Today had been a long time coming as one of our big wishes was to go ballooning in Egypt. We were hoping to go over the pyramids at Giza, but it wasn't to be, but this was pretty special all the same. Like most ballooning trips it starts with an early rise before sunrise to catch the cold air being trapped by the warm upper currents at the sun hits the earth in the morning. There would have been about 10 balloons going up at the same time, and still in the darkness there were children pulling at your clothes wanting you to buy something from them. We are so lucky to live in a country where we do not send our children off to work at 4am to peddle their wares and earn an income for the family. Some tourists find it frustrating, and it can get to you after a little while, but really it is sad that this is the only life they know. The balloons set sail and we were peering over the edge, the lush green of Luxor on one side, and the harsh desert on the other. Hot Chicken Soups temple below us and onto the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The sun rose and silouetted the other balloons beautifully. Then we had a very casual crash landing in the desert, where our pilot was giving his co-pilot lessons on how to empty the air out the balloon. This took about 10 minutes of yelling and hitting and well done, until we were allowed out of the balloon. Its all part of the experience. Then out of no-where, the donkey boys arrived. 3 boys atop donkeys, galloping along in the desert, arrived at our balloon, ready to pose for a photo or two. One picture was taken, money was exchanged with a boy, and that was it, the donkey boys were following us everywhere. Once again it must be a difficult life to send your children out to work at such a young age. Our ride showed up, and we were soon off to our hotel, well, we thought we were ... we got lost, in the desert. How do you get lost? Well, there are huge rocks in the desert and the vans that came to pick us up followed a semi-road, but then lost the trail. So round in circles for a while, into ditches, out of ditches, donkey boys still in toe, and finally back on track. We knew we were back on track when the boys galloped off to find another landing balloon. In the van were a couple from LA, and another couple from Perth ... hi guys, hope you've found you're way home alright and no donkey boys followed you home.
We then went back to the hotel for a bit of sleep, check out the roof top for a view over Luxor, and a buggy ride around the city. Our buggy driver, Ali, kept insisting he was going to give us a very good ride, take us to a market, and stop to get some feed and water for Rocky (his horse). Of course 'market' meant drop us off at another carpet/perfume/papyrus dealer who gave Ali a commission for dropping us there. A short lived experience, but an experience all the same.
In the afternoon we went to Karnak & Luxor Temple. Both are on the East Bank, and being on the East Bank, is the side of the sunrise, and dedicated to rebirth and life. Karnak is a huge temple complex, that is linked with Luxor Temple. It is filled with columns, walls, and hieroglyphics with hundreds of stories. Again, another whole day could be dedicated here with a private guide to take you into all the nooks and cranies to get the low down on everything. Luxor Temple is much smaller in comparison to Karnak, but amazing all the same with its rows of sphinx and giant Colossus' of Ramesses II.
Evening soon upon us and time to head for the train back to Cairo. The train was late this time as a military train came through the station and didn't move for 30 minutes. While we were waiting we were talking with some young Egyptian boys who were waiting at the station with their parents. They spoke english very well and were just as interested in meeting us as we were with them. They were full of fun and cheakiness, and were also very loving of each other. We also saw soldiers getting off the train, and parting ways. It was obviously a time of goodbyes and we saw tears, heart felt hugs, and exchanging of hats. It was very moving to witness and once again another side to the people of Egypt. Picture shows the boys surrounding another van, us in the balloon, and our view at sunrise.
We then went back to the hotel for a bit of sleep, check out the roof top for a view over Luxor, and a buggy ride around the city. Our buggy driver, Ali, kept insisting he was going to give us a very good ride, take us to a market, and stop to get some feed and water for Rocky (his horse). Of course 'market' meant drop us off at another carpet/perfume/papyrus dealer who gave Ali a commission for dropping us there. A short lived experience, but an experience all the same.
In the afternoon we went to Karnak & Luxor Temple. Both are on the East Bank, and being on the East Bank, is the side of the sunrise, and dedicated to rebirth and life. Karnak is a huge temple complex, that is linked with Luxor Temple. It is filled with columns, walls, and hieroglyphics with hundreds of stories. Again, another whole day could be dedicated here with a private guide to take you into all the nooks and cranies to get the low down on everything. Luxor Temple is much smaller in comparison to Karnak, but amazing all the same with its rows of sphinx and giant Colossus' of Ramesses II.
Evening soon upon us and time to head for the train back to Cairo. The train was late this time as a military train came through the station and didn't move for 30 minutes. While we were waiting we were talking with some young Egyptian boys who were waiting at the station with their parents. They spoke english very well and were just as interested in meeting us as we were with them. They were full of fun and cheakiness, and were also very loving of each other. We also saw soldiers getting off the train, and parting ways. It was obviously a time of goodbyes and we saw tears, heart felt hugs, and exchanging of hats. It was very moving to witness and once again another side to the people of Egypt. Picture shows the boys surrounding another van, us in the balloon, and our view at sunrise.
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