Been there and done that - Egypt P.4

ON THE WAY

I can fly, finally I can fly

Luxor. Another early wake-up call.

Before I flight to Egypt I had that thought "I will fly, on that balloon". Thus, when the guide slipped some details about the balloon tour (optional one, of course, grr), I instantly snapped it. (Oh! poor me!) It took me another big sum-of-you-know-what. And the guide told us that we had to make the booking as soon as possible since all the balloons are always full-booked days before. I paid for the seat right away. Why should I hesitate about what I want to do and have the chance for it? At the moment of payment, I just thought that I wanted it and I did it, I didn't think much about the "full-booked". However, when I was on the balloon, I knew that he did always tell the truth. (What a shame!)

The memnons - Photo by T.C

We had another early wake-up call that morning. Fortunately (for me), the girl who shared the room with me throughout the tour was an adventurous one. She accepted all the optional tours that were offered or else she might be pissed off me by being waken up too early everyday with me.

Then the organization picked us up to the boat for reaching the launch site on the other side of the river. Our balloon was the last departure one of that day. After returning home, I had a small research and knew that only early morning flights are allowed, because later in the day, winds could pose problems for these lighter than air crafts. There were 23 (or 24?) people in the basket, separated in many smaller units. The guide later told us that it is the big basket type and there are some smaller ones which contains about 12 at a time.

Climbing up the basket seemed not easy. It was not difficult but it was just not easy and I finally made it on my own. There was that girl (I later got to know she was from Canada) made me think a bit. She was a little bit over weight (just a little bit) and climbing up the basket was a real problem. Some guys who were standing around at the moment (I guessed they were people of the balloon company) gave her hands. She seemed panic and shouted "Ok, just let me do it, I can, just don't touch me!" and she finally made it. At the moment I really didn't get her panic, especially after that, I talked to her and got to know she was very funny and somehow easygoing. Later, when I thought about all the tips and guidebooks for women who travel to Egypt, I guessed I somehow got the idea. She might be poisoned by the whole idea of being careful of all kind of touching from the guys, mightn't she? Or was it just kind of scaring by getting to close, making to much contact with other people of many female from big cities in the world? The second idea actually came across my mind when I thought about other reactions of some Asian girls on that balloon. They seemed not care of that help and just accepted them all. (Oh! Sorry for the rambling. Back to the track!)

You've got the idea of a normal house, haven't you? - Photo by T.C

The balloon took off after some safety instructions. Yeah! Like I really care? I was too eager to pay attention to any of them and just remembered a little bit of the landing instruction. Never had a safety concern throughout the ride.

We had about an hour on the balloon over the sky. The Valley of the Queens was below with temples and temples. We saw the Memnons statues. And the fields of corn. And the desert in the distance, of course. It was said that the wind on the sky would be a problem and it could make us cold. However, I think we took off a little bit late that day, so we had not much wind. The sky was brighter since the sun rose. The mist in the distance disappeared bit by bit.

The most interesting things to me were the local houses. I had a big question about all the houses we saw on our way. I couldn't get the idea about houses without proofs. But most of the houses in the rural areas of Egypt we went by were built that way. Someone I got acquainted on the cruise explained that since there is no rain in the country, the proof is never a problem. People build their houses and just leave it that way with all the concrete columns rising up to the sky and whenever they have more money or the son of the family building-up another small family, they will build the house up more. Since we were above, I had my chance watching normal life of rural people on their yards, in corn fields, and some on the highest level of the houses. Life was so peaceful.

We finally landed after a "fake alarm" of landing making some girls screaming all their throttle out. It was kind of fun hearing all kind of grumbles of so many languages. Each participator was handled a souvenir - a shirt and a "certification of riding hot air balloon". Goodbye the sky!

Another normal workday - Photo by T.C

Tips: There were this Chinese couple (seemed on their honeymoon). The young lady brought an umbrella with her for riding balloon. Can you believe it? Thus, the only tip for today is... please do not do such a stupid thing like that, for God sake! And thanks God!

I tried to capture 2 people and a dog on the rural street. Don't think it worked. - Photo by T.C

Two women with their normal life. This is my most favourite pic of the "sky bunch". - Photo by T.C

TBC