by Digger Barr
https://gaiasgardens.guru/
The idea of exploring Africa conjures up images of jungles, deserts and vast formidable regions filled with danger.
Thoughts of what we think we know and what are made up flood the imagination.
Those ideas may not be wrong, but one doesn’t really know unless they actually go there.
Narrowing the focus on Egypt, the images become very specific with desert dunes, stone temples, giant pyramids and the ultimate green flowing Nile.
Maybe some would call the Nile blue.
Maybe it once was, but I would more accurately describe it today as brackish brown.
The blue could be the reflection of the seemingly endless blue sky.
The green is the outline of lush vegetation on each bank outlining the waters path in unison.
This is the life blood of the people now as it was then.
The idea of exploring Egypt is a journey unlike no other.
It is so unique in it’s story it separates itself from all other sojourns.
Egypt captures the imagination in such a way it is easy to forget it is connected to any other place.
To experience it is to travel into the depth of time and space beyond our physical comprehension.
Over eons of time we are still discovering hidden vestiges of what once was.
No single visit can possibly satisfy the thirst or the wanting to know what Egypt is really about.
Sitting in the shade of the open air cafe was the best decision I had made all day.
It was an idea shared by 100’s of other visitors and finding an empty chair was pure luck.
The temperature was hot and getting hotter as the morning waned into the fullness of the day.
We were in the Valley of the Kings where famous tombs lay deep under the rocks and sand.
Surprisingly going into the earth where one might find refuge from the heat turned out to be just wishful thinking.
Let me backup a bit and to the moment we had arrived.
This was the Valley of the Kings.
A craggy mountain ravine filled with underground tombs of a whole bunch of Ramesses and the famous Tutankhamen.
After a very early morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor, we climbed on a small bus and rode on a dusty bouncy road.
After a lengthy bus ride we arrived at a visitor center. We then ventured further into this valley by shuttle and finally disembarked at the tomb entrances.
The idea was that we had 3 tickets and 2 hours to see tombs of our choosing.
Except for King Tut’s.
That was a special ticket you had to purchase back at the visitors center.
To be completely honest, I had no desire to go into anyone’s tomb.
And truth be told, I was still fighting extreme jet lag and was yearning for a nice place to chill and take a nap.
I did my best to step up.
I am in Egypt and more importantly at the World renown Valley of the Kings.
Now is not the time for sleeping. It was time to rally and join the tour with enthusiasm.
Tombs, yay!
I consoled myself with the thought that going underground would bring some relief from the heat, so I fell into step with my friend going into the first crypt, the Tomb of Merenptah.
The entrance took an immediate downward turn with steep stairs and gratefully, a handrail.
Going down a few steps I instantly realized the foley of my assumption that it would be cooler.
The air in fact was stifling and getting stiffer the deeper we went.
With almost no air flow and the heat became sweltering.
Along the walls there was a continuous flow of figures and inscriptions.
Classic Egyptian art with exquisite color and design.
It was immersing oneself into the heart of archaeological discoveries that drove the world’s fascination for centuries.
And with each step, I wanted to turn back.
I told my friend, I am getting a strange feeling about this.
She encouraged me to continue. ‘It’s not far’ she said.
I continued. And the feeling got stronger.
I felt almost nauseas. I decided to laugh.
‘It’s Okay’ I thought, ‘but I really don’t like this feeling’.
I used laughter therapy again. I actually really was chuckling to myself about my awareness of all the conflicting elements coming together.
I was observing myself doing something that I knew I shouldn’t be doing but had complete permission and even expectation to follow through with.
We came to a landing that opened up and gave us a minute to stand aside and let traffic pass us.
There really was no stopping on the stairs as so many people were visiting that day, the flow of people was constant.
My friend checked on me. ‘It’s just one more flight,’ she persuaded. ‘You have made it this far.’
I thought of myself as ridiculous and admired the walls.
We continued on.
Another flight brought us to the main room. It was beyond words.
Incredible how the tunnel opened up into a large cavernous room.
There was a huge adorned sarcophagus with detailed intricate carving and related artifacts sitting in the middle of the open chamber.
The walls were covered in a story of an unimaginable lifetime spelled out for those that could read it.
The landing overlooked this scene but stairs continued off to each side and down to the floor so visitors could climb down and further immerse themselves with this tomb.
It was at this point even my laugh therapy had worn off.
I was ready to retreat.
Waving to my friend I began the ascent back up.
Compared to the descent, the return journey was slow as I took the time to stop and catch my breath.
I fought back the panic that had risen to my throat.
I would be fine, just slow and steady. I kept my fear in check.
The steep hot narrow tunnel was still filled nonstop with people.
I actually think the people behind me didn’t mind the slower pace.
The heat was affecting us all.
Emerging out into the sun baked rocks I now accepted it as welcomed .
Taking a deep breath of the arid environment I headed toward the canopy of shade.
The outdoor cafe offered coke, potato chips and tea.
Always the mint tea in every Egyptian venue offered everywhere.
Very healing, very refreshing, with sugar or not, it is a nice and welcomed offering.
I found our tour guide and sat at her feet until the chair next to her opened up.
I told her what I had experienced.
She smiled and said knowingly, ‘you are sensitive to the energies. I won’t go in them myself,’ she said.
I looked at her a little astonished.
‘How come so many people go in there?’ I asked.
Again she smiled knowingly, ‘They can’t feel it’ she said. ‘You are more sensitive. You and most of your group are not like the others.’
I sat back surprised but not surprised by this.
I nodded off wondering how the heck all these people couldn’t feel ‘that’.
I heard my name being called from some far off place.
I opened my eyes and came back into my body.
I saw the tour guide and members of my group standing ‘out there’.
Out there in the sun beckoning for me to come join them.
Everyone had already finished their tour.
I looked to my left and right. Complete strangers had taken up the chairs next to me.
Okay then, I must have gotten a nap.
Surrounded by the din of people from all over the world, in a steady stream of a variety of languages, I had fallen asleep.
And I had taken a nap where multiple Kings lay sleeping.
Today was a perfect day after all.
I could understand why sleeping kings didn’t care for all the noise.
There is a lot to wonder about going into those scenarios.
I had traveled thousands of miles and dove into the depths of time.
What I discovered was that I learned more about myself.
There are many reasons to travel and explore our world.
But it occurs to me that by doing so we will ultimately learn more about ourselves.
Perhaps it came to me as a byproduct of experience, but with more reflection I have decided that that is the purpose of it all.
I am not a bucket list sort of person. Traveling for me is not a thing to do in order to check off a list.
Choosing to explore that particular area of Egypt is up to each to decide for themselves.
That being said, along with a few other stops along the Nile, Luxor was delightful.
Get out there.
The world is an amazing place to explore.
Imagine the Self- discovery that awaits.
Digger25
