Into Egypt

Yesterday we sailed across the Sudanese - Egypt border and are now in Aswan. Once again the change across the border is dramatic...welcome to a dense population of leering men! hehe!!

From our last post in Khartoum we did the most amazing drive we have ever done. We headed through the desert along the course of the Nile river to the border town of Wadi Halfa. The scenery was spectacular - crazy desert and then in the midst the Nile weaves its course and supports a lush green vegetation strip of date palms for about 10m on either side of its banks. Dotted all along the river are tiny towns that are stark white and have pretty Nubian paintings all over them. About 100m away from the river the desert then reclaims the land and there is nothing. Absolutely nothing but sand....and a few Pyramids that date back to when the ancient Egyptians invaded the land.

The camping in the evenings has been incredible - starry skies, cool breeze and absolutely no one in sight. Ah, this is what it's all about!

When we got to Wadi Halfa we had to wait three days for a ferry boat to arrive for us - and despite the odds we all agreed it was one of our favourite parts of the trip. There was nothing to do and no where to go but absorb the desert and local town. Lots of coffee and tea drinking and using the shower at Mazar's house (our "fixer" in the town).

The border ferry was hyped up to be a tumultuous experience best avoided by anyone with a modicum of sanity...but it all turned out ok for us. As the girls in the group Katie and I got sent on ahead to use our girlish charms to try and secure some sleeping space on the deck (it's an overnighter). We shoved and pushed our way through and ended up being some of the first up there and spread out all our stuff to guard some space. When the boys arrived we were feeling very smug! Turned out to be a great night sleeping under the stars - apart from the fact that any time we woke up the same man was sitting there staring at Katie and I all night. In the morning I noticed he had his fly undone. Nice.

The downside to the ferry trip actually started when the trip was over. We approached the port and then just sat there for about 3 hours in the sun waiting for Immigration officials to enter the boat and stamp us all through. Very chaotic and disorganised. We were all glad when we finally disembarked and made it to our hotel (truck is on a separate ferry so we have to "rough it" for a few nights!!). Even better is that Scott and Summer's parents are in town and we were treated to a nice meal to celebrate.

We're heading to Abu Simbel tomorrow which should be great (other than the fact we have to leave at 3am!!! What is with that???) Will report more soon...

xxx

PS. hope some of you notice steve's MO! We've got the whole truck doing Movember so the photos will be posted soon! FUnnily enough the Egyptians are loving it and keep yelling out "nice moustach"...that might e because they ALL have them too!