We are back from Petra, Aquaba and Wadi Rum. I am back at my home away from home,
the Kempenski. So far so good. Petra,was amazing. It is temples, tombs, etc. carved
out of sandstone. Amazing, today will be the announcement if Petra will become
one of the new wonders of the world. Jordan would benefit greatly from this
as Jordan, along with other countries in the Middle East is suffering greatly from
a lack of tourists since 9/11.
We left Petra about 11am yesteray. From there we went to Aquaba. It is a beautiful
city and the only seaport in Jordan. The late king Hussein traded 14 additonal miles
of beachfront with the Saudi's for some land in Jordan, which duh, they found
oil on!!! Oh well. We went to the Royal Dive Club/ Coral Beach resort. We had about
2-1/2 hours there, long enough for me to go snorkling in the Red Sea. Four countries
border this sea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. We could see Elait, with its
Mega Resorts from our beach.
I'm not sure I've ever seen such a beautiful coral reef. There was coral in
purple, pink blue and even yellow. There were alot of fish and squids, reds, blues
oranges etc. The reef is struggling to exist because of pollution and damage from
JET SKIS! However, yesterday it was gorgeous the water temperature was around 84!
From Aquaba we went to Wadi Rum. Yes, I know I thought I was there but I wasn't.
When I was at Dana that was a different Wadi! Wadi Rum is a huge preserve of desert
and rock. It is where the final scenes of Lawerence of Arabia was filmed, and also
where he lived among the Bedouin. We went on a sunset "jeep ride".
Let me explain that a jeep here is not a Jeep Cherokee, with leather seats, ac
and beat. Oh no, it is some kind of a truck with some strange seats in the back. Our
driver claimed to be 15 but we think he was maybe 9 or 10. He had to sit on a pillow
to see over the wheel! Watching the sunset in this desert was amazing. The sun
went down behind the rocks as the Bedouin brought their goats in!
The Bedouin still live in tents and herd sheep and goats. Their tents are amazing,
clean and well layed out. Camels also roam through the Wadi!Amazing, our jeeps are
the only thing breaking the sheer silence. Birds and butterflys abound. We saw
no WATER anywhere. I was told that it is underground. The men wear the traditional
garb with Kuffias. The few women we saw were veiled, but the only women we
saw were in the gift shops.
After our visit (trek) through the desert we stopped at a small resturant and had
dinner of hummos, pita, salads and BEER! Yeah. We arrived back at our home away
from home, the Al Manor at 2am! I slept till 9, swam and have a mani pedi at 12:30.
We have a free day so my plan is to go shopping, well, just to help Jordan's ecomomy!
For some reason, I can't put a title in today!