Felucca ride in Egypt

Felucca is a traditional wooden boat of Egypt and a visit to Egypt is incomplete without enjoying a relaxing ride on one. The best time to go for a Feluccs ride is is just before sunset as it is pleasant at time and you get some beautiful captures on your camera. You could opt for a few hours ride or choose to stay overnight on the Felucca.

Most tour operators include a sail on the Felucca as a part of the Nile cruise. When the cruise ship is docked in Aswan, they will take you to for an hour long Felucca ride. You can ofcourse book your own Felucca ride for as long as you wish. There are numerous locals with Feluccas moored near the ships who will offer to take you sailing.  Look around the Feluccas and choose the one that you think will be comfortable and you have a good feeling about. Also, decide on the price before you make the ride.

If there is no wind, the Feluccas are a bit slow. So, before you start check that there is some good wind :) With a gentle steady breeze, the Felucca glides along the Nile beautifully. The views are beautiful and you can see birds flying by. The sunset looks gorgeous when viewed from the Felucca.

There are no fixed prices for the Felucca ride. They keep changing from season to season and city to city. Always ask for the price/duration of the ride before you travel. And yes - haggling is a part of life there, so bargain for a good deal.

Tip: Carry a mosquito repellant with you when you go for the Felucca ride. Sure to come in handy.

The Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, Egypt

Reaching 60 feet into the sky, the two gigantic statues of Amenhotep III collectively referred to as the Colossi of Memnon are a major attraction on the West Bank of Luxor. The two statues have stood in the same place for the last 3400 years :)

The statues are of Amenhotep III (the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty) and depict him in a seated position. There are 2 smaller figures carved onto the same rock along Amenhotep's legs. These smaller figures are those of his mother and his wife.

When the 2 statues were carved out, they were created with the purpose of guarding the entrance to Amenhotep's mortuary temple. Being so close to the Nile, several inundations resulted in practically all of the temple being destroyed. What remains today of the temple complex are just these 2 statues both of which are badly damamged.

The legend on how they got their name is interesting. Sometime in 27BC, there was a big earthquake which damaged parts of the eastern colossus. And from then on, an hour or two after sunrise, the statue used to 'sing' or 'whistle'. Various theories have been put forward about the reason for this sound. The statues were named 'Memnon' after was an Ethiopian King and a hero of the Trojan War - 'Memnon' who was the son of Tithonus and Eos. Memnon means - The Ruler of Dawn. The statues were probably given this name because tey used to 'sing' only at dawn.

The statues are free to visit and there is nothing to see other than these 2 colossal structures. Of course, that doesnt mean that its not worth visiting. It absolutely is - just to see and appreciate the massive structures in the middle of the desert. If you are on a guided tour, your coach or car driver will stop here for 10-15 minutes giving you enough time to take some pictures. The Deir el-Bahari or Temple of Hatshepsut is nearby.