Aqaba, The Red Sea

We stayed in Aqaba for 2 nights - the longest we'd stayed put since we got to Jordan. It was sooo nice to be near the sea and to have nothing to do except sunbathe, eat and sleep. Admittedly I'm not usually a beach bunny, but our itinerary had been so packed that I relished having nothing to do! The pics speak for themselves....

Yum! the best Mezze ever! (I particularly recommend the Kibbeh)

Trekking in the Dana Nature Reserve

Wow, wow, wow!  Today we woke up early to be greeted by the most amazing site out of our bedroom window.  We got up early and by 8am we were off on a 3 1/2hr trek through the Dana Nature Reserve.  From afar it all looks so arid, but once trekking through it, the sheer abundance of wildlife, trees and plants thriving throughout is mindblowing.  And did I mention the views.......

The early morning sun over the valley as seen from our window

Ready to set off

the view at the beginning of our trek - bodes well for the rest I say

Our guide stops to pick us fresh figs for breakfast

views like this are so awesome, especially as all around you is absolute silence and solitude





a blue lizard

a welcome rest

Finally we reached the Rumana Camp and got to rest under a bedouin tent with fresh tea.  Whilst waiting to be picked up and taken to the Red Sea, we went to a hide by a samll watering hole, and there we saw a family of Ibex.  The Ibex has been reintroduced in recent years to the Reserve and sightings of them are still very rare.  We saw them within minutes of arriving, and rightly felt rather privileged!

Cheers!

the rare ibex - and we saw a family of four!

On the way to Aqaba

Water, beach, I love you!  Our first experience of water in a dry and thirsty land

More adventures in Jordan....

Well today was a day of adventures.......I smoked my first sheesha (not very successfully might I add), illegally photographed the tourist police (see below) and had my first experience of an arab police station (I left my bag on the side of the very deserted Kings Highway, with my passport, money, insurance and other personal items....loooong story, ask me about it sometime!)  This was in addtion to visiting Madaba, the Crusader Castle at Kerak, Mount Nebo and finally the Dana Nature Reserve.  This is where we finally arrived after the left bag fiasco, only to be met by a roomfull of teenagers in hysterics because one of their party was lying half dead on the sofa - we had no idea what was going on and had to eat our dinner in front of all this.  Not a great end to an already quite stressful, albeit exciting day!  No wonder we needed another round of sheesha - to calm the nerves of course ;-) (though I was still no better at it!)

Unbelievable views

Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have looked out to the Promised Land

That picture...

Actually, I look like a pro!

Kerak

The last time I saw my bag...

Zuhail, our driver, insists I take some 'medicine' to calm the nerves....

Donna also indulges

Assalaam Alaikum

So, here I am in Amman, and what an amazing place! I am constantly amazed at the history and culture that sits so comfortably alongside the trappings of modern life. This morning we had a walking tour of the Old City and the Citadel. Our guide Nasser is really knowledgeable and he, as is every other person I have met so far, is so nice and welcoming. Our Driver Zuhail is a laugh too. We visited the amphitheater, Hercules' Temple, a museum where we saw fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls and other archealogical finds. I got to taste some cheese, honey and pistachio concotion that I've forgotten the name of. Much more tasty than it sounds! We then had a couple of Hotel Inspections, and all I can say is 'Four Seasons'. Incidentally we had a nice chat and some drinks with the Sales Director there and he invited us back to dine at the restaurant of our choice this evening. We chose their Asia one which has chefs from the Far East.

To prepare I went down to the Beauty Salon here in the Grand Hyatt and made an appointment to have my eyebrows threaded. When I turned up the lady looked at me and asked if I wanted my upper lip doing too. Nuff said! I had the works and half an hour later I left feeling rather like a plucked chicken. The results are amazing though. So, I am off to get showered and dressed now, then it's off for my favourite passtime - food!

Happy 5th birthday Benjamin!!!

My baby is five? Where has the time gone?

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Keithon Witter

Today my sister became Mrs Naomi Witter. A beautiful sunny day, lovely ceremony and a great chance to catch up with all the family.  Congratulations to you both.

Sports Day

Ben's first sports day saw me rushing to the school after work and sitting/standing right up by the finish line, camera in hand screaming along with the other mums and dads, as our uncoordinated offspring attempted various challenges such as the egg (read 'potato') and spoon race, hoop race, relay and so on. Ben came 2nd in his first race - much to my delight - but then came 4th because he was more interested in grinning at the crowds than making it to the finish line first. In his last race (the potato and spoon one) he refused to run, instead he walked as slowly as he could so that he was keeping pace with his friend Amy (who is very tiny and coouldn't go very fast). He stayed with her all the way despite me yelling at him to get moving! He eventually came in second to last, by which point I'd given up and resigned myself to the fact that, although he crossed the line practically last, he'd at least proven himself a gentleman!

He's just noticed me in the crowd

On your marks, get set...... GO!

the doomed potato and spoon race