Ballooning and more temples

Trip Start Feb 07, 2009
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12
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Trip End Mar 19, 2009


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Flag of Egypt  , Nile River Valley,
Thursday, February 19, 2009

We woke at 5am (just before our wake up call) and sat downstairs for a cuppa before being picked up in a bus and driven only about 200 metres or less to the motorboats. On board we were given tea and croissants before going across to the West Bank and getting driven to where the balloon was taking off from.We had a short safety briefing from our captain Roma and then clambered into our basket. There are 5 compartments in the basket, one for the captain and his assistant, and 4 others for the passengers (each holding 6). So it was pretty cramped . As they were filling the balloon, it got really hot from the gas flame, I thought my hair was going to catch on fire. It was quite peaceful lifting off and then floating over the fields. We had a magnificent view back to the mountains and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, as well as being able to see all the other balloons in the air as well. The only sound as we went up a bit higher was the gas bursts and the occasional donkey braying. We were up in the air for about 40-50 mins all up and reached a height of 1300 metres. The captain asked if we wanted a soft or bumpy landing, most of us said bumpy, Ange wanted soft. Coming down it didn't look like we were going to come down hard, they threw ropes down and the crew dragged the basket along next to a small bit of dirty water that I thought we would tip into. But it was such a smooth landing that I didn't even feel a bump and we were all able to stay standing. While we were still in the basket, the crew started pulling down the balloon, squashing and folding it into a small package that they loaded onto the back of their truck. Our balloon
Our balloon
 After we all hopped out of the basket, they then reversed the truck and lifted the basket onto it as well (while one of them kept saying Hey Hup). We then had a dance with some of the crew and photos with the captain before being driven back to the motorboats. We bought the DVD that they had filmed for us (can't wait to watch it) and walked back to the boat.

Time for a shower, rest and breakfast. At 9am we met George and drove first to Karnak Temple, a huge complex of over 200 acres.This is my favourite of all the temples we visited, just because of the size of the whole complex and the awesome Hypostle Hall with its 134 massive columns. Our guide George is excellent and I'm finding that I've learnt so much from him as well as remembering things from our last visit. The avenue of ram headed sphynxes is also impressive. When we arrived there was a thick blanket of smoke surrounding the whole area (thankfully it had been clear earlier for our balloon ride) but as we were leaving, it had cleared and we could see across to the West Bank and the Temple of Queen Hatsepsut.

Our last stop was Luxor Temple which was also one that Mike and I hadn't been to before. It also had impressive columns and is larger than it appears from the outside. The strangest thing here was the mosque that was bult in the middle of the temple complex, which is still used for prayers 5 times a day. This temple has the best preserved statue I have seen in all the temples we have visited. After our visit here, we drove back to the boat and said goodbye to George. Balloons everywhere!
Balloons everywhere!
 Mike and I left the kids and headed out so we could buy cold and flu tablets for Alanna and throat lozenges. We found a pharmacy next to McDonalds and bought both for 34LE (only about 12-14 AUD). The we decided to walk through the markets again. This time just looking - I think if I said I wanted more scarves or bracelets Mike would have run away. Funny, but we were hardly hassled this time - I think having the girls with us the previous day is what attracted all the attention. So I really enjoyed looking this time.

We had lunch on the boat, then fruit and dessert upstairs on the sun deck. The girls and Mike slept a bit, the boys played ping pong and I caught up on the last few days of my travel journal. I went down to our room and packed our stuff (still managed to fit everything including our market purchases). We ate a special sushi dinner on board, said our goodbyes, then were driven to the airport around 8pm. Our flight was delayed till 10pm, but the airport at Luxor is beautiful, nice and clean and hardly anyone there at that time of night. Joe made a bet with Alanna that he would pay her 100LE if she didn't talk for an hour, and she stuck to it. He even got one of the hostesses on the plane to try and get her to say something. Joe lost the bet though and handed over the money. The flight was only about 30 mins, we barely got up in the air before were were descending and landing at Sharm el Sheikh. Another beautiful airport, we were met and driven in a mini bus to our hotel - Rehana Royal Beach. Adrian got annoyed that we couldn't check in ourselves - the guy that had met us did it but it seemed to take twice as long. Then we started the walk to get to our rooms, past about a dozen different size swimming pools, up stairs, close to the beach. All we wanted to do was hop into bed but they hadn't brought an extra bed for Alanna so we waited about 20-30 mins while this was organised. Finally in bed - must have been about 12. And Joe was still planning to go out clubbing as well.
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