http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jon3/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from jon3 en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:42:52 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:42:52 +0000 Today was the start of our trek home. Yesterday we hung out in Amman Jordan all day so that we wouldnt have to wake up early to catch a bus to the airport. We flew from Amman to Dubai and had about 11hrs here in Dubai. We actually left the airport and went out into the city for awhile. We got to see the world's tallest building and the Dubai skyline. It is pretty amazing considering there was NOT http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/United-Arab-Emirates/Dubai/blog-428481.html I am spending this weekend with a friend in Amman. Hisham Abuzaid Lives on the outside of the capital. He has proved to be a very good tour guide of the city. His family is also wonderful at cooking. Tonight we are suppose to have more mansif with lamb Last night we had Muhea Sp. It is like a spinich soup that u then put onto rice. You also mix in a little chicken and it becomes delicious. The http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Amman/blog-426133.html The final stay in Egypt was in the city of Alexandria. This city was founded by Alexander the Great a long time ago. It has a ton of history and culture. It also has a lot of trash cleaning crews since it is a major tourist destination. Our hotel The Plaza provided an wonderful view into the Mediterranean. It also was just a quick cab ride to the old citadel. The citadel over looks the main harb http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Mediterranean/Alexandria/blog-425847.html I've gotten to see the Pyramids I think I can now die in peace. They were some pretty big and interesting buildings. I was actually able to get a ticket and crawl into the inner chamber of the 2nd great pyramids. The Sphinx was cool too. However it actually seemed smaller then what I thought it would be. However I was glad that I still got to see the catman creature. I need to get back on http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-425205.html Aqaba was the final major location along the trip. It is a resort town that is also a tax free area This is supposed to mean that things are super super cheap here. However all the meals and such still cost more than they would in Irbid. The area proved to be a very relaxing place just chill. We went to a resort area The Royal Diving Club to swim and snorkel. Along this area is a natural reef http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/South/Aqaba/blog-425257.html The next stop on the weekend tour was Wadi Rum. I left Petra with an ingrained image of man ability to manipulate nature and make a niche. I also left with a hell of sun burn that still requires hourlyish gallops of aloe. I feel like a lizard shedding my skin. Anyways Wadi Rum proved to be almost the opposite of Petra. It is a barren waste land sorta of place. It leaves you wondering why people http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/South/Wadi-Rum/blog-425255.html This past weekend marked a lot of travel. The first main stop was at the old ruins of Petra. This is an ancient city that is carved into the sides of a valley. Think of the Grand Canyon minus any water and with buildings in the walls. The people who lived here must have had a whole lot of time on their hands as they were able to devote so much time to making these various structures. The different http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/South/Petra/blog-423423.html So I thought my hair was getting way too long while I was here. It just was hot and all. So a friend and I went off to get a hair cut here in Jordan. Seems that a finely tuned hair line and lots of gel is the current fashion. Enjoy the pics. Tonight I am heading off to have Mansaf at a new friend's house. He has been preparing the meal all day and even skipped school to make it. It should be inte http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-421050.html The day trip on Sunday was not as adventurous as the day before. The day was devoted to visiting old desert castles. It was neat to see the desert it is a very desolate place. The castles themselves where not truly castles except for one. The first was an old retreat for the princes in like the 7th century. It was even equipped with a bath area with heated water. The main feature of the place is http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/blog-420290.html Yet another weekend down. We made two day trips. In my opinion the first trip on Friday was by far the best. We made a trip along the western border that ended with a stay at the Dead Sea. The first place on the itinerary was a stop at a town called Madaba. It has one of the largest Christian populations in the country. It is famous for its mosaics. Their crown jewel is this old map of the middle http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/West/Dead-Sea/blog-420095.html So here pics from the trip around last weekend to the castle and such. This week has been very school focused. I have a test tomorrow in arabic class It will be my first http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-418842.html So we did a lot of traveling yesterday. We started off in Irbid and went all the way to the northern border to the point we could see Syria. However we didnt go up into Syria which was prob a good thing but still was kinda sad since one more country to have to come back to visit. Anyways we say a lot of Roman Ruins up there and got to look towards lake Tiberius i think. I kinda forget all the http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Jerash/blog-417850.html So I thought I may tell some more about the class I am currently taking. It is an intensive arabic language class taught my a native arabic speaker. Here is the link to the university's website httpportal.yu.edu.joSo we are in class from about 833pm. We then have homework afterwards that can take awhile to do. The classes through the day are broken up between reading writing listening s http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-417256.html So it has been a while since Ive checked in about my travel. There isnt internet in the apartment. I instead walk up to Univ. Street which has the most internet cafes in the world. So I am a bit lazy about all of that. Anyways So far this week I have gone to a nice family style dinner with some locals we met at a coffee shop. I upload some pics from the dinner. It was very nice dinner of home ma http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-417246.html So I have moved into my room and such now in Irbid here. The apartment is pretty cool. It is four bedroom and 3 bathroom with a dinning room famli rm kitchen and patio area. Ive tried uploading some pics to see if they work. I had my first class today for Arabic. It was pretty intense. After 6 weeks I should be midly conversational and such in Arabic. We are taking writing listening conversat http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-415846.html Hey everyone. As I am getting ready for my trip I thought I would put up a blog for everyone. This makes for a nice central area for communication and such. You will be able to see pics and such of the trip along with daily ideasthoughtsnotes. I bought my power adaptors today I still need to pack the cloths. I also need to get but will just do that at the airport. Well Irsquom off now to http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/North/Irbid/blog-413460.html