If you told me ten years ago that I’d be waking up at 4:00 AM to catch a sunrise from a hot air balloon in Egypt, mesti I tak percaya 😅🤣. But here I am, still learning to fly.
So, this is my story of a morning in Luxor that I never want to forget. Memang terpahat dalam ingatan selamanya.
Our adventure ( with my beloved KZ2) started in the pitch black of the early morning. We left our hotel in the city centre, the streets of Luxor quiet and mysterious. To get to the launch pad on the West Bank, we had to board a small ferry to cross the legendary Nile River.
Suasana pagi tu sangat magical lah.The air was cold, and the Nile was completely still, reflecting the stars above. Sitting on that boat, drinking a warm cup of Egyptian tea (shai), I felt this deep sense of gratitude. Sungguh, rasa kerdil sangat diri ini. For thousands of years, Pharaohs and travelers had crossed this exact river. Now, it was my turn.
When we reached the West Bank, the launch site was buzzing. In the dark fields, you could hear the loud WHOOSH of the burners. Watching those massive balloons slowly inflate with fire against the night sky was spectacular. Hati dah mula berdegup laju, bercampur teruja dan kecut perut! But as I climbed into the basket, I told myself: Ini masanya untuk berani. Frankly speaking, I memang nervous giler masa tu hahaha.
As the balloon gently lifted off the ground, so smooth, tak rasa goyang langsung and the sun began to peek over the horizon.
Looking through my camera lens, the landscape transformed into gold. Luxor is literally an open-air museum, and from above, history just unfolds beneath you:
The Valley of the Kings & Queens: Hidden in the rugged, dusty canyons below are the tombs of ancient rulers. From the sky, you can see how the ancient Egyptians separated the land: the East Bank for the living (where the sun rises), and the West Bank for the dead (where the sun sets).
The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut: Seeing this architectural masterpiece carved directly into the mountain cliffs took my breath away. Hatshepsut was one of Egypt’s greatest female Pharaohs, a powerful woman who left her mark on history. Standing high above her temple, I felt a quiet wave of female empowerment. Hebat betul.
What amazed me most was the sharp line of contrast. On one side, the lush green fields fed by the Nile; on the exact other side, the harsh, endless yellow desert.
Up there, with the cool wind on my face and the morning light warming my skin, the world was completely silent. No traffic, no noise, just the occasional blast of the balloon's burner.
Suddenly, I realized that healing is a lot like riding a hot air balloon. Sometimes, you have to let go of the heavy sandbags holding you down so you can finally rise and see the bigger picture. I am finally letting go 😢
Note to your future self:
When life feels heavy at home, remember this morning. Remember how it felt to float between the sky and thousands of years of history. Remember that you are brave enough to cross rivers in the dark and fly into the sunrise.
Luxor, you have a piece of my heart forever.🇪🇬✨
