Tutankarden
Trip Start
May 08, 2006
1
69
108
Trip End
Mar 07, 2007
Luxor,
Egypt
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Got off the boat and met up with the tourist convoy. The mini bus went to Luxor with stops at temples of Kombo Ombo and Edfu on the way. The brazillian and 2 other spanish guys stayed back in a town they went to the night before, after a search for weed. The other stupid spanish people spent too long in the temples and the convoy left without us. Our minibus driver took it upon himself to catch up at death defying speed. We caught up and made it to Luxor.
The mini bus driver also took it upon himself to take the minibus to a hotel he had dealings with. Was fine by me because it was the place i was going to stay at anyway. The nubian oasis in Luxor. 15 pounds (3 bucks 50) for single room with bathroom. The only other place i consered there was a place called happyland (the name was arousing!!).The aussie guy (dairius) came to check it out the nubian oasis, but the walls didnt have a fresh enough paint job for him, so he went to stay in some place for 20 bucks a night
a.Walk like an Egyptian
. I was meant to meet up with him at 8pm to hang out. But the day got too me, i ate at a place for 2 bucks thats main dish was pigeon. I had the chicken, but the owner gove me some pigeon to try. I prented to eat it then hit it under the chicken. I love how they serve you in this places too, pick their noses before they handle your food, sometimes no plates, just chuck your bread on the bare table that everyone eats off. Ohh well. Cheapies. Anyway, first day in Luxor, was pretty much a rite off, I guess i was tired after 4 hours on a minibus. Even though i think its only 4 hours now days, and i think 5 k's is walkable. At night I booked a day trip to the west bank. The other side of the nile. I was going to hire a bike and ride around the valley of the kings and queens, hatshepsuts temple and see it all in detail. But when i counted up the k's it turned out to be around 16k's. Doable, but i was lazy and it was too hot. I did a day trip there, saw the main sites 3 of the 60 tombs, apparently the better ones. We had this guide who told us about the places and the inscriptions, he was a nutter though. Got into an argument with a few of the other tourists, and would say "attention please!!" if you didnt make constant eye contact with him while he monotonely talked for 10 minutes. The underarm sweat, the "authenitc alabaster shop" and the baksheesh he asked for at the end didnt help
b. Temple of Horus
. He sucked and got no tip. There was an american guy on the minibus who just complained how he hated egpytians and couldnt wait to leave. He was swearing at them and everything. The touts are bad but you shouldnt yell at them and say you mofos! While in Luxor i found a Internet Cafe which opened about 8pm beacause of Ramadan. I went here the first night, the second and the third night. Partly to do blog stuff and most of all to play games with kids. I played all the games i used to play at home with my brother. I even played soccer with this kids, teamed up with this one guy who was yelling out orders in arabic. It was a escape from travelling for a little bit. They just kept wanting to play and i was there till 2am.
Last day in Luxor was spent walking to Karnak temple, which was 3 k's away, massive place with columns, statues and more big "F*&k off rocks". To walk there you have to walk through the burbs, kids ask you for money and follow you, but thats tourism i guess.
There was a different American guy at the hotel who just started travelling. He was so full of enthusiam and eagerness it took me off card. I was eating my breakfast and he comes down and sits at my little table and just starts talking to me
c. Transportation thingy
. I remembered, i used to be like that. Now im like leave me alone you annoying bastards. He was a nice guy though... The staff at the hotel were nice too. I also found the people pretty nice in Luxor. Even bought some papyrus artwork. The best i was told. Of course it was. Hand made by his great grandfather 40 years ago and now he was selling it to me because he thought i was a nice person.
On the second day i went to the train station to get my ticket back to Cairo. With Egyptians pushing in it was hard, (the rascist american was going nuts, swearing and cursing at everyone, calling egyptians non muslims in arabic, i didnt want to be near him when the egytians pulled out their knifes to stab him) i eventually made it to the window and the guy said "No ticket!". Went back to the hotel, found out because of the ending of ramadan, everyone was heading to cairo. The tickets had all been bought up. Not by travellers though, but by local shop owners to sell on the black market. Bastards! Had to pay the hotel guy triple to go see his mate and get me a ticket.
Was procrastinating about wheter to go to the dessert oasis' or go to alexandria
d. Horus..
. Asked the hotel guy to give me a quote for 2 nights in the desert. It was like 300 bucks! I thought thats bollocks, im going back to cairo to either go to the oasis myself or go to alexandria. I split second decided when arriving at Cairo to go to Alexandria. Mainly beacause there was only one bus a day from the dessert. And the end of Ramadan was upon me. I didnt want to get stuck and miss my flight out, or miss the crazy Ramadan festivities.
2 things ive noticed though that you wouldnt really at home. The men who are devout Muslims, have massive carpet burns on their heads from praying soo much. Also, you always see women carrying stuff on their head without holding them. E.g. Baskets of clothes or even massive gas cylinders!
So almost got stuck in luxor and almost ate pigeon.
Touche
