A FULL DAY IN LUXOR ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE – 6 NOVEMBER 2025

What I had wanted to do in Luxor was completed by last evening except the early morning hot air balloon ride. Mostafa, the owner of the Full Moon House, had arranged the entire balloon ride package. I was informed to be ready by 5 am in front of the guesthouse. The hotel pickup was arranged by the Blue Bird company that was going to do the hot air balloon ride. The 10-seater pickup was full. We were driven for about 20 minutes to a massive empty ground, where tens of balloons were spread out waiting for the visitors.

Soon we were introduced to a photographer and videographer, who showed us videos and photos they could make in case we wanted. Initially they had mentioned 250 EGP as the price for one and I signed up. After a while they came around and said that they would have to charge 500; I refused the revised price and decided to document the experience myself, in the best manner possible.

In a while, the balloons were readied one by one, and it was quite a sight to see them getting 'blown up' to be taken up to the sky by the Captain. Each basket, divided into many sections, can take up to 28 passengers. Detailed instructions were given to us prior to 'jumping' into the basket.

Soon we were airborne and the sunrise was indeed a magnificent sight in the distance. The Captain kept pointing out places of tourist interests such as the Hatshepsut mortuary temple, the Valley of the Queens, Valley of the Kings, Tomb of the Nobles, Rammesseum, Habu Temple, etc.

Lush sugarcane plantations and mango groves stood in stark contrast to the limestone and alabaster mountains in the West Bank. Teams engaged in excavations had also begun their work early. There are so much excavation and restoration works going on that new attractions will get opened year after year and that will be no surprise.

At $75 for the 45 minutes hot air balloon experience, it was indeed worth the money spent. Once the ride was over, before we left the basket, the company asked us to fill out a feedback form. In return they gave us a certificate of the balloon ride, which I got signed by the Captain. Thereafter, I was dropped back to the guesthouse. In the van was a group of Japanese girls, who talked so loudly through the 20-minute ride that it was most annoying.

I joined a wonderful couple who were touring Egypt from America. The gentleman, Magdi, is a retired nephrologist, but does voluntary service in Florida. The lady used a walking stick as she had undergone hip replacement surgery twice in the past year. Magdi is originally from Egypt and has been in the US for the past 46 years. They would be getting on to a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan this morning. We shared a lot last evening and over breakfast this morning. It was such a pleasure.

Mostafa, the owner of the guesthouse, permitted me use of a room till 5 pm as my flight was scheduled only at 7.45 pm. He arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport at 5 pm, till which time, he said, I could rest in the room. After shifting the luggage to the 'apartment' room suggested by Mostafa, on an impulse, I decided to take the passenger ferry to the East Bank. Just 15 minutes of walk from the guesthouse and I was at the ferry terminal. Last evening I had learnt that the ferry operates 24x7, which is a great facility for the locals and visitors alike.

I bought a two-way ticket for 50 EGP and sat comfortably on the upper deck. In a short while the ferry departed even though it was just about half full. Two ferries operate the route. I had no particular agenda for the East Bank. However, as the ferry approached the East Bank I noticed spires of a church. After disembarking from the ferry, which was in between the government hospital and the Luxor Museum I had visited yesterday, I walked in the general direction of the church.

I reached the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luxor, which was under the Coptic Orthodox Diocese. The church was built in 1909. Some part of the old church is undergoing renovation. I got to spend a lot of time in prayer; I felt as if I had been summoned by Our Lady for a special blessing.

After a short nap and a bath, I was ready to leave for the airport. Mostafa accompanied me in Ashraf's taxi and dropped me off at the departure enclosure. When I got the boarding pass, I was shocked. The flight was two hours late. There was neither any prior intimation nor an email. Just like that. This meant further delay to my onward car ride to Alexandria. I informed the driver on the delay. I also anticipate delay in baggage arrival as it happened in Luxor three days back.

When things go wrong, they happen not just once. As I was walking towards the designated departure gate, I was summoned by the staff of the Pearl Lounge who examined my card and said that I would get free access to the lounge. I thought it a heaven sent as I was hungry too, having skipped lunch. When I sat down to a lovely dinner of sticky rice and beef curry from the buffet, I got an alert that Rs. 3100 had been debited for the lounge access!

Since the card had been charged I decided to make full use of the lounge. Apart from a second helping I also tucked into cakes and a couple of cups of coffee. In between I had to school another Indian guy who was on a video call with his family. I told him that he should be using ear buds as no one else was interested in his conversation. He immediately toned his volume down and soon thereafter discontinued the video call. When I came back to my seat the girl sitting next to me, an engineer from Edmonton, Canada, thanked me for stopping the 'nuisance'. I don't know why we cannot be considerate and be mindful of the inconvenience we are causing to others.

The fact that my card had been charged still rankled when I came out of the lounge. I went up to the girl who had confirmed that the lounge access was free for those with Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. I told her what had happened and showed her the email from the bank intimating me of the debit. 

She asked me if I had used the lounge service. I confessed that I had because I saw the email after I had started use of the lounge. However, she immediately took action to reverse the transaction and asked me to take a photo of the screenshot of reversal so that I could seek redressal from the Bank in case the amount was not credited back into my account within 48 hours. That's customer service. Implicit trust in the customer and acceptance of one's mistake.

The delayed flight got further delayed. Finally boarding started at 2200 hours. Although the flight was full, two seats were empty and that was beside my window seat. On the flight, as was on the flight to Luxor too, snacks consisted of a small packet of salted crackers and a small bottle of water. We had to wait for 15 minutes after the flight parked in Cairo to leave the aircraft. The ground handling is seriously flawed. The luggage did come soon enough, and I met up with my driver to leave for Alexandria after midnight. I intimated the apartment I had booked in Alexandria of my possible arrival close to 3 am!