Being a travel writer, I’m constantly asked, “What’s your favourite place?” Answering is nearly impossible since there are so many; so, with a little time at hand thanks to COVID-19 protocols, I’ve compiled a list – and to make it challenging, settling on a place for each letter of the alphabet. I still don’t know my overall favourite, by when it comes to K, it’s Kom Ombo (Egypt).

Having narrowly sided with Ecuador over Egypt for my E entry, I’ll cheat a little and offer up the Nile-side temples of Kom Ombo as a representation of the entire middle eastern country.

So, where to start in Egypt? The pyramids… Sphinx… Egyptian Museum and its famed Tut artefacts? St. Catherine’s monastery in the Sinai, or the resorts of the Red Sea? Or desert-bound Abu Simbel, moved (from 1963 to ’68) lock stock and statue when the newly created Lake Nasser threatened to drown it?

How about Aswan, home of the famous dam and where I was once offered a hundred camels for my wife. (I declined)?

Without a doubt, however, my favourite pursuit in Egypt is gently cruising along the Nile, observing timeless scenes at the river’s edge, flying on a tiny felucca, and stopping at amazing sites like Luxor, Karnak, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, and, of course, the aforementioned Kom Ombo.

Dating to the Ptolemaic Dynasty (180-47 BC), Kom Ombo is known for its crocodile museum (complete with crocodile mummies), but more so because it is uniquely dedicated to not one, but two gods (Sobek and Horus – falcon and crocodile). Indeed, the site consists of two mirror-image temples directly across from each – with entirely separate entrances, courts, colonnades and halls for each. In other words, two for the price of one. And any time one can double down on Egypt, that’s a good thing.

Honourable mention: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Bucket list: Kazakhstan

Unlike the song, I have not been everywhere, so please don’t wonder why one of your favourites wasn’t one of mine. Instead, tell me at baginski@travelindustrytoday.com. I’m already thinking about my next list.

Stay tuned to future issues for the rest of the list. And for previous entries, click HERE.