We had another amazing morning at Petra yesterday and finished off the sights that we didn't manage to pack into our previous 12 hour marathon! It was a lot hotter though and we were glad that we didn't have to stay for more than a couple of hours. Being the adventurous kiwis that we are we decided to scramble into Petra through the maze of Wadis (riverbeds - but they are all dry because there has been no rain!) over and under the boulders along the way. Was definitely an adventure and impressive scenery the whole way in. There are some really cool geckos and lizards that shoot across your path ... although I think Beth probably has had enough of 
me pointing out all the cool geckos, beetles and lizards as they scurry past :P
We met a Jordanian guy the night before who had been living in America for the last two years and after a cup of tea (they drink it constantly - I still don't quite understand the reason for drinking hot drinks in hot weather) he told us about his company that does tours into the desert and Wadi Rum for an overnight trip. We checked with the guy at our hotel about our other options but he was one of those people that come across as down right seedy and both of us were very wary of his tips so decided that we'd go with the other guy :) lol .....
Lesson of the day: I trust other people too much! But what fun would the world be if we could work out what was going to happen all the time :P
Anyway it was a really interesting trip out into the desert and Wadi Rum was spectacular, there was a small sand storm going on but it calmed down a bit and we took the jeep across the flat and over the sand hills to the rocks :) Beth had a go at driving in the sand and we found out the true meaning of "Crazy Arab" when the driver put the car in gear and got out and started walking beside the car before jumping up on the roof .... so we did the only logical thing and joined him up on the roof to take in the scenery :) Auto pilot desert style!
We camped up for the night in a large gap in the rocks and collected firewood, started a fire and had a bbq under the stars :) It was such an amazing nighttime sky because there were no clouds (we haven't seen any yet!) and no lights so just a sky full of stars :) Saw a couple of shooting stars and galaxies clearer than I ever have before! I wish I knew some of the northern hemisphere constalations!
[Jane skip this paragraph - you're still reading!] All was well till one of the guys (the other one was a genuine nice guy who told us all about the history and was respectful - very unusual over here!) had a bit too much to drink and the Jordanian side of him came out ..... we're getting used to it so it was just a matter of saying no, no, no, no, no, no and just in case he miss understood the first 100 times, no :) But we both had a bit of a restless night because we were wary of him being there! Big sleep tonight :)
We woke up this morning in the middle of the desert which was so peaceful, still and beautiful :) Beth and I went for a wander and came across a local Bedouin woman and her goats and managed to communicate to a small extent with her. As far as we could work out she was around about 40 years old and came from a big family. She said she wasn't married and had no children and she was fascinated by our cameras, although she didn't want to be in any photos :) She'd never heard of NZ before and kept saying America ... I attempted a world map in the sand (very poorly!) and showed her where NZ is but we're not sure if she's ever seen a world map before and if it meant anything to her! We wandered and sat with her for about 1/2 hour ... it's such a peaceful life :)
We caught the bus back up to Amman this afternoon through the middle of the country (rather than past the dead sea) and the entire three hours was filled with barren country side and dust, it's amazing that the animals and people survive so well with so little water and crops.
Tomorrow we're planning on heading north again and hopefully will make it through the border into Syria, fingers crossed!
We saw pics of the snow in Chch today and were so jealous!! Although we'd only want a couple of minutes of it every now and then :P Keep warm!
me pointing out all the cool geckos, beetles and lizards as they scurry past :PWe met a Jordanian guy the night before who had been living in America for the last two years and after a cup of tea (they drink it constantly - I still don't quite understand the reason for drinking hot drinks in hot weather) he told us about his company that does tours into the desert and Wadi Rum for an overnight trip. We checked with the guy at our hotel about our other options but he was one of those people that come across as down right seedy and both of us were very wary of his tips so decided that we'd go with the other guy :) lol .....
Lesson of the day: I trust other people too much! But what fun would the world be if we could work out what was going to happen all the time :P
Anyway it was a really interesting trip out into the desert and Wadi Rum was spectacular, there was a small sand storm going on but it calmed down a bit and we took the jeep across the flat and over the sand hills to the rocks :) Beth had a go at driving in the sand and we found out the true meaning of "Crazy Arab" when the driver put the car in gear and got out and started walking beside the car before jumping up on the roof .... so we did the only logical thing and joined him up on the roof to take in the scenery :) Auto pilot desert style!
We camped up for the night in a large gap in the rocks and collected firewood, started a fire and had a bbq under the stars :) It was such an amazing nighttime sky because there were no clouds (we haven't seen any yet!) and no lights so just a sky full of stars :) Saw a couple of shooting stars and galaxies clearer than I ever have before! I wish I knew some of the northern hemisphere constalations!
[Jane skip this paragraph - you're still reading!] All was well till one of the guys (the other one was a genuine nice guy who told us all about the history and was respectful - very unusual over here!) had a bit too much to drink and the Jordanian side of him came out ..... we're getting used to it so it was just a matter of saying no, no, no, no, no, no and just in case he miss understood the first 100 times, no :) But we both had a bit of a restless night because we were wary of him being there! Big sleep tonight :)
We woke up this morning in the middle of the desert which was so peaceful, still and beautiful :) Beth and I went for a wander and came across a local Bedouin woman and her goats and managed to communicate to a small extent with her. As far as we could work out she was around about 40 years old and came from a big family. She said she wasn't married and had no children and she was fascinated by our cameras, although she didn't want to be in any photos :) She'd never heard of NZ before and kept saying America ... I attempted a world map in the sand (very poorly!) and showed her where NZ is but we're not sure if she's ever seen a world map before and if it meant anything to her! We wandered and sat with her for about 1/2 hour ... it's such a peaceful life :)
We caught the bus back up to Amman this afternoon through the middle of the country (rather than past the dead sea) and the entire three hours was filled with barren country side and dust, it's amazing that the animals and people survive so well with so little water and crops.
Tomorrow we're planning on heading north again and hopefully will make it through the border into Syria, fingers crossed!
We saw pics of the snow in Chch today and were so jealous!! Although we'd only want a couple of minutes of it every now and then :P Keep warm!
2 comments:
Live and learn and it looks as if you two learn fast.Snow was only light here but the alps look beautiful this morning.We will be thinking of you as you explore Syria.Good luck and don't trust anyone!!! Love you and miss you heaps xxooJ
Wow am I enjoying reading all about those Middle Eastern adventures Anna, as Jane says I am jealous and will just have to get back to travelling. No so sure about the drunk tour guide heed your mother's words. Loving the adventure keep it going - Liz
Post a Comment