When I planned to visit Malta, Hypogeum was the most interesting site I really wanted to see. I did a reservation online even though the meaning of Hypogeum for me was still unclear at that time. I took a bus from Valletta to see the Hypogeum, the traffic was quite bad, and I arrived only 10 minutes before my scheduled tour started. After registered my arrival with receptionists and waited with other 9 people, most were English retirees! The guide hassled us to the exhibition room with modern video presentation, I felt it was a bit too similar with a show in planetarium with pretty bad sound effect and too sci-fi and mysterious themes, moreover it did not give much explanation of Hypogeum which I believed should be a main point what the exhibition should present.

After disappointed with the show, the guide leaded us to see the Hypogeum. The lightning display was top notch, however each personal audio guide did it best to provide worse and unnecessary sound effect of stone chiseling along the way. While the underground temple was really interesting and impressive, the experience to see it with other 9 people was quite not enjoyable. Even with such small group I would still consider it was too pack to accommodate. Many times, I had no chance to see what in the audio guide explained as others blocked my view. I could not blame them since the pathway was small and narrow, it was almost impossible to give way to the persons behind you. Since most of the explanation was done via audio guide, the real guide did nothing much but just to point the way and pointed out the spot where they discovered the famous tiny Sleeping Lady which I saw later at the museum in Valletta. The best highlight of Hypogeum in my opinion was the room called Holy of Holies which also provided answer what the ancient temples should be in the old time.     

The Hypogeum was really a good place and a must see of Malta, but my experience was tainted with those unenjoyable matters, from bad sci-fi video presentation, annoying sound effect from audio guide to too many people in small area, but it was up to each person preference. Before I entered the place, I was unhappy with its strict policy of no camera or even mobile phone, but after experienced with such cramped space, I was totally agreed with the rules, how chaotic would it be if all people want to take photos or selfies here.