Forgot to mention that i hired a bike last night from the hostal next door so i could make an early start to valley of the kings. I knew it was going to be 7km bike ride to valley of the kings so packed 2 litres of water in my back pack. The bike had no gears and the saddle was hard as nails but better than walking and only cost 1.50 for the day. The great thing was that i left the hostal at 6am and not much traffic on the roads as luxor traffic is chaotic. The bikes drive the wrong way and when you are a pedestrian you have to watch them.....
Cycled to the ferry which was only 10 mins because valley of the kings is on the west bank and i have been staying on the east bank. It was very beautiful taking the ferry as the sun was rising and there was a very peaceful atmosphere because i could hear the mosque prayers - this happens 5 times a day and the mosques play a very nice chant music which is calling the muslims to come to prayer. Its very soothing and often sends me to sleep.
Got off the ferry 15 mins later and was bombarded by taxi drivers telling me it was too far to cycle to valley of the kings and just ignored them. The bike ride was great and on my way saw lots of greenery and nice smelling flowers. Passed a few donkeys and the owners asked me if i wanted to have a ride with my bike!!
The road was a good road although the incline started to get very steep. Good thing when you are on a bike is you can stop for a pee and take photos......
Arrived at valley of the kings and was able to visit 3 tombs with the entrance price of 80 egyptian pounds which is around 10 english pounds and also paid extra to see tutakammuns tomb. One of the tombs i visited there were 2 ladies doing some sort of healing in the tomb and kept paying the guard baksheesh to keep away. I didnt like the energy so i returned a bit later. The tombs were very interesting but a bit overrated and the crowds didnt help as it got later.
Cycled down a big hill to the Hathesput temple and by this point (11am) the sun was scorching and couldnt tell you what i saw apart from crowds as it was too hot as no shade. Went onto the Ramasseum temple but had some lunch at the restaurant opposite it first - the owner gave me his business card and said i could stay at his hotel for a cheap price etc etc. He showed me some newspaper clippings of his father with Howard carter that were hanging on the restaurant wall. The food was beef kofta and aubergine with salad which was very tasty.
Back into the heat and visited Ramasseum which is open air like all the temples. This was much better than vallley of the kings and i was the only one visiting the ramasseum as it was 1pm and no other idiot would visit it in this heat! Despite the heat there was an overwhelming sense of peace and the guards were sleeping in the shade so i had no hassle. I decided to take photos and also lay on the ground and had a sleep whilst listening to the pigeons.
After 30 mins sleep had a look round the temple and felt much more refreshed (will fill in the history about temples later)
Back on my bike and next visited temple of the nobles and had run out of water so didnt appreciate these temples. Met an english guy at this site and he had bought his own mountain bike from england and i started to go green with envy of the comfortable saddle and gears.....
Last temple was Medinat Habu temple and on the way found a cafe, owner was asleep so had to wake him up so i could buy some water which drank half the bottle before setting off again. Medinat habu was a monastery and really enjoyed it as had lots of hidden passage ways and lots of shade!!
It was nearly 4pm and time to cycle to the ferry as i was exhausted.....
Arrived at ferry and tried to charge me extra for the bike but i told them how much i paid on the way over and they said they must have made a mistake and i laughed and got on.
Roads were much busier now and had to focus on traffic but managed to get back to hostal safely.
Chatted to the manager of the hostal about egyptian way of life etc and returned bike and then went for shower and short sleep. Unfortunately I was very very sick this night and kept throwing up. Not sure if it was the heat, the food i had a lunch of too many tombs. Finally got off to sleep at 1am once stomach had settled...