Petra..Wondering about Prehistoric Times

Our anxious two hour drive from Wadi Rum took us through winding desert mountain roads scattered with bedoiun tents and cattle until we reached our next destination. Petra is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. This magical place was originally built more than 2200 years ago and inhabited by the Nabateans who were from ancient Arab tribes. However, evidence suggests the city was inhabited since prehistoric times. Over centuries Petra was ruled by different empires including the Greeks and the Romans. This varying cultural influence is very strong throughout the architecture around Petra. It’s called the “Rose-Red City” for its magnificent uniquely colored limestone cliffs.

The Treasury glowing through the Siq

Upon entering Petra, we walked through the Siq, which is a long narrow corridor tucked between enormous 80m high rock cliffs. At every corner and turn we were anxious to see what awaited us at the end of the walkway. Many tourists opt to take camel, horses, donkey or horse drawn carriages so we had to be careful not to be trampled by them trotting along.

After zig-zagging 1.5 km through the Siq, the sun radiates at the end of the walkway. We could see a glimpse of the glorious Treasury beaming through the narrow gorge. At the end of the Siq lies the Treasury, which served as a tomb for an ancient king in 100 BC. It was named the Treasury for its fable that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasures there. Continue Reading

Angkor Wat

Our trip is moving faster than planned. Vietnam is here and now, about a month ahead of schedule. We have decided to use our time traveling more wisely and leave Southeast Asia mid-year. This decision opens up a whole new world of possibilities. After Asia, we figure Australia could be a good middle point since we’ll probably never vacation there. Southern wine country and the great barrier reef are on the table. We may trace our ancestry from Turkey and make our way through Eastern Europe visiting family and places on our list to see in our lifetime. Visiting dear friends in Spain and Portugal is a definite, as well as a visit to Morocco to see our friends Tosha & Adam who will be moving there this summer. Latin America offers several intriguing options as well, especially if we can visit late in the year into early 2013 during their summer season. We are open to all possibilities! Any ideas? Please share! Continue Reading

Kinchaan Waterfall

Ratanakiri Province is filled with amazing waterfalls, wonderful trekking opportunities, a 200,000 year old crater lake and all the peace and quiet you need from the busy city life. Our journey to Banlung town in Ratanakiri began with a 6am bus from Siem Reap to Kom Thom (4hrs) with freezing blast air conditioning. People were wrapping themselves and the A/C duct with the curtains. We met two single Germans who had just met at the station while waiting one hour for transfer. A shitty local bus with no A/C and crop-lined central walkway picked us up for our 6 hour sweaty ride to Ban Lung. Upon arrival, we were bombarded by moto and tuk-tuk drivers scheming for a ride from bus station to our hotel in Ban Lung. We grabbed a tuk-tuk and had our hotel pay for the free transport. (didn’t think our backpacks could fit on a moto). Continue Reading