After an incredible sleep on the surprisingly comfy seater train (although I have learnt to sleep absolutely anywhere after these 14 months of travel) a ferry takes us across the Nile to our Hotel which is floating on an island in the middle of the Nile...........WOW.......very nice! Some time to freshen up and have a swim in the massive pool or order a drink at the pool bar was provided and clamed the 40 + heat of Aswan - by far the hottest place I have visited since leaving OZ. The lady bugs that clung to me in Cairo have been replaced by the odd fly and some water bugs...not as beautiful but in no way as annoying as the flys back home or the European wasps.

In the afternoon we headed out to see the old and new Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser...the heat had settled onto the roads by this time of the day and the soles of my shoes were not thick enough to stop it penetrating my feet...quick hop, step and jump into the shade....aaahhhh!

The Temple of Kalabshah was reached by a small boat that sat so low down in the water I though at the slightest tip it would start filling up with water and we would have to swim the rest of the way - which wouldn't have been too bad considering the heat. This temple was amazing - our first proper look at Hieroglyphics and Egyptian carvings that covered any wall space that allowed itself to be drawn onto...so much history in one place...this is the temple where the story of Antony and Cleopatra was lived out!

Back on the boat and we are taken to the Aswan Markets...a few tips learnt from Turkey here and I was left alone for most of the walk through. We then had a beautiful dinner and some dancing to finish off the night...some how I managed to always be sitting on the wrong spot as I always got pulled up onto the stage...

2:30am wake up call (yes wake up not sleep time) and we are off to the airport to catch a plane to take us down to Abu Simbel. I board the plane as Maria...yes Maria...the only airport I have been to where one person can cheack in 30 passengers who all happen to be called 'Maria' though the security gates with my 750ml water bottle tucked under my arm....hhmmmm!

Our tour guide, who I have never seen run before begins to pick up a very fast past and runs us up hill around the side and when we come back out again and turn around...Abu Simbel! In just over 10 minutes the sun shines onto the carved mountain and I think everyone held their breathe at the same time releasing it only out of necessity. Kind Ramesses II was definitely a ladies man who like himself just a little bit more. His wife perched very close to her husband and within both of these truely amazing features the walls and paint work captivated and intrigued you. The gold features had long been taken by tomb raiders and natural elements have taken some of the outside but even with what is left there is more than enough to have a very high respect for the Egyptians who were able to do all this just using another rock.

Back to the hotel to pack up our stuff...still in awe of what I had just seen another adventure awaits.....sail boat, blanket, stars, the Nile and me (and some friends of course) for 3 days! My felucca awaits!