Wadi Rum & Petra - 12 April

Day 15

On the way to Wadi Rum we got to know our new guide, Aziz. He is so funny with a very dry sense of humour. We touch on many subjects including the Muslim veil and burka. He tells us about when the Queen of Jordan was on Oprah and finished off with the message which was something like, 'I look forward to the day when people think more about whats in our women's heads rather then what's on their heads'. I'll have to Google the int when I go home ...

So often we think these women are opressed for wearing a veil but perhaps we should think of it from another point of view - that we're the opressed ones! They are liberated by knowing people are more likely to judge them for their wits as their hair is veiled and their clothing modest - where as Western women spend a fortune on hair, clothing and plastic surgery in order to feel good about themselves and accepted by society.

Who are really the opressed?

The women here are well educated and kept by their men ... perhaps we could learn a thing or two from them!!!

As for the burka though he says no where in the Quoran does it refer to the need to wear them (it does to the veil though) and he does not understand why they do this.

We arrive at the beautiful Wadi Rum where we're surrounded by the red sand of the desert and stunning moutainous formations for as far as the eye can see.

We stop for turkish coffee (I'm really enjoying this now!) before heading out for our jeep ride.

We spend several hours touring about, seated in the tray on metal seats with cushions. We stop several times for photos and to climb sandy hills to take photos of the view. We also stop at a bedouin tent for tea and of course shopping, and are shown thousands of years old camel drawings nearby.

Everyone is so happy and enjoying being out in nature. The temperature is also mild and the air clean. I don't think we all realised how over Egypt we were until we arrived in Jordan and left the heat, grime, smog and hassling behind!

Susie rode up front in hope of a smoother ride and got chatted up by the arab driver. Our tour leader translated for her and the older man was offering to divorce his 2 wives to be with Susie, and that he drinks lots of camel milk so will make her very happy!

From Wadi Rum we travelled to Wadi Musa just outside of Petra.

We stayed at the beautiful Amra palace. We were greeted with a beautiful rose garden at the entrance and booked our turkish bath for the evening after our visit to Petra.

We enjoy the heated spa in the indoor pool complex before dinner.

The buffet dinner was amazing! So much good food! It was so welcomed after the very reptitive meals of felafel, kofta, shawarma, hummus, cucumber and tomato in Egypt!

I also discovered the reason Egypt felafel taste different is because they're made of broad beans instead of chick peas ... still yum!

Day 16

After a delicious buffet breakfast we went to visit Petra.

The siq (canyon entry way) was just like the photos I'd seen and absolutely stunning having been created by an earthquake a long time ago ...

The siq leads to the treasury - a 2000 year old facade cut out of the rock face.

From that point there are many buildings and tombs to explore.

We stop for another delicious buffet lunch (so many yummy fresh salads!), this time in a cave, then walk up to the monastery.

It's a tough walk and some people take donkeys ... there are lots of stairs and seems cruel to make the donkey carry you not to mention you could do some serious damage if the donkey slips!

The donkey handlers call out to us, 'You want a ride on a Ferrari? Free air conditioning! '.

At the top is another facade carved into the rock and several view points of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

We next explore the tombs then as this has taken all day we race to get back to the entrance for a quick drink at the cave bar before meeting our bus to head back.

Im completely exhausted when I return so the turkish bath was a welcome respite!

I spent about an hour in the steam room (chatting to our group and Dan and Jan from Portland Oregon). One at a time we were called for our massage - first a scrub down and rinse off then to another room for the rub. Both areas you're laid down on a granite slab and the massage is very firm - I'm sure I will have terrible bruises!

She also rotates your joints a little and finishes off with a head massage with some hair pulling - my favourite :-)

It was the first time I've felt truly clean after Egypt so loved it and will definitely do it again!

Buffet dinner again and the restaurant and once again ate lots of the yummy Jordanian sweets - this time feel better knowing id worked for it!!!

Day 17

At 7.30am we leave for Amman.