My wanderings in Jordan and Israel

the very first escarpments that greeted me when i finally stepped inside the gates of petra were the obelisks and triclinium (will double check the real name). it was supposedly a chamber of sorts for the nabatean kings in the old times but was later turned into a sepulchre. on the outset it looks like a small mansion but the inside is nothing but an empty square hall.

but before seeing this triclinium, just a few meters off the gate, i saw black holes on the rocks and was told they were tombs in reality. it turned out the whole nabatean ruins were of tombs, royal tombs, urns and palaces. anyway let me tackle that later.

as i went inside the Bab As-Siq, my heart just overflowed with excitement. at last, there i was, about to witness the unfolding of the ‘Treasury’ before my very eyes. as i walked and kept on walking, each time i see a gap i would expect the treasury beyond but each time i get disappointed, it was just another seemingly endless siq/gorge. but then a few more seemingly miles’ walk and there it was, i finally saw it in the gap, beckoning me to come! ‘the treasury’, the treasury’! i was almost shouting.

to be edited & continued later…

hi guys,

i’m doin’ alright. just done a 2-day mountain climbing/trekking/hiking all over petra, site of the nabatean and/or byzantine empire. it’s so coooollll, super amazing, jaw dropping! the intricate rock carvings, the gaping crevices, the sloping pediments, the solid rock formation will just blow your mind away.

my feet are so sore but it’s all been worth it. the ‘treasury’ was a real beauty to behold, seconded by the ‘monastery’. i have plenty of pics to show unfortunately the internet cafes i’ve visited have no cd roms, etc.

the city of petra itself has its own attractions. it’s a city set on a hill, went star gazing at the little petra, it was a perfect moment.

oh, i just saw the promised land today! we reached the top of petra finally and there was this point actually a pinnacle of the mountain where you get to see israel and palestine, wished i could just climb over! almost reminiscent of Moses when the Lord showed him the land of milk and honey to which he was never allowed.

my hotel or shall i say hostel is quaint, not fancy at all but is perfect for backpackers like me (if you can count me as one). had my shares of bloopers but so far so good.

i’m off to wadi rum tomorrow! will keep you posted. take care!