The last of Egypt

The next few days took us too some equally incredible temples and tombs. Like Kom Ombo - still largely intact and vividly colourful with it's original paint. My favourite was the powdered-lapislazuli bright blue roof covered with white painted stars. I'll recreate them in my home one day. Next was Karnak, on the East bank of Luxor, an enormous temple- the size of 66 football fields, that took 1300 years to build! Or Luxor Temple, also on the east bank, that we got to see at night.

Luxor is such an ancient city that every time they knock down a building they can find a temple or a statue underneath it. Many locals have become wealthy from digging under their houses and selling the uncovered treasures on the black market. Because of this the government is currently in the process of kicking everyone out of Luxor and making it a tourist-only precinct for antiquities and hotels only. Opinion is divided over this.

We were woken during darkness hours the next morning to make our way across to the east bank for a sunrise hot air balloon ride. It was the most beautiful thing I have done on my trip so far! The Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsuts Temple - that we'd both see again later - were illuminated gold as the sun rose slowly across the Nile. As our balloon dipped low we hovered over the backyards of the villagers going about their morning chores. Then we'd rise high again for a birds eye view of the ancient wonders sitting patiently as they have for millennia, beside the burgeoning, buzzing city of Luxor.

The Temples later did not disappoint either-however the 48 degree temperature at Hatshepsuts Temple was tough going! I sought refuge in a coffee shop where a cold drink would be cheaper if made of solid gold!

The highlight for me though was seeing Tutankhamun's tomb at the Valley of the Kings complete with his mummy lying peacefully where it has for thousands of years. It was stunning and again no book could prepare you for the reality of seeing it. Like the fact the mummy sparkles black because of the resin used. Or how short he is - about the size if a ten year old. It was a once in a lifetime experience and worth every cent. The Colosseum of Memnon rounded out the day.

That night we caught an overnight to Cairo (I held out for 12 hours just to avoid using the toilet!) and again my uncanny ability to sleep anywhere came in handy. Nodded off as we pulled out in Luxor and woke up as we pulled in to Cairo.

I am also proud to say my stomach of steel has held out even in notorious Egypt. Turns out my brilliant Dr Nalder was onto something when he armed me with the following travel advice - take one acidophilus tablet and a multi vitamin a day. I have eaten street food, drunk tap water, and swum in the Nile and remain fit as a fiddle! Touch wood.

The food was amazing too. I'll especially miss the Koshary (rice, noodles, pasta, beans & tomatoes thrown in a bowl - Egyptian fast food) and the delicious beef kofta which is also found in the McArabia at McDonalds.

Our last few days were spent living it up in Cairo. Daniel and I caught a movie downtown, complete with intermission and barely audible language (they turn down the English words like in karaoke and turn up the background sound). Daniel picked up some perfectly fitted jeans after we noticed every guy in Egypt owned a pair - he looked very "hamsome"! We survived another day crossing kamikaze roads and got very lost looking for our hotel.

A highlight of our final Cairo leg was going to Dreampark - the biggest theme park in the Middle East. It was so much fun, and nothing could compare to click-click-clicking  up the enormous roller coaster only to hear Daniel exclaim "look at the Pyramids" at the top! I got stuck in a swarm of people wanting to take my photo, and much to our distress we were shadowed by two huge bodybuilders as we made our escape. As we piled into a taxi we realized they'd actually been doing it to protect us from the growing mob.

I was sad to leave this incredible heaving, historical country, but was now en route to say my goodbyes to Ethiopia...

Snuggles for my gorgeous Harvey Bear who's being very well looked after by his Nana Anna and Grandpa Sean. Thanks M & D!!!

Xxx