The "Siq" - a passage into time!
Trip Start
Jan 19, 2010
1
16
36
Trip End
Jan 26, 2010
Where I stayed
Crowne Plaza Petra
Petra, Jordan
Sunday, January 24, 2010
As I walked in the direction of the "Siq", I felt as if I was walking on air due to all of my excitement. I felt as if I was being drawn by this mysterious magnetic force of the"Siq" down its narrowed gorge of a passage with huge beautiful coloured sandstone cliffs elevated as high as 500 feet on each side of it.
What made the "Siq" so dramatically special was its serpentine passage that was formed thousands and thousands of years ago by an earthquake which caused the gigantic rock to split in half. It was only then that the water flowed in and the winds blew through the newly formed gap that gradually rounded the sharp edges of the cliffs into beautifully smooth curves.
With a faster paste, I proceeded walking ahead of the group down the passage in order to savor the beauty of it all by myself. Above me, the sky was a deep blue and the rocks a beautiful red-rose colour as I looked straight ahead of me. At times, the passage widened enough to allow the warm sun rays to reach in, whereas other times, it was quite narrow as little as 6 feet apart, so narrow that the stones seemed to block out all heat, light and even sound. What an experience!
Alongside the length of the "Siq" was some kind of water channels carved by the people who lived here 2,000 years ago to provide water to the ancient city of Petra. Stopping only to look at some small holes, holy places and carvings in the cliffs, I listened attentively to Rod, our guide, as he explained the meaning of it all. At one place, the carving of the legs of a person sticking out of the rock made it looked as if forever, that person was locked in time, forever locked in a passage where time has no meaning.
After having walked for almost half an hour this mile-long narrow gorge of a passage that seemed to go on forever and forever, my anticipation for the dramatic moment started to build as I approached the end of the "Siq". I was about to fulfill my dream, I was about to see one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Suddenly, just in front of me as the gorge narrowed down in the winding passage, there it was! As I stood still with my eyes glued to the sight, there it was framed by the smooth curves of the "Siq", a sunlit strip of the breathtaking sight of ..... The Treasury!
Thankful for the Siq, a passage into time!
Monique :-)
Comments
I like the pictures of sunlit strip of Treasure very nice.
Thanks Fern. Pictures don't do justice. In person, it was quite breathtaking! Mo
Those are great photos... Where are you planning to go next?
I would have been creeped out by the legs I have to say !!