Careful, she's on her pyramid!! P_M's Egypt/Jordan trip report
Sep 18th, 2008, 06:16 AM
#23
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Hi althom, here are the pics. You really must do the balloon ride if there's any way possible.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/344302/
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/344302/
Sep 18th, 2008, 08:27 AM
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P-M - I too thought your audio was a riot, very clever idea. I also enjoyed your photos. I am taking a GCT tour of Egypt in January and hadn't really seriously entertained the idea of going on the hot air balloon optional until I read your enthusiastic comments. You have made me realize this might be something I shouldn't miss!
Sep 18th, 2008, 09:01 AM
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Hello jerseysusan and thank you for your nice words. I do hope you will go ballooning, it was one of the most magical experiences I've ever had. It was well worth the money and even worth the 4am wake-up call. 
Sep 18th, 2008, 10:49 AM
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I paid $160 US but that was booked thru my tour company. So it could be cheaper to do a direct booking, especially with a group rate. I recommend sending them an email to ask what they can offer your group, and be sure to mention they are students, in case it makes a difference.
Sep 18th, 2008, 03:42 PM
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P_M
Will do. I will also contact the tour company we are working with to see if they have any connections with this company. I think an Egyptian, talking in the native language with the hot air balloonists might get a better response than an email from a teacher from a wealthy country. It sounds very exciting and I hope I can arrange the flight.
I would try to keep the balloon ride a secret from my students, but I would have to inform parents, get permission from them and swear them to secrecy until after we have had the activity.
Thanks again for your help. All things going well, I will try to create a trip report for this excursion. My first attempt at at TR was for our recent trip to Europe and it is posted on the Europe board.
As always, I welcome suggestions from you or any other experienced travellers.
tC
Will do. I will also contact the tour company we are working with to see if they have any connections with this company. I think an Egyptian, talking in the native language with the hot air balloonists might get a better response than an email from a teacher from a wealthy country. It sounds very exciting and I hope I can arrange the flight.
I would try to keep the balloon ride a secret from my students, but I would have to inform parents, get permission from them and swear them to secrecy until after we have had the activity.
Thanks again for your help. All things going well, I will try to create a trip report for this excursion. My first attempt at at TR was for our recent trip to Europe and it is posted on the Europe board.
As always, I welcome suggestions from you or any other experienced travellers.
tC
Apr 3rd, 2009, 07:17 AM
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P_M Thanks for your help a few months ago regarding the hot air balloons. We did end up taking a flight - in fact everyone in the group - all 49 of us went up in two balloons owned by Sindbad Balloons. We had a wonderful flight. The flights lasted nearly 90 minutes (we were the second flight of the day). Our balloon skimmed sugar cane fields and palm trees, hovered over a school and many houses and had a wonderful soft landing in an agricultural field. The other balloon had a more exciting time. The winds took them over the Nile River and they came within about 10 ft of the water. A Nile cruise ship was approaching them and the pilot gave a blast of flame to make them rise just over the boat as it bore down on them. Many students thought they had taken their last breath. The winds didn't cooperate with the balloonist and they ended up landing on the east side of the Nile (which apparently is frowned upon). Great tales to share when we met up at the bus. By the way, we did keep the balloon ride as a surprise until the night before. Thanks again for your assistance.
tC
tC
Apr 3rd, 2009, 07:40 AM
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teacherCanada, I'm so glad you enjoyed the balloon ride!! The near-miss with the cruise ship does sound scary, but that's OK because now they have an exciting story to tell. Thank you so much for this update, this is why it is so rewarding to write and post a trip report.
Apr 5th, 2009, 10:49 PM
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I'm sorry to repeat it over and over again, but it is only INEXPERIENCE that allows pilots to get taken over the river like that. Sinbad, as with a few others down there are over selling, lowering their costs too much, and hiring inexperienced pilots to fly their customers.
No balloon is ever supposed to cross the river - some times it can't be helped, but if there were any other balloons NOT crossing the river, then obviously, it could be helped. The airport is on the other side of the river - a very important reason why they are not supposed to be there. There are military camps there as well, and the Egyptian government frowns on the balloons flying over those too. I suspect running into a cruise ship would not make too many officials happy either.
For my money and my safety, I only fly with Hod Hod Solimon. They are careful, qualified and safe.
No balloon is ever supposed to cross the river - some times it can't be helped, but if there were any other balloons NOT crossing the river, then obviously, it could be helped. The airport is on the other side of the river - a very important reason why they are not supposed to be there. There are military camps there as well, and the Egyptian government frowns on the balloons flying over those too. I suspect running into a cruise ship would not make too many officials happy either.
For my money and my safety, I only fly with Hod Hod Solimon. They are careful, qualified and safe.
Apr 6th, 2009, 03:53 AM
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Casual_Cairo - At your suggestion (and after further research on the internet) I had asked our travel agent to book our flights with Hod Hod Solimon. I was disappointed they did not even respond to my request.
They had us booked with another company (I can't remember the name right now), but upon our arrival on the day of our flight we went to Sindbad's departure area. When I asked our guide why we weren't at the company on my records he wouldn't answer. I found out our scheduled company had landed two balloons on the east side of the river only the previous week and had two of their pilots and balloons grounded. At that time I was glad we were going with a well-known company. When I heard that our sister balloon (we filled two balloons) had landed on the east bank, I was quite disappointed. Our pilot was exceptionally skilled and we were very pleased with our flight. Once again, I defer to your experience and wisdom. I wish our agency had followed my (and your) suggestion.
tC
They had us booked with another company (I can't remember the name right now), but upon our arrival on the day of our flight we went to Sindbad's departure area. When I asked our guide why we weren't at the company on my records he wouldn't answer. I found out our scheduled company had landed two balloons on the east side of the river only the previous week and had two of their pilots and balloons grounded. At that time I was glad we were going with a well-known company. When I heard that our sister balloon (we filled two balloons) had landed on the east bank, I was quite disappointed. Our pilot was exceptionally skilled and we were very pleased with our flight. Once again, I defer to your experience and wisdom. I wish our agency had followed my (and your) suggestion.
tC
