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Tour
Program With Anne Maria Winter |
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Light of Egypt - a Journey of Self-Dicovery |
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DAY
1 - THU 16 OCT |
AUSTRALIA
- SINGAPORE |
Travel
from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne directly to Singapore
where you will meet Anne Maria Winter at Changi International
Airport. From Singapore our group will travel together
to Cairo. Meals, drinks and entertainment will be
available on board your flight.
* Please Note - Tour participants who arrange their
own flights (Land Only option) will meet the rest
of the group in Egypt on the 17th of October.
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DAY
2 - FRI 17 OCT |
CAIRO
- ASWAN |
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We
arrive at Cairo International Airport early morning
where we will meet our Egyptian tour guide who will
assist us with the airport formalities. Then we transfer
to the domestic airport for a short flight to Aswan,
a beautiful town in southern Egypt with a distinctly
African atmosphere. Upon arrival we will transfer to
our hotel on Elephantine Island which is located in
the middle of the Nile River. After we have settled
into our rooms the remainder of the day will be free
to relax and rest. We will regroup again this evening
for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Overnight:
Movenpick Elephantine Island Hotel or similar. (D)
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Those
who wish to take the optional day-tour to Abu Simbel*
will depart the hotel early in the morning (around 4:00am).
For the rest of the group there will be an opportunity
to sleep in this morning. Breakfast will be served in
the hotel restaurant and the remainder of the morning
is free at own leisure. If you wish you may wander into
the colourful Nubian village located next to our hotel
where you can explore the simple and natural life of
the Nubian people. In the afternoon we will board a
felucca and sail to the southern end of Elephantine
Island where we will take a leisurely tour of a temple
dedicated to the antelope goddess Satet. There is a
small chamber hidden beneath the temple (now closed
to visitors) thought to be part of the original shrine
that once stood here. It was connected with fertility
and may have been the most holy place in all of Egypt.
Afterwards we will explore the temple of the ram-headed
god Khnum which is still being restored and documented;
a task which has, season upon season, transformed Elephantine
into one of the most remarkable archaeological sites
in Egypt. The real interest in the southern tip of Elephantine
Island began when archaeologists came upon some Aramaic
papyri which provided them with the evidence that a
community of Jews had built a temple to their god Yahweh
immediately behind the temple of Khnum. Interestingly,
in his book “The Sign and the Seal” Graham
Hancock contends that the Ark of the Covenant was once
housed at Elephantine Island on its way to Ethiopia.
After we have explored the temples we will board our
felucca where a Nubian drummer will join us and guide
us into a relaxed and meditative state of mind while
we connect with this ancient land and ask for blessings
for the journey ahead. Then, as we drift down the Nile
River, Anne Maria will do a guided meditation that coincides
with our close proximity to the Island of Philae, the
ancient centre of Isis worship. Isis had a primordial
connection with water and to the followers of the Isiac
mysteries the sprinkling of sacred Nile water was laden
with spiritual potency. Thus we will use the water element
to consciously cleanse our spirit of heavy energy to
allow new positive pure energy to enter our spirit body.
Afterwards we will soak up the mystical atmosphere of
this vibrant Nubian town as we sail past small islands
covered in palm groves and marvel at the silhouette
of a holy man's tomb on the top of a giant desert dune.
The afterglow of sunset flaming and fading, giving way
to the soft African night is a truly magical experience!
Return to the hotel for dinner. The rest of the evening
is free at own leisure. Overnight: Movenpick
Elephantine Island Hotel or similar. (B,D)
*ABU
SIMBEL OPTIONAL EXCURSION - This most unusual
and majestic temple is located in a remote place in
the middle of the Nubian Desert. The most remarkable
feature of the site is that the temple is precisely
oriented so that twice every year, on 22 February
and 22 October, the first rays of the morning sun
shine down the entire length of the temple-cave to
illuminate the back wall of the innermost shrine and
the statues of the four gods seated there. You can
take a day tour there by air departing from Aswan
early morning and returning late morning or early
afternoon. The cost is approx. AU$350
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Dawn
Rites at the Temple of Isis |
As
dawn streaks the sky we will cross the still water
to the serene island sanctuary of Isis. The mystical
and feminine aura permeating this temple is breathtaking
and in ancient times, at this hour of the day, one
could hear a distant chant from the temple as the
priests and priestesses performed the daily "Awakening
Isis" rite. As our small boat approaches the
island, the temple with its palms, colonnades and
pylons rises from the river like a mirage. For many
centuries, pilgrims like us have come from near and
far, to dwell in the peace and healing power of this
spiritual shrine. A special government permit will
give us access to the temple before opening hours.
This means we will have the entire temple complex
to ourselves for two hours. Upon disembarkation we
will move across the massive courtyards, through huge
rooms and on to the inner sanctuary where we will
begin our ceremony by the sacred altar of Isis. Just
before sunrise we move to another area of the temple
complex where we face the Nile River and invoke Isis
- “Mistress of the Dawn”. When the spectacle
of sunrise begins on the eastern horizon we will raise
our arms towards the sun receiving the light through
the palms of our hands and into the deepest core of
our being. Afterwards, when the temple opens to the
public, we will take a break at a small café,
and then we take a guided tour of the entire temple
complex. In ancient times the temple would have been
decorated with the most amazing colours, the ceiling
tinted azure and studded with golden stars. The colours
have faded but the beauty and sacredness still lingers.
There will be ample time to explore on your own. You
may wander in the shade of the colonnades studying
the sacred hymns written on the temple walls, or you
may sit by the edge of the river quietly establishing
your own connection to this sacred place. In the late
morning we return to our hotel for an afternoon at
leisure and this evening we will regroup for dinner
at the hotel. Overnight: Movenpick Elephantine
Island Hotel or similar. (B,D)
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This
morning we will check out of our hotel and transfer
to our Deluxe Nile Cruise* where we will check into
our cabins. Afterwards we will have lunch on board.
Later, if you wish, you can venture into the local
Nubian market for some fantastic shopping. This is
one of the most authentic and liveliest souks in all
of Egypt with a concoction of exotic tastes and visual
pleasures. The colour and activity of these market
stalls recall the times when the ancient caravans
passed through from Sudan, Ethiopia and beyond. Little
has changed since the days of the caravan trade. The
winding alleys still overflow with foreign temptations
and merchants in long robes welcome you with traditional
mint tea. The air is pungent with the smell of oils,
incense and mounds of steaming horse manure. Stalls
overflow with brass lanterns, perfumes, basketry,
papyrus, hookah pipes, sequined belly dance costumes
and alabaster statues as we are lured into the parallel
world of Arabian nights. Haggling with the locals
is a comedy of old-world charm, generous compliments
and extravagant promises. Dinner and Overnight:
Cruise Ship (B, L, D)
* PLEASE NOTE: The actual sailing
time between Aswan and Luxor take less than 24 hours.
The remainder of the time will be spent docking mainly
in Aswan and Luxor with short stays in Kom Ombo and
Edfu.
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DAY
6 - TUE 21 OCT |
KOM
OMBO - EDFU |
| Temple
of Duality and the Sacred Falcon |
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This
morning we find ourselves at an ancient shrine of Kom
Ombo, so close to the river edge that its pillars and
date palms are mirrored in the water of the Nile. At
the entrance we encounter the dual nature of this temple.
Everything here is doubled. There are twin entrances,
twin courts, twin colonnades, twin sanctuaries and in
ancient times there was probably a twin priesthood here
as well. If we enter the gate on the left we are led
to the Castle of the Falcon, dedicated to Horus God
of Light and Consciousness. If we pass through the gate
on the right, we find ourselves inside the House of
the Crocodile, dedicated to Sobek, God of Chaos and
Destruction. Some people believe that the priests here
served both divinities moving between these two principles
of light and darkness, order and chaos in order to achieve
balance. Kom Ombo was also a famous healing temple.
People would come from far away to get healed by the
priests. We will marvel at the many mysterious features
of this temple as we explore the oracle of the hearing
ears, the false door, the crocodile mummy, the underground
crypts and the hidden passages used by the ancient priests.
Afterwards we return to the cruise boat for a relaxing
afternoon of sunbathing, reading and chatting as our
cruise ship lazily glides along an endless band of palm
forests crowned by the eternal hills of Upper Egypt.
Upon arrival in Edfu we will transfer to the best-preserved
temple in Egypt. This temple is dedicated to Horus,
the spiritual warrior who called upon a higher power,
the light of the universe itself, to help him with his
divine task. To invoke Horus was one of the most powerful
protection rituals used in ancient Egypt. His right
eye was illuminated by the sun - the active principle
and his left eye as illuminated by the moon - the receptive
principle. The walls at this temple are magnificent
and describe different aspects and powers of Horus.
They also list the names of the books in the temple
library, many rituals, hymns, and some of the types
of initiations conducted here. We will explore the inner
sanctuary and the many chapels and halls of this great
temple then return to the cruise boat and set sail for
Esna Lock and Luxor. Dinner and Overnight: Cruise
Ship (B, L, D)
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This
morning we wake up in Luxor, a treasure trove of ancient
spiritual symbolism and sacred sites. After an early
breakfast we cross the Nile River by bus to the West
Bank. All burials in Ancient Egypt took place on the
west bank of the Nile. The Nile River represented,
the barrier between what the Egyptians called “the
land of the living,” on the east side of the
Nile and “the land of the dead,” on the
west bank. This was also symbolically linked with
the journey of the sun which rises in the east sets
in the west. The hills that tower over the West Bank
are stunning and you can't help but wonder what secrets
they still hide. Our first stop is the Valley of the
Kings where we descend into the shadowy chambers of
the sacred tombs whose walls are still covered with
protective spells and instructions for navigating
the many dangers that lurked in the underworld. Then
we visit the beautiful temple of Medinet Habu - sanctuary
of the Ogdoad - the eternal and infinite source of
the Universe. We complete our afternoon at Hatshepsut's
Temple one of the most dramatically located temples
in the world. Her sanctuary is nestled deep in the
desert terrain beneath the pyramidal Peak of Thebes,
which was sacred to Hathor and Meretseger. Incidentally,
the royal name of Hatshepsut was Maat Ka Ra which
means "truth is the intelligence of the sun god"
and describes the universal principles of truth, balance
and order in relation to the life force that flows
within all of us. Here in her temple we explore the
sanctuaries dedicated to Hathor and Anubis, deities
of the earth and the spirit realms. We return to our
cruise ship where we will have a late lunch. The rest
of the afternoon is free at own leisure. Dinner
and overnight: Cruise Ship (B, L, D)
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This
morning we will explore Karnak Temple dedicated to Amon-Ra,
the personification of the hidden and unknown creative
power. Associated with the use of power, Karnak was
the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt.
The temple complex was known as Ipet-isut and unlike
most other temples; it runs along two axes, rather than
one. The East-West axis represents the path of the sun,
and is the celestial axis; the North-South axis is the
earthly axis. Together, the two represent heaven and
earth. Experiencing Karnak in its morning glory is special.
The light is different and because it is early, the
atmosphere is serene allowing us to easily connect to
the sacredness of this ancient place. We will walk among
papyrus and lotus columns, obelisks and shrines and
observe the play of sun and shadow dance across ancient
wisdom carved into stone. Above us two solid obelisks
thrust a pointing pyramidal finger towards heaven. Their
four sides decorated with a band of hieroglyphic characters
that proudly broadcasts dedications and prayers to the
sun god Amon-Ra. We will take a detour off the beaten
track, passing five successive gateways until we arrive
at an altar outside a small temple. From here we pass
through two more doorways and step into a dark chamber
and there, right before us, illuminated by a shaft of
sunlight from the ceiling above, stands the statue of
the lioness goddess Sekhmet. She is the third eye of
the sun god Ra, whose solar eyes symbolises the one
who gained enlightenment through the controlled use
of power. Sekhmet is the goddess associated with power,
destruction and healing. There is an otherworldly feel
to this statue and many spiritual travellers have profound
experiences inside this mystical chamber. After our
visit to Sekhmet’s chamber we will have short
break at a café followed by a guided tour of
the temple complex. At the far end we will discover
the sacred lake used for ritual purification ceremonies.
This was to honour the reappearance of the light and
the entry of the sun-god into the lower physical world.
We will also visit the sanctuary of Amon-Ra and there
will be time for us to explore the temple complex on
our own. We return to our hotel in the late morning.
The rest of the day is free to relax or you may choose
to go shopping at the local markets. Overnight:
Jolie Ville Island Resort, Crocodile Island or similar
(B,D)
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DAY
9 - FRI 24 OCT |
ABYDOS
- DENDERA |
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Halls
of the Osirian Mysteries and Temple of Hathor |
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This
morning after breakfast we travel by convoy to the Temple
of Seti-I at Abydos, the holy city in ancient Egypt.
Upon arrival we enter the halls of the Osirian mysteries
and the seven sacred shrines. Here we find the famous
wall relief of the sacred ceremony of "raising
the Djed Pillar". The true nature of the Djed symbol
is unknown but it is thought to represent the "backbone"
of Osiris, symbolically representing the link between
heaven and earth. Interestingly the ancient myths describe
how the holy city of Abydos at sunset looked like a
golden staircase to heaven. Behind the temple we will
also explore the mysterious Osirion. Afterwards we travel
back south again to Dendera where we are met by six
Hathor-headed columns watching our approach. As we enter
the timelessness of this sacred place, it is easy to
imagine what temple life must have been like in ancient
times with frankincense and myrrh wafting through giant
halls with ornate pillars while the chanting voices
of priests and neophytes moved in procession towards
the Holy of Holies. Carved on the temple pillars, we
observe harps, double pipes, sistrums (rattles), tambourines
and dancers offering gifts for the abundance of creation.
We will lose ourselves in the mysterious chambers, secret
crypts and corridors. Upstairs we admire the famous
circular ceiling zodiac. Outside, the grounds contain
holy wells, a sacred lake and several birth houses.
Dendera is dedicated to Hathor, a wisdom goddess who's
following celebrated ecstasy, healing, and mystical
communion. People would come from afar to be cured of
illness with purified water from the sacred lake, or
to participate in "healing incubation," sleeping
in the temple in order to receive healing dreams from
Hathor. Star lore was also an important part of this
temple. Return to Luxor early evening. Overnight:
Jolie Ville Island Resort, Crocodile Island or similar
(B,D)
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DAY
10 - SAT 25 OCT |
LUXOR
- CAIRO |
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Masters
of Sacred Science |
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We
rise early to beat the tourist crowds at Luxor Temple.
Our first view is the tip of the obelisk, which may
once have been covered in shining metal - the gold-silver
alloy electrum; this would catch the first ray of the
sun, staging the illuminating and life-giving power
of the creator. At the base of the obelisk four stone
baboons raise their front feet in adoration of the sun.
Luxor Temple is one of the grand constructions of ancient
Egypt. Its builders were masters of sacred science,
a discipline that was based on a complete and precise
understanding of universal laws. And it was here at
Luxor Temple that symbolist RA Schwaller de Lubicz developed
his revolutionary theory that the temple conceal an
ancient teaching about the metaphysical anatomy of man
and that the temple was built according to the creation
of man and his spiritual development and destiny. To
put his teachings to a test we will shift our awareness
to a place outside of ourselves while we wander like
tiny creatures between the huge statues into the vastness
of the temple with its skewed axis moving and floating
around us. The moment we feel like we are inside a living,
breathing being, that is when we have made contact with
the universal principles that rests within this amazing
temple. Next we will have a guided tour of the temple
then return to our hotel where we check out of our rooms
and transfer to Luxor Airport for our flight back to
Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo we will board our bus for
a magical forty-five minute ride through the hustle
and bustle of Cairo. Prepare your senses as we enter
the strange and intoxicating fabric-of-life in Cairo.
Dusty streets crammed with cars, donkeys, carts laden
with sugarcane and spices; air thick with incense, mint
and cumin, the sound of people shouting, laughing, car
horns beeping, prayers drifting in soulful waves from
the mosques. Past narrow alleyways filled with medieval
treasures towards a profusion of domes and minarets
rising from the haze of Old Cairo. As we near Giza,
where the city ends and the great Sahara desert begins,
the three majestic pyramids come into view, an awe-inspiring
sight that sets the tone for the magical few days that
lies ahead. Upon arrival at Giza we will check into
our hotel located in the shadow of the Great Pyramid.
Dinner and overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel
or similar (B,D)
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DAY
11 - SUN 26 OCT |
SAKKARA |
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After
breakfast we board our bus for a trip into the desert
to Sakkara where we explore Zosers’s pyramid,
the pinnacle of high-wisdom in ancient Egypt. It was
here that Imhotep, the influential architect and priest-magician
developed the science of pyramid building. He understood
the nothingness-of-time and the concept of eternity
and built his king a “staircase to eternity”
which today is the oldest standing step pyramid in the
world. Sakkara was the royal burial site of ancient
Memphis and owes its name to the archaic falcon-god
Sokar, “lord of the mysterious region”,
who guarded the gate to the next world. Given its ancient
roots Sakkara is still a focal point of Egyptologist
studies, and never seems to stop yielding new discoveries.
We will explore the step pyramid and the immense funerary
complex that surrounds the pyramid where we discover
friezes of animals, decorative thrones and pillars and
false doors that served as astral doorways for the deceased
kings and nobles. We return to our hotel at Giza by
early afternoon with the balance of the day free at
own leisure. Dinner and overnight: Le Meridien
Pyramids Hotel or similar (B,D)
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DAY
12 - MON 27 OCT |
CAIRO |
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Through
the Corridors of Time |
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After
lunch we will enter Egypt’s ancient past at the
infamous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. An air of aloof
mystery resides in the dusty halls and corridors of
this museum. Here we find thousands of Egyptian artefacts,
which "stood the test of time". Every piece,
however humble, is testament to the ingenuity of the
ancient Egyptians and to their complicated, but practical,
religious and magical beliefs. Standing in the midst
of their possessions is overwhelming, exhilarating and
mystifying. Here there are statues that embody a curious
quality of being "alive". Eyes of crystal
gaze above us towards the eternity they believed in.
The skill of the ancient sculptor is so great that the
statues emanate the same soul quality as the person
or god/goddess that it is representing. We will immerse
ourselves with the mysticism inside this "House
of Egypt" as we move through corridors lined by
mummy cases, halls with giant statues and rooms with
scores of golden artefacts, including thrones, masks
and royal jewellery. Later in the afternoon we will
visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar; an ancient marketplace,
complete with rugs, statues, jewellery, spices and Egyptian
essential oils. Dinner and overnight: Le Meridien
Pyramids Hotel or similar. (B,D)
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DAY
13 - TUE 28 OCT |
GIZA
PLATEAU |
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Rebirth
Ceremony Inside the Great Pyramid |
After
breakfast there will be an optional tour to the Perfume
Palace where there will be an opportunity to sample
and buy Egyptian essential oils. Afterwards we will
board our bus and take a short drive through Giza
until we round the corner on the Giza Plateau; and
there, right before us, is the great Sphinx, the majestic
guardian whose eternal gaze faces east towards sunrise.
We will ponder on its secrets…How many rising
suns have this majestic solar lion has greeted? Is
there a subterranean chamber hidden beneath? Could
it be the legendary Hall of Records? After exploring
the Sphinx and the Sphinx Temple we continue to the
Great Pyramid, the supreme sacred site of Egypt. Standing
before the Great Pyramid for the first time is truly
indescribable and again we are brought to reflection.
Who were the enlightened mathematicians who designed
its dimensions? Who were the master builders who supervised
its construction and the skilled masons who cut and
polished its giant stones? When was it built? What
was its purpose? Later this afternoon, just before
sunset, we will enter the Great Pyramid where we will
have a two-hour rebirth ceremony inside the Queens
and Kings Chamber. By special arrangement we have
organised exclusive time inside the Great Pyramid
just for our group. This means we will have the entire
Great Pyramid to ourselves, an experience we will
never forget and for many this will be the highlight
of their journey. We will ascend the Great Pyramid
step by step, climbing to the heart of the monument,
to the Queens Chamber. The word "pyramid"
literally means "fire in the middle" and
metaphysically this can be understood as the fiery
essence that is Divine Light. The Queens Chamber is
associated with Isis, the archetypal principle of
Divine Love and inside this ancient chamber there
are two airshafts pointing into the heavens. The southern
airshaft is aligned with the star Sirius - a star
that is also associated with Isis and the northern
airshaft is aligned to the constellation Ursa Minor
associated with Upuaut a Jackal-headed god known as
the "Opener of the Ways". The mythological
associations connected with the Queens Chamber gives
rise to the concept of spiritual birth and we will
begin our Rebirth Ceremony here. Afterwards we climb
up some more steps to the Kings Chamber where we will
complete our rebirth ceremony. Dinner and
overnight: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel or similar (B,D)
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DAY
14 - WED 29 OCT |
CAIRO
- SINGAPORE |
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The
Dawn of a New Consciousness |
We rise at dawn for a camel ride into
the desert to a site overlooking the pyramids. As
per ancient traditions we will watch the sun being
born on the eastern horizon. To the Ancient Egyptians
sunrise symbolised immortal rebirth - the dawn of
a new consciousness. It is our last sunrise in Egypt
and we will marvel at the sight of the pyramids being
bathed in hues of gold, red and orange. We proceed
individually with a silent meditation; allowing the
vision before us to draw us inward and move us to
reflection as we farewell this ancient land. Then
we return to our hotel for breakfast and hotel check-out.
We board our tour bus in the late morning and transfer
to Cairo International Airport for our flight to Singapore.
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| DAY
15 - THU 30 OCT |
SINGAPORE
- AUSTRALIA |
| In
Singapore you will say farewell to your group and continue
on your own for the last leg of your journey to your nearest
home city in Australia. |
| B
= Buffet Breakfast, L = Lunch and D = Buffet Dinner. |
| IMPORTANT
ITINERARY NOTES!
1.
Tour Itinerary is subject to change at any time without
prior notice. Bookings are accepted only upon the acceptance
of tour Terms and Conditions.
2. All private accesses are subject to permission granted
by the Egyptian Government.
3. There will be many early wake-up calls throughout
the journey due to early visits to the temples. We do
this mainly to avoid the tourist crowds but the temperature
in the morning is also a lot more pleasant than later
in the day.
4.
A positive and flexible attitude is essential for this
journey.
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