See ancient Luxor from a different angle. Imagine drifting silently over temples at dawn, not only seeing ancient sites and ruins but also villages waking up in the early morning sun. Sail through the air over sugar cane fields and temples. See desert land and the Nile in the distance. See if you can spot Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon or maybe have a conversation with the locals as you drift a few metres from their rooftops. Experience the thrill of perceiving the beauty of Luxor from amidst the crease of clouds. The blue horizon as the backdrop and the colorful air balloons floating across it looks amazing in the skyline of Luxor at the break of dawn. The saffron rays of sun sweeping the city with its first shimmer and you are flying off on a hot air balloon to appreciate the wondrous beauty of the city.

This is exactly how I felt during balloon flight over Luxor. I actually had to come twice for it as the first time I booked it was too windy and the balloon could not take off. What I didn’t know was that would be hot-air balloon crash just the next day after my flight last weekend : Three Egyptian operators and 13 foreign tourists were hurt when the balloon came down during a tour of the ancient city of Luxor. Several people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the balloon apparently hit a mobile phone mast. It is the latest of several recent incidents involving balloons in Egypt.

Bit worrying but it wont stop me to go on hot air ballooning next time I’ll be in Luxor or elsewhere.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/7.1, 0.01 sec (1/100), ISO 800, 20 mm

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