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The Monastery or Little Petra in Jordan

January 28, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 3 Comments

It seems that the best monuments in the world are tombs. The Pyramids of Egypt, The Taj Mahal in India, The Terracota Warriors in Xian, China, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and Westminster Abbey in England are all famous sites that honor the dead: Kings, Queens, Emperors, Royals, Pharaohs and

, UNESCO Sites

The Amazing Petra in Jordan

January 23, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 7 Comments

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT! Petra in Jordan is amazing. Dazzling. Breathtaking. Magnificent. Phenomenal. Insert your own adjectives—they’re all true for many reasons. Petra, no doubt, would never fail to amaze you. It’s jaw-dropping! Literally. Another item in my bucket lis: to gawk at the amazing Petra. Checked.

Jordan

The Siq – In the Footsteps of Indiana Jones

January 21, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 6 Comments

Nobody goes to Petra and see the magnificent Treasury without following the footsteps of [easyazon_link asin=”B000NQRE9Q” locale=”US” new_window=”yes” nofollow=”default” tag=”pridecostume-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”yes” popups=”yes”]Indiana Jones[/easyazon_link] on The Siq where he trudged on his horse in search of the Holy Grail. Nearing the end of the gorge, Indiana Jones and his entourage

Jordan

Wadi Rum – The Red Planet

January 17, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 4 Comments

I finally understood what the “sands of time” means. Wadi Rum, in Jordan, taught me that. Its vastness, its beauty, its magnificence stupefied me. It’s not your ordinary desert of plain golden sand. It’s a desert that defies stereotypes of an arid, solitary piece of nature—hues of red, pink, gold, black

, People

Portraits from Jordan

January 14, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 6 Comments

One unknown writer said this: While I was in Jordan I made sure to ask the names of people I talked to or met in a fleeting moment—and asked if I could photograph them. Nobody said no. I reckon, all I have is my irresistible charm! As Lady Gaga said,

Jordan

The Simplicity of Jordanian Cuisine

January 10, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 4 Comments

I’m not a foodie nor a chef but I do eat what looks good in picture. If there’s no picture of the dish, I’d ask for the wait staff to tell me about the food that caught my fancy from the menu. The simplicity of Jordanian cuisine may not be

Jordan

Scenes from Aqaba and the Red Sea

January 9, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 2 Comments

In Aqaba, the Red Sea divides Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the East; Israel and Egypt in the West. On a clear day we were there, we saw the city of Eliat, in Israel but not a shadow of the other two countries. Along the shores of Aqaba, beach resorts

Jordan

Mt. Nebo – Where Moses Saw the Promised Land

January 7, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 6 Comments

If I had to re-apply in a Catholic school in Toronto, I’d include in my resume that I’ve been to Mt. Nebo – where Moses saw the Promised Land and died. Perhaps, they’d consider my application, in lieu of a letter from my parish priest that I go to mass

Jordan

The Ancient City of Jerash

January 5, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 4 Comments

The Greeks arrived in Jerash before the Romans did. When the latter defeated the former, they demolished everything that reminded them of their arch-rival. Well, almost everything. Today, there are only very, very few ruins that are representative of the Hellenistic period—and the rest were built on Roman principles of architecture.

Jordan

The Dying Dead Sea

January 3, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 4 Comments

Bucket list: to swim float in the Dead Sea. Checked. On December 28, 2013. I just didn’t float but also frolicked in it–with my rainbow wig! While others pretended to read a book, I brought my iPad and browsed Ellen DeGeneres’ website. Ok, there was no internet connection alright, but

Jordan

26 Things to do in Amman

January 2, 2014 KeepCalmAndWander 7 Comments

In January 2013, I won a nine-day trip for two in Jordan, courtesy of EXPLORE, a leading tour company based in the UK. A few days ago, together with a friend, we claimed that prize. I’ve never ever tried using a tour company for my whole trip before and to