Levitate Travel: Luxor, Egypt

View of the Nile River and East Bank

Lunch at Africa Restaurant

Karnak Temple

The Sacred Lake

Fallen Obelisk of Hatshepsut

The Offering Hall

The Great Hypostyle Hall

Ram-Headed Sphynxes

Luxor Temple

 

Ramesses II

The Avenue of Sphynxes

Luxor Temple at Night

Valley of The Kings

Dinner at Cleopatra Hotel with a fantastic view

Alabaster Shops

Temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut erased from Egyptian History

 

 

Papyrus paper making

Medinet Habu

Toto Ride - another way of transportation in Egypt!

Colossi of Memnon

Photography by Leo Chan & Alicia Mara

EGYPT Travel - Luxor Photo Diary:

After visiting Cairo and Alexandria, we took a quick flight down to Luxor, home of ancient Thebes and many well-known ancient temple complexes and valleys. Thebes was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom and was the city of god Amon-Ra. Luxor was definitely a much different experience from the busy, city skyline of Cairo and Alexandria. We were instead greeted by a rural, cozy, farming community. We stayed on the West side, closer to most attractions, and because the Nile River splits the city into East and West, you will take 5LE boats to cross sides.

EAST BANK

The Karnak Temple Complex - First created around 3200 BC, the Karnack Temple is one of the largest religious sites in the world, encompassing the history of Ancient Thebes and serving as the greatest open-air museum in the world. Because its construction took place over many centuries at the hands of many different pharaohs, the ruins reflect different artistic style and changes in power. The quality and scale of the carvings, hieroglyphics, statues and architecture are just incredible. Our experience inside the temple complex was awe-inspiring as we marveled at what history has survived over thousands and thousands of years! 

+ Check out: The great Hypostyle Hall, the fallen obelisk of Hatshepsut, the Sacred Lake of Precinct (where pharaohs would need to cleanse themselves every morning before beginning morning religious rituals), the giant scarab beetle, and the Offering Hall where daily sacrifices to the god were made

Luxor Temple - Located right on the east bank of the Nile River, the Luxor Temple is a beautiful 1400 BC temple to explore. Constructed during the reign of Ramesses II, other great pharaohs and kings left their mark on this temple (including Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great). It has been in continuous use as a place of worship and you can see the remnants of the Christian church and Islamic mosque that also used to be there. We visited the Luxor Temple after the Karnack Temple, as they are both located on the East Side of Luxor. 

+ Check out: The Avenue of Sphinxes, the Colossal Statues of Rameses II, the Abu Haggag Mosque which was built before the temple was discovered (you can see a doorway leading out into thin air above the ground), the inner area where history collides: the Roman Christian stuccoes seen atop Egyptian carvings below, and the Chapel of Alexander the Great

+ We visited the temple during the early evening, giving ourselves a while to walk around to see everything in the daylight and also sundown to take pictures when the lights turn on
+ Strongly suggest taking all of your pictures of the temple from inside the gates as if you are taking pictures outside of the temple gates, expect to be hassled by every single horse carriage, taxi driver, and vendor that is passing by on the street 

WEST BANK

Valley of the Kings - Home to the tombs of the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom, Valley of the Kings was the highlight of our trip (next to the Great Pyramids!) Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed inside of the valley, but the tombs, many with all of their art work and color intact were completely indescribable and completely mindboggling to see in person! After seeing their mummies in the Cairo Museum, it was cool to see where they were originally laid to rest.

+ Tombs are closed on a rotating base for renovations, so keep checking online websites to see if the tomb you want to see if scheduled to be open that year. Your ticket only admits you into three tombs so do your research and choose wisely! We went into Ramses III, Merneptah, and Ramses IX’s tomb and they were INCREDIBLE.

+ Check out: King Tut’s tomb and his mummified body (seperate ticket purchase)

Deir el-Bahari aka Temple of Hatshepsut - The Temple of Hatshepsut was the temple I, Alicia, looked forward to visiting the most! Hatshepsut was the first female pharaoh and is regarded as one of the most successful pharaohs. She ruled Egypt for a peaceful 21 years and is known as the first great woman in history we know about. She was such an interesting historical figure. I would suggest reading a book about Hatshepsut’s life to fully appreciate all the history and murals here. After succeeding her step-son out of the pharaoh rule, he or his son, returned to the temple after her death and made an attempt to remove her historical records by chiseling her cartouches and images off the stone walls, leaving obvious Hatshepsut-shaped gaps along the walls you will see.

+ The reliefs here depict the myths of her life, which you can follow from her God created conception to her successful expeditions to other lands in Africa
+ It’s worth paying attention to her statues, which depict her with all of the symbols and garments of pharaohs, including the traditional false beard
+ We learned here that you shouldn’t cross your arms like the pharaoh statues, as crossed arms represent death

Medinet Habu aka Temple of Ramses III - Created around 1187 BC, the temple is decorated in impressive wall reliefs with enormous religious scenes and portrayals of Ramses III’s wars against Libyans and the ‘Sea People.’ The interior walls have many well-preserved reliefs and many with their original paintwork!

+ This is a tip for all attractions in Egypt, but do not let people come up to you who begin to explain the historical significance of what you are looking at, as they do so in demand for baksheesh
+ This temple has quite an interesting mural depicting a war in which enemies severed penises and severed heads are depicted in piles
+ You can also find ancient Greek graffiti spread throughout the temple

EGYPT Travel:

Cairo & Giza Photo Diary Guide

Alexandria Photo Diary Guide

Coming Soon:

What to Wear in Egypt: Outfit Style Details

Where & What to Eat: Egypt Restaurant & Food

Thank you for reading!

Alicia Mara & Leo Chan - Levitate Style

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