Call me Haysum

I left Amman in the afternoon as i considered the day travelling to Petra a dead day. I left after lunch and just rocked up to the bus station as it now seems a task finding out what time buses leave. The taxi driver was kind enough to drive me into the station and drop me off at the exact terminal for my bus. This was a nice gesture as he could have left me at the front to walk through all the touts who hassle you into a cab. Though it didnt take long for touts to spot me. They swarmed me, like flys to shit... no then that makes me sound like im shit... They swarmed me, like... bees to honey. Yes!



I got fed up with their convincing of "the buses no longer run, take a taxi, direct, very cheap, fast" so i walked off to a store to stock up on some goodies and to hopefully loose them. One of the dudes followed me to the store, he spoke rather good english and informed me that we could travel direct to Petra for 7JD (a 3hour drive) I thought this was okay though didn show much interest as i was still stocking up on goodies. Then out of the blue comes another dude who must have followed the first dude! They start arguing and pushing each other around while trying to convince me to come with them "MISTER , MY CAR, VERY NICE TRUCK, 4x4!" "NO MISTER NOT WITH HIM VERY BAD MAN!" (that was a new one) "OKAY MISTER 7JD?" "NO MISTER 6JD!" "MISTER... ME 6JD!, WE LEAVE NOW, NO WAIT FOR CAR TO FULL" (i was gobbed smacked, they were haggling the price down for me!) "OKAY MISTER 5JD, COME!" This last price caused a series of serious swearing in arabic from the other dude, which attracted much attention from the surrounding crowd who now had gathered around to watch the men push and shove outside of the shop! I thought 5JD was a bargain considering we could leave right away! I threw my backpack into the first dudes truck and off we went with 2 of his mates! I assumed they all lived in Petra and the driver already made a trip, or a few trips to Amman and wanted a fare for the ride home. Later down the highway i saw a few buses pass our truck, but wasnt sure if they where going direct to Petra or Aqaba...





Now im not a morning person, but i decided to take the advice of other travellers and my guide book which informs you of seeing Petra early morning. I was out of bed at 5.30am! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! Ridiculous i know, but the call to prayer hear is soo loud and echoes throughout Petra village at 5am that come 5.30 i was already awake! By the time i walked down to the site, bought a ticket, and began to walk through the valley, the sun was just coming up. It was great discovering the valley without anyone around! I fancied myself as the first person into the site for the day! When i arrived to the actual treasury (the face of Petra) i was stunned by its beauty and grandness. It was like there was imaginary choir singing notes of "AHHHH" which beamed from the Treasury! It was fantastic! Though when i turn around i discovered that i was not infact the first person in, their was already a German couple sitting on the bench! DAMMIT! They where nice and informed me, as it was their second day in, that the mornings where much better, before the tourists and sun arrives!



I decided to hike up to the Monastery, Petras second most iconic site and lookout. Ive really taken a liking to hiking, infact i think i might pursue it as a sport when i return home, as the German couple expalined that theyve hiked all around Australia and highly recommend it! Infact I should get myself some stockli poles! When hiking to the top, i was amazed at how many trinket shops lined the trails, the Bedouins just leave all their necklaces and beads and scarfs out over night. Some Bedus could be seen wrapped in blankets and sleeping next to their goods, others where sleeping in caves and the ruins! After vowing to never smoke a cigarette again and huffy and puffing my way to the top, i reached the Monastery and the fantastic lookouts all around. The local Bedus where just waking up and setting up shop, so i drank the 1.50JD tea they offered me (i thought it was complimentary, pfftt, this isnt Iran obviously!) and nibbled on some pre packed gark....After an hour or so a few tourist where trickling up... I walked around the site a bit more, took somemore snaps, then decided to walk back down.


Walking back down and through Petra, it seemed like a completely different sight! The sun was now beaming down which created lots of shadows along the rocks and caves. It was incredibly hot and there where little kids where running around selling shit, which got annoying very quickly! There was now camels and donkeys and horse and carriages barging through the crowds. The sight was packed with tourist and smelt of donkey shit, sun screen and perfume! The shops, cafes and restaurants where now all set up, and somehow it just killed the ambience! When i arrived back to the treasury i bumped into the german couple who where also heading back up! It was now 12pm and they too had enough hiking around and wanted to escape the crowds!


I had some lunch, then a big nap until the late afternoon! I Woke up for some coffee and sweets, internet then dinner!



My second day discovering Petra was pretty much the same itinerary, just with sorer legs! I loved hiking the trails and looking out over Petra. Petra was an amazing site to see! My photos tell the rest of the blog... Oh and as for the Haysum part, well no one pronounce my name , and all seem to agree when i say "Ismee Haysum!" I dont know if i could get use to Haysum actually?

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