Luxor - the Temple and the Lost Luggage of Doom

The music being played on the hotel roof terrace right now has at least changed from cheesy Egyptian film score (think The Mummy chase scenes) to a bit of tuneful Arab rock.  As it is only me here, the hotel team are taking advantage of some 'younger' music being played and some English practice where I now know about their various children, how old they are and how well they are doing at school. The heat is searing and I am grateful for the respite up here.  The hotel we are in overlooks Luxor temple and the Nile so the views are pretty good too. Mat has gone to get an authentic Egyptian shave so here's hoping he doesn't come back looking like Imhotep...

As it is so hot, we visited Luxor temple early this morning when it was much cooler and where it was pretty much to ourselves apart from a handful of other tourists and the usual tour guide hawkers. Just as well really as Mat and I were wearing yesterday's clothes due to our luggage going astray and we didn't want to stink the place out!  This was preceded yesterday by a little embarrassment on my part at Cairo airport during security check prior to boarding our Luxor flight. 

A strange object appearing on the x-ray screen turned out to be my mini screwdriver for tightening the screws on my glasses. It had burrowed its way into the lining of my bag. I had no idea it was in there and previous security checks hadn't picked it up. Security risk averted the guards confiscated it but obviously after they made me empty my bag in front of everyone passing through security check. The whole flight now knows the intimate contents of my handbag.  

We spent yesterday wandering around Luxor where compared to laid back Dahab, the heat, noise, traffic and volume of people was like a big punch in the face. The people are very friendly although the constant in your face touting for business from the caleche drivers to restaurant folk is very wearing. Post revolution, business is tough but surely a no is a no "my friend". Fortunately, for food last night we stumbled upon a local shawerma and falafel place where Mat gorged himself silly. Both were teeming with locals and with no English signage, the international language of pointing was put to good use!

The constant leching from some of the men is also getting a little annoying. I have tried not to write about it on here as most Egyptian men are respectful of women but when you get your boob surreptitiously groped yet again, it really does start to get on your nerves. And no, I wasn't dressed provocatively although I cannot believe I am having to write this. Apparently, Luxor is the sex tourism capital in Egypt where lots of WOMEN go here to pick up Egyptian men. Seriously ladies, self-respect goes a long way.

Lecture over. Off to check on our luggage and to prepare for our Karnak trip later.

Dahab - Final Daze

There's nothing quite like an exercise room full of people to announce that you had a tumour on your spine but there you go, that's what happened in yesterday's yoga class. As I was new to this particular class the yoga teacher decided to put me at the front and quite rightly go through a health check with me. I mentioned my dodgy back saying that I had a weak upper back but she just kept asking and asking as to the nature of my problem so I felt I had no option but to say my medical history in one sentence to her - "I had a tumour on my spine but now its gone due to radiotherapy". That shut her up as well as the rest of the room but there's nothing like a life threatening illness to be a conversation stopper, an international one at that! I could have also mentioned all the chemo I went through as well as the stem cell transplant but I thought this was a little too much over-sharing.

The class itself was OK. It was all a bit 'ohm' for me and being at one with nature and the power of breathing which I thought was quite funny given the instructor had a husky smoker's voice and I could smell the tobacco smell off her as she made sure I was in the right position...

Dahab itself has definitely got a lot busier the last couple of days. There are more people around the pool, in town and the bars and restaurants seem to have more trade. Speedo action has also intensified thanks to our European counterparts. I also managed to fit in some snorkelling yesterday and hope to do some more later. The coral and fish life is ok here but in my opinion not a patch on Bunaken in Indonesia but what do I know? I judge everything by its colour!

Anyway, just waiting for Mat to get back from his diving so we can have some lunch then on to Luxor tomorrow morning. I'm off to have a nosey over on the beach next door. There's lots of beautiful people milling about and filming. Looks like an advert.