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Small Talk:
Here’s the much-delayed update of the Egypt Travelogs series, sorry for the long wait.

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After the tour of Kom Ombo, the ship departed and journeyed the whole night to the last city of the tour. At 2.30 AM, our ship docked at the port city of Aswan, and it was a very, very cold morning.

Despite the fact that Egypt is a desert country, our trip was during winter, and even if it doesn’t snow here, the morning air was still cold enough for a cup of steaming hot coffee to cool down in mere seconds. I exercised good judgment to have brought my thick socks and sneakers to keep my feet warm.

The plan for the day was for our group to join a convoy of buses, vans and coasters on a 3-hour drive across the bare Egyptian desert to the distant city of Abu Simbel. We were to head far South to the Upper Nile region, very near to the Egypt-Sudan borders. The convoy was to leave the Aswan port at 4 AM, and Mahmud, our tour guide, reminded us to be seated on the coaster by 3.15 AM the latest.

That morning, Malaysians could not have been more punctual. I was honestly surprised at the efficiency of our group, despite having seniors and children in the group, everyone was at the coaster doors by 3.00 AM. I was very impressed at how things have went so far. No delays, no missing itinerary items, no canceled events, nothing.

Up until that point, everything was going according to plan. It was all smooth and perfect. At least, until I smelt burning rubber at about 5 AM, and I was already half-asleep inside our coaster that was heading to Abu Simbel. There was a loud noise, and our vehicle came to a stop, and everyone was awakened by the shock. It didn’t take long for us to understand the situation.

Our coaster had a burst tyre.

In the middle of the Egyptian desert.

At 5 AM, in the dark of night.

On a freezing winter morning.

Luckily for us, there was a patrol vehicle that was part of the convoy that stopped to help us. Being considerate Malaysians, everyone got off the coaster to make work easier for repairmen. I stepped out and the first thing I saw was a black, cloudless sky, literally littered with stars.

I made several long exposures, some at wide and some at tele ends. At one attempt, I couldn’t believe what I captured. I thought it was a light trail, if it was the Moon and the camera moved a bit. I looked around, and noticed that the moon was way behind from where the camera was pointing. There were no street lamps, too.The workmen’s lights didn’t reach me either. I gave it another look before I finally realised something.

I caught a shooting star.

This single shot is probably the luckiest shutter click I have ever made in the thousands of photos I’ve ever taken in my life. My heart was racing with excitement when I saw it on the LCD for the very first time. I’ve seen one or two shooting stars in my life, but never, not in my wildest dreams have I ever imagined I could actually capture one with my own hands!

Before long the sun rose, and the repairs were nearing the final steps. It was a very cold morning, the temperature of the still air was probably around 3-4°C, and it probably drops lower when the wind blows.

Most cases of flat tyres usually end up to be a frustrating experience if not a disastrous one. However, this time, to me at least, it was more like a blessing in disguise. It was an unforgettable memory, to experience a real desert in one of its most extreme conditions.

It created an overwhelming sense of mixed sensations. Pride, humility, guilt, and joy all melding together in a swirl of emotions. Not to mention it gave me plenty of time to look around and absorb the beauty of a land that stretched as far as the eye can see.

Our tour guide happily announced that the repairs were done and we could resume the journey to Abu Simbel. Everyone climbed back on board and we continued on the road another two hours before reaching the final ruins site.

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The Egypt Travelogs Series:

1. Cairo (The Great Pyramids)
2. Road to Alexandria (Asfour Crystal Palace, Lion Park Animal Hospital)
3. Alexandria (Qaitbay Citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Montaza Palace Gardens)
4. Return from Alexandria (Local fruits and produce)
5. West Luxor (Temple of Karnak)
6. East Luxor - Part One and Two (Colossi of Memnon, Ramesseum, Temple of Hatshepsut, Alabaster factory)
7. The Nile - Part One and Two (Edfu Bazaar, Life along the along the Nile)
8. Kom Ombo (The Twin Temples of Kom Ombo)
9. Road to Abu Simbel (Shooting star, desert skies)
10. Abu Simbel - (The Greater Temple of Abu Simbel)
11. Aswan - (Unfinished Obelisk, Felluca ride)

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