admin September 5th, 2007
A survey of British tourists, conducted by Virgin Travel Insurance and reported by CNN recorded their disappointment on visiting many of the world’s best known tourist destinations. It seems some of these great places just dind’t live up to their billing as world must-sees.
Fortunately - and you knew this was coming - some do. The number one attraction, from the poll of 1,267 British travellers? We blush to say it: Petra.
admin September 4th, 2007
Syerah, from Toronto, kept a blog of her travel in the Middle East and has this particularly evocative description of her arrival at Petra.
The Siq twists and turns, the high walls all but shutting out the early morning sunlight, until abruptly, through a cleft in the rock, the first glimpse of the city of Petra can be seen. Carved out of pale reddish sandstone, ornate pillars supporting a portico surmounted by a central urn and two flanking blocks, jut out from the cliff face ahead. This is the Khazneh or the Treasury.
Glad you didn’t fall off that camel, Syerah.
admin September 2nd, 2007
We’ve enjoyed following Andrew and Kate’s adventures in Jordan on their Poundster blog, particularly this humorous take on the battle of Petra’s prime view points:
Just uphill of the monastery begin a series of signs enticing visitors to the two viewpoints boasting certain advantages over the other. At first, the two trails seem to be heading in separate directions, leaving visitors a dilemna and feeling as if they have to make a decision based on the strength and veracity of the competing claims. It becomes clear, after a while, that the two viewpoints are not that far apart and essentially offer equivalent
admin August 15th, 2007
Here is part of a thoughtful post on Jordan’s Bedouins in the Culturemop Blog:
On the road between Amman and the old Nabataean city of Petra in Southern Jordan, there are dots of color scattered across the flatness. From antiquated depictions like the one above, I knew they were Bedouin tents without having to ask. It’s hard to avoid romanticized notions about the free-roaming lifestyle of Bedouins; the simplicity, the rootlessness. But times are changing. 90% have settled permanently and switched to farming, and 10% continue to travel as nomads with flocks of goats or sheep, inhabiting woven tents. Someone asked our 18-year-old volunteer guide what the Bedouins own and how they survive. He said “They own this land, as far as you can see. It has been passed down by families for hundreds of years.” I tried to imagine what it would be like to belong to a stretch of desert without ever claiming one particular plot as home.
The photo of fringing on a Bedouin tent is from a Flickr set by shortbeardedduck.
admin August 10th, 2007
There is a new hand-held electronic audio guide available for visitors touring Petra on their own, or at least not as part of an organised tour, with recorded commentary on the key attractions. According to a Middle East news site:
The service, which has been available since March at the Marriott Hotel and the Movenpick Hotel in Petra, can be rented for the day for JD10. Visitors can also access the same information using their mobile phone by dialling 090099303 and following directions. They can also directly access a list of site numbers by following instructions given on the phone without a map being necessary. The service costs 300 fils per minute.
admin August 7th, 2007
Fran, who blogs from New York, had always wanted to visit Petra and wasn’t dissapponted by the experience. One of the highlights - or at least - one of the more memorable moments - occurred in a nearby hammam or steam bath.
My first view of it all was to arrive just outside of Petra in the afternoon. I had spent hours in the desert at Wadi Rum and was hot, tired, sandy and exhausted. Upon check-in I was informed that there were appointments at the hamman.
The hamman is a steambath/massage that is common in the middle east. And the price was so inviting… what better way to wash the dust out?
Upon entering said hamman I was greeted by a man who was wrapped in a towel and wearing funny shoes with the toes pointed up, kind of like something out of 1001 Nights. He greeted me with what I was called all over Jordan “Mrs. Far-ran! You are welcome!” I must have looked a bit alarmed (was that towel going to slip off his waist???) and he saw this. To that he replied “Oh do not worry Mrs. Far-ran! Today no lady hamman, just man in hamman. Man in hammam is good! Yes?”
Did I really want to get a massage from a man wrapped in a towel with funny shoes? No. Did I really want a massage? I just said “wtf” to myself and carried on.
I must admit it was a great massage. And to my knowledge the towel stayed on the man the whole time. It was great, lasted about 90 minutes and all for about $30! He never did take off the pointy toe shoes either.
Check out the rest of her post. It’s well-worth reading.
admin August 1st, 2007
Arabianbusiness.com tells us that a new movie is to be shot with Petra as its evocative backdrop, using 360 degree video technology. Should be a head-turner.
A $100 million feature film titled City of Lost Spirits that will be shot in Petra, Jordan will give us 360° views of the ancient city. The action adventure movie, which will have a style similar to Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark, will be co-developed and produced by Unizarre International, a UK-based film production company with Blaze Agency, a TV production firm in Jordan.
admin July 31st, 2007
Facebook user Mike Kerfeld found one of Petra’s more photogenic donkeys on his recent expedition to Israel and Jordan. Enjoy his photos here.
admin July 22nd, 2007
In a recent Sunday Times travel clinic, Richard Green provided some very useful guidance to a reader who wanted to know more about the Petra by candle light tour.
It’s called ‘Petra by Night’, and currently takes place on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, from about 8:30, and costs £8pp. You can buy tickets from any of the bigger hotels in Wadi Musa (the tourist town near to the site), or the Petra main ticket office. Start times change depending on the season, and it is dependent on enough people booking, so you should book at the first opportunity after you arrive.
And he gives away a little Petra secret:
the light comes from about 1,800 ‘lanterns’ - actually just brown paper bags half full of sand with a tea candles in each, placed there by hand before each tour
So now we know.
admin July 12th, 2007
Caitlin Dempsey, who writes the Geo Lounge blog - concerning all things to do with geography - reckons it was only a matter of time before someone pulled the results of the New7Wonders competition into a Google Mashup.
And sure enough, as she points out, somebody has. Here are all seven - including Petra - pinpointed on the CoolMaps site. Zoom in and you will see how much detail Google has on the each of the new 7 wonders.
admin July 12th, 2007
Who-sane writes the entertaining To Whom It May Not Concern blog, also known as Diary of a Jordanian Expat. Not content with that, the author also contributes to another Arab expats blog.
This week he tells the story of the religious scholar John William Burgon (1813 - 1888) who never actually visited Petra, but still managed to capture its essence in a famous sonnet, simply called Petra. Read more about him in his Wikipedia entry.
It seems no work of Man’s creative hand,
by labor wrought as wavering fancy plnned;
But from the rock as by magic grown,
eternal, silent, beautiful, alone!
Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine,
where erst Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane,
that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain;
But rose-red as if the blush of dawn,
that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn;
The hues of yough upon a brow of woe,
which Man deemed old two thousand years ago,
match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,
a rose-red city half as old as time.
admin July 11th, 2007
Lysa De Thomas is currently visiting Jordan with a group of teachers, professors and a resident archaeologist to study the Jordanian Education System, work with Iraqi refugees, and learn about Islamic culture. They took time out to visit Petra recently and Lysa’s description of Petra at night in her blog is amongst the most evocative we have read.
In front of the Treasury are hundreds of lighted luminaries and a Bedouin man sitting in the middle of them playing an exotic string instrument. He soon begins to sing and his voice is echoed throughout the area. He sings and plays for about 10 minutes and you can’t help but feel like you’ve been transported to another time. I swear I could almost hear the voices of past civilizations and see their ghosts wandering though the crowd.
Then, just as the man stops singing, beautiful flute music gradually meanders out of the treasury. Little by little its tune grows and gently envelopes the crowd of mesmerized people. Never before, in any ancient ruin, in any sacred area, in any natural area, have I been as awestruct as I was that very moment.
admin July 9th, 2007
Occasionally the quest to find an original view of Petra reaches new heights but here is one photograph which plumbs new depths. We’re not sure if there are any worms in this part of Petra but if there are, this is a worm’s-eye view.
It is part of a photo set on Fi’s Space on Flickr. Enjoy the original here.
admin July 9th, 2007
Just in case you were not in Lisbon on Saturday night and just in case you did not happen to have a ticket for the announcement of the New7Wonders, here is a taste of the climax of the event.
The announcement that Petra is one of the winners is about two and half minutes in.
