Aswan

 

DAY ONE

After a massive bus journey of more than 12 hours we finally arrived in Aswan at 12pm.  It was a full bus so everyone squeeze in, it made for a pretty uncomfortable journey through the night.

We relaxed in our hotel until 3.30pm then went on a boat up the Nile to a beach just outside a Nubian village. 

Our tour guide, Newbi was a funny character, he was an Egyptian in his sixties and wore a purple flowered shirt with a purple hat.  He came with lots of enthusiasm and energy and reminded Trace of the baboon in the Lion King Movie.

This little boy latched onto the boat and just start singing.  He had a long paddle home by the time he let go! 

Our first stop was on the beach of the Nile as far upstream as is possible before the dam.  This was where most of the group apart from three (Trace being one) were persuaded to swim in the Nile.  So far everyone is still alive! Locals and the two guides all jumped in so that plus clear water and the mid 40 degree temperatures convinced us!

Once the group had finished swimming we hopped on a camel each and walked up the beach and into a Nubian Village.  The ride was nothing like riding George, very good fun and a laugh!

 

That was the last we saw of Mike as his Camel like to be the leader!  

Mike somehow ended up with the racing camel, it passed everyone, he finished first and had to wait… Not quite the relaxing ride everyone else had!

After our camel ride we went into a small school class room with a retired Nubian teacher he gave us a few basic lessons on Arabic. We were sitting up the front and Mike got pulled up to repeat the first half of the alphabet and failed miserably.

We then walked through a bit of the Nubian Village and enjoyed a home-cooked meal at a local home (this consisted of soup, rice, and lots of strew type things, we didn’t ask what they contained we just ate!)

Just when we were about to head back the owner of the house came in with a baby crocodile.  Everyone had a hold and a photo with him.

 

He may be little by crocodile standards but they were big teeth by our standards!

It was then back to the hotel to get ready for our 2.30am wake up call. . . . why 2.30am you ask . . . .

About to head back to the hotel

Quick swim before bed at the hotel

DAY TWO

We were up at 2.30am and in the bus and off just before 3am.  The reason for this was because we need to be escorted out to the Abu Simbel temple because of the threats of tourist attacks (this is normal practice and has been carried out for the past year or so).  We lined up with lots of other tourists buses, each of these were checked for bombs both in luggage compartments and with mirrors underneath the bus.  Once the check was done we all travelled in convoy to Abu Simbel, no stopping whatsoever for the three and a half hour journey.  you got the impression if something wanted to cross the road it was going to be run over by about 20 busses and some military vehicles without hesitation.

 

Abu Simbel was magnificent, the photos below really do not do it justice . . . .

  

We had to be back on the bus at 9am to join the convoy back to Aswan at 9am in convoy with rest of tourist buses.

Instead of cruising the Nile in a felucca we as a group decided to “upgrade”and stay on the “Nile star”cruise boat for three nights.  This was a 4 star cruise ship but as we have become aware 4 star in Egyptian is not like 4 start in New Zealand! This ship is very nice though and we are glad to have the air conditioned room.

We hopped on the boat at lunch time and enjoyed the buffet meal.

Later that day at 5pm we went for a sail on a felucca up the river Nile.  It was peaceful apart from the occasional loud engine boat.

 

This was our Felucca captain

Once we were back on land we went to the markets where we brought an Egyptian dress for the Egyptian party the next night.  This involved us having to bargain . . . . Trace was ok at this, Mike got frustrated but still did ok… We both bargained our way to equally the cheapest dresses of the group! Victory!!

They’ll do anything to make a sale!

Unfortunately this guy wouldn’t come down low enough so a deal wasn’t made.

During the market visit we got sick of Egyptians always asking you to come into the shop.  They would come out as you walked passed and say hello and try to entice you in.  Our best quote would be “I don’t know what you want but I have it in my shop!”.

Mike got offer 2 hundred million camels for Trace… After some bartering they were willing to go to 500 camels and 10 donkeys too – what a bargain!  No exchange took place.

At 8pm we came back to the boat and had dinner.

Then after dinner we watched a Nubian dance, Mike got picked on (again) and had to go up on stage to speak Nubian – he was very bad – good entertainment though!

 

The guys on the cruise ship kept leaving a surprise after servicing our room – crocodile!

DAY THREE

Up at 8 for breakfast then off to visit the grand Temple of Isis, set on the Island of Philae. En route we saw the engineering marvel that is the Aswan High Dam, a huge project that since its construction in 1970 has changed Egypt's economy and culture immensely.

Temple of Isis

  

Getting in and our of the port was interesting, the captains of the small 20 seater boats just played bumper boats until their boat was up against the shore.

Our tour guide Newbi was back with us.  He had many talents and one of them was a hand reader.  Trace got him to do a reading.  He had the following prognosis:

1. Going to come into some money when you get home – ya lets hope this happens

2. Something has scared her in the passed year – She has no idea what this is

3. She has lost something of value in the passed year – no idea either, so after that, two of the historical ones we have no idea on - things are not looking bright for money in the future!

Also he informed her that she is going to have two children, one boy and one girl and live happily ever after.  Brilliant ending to a fairytale don’t you think?!

Trace and Newbi after the palm reading

Once we had visited the temple of Isis we stopped at an Egyptian Perfume shop, they gave us a quick demonstration of how they blow the glass perfume bottles before launching into their perfume sales pitch.  We managed to bargain a little and purchased a couple of items. 

Back on the boat for another buffet lunch – Yum Yum.

We started sailing to Karnak these are some of the views we had on the Nile on the way.

  This is a boat similar to the one we were on

 

We arrived at about 7.30pm and we visited the temple here at Karnak.

  

Once we had explored this temple we headed back to the boat for dinner dressed as Egyptians and then danced the night away with some traditional Egyptian games and dances.

Mike was picked on again as for a game but actually did ok this time (no more language tests)… and was presented with a prize for coming first!

The boat continued to sail as we partied in the bar and up on the deck.

A few of us relaxing on the deck

The evening sun setting  

Another surprise awaited us after our room had be serviced that night . . .  A little person with Trace’s hat.