Radisson Blu Tala Bay Resort, Aqaba

... vor Aqaba gehts durchs Gebirge und von den Bergen ein interessanter Ausblick - aber kaum eine Gelegenheit zum Anhalten. Vor Aqaba kommt man wieder durch einen Checkpoint - diesmal von der ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority). 2001 wurde in Aqaba eine "Freihandelszone" eingerichtet. Für Touristen besonders interessant, da in Aqaba nicht nur keine Steuer gezahlt werden muss, sondern auch keine Einreisegebühr (aber nur, wenn man direkt in Aqaba ankommt). Es gibt einen ...

... stopped at had ancient petroglyphs in Arameic, that essentially said something along the lines of "Jesus was here" or another random name. We also stopped at some amazing ancient housings carved into the walls, old wells, and some amazing arches - one of which the group climbed up to the top of and got amazing shots from the bottom. [I do not have one on my camera and will post it later when I get a copy]. One of the funny things that ...

... chain. Aquamarina III is located at the top of a hill in Aqaba and has a great view of the city, water, and Israel. Our room was overlooking this view, and it was quite nice to just sit and watch, especially at night. Our new guide talked us in to all going out as a group for dinner at one of the best restaurants in Aqaba. I did not get the places name but instead of ordering from a menu we just ordered a set meal which included trays of ...

... may seem we were over travelling at this point and I think it was a bit that way as neither of us were interested in going anywhere until later in the week when we planned to head north to Petra via the Bedouin desert town of Wadi Rum which we yet to arrange and we were to fly out of Amman on Sunday. So I washed some clothes out and hung around the pool till later in the afternoon Wayne emerged for a swim and we had an ice-cream as the hotel sold them ...

... exchanged the usual travel stories. All in all it was an awsome day, I really enjoy Jordan so far the people are friendly not trying to rip you off much the road infrastructure is very good and transport links are good as well. I am trying to upload all the photos of this day it is hard to describe what I saw and photos don't do it justice but have a look at them anyway so you get an understanding of what I saw and how nice it was there. Great day, bring on Petra next!

... the Netherlands and a family from Amman. Avan was coerced into a game of soccer with the two little boys (sport is an international language). During the game the ball disappeared between the tents, and when the boys returned they excitedly dragged me off to show me a dead cat near our tent. I later mentioned the cat to the Bedouin owner who tried to convince me the cat was mearly resting (I think not) anyway next time I looked it was gone. The night ...

... avoiding an untimely but exotic death. Needless to say things were a little tense between us for a while, but with the help of a Bedouin translator, we discussed our differences and agreed to give it another shot. Being the lightest, Anna was assigned a baby camel that had been nervously pacing backwards and forwards all morning. I couldn't help wondering if she would prove to be the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back'. We were aware of ...

... also get off, we all went the same way and all tackled this together. I got lucky, they're pretty awesome people. Andrew and Nick, Americans from NY, along with Shawne and Ken from the UK, and Joe from UK. Shared a taxi to 'downtown' Aqaba, crashed at the Petra Hotel for 4 Jordianian Dinars a night. At that point I realized that the real fun part of traveling was just starting, and it only got better. <br><br>Lasting thoughts on Egypt... the sights ...

... m sure they're also kept for visitors like me, who can't imagine Bedouin life without a camel. Our next stop was the ruins of T.E. Lawrence's house. As we perched on the chunky sandstone blocks that had formed the house walls, we saw what Lawrence would have seen in 1917. Rough red rocks jutted up from the desert floor, some shaped like pillars leaning into each other, others like flat-topped islands in a sea of sand. Sparse tufts of green ...

... balancing act but it somehow manages to be simultaneously pro-Western &amp; pro-Arab, founded as it was on a bedrock of Muslim authority, and dedicated to ongoing peace with Israel, who, as any Arab worth his keffiyeh (Arab headdress) will tell you, is to blame for the unrest found in the region (although not so in Jordan itself). The present King is Abdullah II, who took over from his much loved, diplomatically adept and longtime ruling father, King Hussein, following his ...