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Nile Boat Trip to Banana Island - Luxor

Crossing the Nile in a Boat

At the Luxor Harbour, I hired a boat to visit the banana island which is close to the western bank of the river Nile. The name of the boat was ‘First Love’ and it was the same guy, with whom I had a Nile trip yesterday evening. 
It was a motor powered as compared to sail boat yesterday. The boat left the eastern bank of the Nile and it moved towards the banana island. In the middle of the river, there were reed growing on a small piece of land, most likely this small island would be reclaimed by the Nile when it’s water level would rise. On the western bank, I saw a small mosque with it’s sky blue colour dome and mountains of the Valley of the kings in the background. 

A walkway at the Luxor harbour to reach the boats
A walkway at the Luxor harbour to reach the boats
'First Love' at the Luxor Harbour
'First Love' at the harbour
Boats inside the Luxor Harbour
A large cruise ship was docked at the harbour and it's engine was producing thick black smoke
A large cruise ship was docked at the harbour and it's engine was producing thick black smoke
Boat slowly leaves the eastern bank of the Nile
Boat slowly leaves the eastern bank of the Nile
Houses on the western side of the River Nile
A small mosque with it's sky blue colour dome
A small mosque with it's sky blue colour dome
Reed growing on a small piece of land in the middle of the river
Reed growing on a small piece of land in the middle of the river
A heron is standing in the shallow waters of the Nile on the western bank
An old wooden boat on the western bank

Banana Island

After stepping out of the boat, I was greeted by the unmissable greenery of the banana island. Visit to this island starts after purchasing a ticket then I came face to face with a black Nile crocodile. Next to it, an oven made from the mud was still in use in order to make local bread. Close to the banana plantation, a sign apart from welcoming the visitors, it also warned them not to mess with the crocodile. Funny enough, this sign was after the cage or too further away from the crocodile for its effectiveness.

A Small Farm

A small walkway was created in the middle of the banana fields and tall palm trees were adding their own mix to the colour. A traditional house (more like a pigeon tower) and an old water wheel was sitting next to the farm. A broken wooden water wheel was used in the past to irrigate the fields, next to it, there was a pit with it’s murky water and this is where once wheel used to operate.

Banana Island, close to western bank of the Nile in Luxor
Banana Island, close to western bank of the Nile in Luxor
A black Nile crocodile at the island
A black Nile crocodile at the island
The animal was in a cage he seemed to be just chilling
The animal was in a cage he seemed to be just chilling
A jackal was in another enclosure beside the crocodile
This oven made from the mud is still used to cook local bread
This oven made from the mud is still used to cook local bread
A welcome sign at the Banana Island
A welcome sign at the Banana Island
A small walkway leads to an area where banana plants are growing
A small walkway leads to an area where banana plants are growing
Unripened banana fruit hanging from a plant
Unripened banana fruit hanging from a plant
A traditional house (more like a pigeon tower) and an old water wheel
A traditional house (more like a pigeon tower) and an old water wheel
This broken water wheel was used in the past to irrigate the fields
This broken water wheel was used in the past to irrigate the fields
Bottom of a pit and it's murky water where once wheel used to operate
Bottom of a pit and it's murky water where once wheel used to operate
Another view of the tower - Banan Island Boat Trip
A flock of sheep busy eating their lunch
A flock of sheep busy eating their lunch
A breathtaking view of the banana island with it's trees, from whom it got it's name from
A breathtaking view of the banana island with it's trees, from whom it got it's name from
Plam trees were lined on the edges of the field
Plam trees were lined on the edges of the field

Lunch in a restaurant

Then I came to a restaurant which had a flat screen TV in the middle and it was showing an Egyptian movie. It was a hot day and I ordered a melon juice and I must admit that I wasn’t disappointed with my choice. From that restaurant, I could see the Nile and it’s eastern bank in the distance. There was a slightly bigger boat, next to the one I hired. 
It had plenty of space but there were not many tourists around so locals were happy whatever they could get from the visitors.

Few pottery samples beside a wall of restaurant - Banana Island Luxor
Few pottery samples beside a wall of restaurant - Banana Island Luxor
A view of the open plan seating area of the restaurant
It was a hot day and I ordered a melon juice
It was a hot day and I ordered a melon juice
View of the River Nile from the restaurant - I had my lunch there and food was delicious
View of the River Nile from the restaurant - I had my lunch there and food was delicious
A small structure surrounded by trees on Banana Island
A small structure surrounded by trees on Banana Island
Even at the start of Novemeber, this area was still very green
Even at the start of Novemeber, this area was still very green
The boat seen in this photo is the one which I hired from Luxor to visit this island
The boat seen in this photo is the one which I hired from Luxor to visit this island
Other boats docked on the island
Other boats docked on the island
This boat has plenty of space onboard
This boat has plenty of space onboard
Zaighum Abbas Ranjha - Banana Island Luxor
Zaighum Abbas Ranjha - Banana Island Luxor

Back to Luxor City

A barge was sitting next to a small piece of land in the middle of Nile, it was used for transportation. A tractor and few donkeys were on that small island. It gave the clues that everything there was brought by the barge. Boats and ships were moving in the Nile; including a large cruise ship, a cargo ship, few sail boat and a floating boat restaurant. 
A structure was built to extract the water from Nile and then this water is used for irrigation and drinking purposes. Whereas a small water pump was installed on the banks by the local farmers to irrigate their crops.

The name of the boat was 'First Love' I must admit it was also my first love with Nile
The name of the boat was 'First Love' I must admit it was also my first love with Nile
Two crows at the bank of the river
Two crows at the bank of the river
This barge was sitting next to a small piece of land in the middle of Nile
A tractor and few donkeys were on that small island
A ship ladden with cargo moving upstream
A ship ladden with cargo moving upstream
A dhow sailing in the calm waters of Nile - in the background lies the mountain of Valley of the Kings
This large cruise ship was moving upstream on the Nile
This large cruise ship was moving upstream on the Nile
This large ship is called the 'Nile Treasure'
Two Nile cruises are passing in the river
Western bank of River Nile - Luxor
Western bank of River Nile - Luxor
A new boat (mainly used for tourists) and an old one were docked next to each other
A new boat (mainly used for tourists) and an old one were docked next to each other
A buffalo grazing on the western shores of the Nile
A buffalo grazing on the western shores of the Nile
Few meters down from that spot, a cow was grazing
Few meters down from that spot, a cow was grazing
In this photo, a heron is sitting and waiting for it's prey
In this photo, a heron is sitting and waiting for it's prey
This structure was built to extract the water from Nile
This structure was built to extract the water from Nile
A small water pump/engine was installed on the banks by the local farmers
A tall building on the eastern banks of the river
A tall building on the eastern banks of the river
Now boat was getting closer to the Luxor Harbour for docking