What we missed
Trip Start
Apr 19, 2009
1
27
35
Trip End
Dec 20, 2009
Amman, Jordan
Sunday, November 8, 2009
- A bathtub: we had the last bath in Lalibela, Ethiopia…the warm water from the mini-geyser was just sufficient to modestly cover Marvin and my behinds. But who's complaining – after all there WAS water AND a geyser.
- Signboards: pretty much since we have left South Africa signage along the road has disappeared or only featured in a language we could not decipher. Navigation is by GPS and pure instinct…
- Bacon: or anything with pork in it for that matter. Since entering the Arab world, from Kenya onwards, all pork related products have disappeared. Tomato and eggs just does not have the right ring to it….
- Ice-cream: sure, you can buy ice-cream at times but all studies done on food products warn you that ice-cream is THE most loved hang-out for bacteria…so it was one of the few items we have not touched on the trip. The cravings for a mouthful of a creamy, double chocolate ice-cream creation was getting very strong indeed.
Marvin and I settle in at a little beach hotel, the Bedouin Garden Village, in Aqaba and spend five luxurious days snorkelling the reef, tanning at the pool, using the wifi and licking at least one sinful ice-cream a day. Heaven! Little do we know that this will be the last time that we can don shorts and our swimming gear, as I write, the thermals are in close proximity and a bini covers my (oh so tanned) ears.
Jordan is an interesting mix of modern urbanisation and traditionalism. People once again are friendly and interested in us and our way of life. Exchanges over a cup of tea are never far away.
We visit the stone-hewn wonder of Petra, nearly 1000s years of temples and tombs in a mountain valley, and walk in the steps of Lawrence of Arabia at Wadi Rum. Yet another unforgettable, mystical and beautiful experience.
