Follow the footsteps of Indiana Jones to Petra (J6/10)

 After the satisfying trip to Wadi Rum, our next destination is about 120km away to Petra.

Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 as well as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

Petra also known as the 'Lost City'. 

Believed to have been home to 30,000 people during the first centuries BC and was an important trading city. It became the subject of many attacks, but the mountainous region made it an impenetrable fortress. 

 It then sat uninhabited for over five centuries until rediscovered later in 1812.

The entrance to the city of Petra is by a narrow passage cut through the sandstone as a result of years of rain and wind.

You may not heard of Petra before, but if you are a fan of the movie Indiana Jones, you will not miss it. Appearing during the climax of the 1989 movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this location - known as The Treasury makes for an impressive backdrop to the mystery and chaos of the film’s final moments. 

Monastery, another structure using rock-cut architecture that were as impressive as The Treasury.

The mark on the lower part of the structure show how deep it were once buried in sands.

Looking from different angle to have a sense of the height of the structure.

There are many stone cut room like this can be seen along the way.  This is another site that need a full day for better experience. There are still many point of interest that I didn't manage to cover and will have to come back again the next day.

Visit to Karnak Temple (E17/25)

 

 After visiting Luxor Temple this is one temple that I don't want to miss.

An replica of the Sacred Boat is on display at the entrance of the Karnak Temple.

Karnak Temple just like an open-air museum. It is considered to be the largest religious building or site in the world.

This temple was connected to Luxor Temple by Avenue of the Sphinxes previously and works are ongoing to restore that.

Obelisks of Hatshepsut a good idea of how tall it is with tourists below.

There are a total of 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows

Some colour on the column are still intact.

This is the unfinished work as seen on the right.

Night Visit to Luxor Temple (E15/25)

After my visit to Edfu Temple, next temple to visit is about 120km away, Luxor Temple.

Our cruise travel in full speed along Nile River.

In order to get to Luxur, we need to cross Esna Lock.

The whole process of empty and filling water is about six minutes and this allow vessels crossing along two part of waterway possible with different water level.

When travel from Luxor south to Edfu or Edfu to Luxor.

It's always a great photo opportunity at Esna Lock

By the time we reached Luxor, the sun is almost setting.

The Avenue of Sphinxes(known as "path of god" which went in a straight line from the Luxor Temple all the way to the Karnak Temple. 

First pylon at night

Some inscription has gone over time.

Some are barely visible.

This must be one of the most talk about. Some part has turn dark in colour probably by the tourist who touches it in believe that this could bring them fertility.

Night Visit to Temple of Kom Ombo (E13/25)

 

After the long journey back from Abu Simbel, our cruise set sail North towards Kom Ombo.

It was such a relaxing things to do watching sun slowly set on the River Nile.

It was already dark when we arrived at Temple of Kom Ombo.

The unique features of this temple is everything in double. There were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, while the northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris.

I try to take the stars on the dark sky above the temple without success.

The air was heavily pooluted with light and the dust particle during this season . The best I can get is the satelite that are brighter and nearer to earth.