After a brief stopover in the capital city of Egypt, we will first fly South to Aswan where the famous Abu Simbel is located. Then, we will be spending a few days on the cruise ship traveling up River Nile back where it all started in Cairo.
It's almost 8pm and finally, we are Aswan bound.
We are spending a night here at Iberotel Aswan Hotel. Check-in was a pain taking us more than an hour to get our keys. And the worst part? We haven't even eaten dinner yet (it was 10pm!).
I didn't expect room service to be available, let alone at this hour at a 3-star hotel in the rural part of Egypt.
This only took half an hour to arrive and I was still getting my hair dried after my shower. Roasted chicken fillet with vegetables and steamed rice. Yes, that will get the job done with lots of rosemary on it.
Less successful was the hamburger with French fries. The bun was obviously of very poor quality and the beef patty tasted like it's a vegan one made with plant-based ingredients. But I guess I should be grateful that I didn't have to burn one of my cup noodles tonight.
I barely got enough sleep last night and by 4am in the morning, we were already escorted onto our bus. It was a slightly scary sight with our tour guide informing us that an armed Egyptian soldier would be joining us on this bus tour. I was too tired to care though. In fact, I was developing a fever so for the majority of the bus ride, I was trying to keep warm without a jacket (my fault not packing my jacket this morning). The bus ride took nearly 4 hours so we got a bit of extra entertainment by watching sunrise together.
When I finally regained consciousness, we were already there! I have heard of the Abu Simbel temples for a long time but to be here at the ancient site, it's an incredible feeling.
Abu Simbel is located in a small village in the southernmost region of Egypt, just 25 miles away from Sudan.
The ancient temple complex was originally cut into a solid rock cliff. It was believed to be built around 1279 and early 1300's by the Egyptian king Ramses II. The temples were in danger of destruction from the rising waters of the Nile River caused by erection of the Aswan High Dam.
The two majestic temples overlook Lake Nasser, an artificial reservoir upriver from the Aswan High Dam to prevent destructive flooding.
We couldn't stop taking pictures of the breathtaking temples. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don't think I will be back again.
During the 1960s, UNESCO organized fund-raising campaigns to rescue and preserve these historical sites and monuments, and they have done amazing work with them. Without their work, we won't be able to see these stunning sites and monuments in their original forms.
I am finally getting the high-flying version of me back!
Food Rating: 3/10
Price: $$$
Address: Nile Corniche, Aswan, Egypt
Tel: +20 97 2328828
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