I know I have mentioned this before on my blog, but will do so again. Sometimes after I do something amazing… I sit there and think “having this much fun or having this many amazing experiences should be illegal”. I mean really… how many amazing experiences can one have in a life time? Well the truth is so damn many… if you make them happen for ya! I mean I can go on and list so many amazing things I have done through out my trip and it’s insane. What’s even more insane is that in the span of less than 3 weeks in Egypt I have managed to do many things I have always wanted to do in my life. I lived my childhood dream of visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza, I saw a side of Tahrir Square they are not showing us on the media/news, I went back to the Sahara Desert to go 4×4 & sand boarding, I have visited so many temples and even fell in love with an Island I had never heard of. Oh & I even met a guy on my 1st day in Cairo who is great and that I am still seeing today (more on that later).
Okay so back to the post… one of the things I have always wanted to do in my life was ride a hot air ballon. I didn’t care where or how, I just wanted to do it. The truth is I had planned to do it during my trip around the world in Turkey. It’s known all over the world, that riding a hot air balloon over Cappadocia is one of the most amazing experiences you can have in your life. I however was not able to do it while I was there, because it was dab smack in the middle of winter, it rained a lot and even snowed. I was a bit sad, but not upset because I knew I was going to be coming back. Fast forward a month and I found out you can do a hot air balloon ride over Luxor in Egypt. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and knew I had to do it. Not only was I going to be riding a hot air balloon, but I wold be doing it in EGYPT… IN FUCKING EGYPT!!! I was so excited.
I arrived in Luxor a few days after Mica from Kaypatcha Travels, and she was kind enough to wait for me and book our hot air balloon ride for the morning after I arrived. We woke up bright and early to be on the balloon in time to watch the sun rise over Luxor. Sadly it was a cloudy day and were not able to see the sunrise… however we were able to have one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. After a brief meeting with instructions on how to prepare for lift off and landing we were placed in the basket. We were so excited and giggling and chatting we didn’t even realize we had taken off. Yes it’s that smooth… you don’t feel a thing. Moments later we were magically hanging from a huge balloon over the city of Luxor. The feeling of floating freely in the air over beautiful scenery is crazy. I managed to get many shots from above and here are some of my favorites.
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I was in the clouds after that experience it was truly amazing. I got back and shared on Facebook my excitement. I posted one of my favorite pictures of this experience and one of my readers left a comment that struck a cord with me.
“How fantastic! Not even the Pharoahs got a view like that.” – Grace
I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it is a view of Luxor the Pharaohs didn’t even have. It’s kinda crazy when you think about it like that. I mean really… THE PHAROAHS COULDN’T HAVE HAD THIS VIEW. Well unless they were aliens???
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After this amazing experience we were exhausted went back to the hostel took a nap then rented bikes and rode them down to the Temple of Karnak. It is by far the most impressive Temple I have visited through out Egypt. Even though the Pharaohs had a better view of the Temple in full glory I was able to get a view of what is left of them 1000’s years later.
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So tell me… have you been hot air balloon riding? Did you like it or hate it? If you haven’t do you want too? Have you ever seen something from above that you know even the Kings, Queens, or Pharaohs couldn’t of had a view like that?
Hey, you still in Luxor? I’m doing the Balloons tomorrow morning (5am).
Ian [EagerExistence] recently posted..Who Needs Details? Keep an Open Itinerary
Hey buddy, no not anymore. My blog is about two weeks behind… Have fun doing the balloons, you are going to love it. It’s amazing. I hope you get a great sunrise!
Well, I’m too scared of heights to ride in a hot air balloon, but I did totally love those columns at Karnak – as well as the whole temple. That is a great photo of the columns towering over you 🙂
Sabina recently posted..A Luxor, Egypt Must-See – Medinet Habu Temple
OMG SABINA YOU SHOULD DO IT… I MEAN IT!!! It’s so beautiful… you are there long enough you really should. Oh & I am glad you enjoyed Karnak! It’s so damn amazing!
This is too awesome….. you’re right, you’ve had SO many amazing experiences on this trip already, and still have more to come!! What an amazing way to see Egypt in a hot air balloon. (ps Maybe there WERE aliens?? haha)
Patricia GW recently posted..How to Graduate Without Debt
Thanks Pat, I know its crazy how many things I have done & have yet to come. This was one amazing experiences… and yeah I wonder all the time if they were aliens… I mean really? I so think they had som help… but who knows.
Ahhh, Love it!! I’m doing it tomorrow! Who knows, I might be in the same balloon as Ian! lol
Norbert recently posted..Stories From The Road: A Middle Eastern Woman’s Dream
Oh you are going to love it Norbert… I hope you are on the same balloon as Ian… should be interesting!
Wow, that balloon ride looks amazing! We spent a few weeks in Egypt on our big trip, but sadly it never occurred to us to actually do that. I wish we had known!
Bryan @ BudgetYourTrip recently posted..The Best Hostels for 2012
Bryan, I hate when I find out about something cool after I have already been there. Only thing that does is make us want to come back and well that is a good thing.
I’ve always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride while on my trips to New Mexico but have never done it. Now i’m really excited to go through with it.
Thank you for sharing the experience.. i felt like I was there with you.
xoxo
QueenB
Oh you should… its amazing. I know New Mexico has some of the best scenery in the world ot do it too. That’s why they hold the annua, HABR festival there.
What an experience! I’ve never been in a hot air balloon, but there are rides in my county — how have I not done it?! What a unique thing to do in Egypt 🙂
Heather recently posted..At Home in Berlin
Oh Heather it really was! Ummm you need to do it… no joke. When you do be sure to write about it! Something I’ll never forget…
That’s awesome Jaime! I’ve never been in a hot air balloon, but Andy and I are hoping to ride in one in Turkey in April. I’m glad to hear you had such an amazing time!
Ali recently posted..Odd Signs and Statues in Southeast Asia
Oh Ali you are going to love it… it’s so smooth and not scary at all. I so wanted to do it in Turkey, I am sure it’s just as amazing.
So jealous Jaime, I have always wanted to go on a balloon ride.
Ayngelina recently posted..Food Friday: Raw beet salad
Aygelina you should… it’s amazing!