Tag: nature

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Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

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{Amman, Jordan}
{Roman ruins in Amman} {Roman theater in Amman}

After carefully reviewing a few travel-logs and perusing my notes on our journeys throughout the Kingdom of Jordan a rush of wonderfully vivid memories began flooding my mind in regards to this Middle Eastern state. So, I decided to continue the “silk road” series, and since our last write-up was about Dubai, will now move west as so many Nomadic tribes have done throughout the centuries, meandering the valleys and ruins left by past ancient civilizations.

We arrived in Amman around 5:05 pm and settled in at the Jordan Valley Marriott on the Dead Sea. Exploring the hotels spa-like compound was a fabulous experience and our first stop was to float … yes that is the correct verbiage {floating and not swimming} in the Dead Sea because of the extreme saltiness of the water. As we approached the sea, humidity levels rose sharply, and while dipping into the sea water it was very warm for early evening. Huge amounts of salt deposits lined the shore, which contained calcium; magnesium, bromine, sulfur and bitumen, and combined these properties are quite therapeutic for those who come to spa at the Dead Sea.

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{Canyon floor of Wadi Rum with camels}

Early the next day our guide took us on our first tour to Wadi Rum, which is located in the southern portion of the country. Our driver who was named Oman took us to a village outside of Aqaba where a family owned a quaint nut and spice shop. Oman always bought a few pounds of nuts for his son whenever he was in the area so; naturally I bought a 2-lb mixture of these fabulous tasting treats to have while we toured this open desert.

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{Rock carved drawings and ancient Thamudic inscriptions}

Wadi Rum is one of a sequence of parallel faults that form sandstone and granite rock valleys in the Shara Mountains. As we traveled into the canyon you could see a handful of modern villages dotted with tents and camels that belonged to semi-nomadic Bedouins.

As the sun began to set and our excursion ended for the day, the weather turned extremely cold so, our guide ushered us into a Bedouin tent at the bottom of a cliff for tea. Surprisingly the tent blocked the severe winds that whipped up across desert ravine. There was a fire that warmed us and the hot tea was absolutely delicious. You could taste cardamom, mint and sage leaves that were brewed to perfection. While warming up and sipping tea I realized this was a great beginning to a gorgeously beautiful country.

For additional adventures in traveling around the world, visit this YOAIR link:
TRAVEL GUIDE TO PHUKET, THAILAND: HISTORY AND CULTURE

Travel stylishly,
K

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December Wonderland

 IMG_1125{Ice intensifying the colors of the plants outside, look at the shades of green}

Here are additional pictures from the second round of Winter Storm Dion that deposited about five inches of snow around our area here in Northern Virginia. Federal Government offices were closed in the District of Columbia; tree damage and power outages were prevalent and schools closed so, that we could batten down for the morning to wait out the remainder of the storm with a second cup of coffee.

IMG_1130{Ice clinging to the “crepe myrtle”}

IMG_1155The concentration of the storm around 9:00 this morning, look at the ice bending the bamboo plants in the background.

IMG_2237As the sky cleared around 1:50 this afternoon, most of the neighbors were out shoveling snow and ice off the sidewalks and driveways.

IMG_1169A stylish sunset rounded out the beauty of the day, and to see the gorgeousness of these clouds, one could not imagine how cold it actually is outside.

Stay warm,
K