The Temple of Abu Simbel, located 289km south of Aswan and very close to the southern boarder with Sudan. Because of it's location we have to travel as early as 3am from Aswan to Abu Simbel. We took a minivan that we arranged with our hostel in Aswan cost about 75EGP/ pax plus a small snack box(the price was ok plus the owner allow us to shower after our trip back even though we've checked out).
the travelling time took us about 4 hours by the time we reached Abu Simbel was already 7am
we have about 3 hours. It was more than enough plus by noon the weather will be unbearably warm.
Tip: bring a hat
entrance fee for Abu Simbel cost 40EGP for student and 80EGP for normal ticket. There will be also some local fee(25EGP for student and 50EGP for normal) and a guide fee(13EGP). Funny thing about this guide fee is that...there is NO guide for you there but you still have to pay for it nonetheless :S
I've seen this scene many times in documentaries, now it my turn! with my own eyes
simply spectacular
the facade 4 seated colossi of the King, represents the King seated on his throne and
accompany by 3 small figures of his wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs
i just couldn't stop wowing
Boon admiring the facade
the head of the 2nd statue from the left on the grown. They said it supposedly fell during an earthquake shortly after its construction. On moving the temple it was decided to leave it as the face is missing. I only see the ear
figure of Re-Hor-Akhty above the main entrance of this temple which dedicated to the God Re-Hor-Akhty
too bad no photo inside
this is the best we can get from the entrance.
Inside it's not very big but alot of small rooms with interesting wall carving
alot of this bird statues just infront the entrance
big bird and small birds
details
friends we made during our 3 days 2 nights Nile cruise trip
the king and i
just beside the 1st temple is the Temple of Hathor and Nefertari or also known as The Small Temple
Queen Nefertari was the most beloved wife of King Ramses II
this 6 standing colossi represent Ramses II and Queen Nefertari
see the top part, rocks in square shapes? the 2 temples were cut in to many pieces, and they were reconstructed again on a site 65m higher than the original site because of the rising water level of Lake Nasser while the High Damn was being built
side by side they stand tall
view of the lake Nasser
i just noticed that there are numbers of baboons figure on top oh the 4 colossi
our 1 last shot with the temple
still can't believed i was there!!! I WAS AT ABU SIMBEL
yippy!
damn another 4 hours drive back to Aswan :S
from Aswan we then took the train back to Luxor. We decided to blend in again with the local by buying 2nd class train ticket. The ticket cost 25EGP/pax 1 way and 45-50EGP/ pax 1 way for 1st class. Boy was that a wrong decision! why? it's not dangerous or anything it's just that in 2nd class alot of the local staring at you. plus the canteen is in between the 1st and 2nd class so alot of the other classes will pass by 2nd class to go to the canteen. Anyway it was an uncomfortable 3 hours ride
From Luxor we then flew back to Berlin
the view was cool and very brown ;D
as much as i love Egypt but I'm glad to go back home ;)
~bye bye~
