Malaysia 2015 - day 1, Dubai

So this year's holiday finds us in Dubai for one day before heading to Malaysia.
We took a taxi to where we could get a boat across the river (calling it a creek is the understatement of the century). Once across we had a wander round the souk there before going back to the side we set out from and the gold souk.

The sheer size of Dubai is staggering.

The only thing is that it's Ramadan, so the bars and restaurants are closed till about 5pm,so we had to hit a supermarket and take some food back to the hotel.
We could have eaten in the hotel,but it's pretty damn expensive.

Only problem so far is that I've lost one of my credit cards,but I got it cancelled OK,so it's only a minor inconvenience.

Tomorrow we fly to Kuala Lumpur,  looking forward to that

Day 8 - Petra/Amman

With having had to get up early the last couple of days, to visit the ruins, today we had a lie-in and a late breakfast.

We got talking to the duty manager who told us there was a mini bus leaving for Amman at 11.30 if we wanted to catch that instead of waiting till 4.30pm for the JETT bus.  That sounded like a plan, travel on one of the local buses should be an experience not to be missed, and it was a fair bit cheaper than the JETT bus.  With his offer of a lift down to the stop to catch it, it was a done deal.  So, it was back upstairs to grab the bags and into his car and off to the bus stop.

The bus was packed with locals and a few backpackers, and air conditioning was the guy in the passenger seat opening the window.
We met a Canadian girl who was heading back to Amman to get a flight home, but was going to hang out in Amman for a couple of hours to kill time.  So she ended up coming to our hotel to drop her bags in our room, before getting a whistle stop tour of Amman, which she loved.  After she got her taxi to the airport, we headed out for a wander and something to eat, where we got talking to an elderly couple from New Zealand.  League of Nations today!

And so to bed.  Dead Sea tomorrow.

Day 7 - Petra

So, up at the crack of dawn, and back down the hill to Petra.
We didn't hang about, and got in and hit the couple of bits that we left out yesterday.  We did give the High Place a miss, as basically we couldn't be arsed with another climb up a mountain in that heat, and so, after about three hours, we were heading back out, just as the coachloads were descending on the place.
The front of the Treasury was mobbed, and people would have no chance of getting a clear photo as there were too many bodies milling about.

Back at the hotel, we opted to laze about the pool, which hadn't heated up any since the other day, although three Germans had decided to brave it.  Nutters!

At night, just before we were heading out to meet Ali, the Egyptian we had met the other night, there was an awesome electrical storm.  Really spectacular.
We headed down to Ali's work, and waiting till his friend turned up to drive us to where we were going to eat.  Really nice food in a little place down near the entrance to the archaeological site.  Ali insisted on paying, and wouldn't take no for an answer, since he had asked us out to eat.  Really nice of him.  When we were leaving he made us promise to drop in and say goodbye before we caught the bus.  He's heading back to Egypt soon, and gave us his contact details so we could get in touch if we ever went to Cairo.

Day 6 - Petra

So, here we go.  One of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.  A UNESCO world heritage site. £50 for a day - in our case £55 for two.  Is it worth it?  Yes and no.  £50 for a day is brutally expensive, but once you've made your way to the town, they know you're going to pay whatever it costs, and go in.  The £55 for two days is a lot better value.

When you pass through the gate, they have horses which you can ride the 1.2km down to the gorge and the Treasury.  It's included in the cost of your entry, BUT, you're expected to tip the guys with the horses, and they expect £3 - £5!

Once down in the city, you can pay for a camel or a donkey if you don't want to walk.  If you're only there for one day it might be a good idea, but if your guide is walking and not mounted as well, then you'd probably be faster - and better off - walking, so save money and hoof it.

The ancient city is huge.  In fact huge just doesn't do it justice.  Since we got a two day pass, we didn't have to charge round, which was good.  It's incredible, and just seems to keep on going.

We arrived at 7.30am, and spent about 4 1/2 hours walking round before leaving the rest till tomorrow (it's in a desert remember, and gets really really hot, and there isn't much in the way of shade).

Karen walking down the gorge towards the ancient city

The Treasury. 

 Probably the most famous of the buildings in Petra

Karen in front of the Treasury

As we were leaving, there were tour groups still queuing up to go in.  There's no way they were going to see even half of the city, as the place closes at 4.00pm to prepare for the "Petra by night" tour. At least they would be able to say "Yup, been there" and they would have seen the setting for one of the Indiana Jones movies, and the video for Dominion, by the Sisters of Mercy.

Once back at the hotel, it was time to chill by the pool, before heading out for dinner.  I really like this town, but it's not known as Rip-off Petra, online for nothing.  You can guess at the prices!  Beautiful, just very very expensive.

The Egyptian guy we had got talking to in one of the eateries, has invited us to eat with him tomorrow after he finishes work, at 9.00pm.  Should be nice.

Day 5 - Amman/Petra

Up at stupid o'clock (5.00am) to get to the bus for 6.15am.  Arrived to find that although we'd booked Petra tickets, they'd given us tickets to Aqaba.  1JD price difference paid, and we were off.
4 1/2 hours later we arrived in Petra.  We thought the best thing to do would be to collect the tickets for the journey back, but there's no bus ticket office in Petra, you just get on the bus and pay the driver.

Since the bus came in at the entrance to the Petra ruins, we checked out the entry prices.  50JD for 1 day, 55JD for two, or 60JD for three. Seriously, £50 for one day!!  Obviously, we'll be paying the extra 5JD and go in for two days.

Next stop the hotel.  Really nice.  It's got a rooftop pool, so up we went, to discover it's an UNHEATED rooftop pool!  I knew it was seriously cold when Karen said it was too cold to go in!  No chance of the sun heating the water, as there's an awning shading the pool and the patio area round it.

After a wee sleep that turned out to be not so wee, we headed off to find El Arabia, a place to eat that had rave reviews on Trip Advisor, and as it turned out, rightly so.  The food is superb and the portions are huge. I can't remember the last time I had a meal for a fiver that was so large I couldn't finish it.

So, back uphill to the hotel to get things ready for an early start.  The site opens at 6.00am, but we'll catch breakfast first and then head down about 7.00am.

One note on the town of Petra, it's really quiet, which I wasn't expecting, and is generally quite expensive.  Affordable, but not cheap.  After the chaos of Amman, it seems positively deserted.

Jordan day 4 - Amman

Up for breakfast before heading to Abduli market, but first a wee panic.  We never saw Raymond last night, and don't know if he picked up our bus tickets to get to Petra.
He sacked someone last night, and they didn't react well, so he's at the police station giving a statement.  The guy behind reception kept saying "Five minutes", for about half an hour, until someone noticed bus tickets in the pigeon hole for the room keys. Day saved! We'd not have made Petra as there's only one bus a day and we'd have lost £100+ on the hotel there, and then had to pay out again to stay in Amman.

So, after getting the tickets sorted, we headed to Abduli market.  For Glaswegians, think a vast open air version of the Barras, but without the knock-off.  On the way there, we asked someone where the JETT bus office was, as that was where the bus to Petra would leave from.  He told us to jump into his van, and he ran us to it so we knew exactly where it was, then ran us back down to the market!  He wouldn't take anything for his trouble. That's one thing about Jordan, the people are really friendly.

Karen in Abduli market

From the market we wandered back into town, and stopped off at a juice bar. The guy remembered us from a couple of days ago and even remembered the order.  Then it was back to the hotel for a wee rest before heading uphill to the Amman Citadel.

The Citadel is something else!  It's vast, and sits on top of one of Ammans many hills.  The views are superb.  It's a fair trek, so we stopped off en route for a coffee.  Once we finally got to the Citadel, it did not disappoint. The place is stunning, and the views of the city are incredible.  In the middle of the site is the archaeology museum.  Well worth the admission of 2JD (£2)

Amman Citadel

Overlooking the city from the Citadel

Back in town, it was time to eat.  We found a small hole in the wall place, up an alley doing 1/2 chicken, rice and salad for 2.5JD.  Add in a couple of drinks and it came to 5.75JD.  They certainly didn't skimp on the portions either!  Two of us, totally stuffed for under £6.  Result.

So, back at the hotel, and we're pretty much packed to head off to Petra tomorrow.  We're getting a lift to the bus, and we're setting off at 6.00am.  It's going to be a long bus journey!

Later in the evening, Raymond ( the owner) and his wife took us out.  First we stopped off at a bakery where they bought us a tray of Arab sweets, then we went for a drive along Rainbow St, we'd walked along during the day, but which at night, really comes alive, and seems to be the street to be seen in.  It was totally throbbing, and people were out in force.  Definately the place to be and more importantly, be seen!

Jordan day 3 - Umm Qays/Ajloun/Jerah

So we had a trip booked for today, to Umm Qays, Ajloun and Jerah.

Umm Qays is a Roman town on top of a hill.  There's a few mainly intact buildings and lots of columns, which are pretty cool, and there's a small museum as well with some mosaics, sarcophacagus' and a couple of ornate doors.
The views from the hilltop are incredible, and you can see Jordan, Israel, and Syria from the site. So, one panoramic photo later and I have one photo with three countries in it.  That's pretty cool.

Next stop was Ajloun, which is an intact castle perched on the top of a hill.  It's in such good condition that you really get a good idea of what it would have been like when it was actually in use.

Then it was on to Jerah where the first thing was lunch, then a quick walk across the car park to the Roman ruins.  We spent about two hours there, but could have spent a day.  It's a fantastic, sprawling site with 1001 columns.  There's a hippodrome, where they sometimes re-enact chariot races, a couple of amphitheaters, one or two temples, and some arches.  It's just a massive place, it's incredible.

So tired and happy, we're back at the hotel.  Tomorrow there's a weekly market, so we're going to go check that out.