Logo

THE 7 ENTRIES THAT WERE WRITTEN 2005-02-23 (chronological ordered)

 
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Aswan

(travel diary) Aswan. Daytrip to Abu Simbel, Philaeh and Unfinished obelisk

Category: Egypt, 2005
Today it was time for Abu Simbel!
The hotel staff woke us up about three in the morning. After a small breakfast, we drove off in a small micro bus. We were 12 persons sitting in this micro bus (collected from three different hotels). Two swedes (Tobias and I), three self-destructive girls from Germany, a family from Poland and two girls and two guys from Korea.
After a speedy, sweaty, hot, 44 miles long journey we were finally in Abu Simbel.
The area was full of tourists. The entry fee to the temples was 61 pounds (adults with no student card).
The Abu Simbel temple was impressive. I like temples partly built into mountains :). I was also impressed by the work my grandfather's company did when they saved these temples from the water masses in the sixties.

After about two hours in Abu Simbel we continued to the Philae-temple. A pretty nice temple situated on an island. This is also a temple that has been saved from the rising water masses. The temple was bigger than I had thought.

After Philae we continued to the "unfinished obelisk". A 42m tall stone. A crack in the granite stopped the work and the workers left it there on the ground. In comparison to Abu Simbel this wasn't that exciting.

After this we drove back to our hotel.

Heading for Cairo. 17:45 we stood at the Aswan train station and entered the 18:15 wagon-lit train to Cairo. We sat on the train for about one hour before it departed... We ate a nice dinner and in the club-wagon we had a jam-session with the train staff and some children.
COMMENT THIS ENTRY
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel. Great temple of Ramses II

Category: Egypt, 2005
Abu Simbel. Great temple of Ramses II - Four 20 metres high sitting statues of Ramses II. The temple was built[...]
Four 20 metres high sitting statues of Ramses II.

The temple was built between 1274 and 1244 BC.
Tags » Abu Simbel, temple
1 COMMENT1 RESPONSE
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Abu Simbel

The innermost chamber of Abu Simbel

Category: Egypt, 2005
The innermost chamber of Abu Simbel - Twice every year, February 22nd and October 22nd , the first rays of the[...]
Twice every year, February 22nd and October 22nd , the first rays of the sun shines in though the temple entrance, through the hall and into the innermost sacred room where they illuminate the gods Ra-Harakhty, Ramses II and Amun. Ptah to the left is never illuminated.

Before the temple was moved from the rising water of the Nile this phenomenon happened one day earlier.
Tags » Abu Simbel
COMMENT THIS ENTRY
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Philae/Agilkia island

Temple of Isis

Category: Egypt, 2005
Temple of Isis - Since the beginning of the 20th century the temple was burried underwater[...]
Since the beginning of the 20th century the temple was burried underwater 6 months every year until Unesco 1972 started to move the temple from the Philae island to the nearby island Agilkia. The rescue work was finnished 1980.
Tags » temple
COMMENT THIS ENTRY
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Philae/Agilkia island

Wall relief in the Isis temple

Category: Egypt, 2005
Wall relief in the Isis temple - From the inside of the Isis temple. The height of the reliefs: about 2-3[...]
From the inside of the Isis temple.

The height of the reliefs: about 2-3 metres.
Tags » temple
COMMENT THIS ENTRY
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > On the night tran (Aswan to Cairo)

Jammin with train personnel (video)

Category: Egypt, 2005
Jammin with train personnel (video) - On the night train between Aswan and Cairo, a 17 hour trip, we got good[...]
This entry has one or more files attached:
Watch the video online (streaming)
Download the movie (4.6 mb)
On the night train between Aswan and Cairo, a 17 hour trip, we got good use for our instruments we had bought in Aswan: 2 Rababas, 1 oud and 1 tabla drum.

We had a small jam session in the club carriage together with the train personnel.

The video clip is from the very beginning = not much music at all.
Tags » jammin´, Tobias, train, video
1 COMMENT1 RESPONSE
 

Wednesday February 23rd, 2005

Africa > Egypt > On the night tran (Aswan to Cairo)

Our night train compartment

Category: Egypt, 2005
Our night train compartment - This is how our compartment looked like. This train took us from Aswan[...]
This is how our compartment looked like.

This train took us from Aswan to Cairo.
The three seats transformed and became two beds. We cabin also featured at a hand-basin, mirror and an eletric socket.

I really slept good in my bed, better than any of the hotels.
Tags » train
COMMENT THIS ENTRY