Karnak wonder

Today I made a small tour to the biggest temple in Egypt, Karnak Temple. Impressive mix of sanctuaries, constructions, columns, obelisks over 2 Km², it shows the advanced technology in construction they had. After a relaxing lunch on the Nile riverside, I went to Luxor temple, where the pharaoh used to have his honeymoon for 27 days with his wife.

Beautiful temple too, where a mosque was built years later, and the Christians erased some of the Egyptians figures to try to change religion.

In the night I get back to Cairo, for my final day in Egypt this year.

Luxor and the Nile

Today I took an early flight to Luxor, a small city at 500 Km south of Cairo, which is known as the biggest open air museum in the world. In the early morning, trying to run from the merciless sun, we went to the Valley of Kings, the cemetery with 63 royal tombs from different dynasties. Their tombs were not pyramids, but were caves dug in the mountains, with walls beautifully painted with ancient live color cryptic passages. Although from the many tombs discovered, there are 9 open to the public, the 38° of this fresh winter let us visit only 3. Then we headed for one of the most incredible temples in the country, the Temple Hatshepsut. Delightfully incrusted in the mountain, it shows the magnificence and power of the Egyptians and the relevance in praying for their souls. After lunch, I went to sail de Nile in a felucca until sunset, one of the most incredible experiences, not only for the peace and serenity you feel, but by the magnificence of the Nile and its history in humanity.

Outside Cairo

I went today to Dahshu, Memphis and Saqqara. Cities outside Cairo, were poverty is common, but here was built the first pyramid in the world. In these cities there are more than 20 pyramids and a long time ago were many more, but the first one was build for Sneferu, father of Cheops. He was so powerful that was the only pharaoh to build 3 pyramids: two mistakes and his final tomb.



The second mistake that I visited, is the curved pyramid: they began to build it, and after some time they realized it was not going to resist all the weight, so they changed the angle a little bit. Sneferu didn´t like the result and asked for another one, and as the result, the red pyramid was created. The first one.



I was able to go into the funerary chamber inside the pyramid. Very scary experience. You have to go down a lot by a narrow tunnel, with not much air, or light, but is well worth it.
I saw a lot of monuments created by Ramses II, one of the lastest and most powerful pharaohs.




I saw too, one of the first tombs that was build like a set of blocks each over the other, not a pyramid, but Sneferu got the idea from this one. Was build but one of the greatest minds in ancient Egypt, a guy that was an architect, physician, and like 7 professions more. Was the first to use stones to build.

Cairo, beautiful chaos

Huge, hot, chaotic, noisy and smelly, Cairo is a beautiful city in it’s context. In my first day in Cairo, trying to fight unsuccessfully against jet lag and local bugs in food, I went very early to the main attraction first. After more than an hour stuck in traffic from Cairo to Giza, I finally reached one of the seven ancient wonders: the great pyramid of Cheops.

Aside of it, the Chephren and Mycerinus pyramids and the sphinx... I have no words to describe the sensation of looking and touching those huge monuments to technology, effort, ego and power. With thousands of years old, there are some hypothesis that still in debate about their construction and amazing mathematical and astronomical facts. Just to spend the morning in the Giza plateau and it’s energy is worth the trip. After some time in papyrus and essences museums I went to have a typical Egyptian lunch, and then arrived to the huge and beautiful Khan al-Khalili market built in the 14th century. Just marvelous; you can find anything to negotiate and feels real Egyptian as it’s filled with locals in daily routines. Last but not least, the Egyptian museum in the city’s center, where you can see the only recovered tomb from one of the least important pharaohs, Tutankhamun. The sad story is that as Egypt began to value monuments too late, just in the end of the XIX century, the most important pieces were stolen from other countries and are currently exhibited in museums in Europe and America.

Travel light

I don’t know if I’m forgetting a lot of things, but my suitcase for more than two months is the same I use for a two day trip. I’m following to the letter the travel light advice, not only for things, but for expectations too.
Although I will see for the first time a lot of things I haven’t seen or known about, I have two simple purposes in this trip.
The first one is to open my mind, and this will be achieved by the first part of the trip. Egypt, Dubai, India and Nepal will show me new things everywhere: habits, food, languages, places, sounds, smells, sights, culture, valuables, faith. Many things that were standard for me and my “common sense” will be open to revise.
The second goal is learn to meditate and being able to control my mind. Perhaps the most difficult challenge I’ve ever faced, this is the reason to land in Thailand. A whole month of spiritual retreat, with out talking, exercising, reading or listening to music. I’ll just be able to meditate, sleep, eat and go to the bathroom, 31 days of me and myself.
Even though these goals look pretty demanding, I’ll be satisfied with whatever result comes out in the end, because I’m completely sure, on January 8th I’ll be happier and a better person.

The itinerary

Finally, everything is settled. Visas, dates, flights, hotels, country guides; A lot of expectations and emotions from all that will hit my mind in the next 10 weeks.
Flying from Caracas, to visit Egypt, Dubai, India, Nepal and Thailand.
Not all were my original planned destinies, but the result of a Colombian passport, a few weeks to ask for visas and a lot of great advice. Nevertheless, very excited about all the cities in the itinerary that will begin next October 26th.


The following is the planned itinerary and days in each country.

Egypt (5): Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria

Emirates (4): Dubai

India (23): Mumbai, Aurangabad, Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra, Jaipur, Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Cochin

Nepal (2): Kathmandu

Thailand (35): Bangkok, Chiang Mai