Blogs from Jordan, Middle East - page 14

What a trip! Definitely a memorable hike! It started for me when Shai (Shai Bytner, a great tour guide) messaged me: “Hi Ben, would you like to join a group as rappelling guide to Wadi Fayed?” Well, duh! Of course I would! Despite the short notice, and despite the fact that I just got back from a hike to the Golan the evening before (see my blog: https://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/North-District/Golan/blog-949438.html). So I got home from the Golan, unpacked, repacked and Amichai (Amichai Spector http://www.spectours.co.il) brought all the group’s rappelling and cooking equipment directly to my car. Early the next morning Avi joined me and we started on our way towards Eilat. On the way we picked up Shai and then drove down to the Rabin border crossing, j... read more

After a great 2 days of exploring the ruins at Petra, we headed off towards Madaba just outside of Amman. On our way to Madaba, we would have several stops to check out some additional sights of Jordan. The first stop was really just a quick roadside stop to stretch our legs. Our van pulled over the side of the road where Faisal explained that below us was the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Jordan. However from our vantage point, it looked like a dry and deserted wasteland. After this quick 15 minute stop, we headed towards the town of Karak where we would visit it's castle. Perched on top of a hill with great views of the surrounding area, Karak Castle is a fortified castle from the era of the Crusades. Faisal ... read more

After another sub-par night of sleeping, as we awoke to leave our desert camp in Wadi Rum. Our camp hosts provided us with a light breakfast and as we prepared to set off, we all gathered to collectively say our thanks to the Sheikh. We had appointed Kevin to give thanks on behalf of all of us as we all set off in 2 separate vehicles. The Sheikh drove one of the vehicles and we drove with the windows down while blasting some Jordanian music as we drove through the desert. We were dropped off at a spot where a bunch of camels were awaiting and those of us who wanted to ride them would ride the camels back to Wadi Rum town. 3 local teenage boys lead us and the camels back into town for ... read more

After a rather uncomfortable night of sleep where I probably got no more than 4 hours of total sleep time, Kevin and I awoke and made our way over to a nearby rock to catch the sunrise. To our surprise, Sophie was already there with the same idea and the 3 of us enjoyed the peaceful calm of a desert sunrise. Today, we were to set out for a long day hike out into the Wadi Rum desert. We set out just after breakfast and already the morning had become quite warm. Heading out into the desert, it was pretty clear who would be leading the pack. Kevin, Ronan, Patrick, and myself lead the way while everyone else seemed to linger towards the back of the pack. This was one of the highlights for me during ... read more

We've had another wonderful day today in Jordan. We left the hotel in Wadi Musa at 8 am this morning, for the drive along the King's Highway to Shobak Castle, a Crusader castle built in 1115 CE. The drive took maybe 45 min or so. Sami parked the mini bus and we walked uphill to the castle. The castle is quite imposing, perched on a hill. The sun was behind the castle so the light wasn't good for photos, but you can get the general idea. The castle was built by the Crusader king Baldwin I, and it withstood attacks from Salah al-Din before falling in 1189 after an 18 month siege. It was later occupied by the Mamluks in the 14th C. Some of the castle is restored, having been damaged by earthquakes in the ... read more