo which is only 600 metres from the Pyramids. I will update this as often as I can but we are not sure about Internet access etc. Although we are staying in 4-5 star hotels the Internet there is usually so expensive. Anyway, the next three weeks will be very exciting!... read more

Geo: 17.97, 102.61Flew into Vientiane from Hanoi onTuesday to find the weather a little cooler and the pace considerably slower. This is no more than a big country town. Our guide, Khamaire, was a gentle soul who did his best to know our names and give us heaps of information, a change from Hanoi!We had a city tour which took us to the only noteworthy edifices in Vientiane.Our first stop was at the Sisket temple, the oldest Buddhist shrine in town. This was similar to most we havw seen but has a cloister runing around the outside in which about 6000 statues of Buddha are housed in small nbiches in the walls as well as larger statues. Inside he main temple was a mural of the life of the buddha in need of restoration but still ... read more