Jordan has totally impressed the socks off traveller Ms Lauren Penny. Is it because I had been deprived of the daily lifestyle that we I am accustomed too? Living in Qatar, a strict Arab country, being very undeveloped, I was delighted to visit a relaxed country. The social life of cafes, nightclubs, restaurants (apart from the 5 star hotels in Qatar) I had missed and now I'm in a country that offers these delights - I wonder how I would have felt if I had travelled to the amazing country of Italy - I probably would have had a heartache caused by joy!
Jordan is the new Age Arab country, mixing the old traditions of Muslim life with the new generation. This tolerant and modern Arab country is focused in Amman, however, you have a sense of the new age country even in the Bedouin towns South of Amman.
Arabic is widely spoken, however English is more common amongst the young & hip Jordanians often choosing to ditch the Arabic Language to one and another replacing this with english. It is common, bewildering yet refreshing to see a group of young female Jordanians, half of the group wearing the hieba whilst the others wear shoe-string tank tops whilst enjoying a laugh over a cappacino at the hip cafe. Public affection is more accepted, with couples freely holding hands - though kissing is still less public.
My Arabic improved dramatically as my style of learning is practical (on the job) rather than class rooms, therefore having to concentrate and think of the sentences that I wanted to convey ensured that the Arabic language was finally sinking in. I enjoyed every moment when a shop keeper or person on the street was stunned and then quickly smiled as they heard Arabic being spoken by a western lady. Still the sounds I have trouble with, but at least I'm taking the small steps to achieve the desired result.
The Jordanians are VERY welcoming people, something that really shines on this country and uniquely giving the country an amazing feel. The welcoming is not like anywhere I have experienced and its not like a welcome as in 'welcome, now give me your money', its a very sincere welcome and where 'Ahlan Wa Sahlan fi Jordan' (translated) 'welcome to Jordan' is commonly heard on a daily basis. From the kids in the shops to the old grandfather sitting behind the counter. The people of Jordan stem from the Bedoiuns and I suppose this travelling custom is entrenched into their way of life. Jordanians are very peoples, people, offering cups of shay (tea) whilst enjoying your conversation. This way of life may also be highlighted to me compared to the Qataris ignorance, where wealth unfortunately has brought in ignorance. In Qatar it is the norm to beep your car horn to a shop keeper, supermarket or restaurant, never leaving your car!!
Now before I continue of my thoughts of Jordan, lets start at the beginning. Leaving Qatar in the 45 degree heat and 80% humidity, it was like a breath of fresh air (literally) arriving at Amman airport being able to spend more than 3.5secs outside before your forehead begins to drip in sweat. We immediately pick up our hire car (new age, new income bracket) and commence our journey to Wadi Rum, middle of the country, in the depth of the desert, the place of Lawrence of Arabia.
Asking for directions to commence our 250kms journey, the hire car men think we are crazy driving that sort of distance in one go! Heading out of Amman, you are instantly hit with barrenness, dryness, desert and poorer communities, where old trucks are rusty and are 20 years behind a road worthy certificate! Michel and I stick to the 110km highway speed limit, only to be constantly passed as if we were driving like a grandma at 60kmphr. Reaching the turn off, the sun now sets with its red rays lighting up the desert, Michel and I turn off the highway in the darkness for our last leg of the journey. We are thinking 'what the hell are we are doing?' heading into the unknown, dark desert of Lawrence of Arabia, within one mili-second my sense of adventure sets in and we contently continue our drive following the medico directional map emailed to me by the event organizer.
We are now driving in search of the ONE per year desert party. We drive through passport controls, obviously opening my conversation in Arabic, the machine gun holding Mr Police Man provides a grin and says 'Welcome to Jordan', I feel very much like a ditsy tourist when asking the police man 'where the party is'.. Will I get locked up for asking for a party in the middle of the desert? Is the party legal? The police man passes us through and I re-consider my thoughts that we completely mad!
Directed off the road to dirt tracks, Michel and I in search of adventure, anticipation sets in. In the distance, we are delighted to see lights reflecting against the Wadi Rum mountains. We made it!! Parking our car (containing all our belongings) we have a quick clothes change and enter through the gates. Greeted by well built gym junkie muscle security men, I'm impressed with the organisation at the site. We purchase our tickets and tent and enter the amazing landscape. The party had just began so we had about 1 hour till the mass party-goers would grace us with their presence. We check out our tent, now I was thinking some shady, ripped desert sleeping hard ground floor only to be pleasantly surprised with a well set up tent complete with bed, sheets and pillows (this is the VIP tent as one does VIP in these circumstances). Enjoying a well deserved cold beer, we sit on the carpets of Distant Heat, overwhelmed and blown away by the stage in front of us, the alcohol serving bars, the modern funky couches, young hip Jordanian generation, dance floor and International DJ's.
A fantastic night is had, with the sunrise and finally passing out in my tent at 9am. Though only to wake 2.5 hours later in a ball sweat from the heat. I rub my eyes, step outside and notice Michel sleeping in the air-conditioned car and notice that 'NO-ONE' is around... We are the last people there, well except for the guys pulling down the stage. The car park is empty, we realise we are completely in the desert, having to finally overcome our fits of laughter we return to the road and journey to Aqaba, the sun kissed tourist destination 30 kms way.
Checking into a lovely hotel, we enjoy an afternoon siesta, only to prepare to do it all again. Its part 2 of the party, new location, new tunes!! To line our stomachs we enjoy dinner at the nearby Falafel Restaurant, its on a street similar to Chapel street where I counted one car driving passed 7 times. Cars had guys sitting outside of their window, waving their t-shirts - celebrating as if they had just won the world cup!
Enjoying a delicious dinner, we were offered $10,000 to write to the Australian Embassy in support of the owner and his wife being granted a visa to Australia so that the baby can be born in Australia. We let him down gently, giving him the bad news that no letter will get them through the visa applications for Australia and giving birth in Australia will not grant the child the right to an Australian passport.
We enter the part 2 of the party, and it's nothing compared to the previous night. Due to the troubles in Lebonon, the DJ's could not come over therefore local DJ's were playing. The crowd was much different, younger and not as much free loving spirited Jordanians from the desert. It was very pleasant to meet up again with friends I had met the night before, quickly feeling not so much like a foreigner and enjoying conversation and seeing many familiar faces. As I am living in Qatar, being in Jordan does not feel like a world away, it feels like next door and makes me feel less like a tourist as I am now accomstomed to the way of life of Muslim custom.
Meeting the event organiser, Diana, who I had chatted with via email, we met and hugged like old time friends and the conversation quickly turning into one of opportunity. Discussion of taking 'Distant Heat' to new horizons in the Middle East. A perfect example of how opportunity arises when keeping an open mind, vision and enthusiam.
Witnessing sunrise (again), we retire to our hotel. Another amazing night in Jordan, at only DAY 2 of our journey - what else do we have installed for us?
Wadi Rum (Lauren of Arabia)
How can a place of so much nothing = be the most fascinating place you ever see?
Experiencing a day in Wadi Rum, the desert, total barrenness, mild 35 degrees, no suspension 4 WD, tiny, wrinkle tour guide named ‘Harold’ - the day is set for reaching heights beyond imagination!
I am writing this totally from my eyes, how I see things, my analyses, other travelers to Jordan or the other countries of the world may totally have a different experience, seeing it via different eyes – a different view point, differing philosophy. Who’s view is correct? Neither!! Neither view point is the correct one, the most accurate. They both are - it’s purely on how the individual experiences the place and how they see it through their eyes. So I hope you enjoy seeing travels through my eyes. Ok, getting back to the amazing Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum is the place of Lawrence of Arabia. Having no recollection of the story of Mr. Lawrence of Arabia, Michel and I are pleased to meet two English guys at one of the sights to give us a quick 3 minute run down of the amazing story…
We enjoy the day, where Harold drives us around in an old beaten up desert 4WD, telling us stories of Lawrence of Arabia, drawing us pictures on rocks, sliding down sand dunes and enjoying 30 mins of total silence sitting on a dune whilst looking into the canyons of the desert. Harold says ‘why would you want to be anywhere else’…. And I tended to agree with him.
Now, ill let photos describe the desert better than words.
Having some fun
You have to chase em hard in the desert!! "Hey come back!".....
Anyone for a coffee?
Guess who??
Petra 
After an hours long walk in the heat, the site we came across is the Monestry.
My first wonder, a magnum bottle of Verve Champagne duty free with a price tag just too irrestisble to refuse. Second wonder, checking into the Sheraton Hotel, our first night is upgraded to the Executive Suite (only $900aus), we happily ablige! Third wonder, Michel and I are tired after a busy week, seafood buffet for dinner in the Sheraton resturant (no need to go anywhere) with fresh lobster, fish and prawns, you choose it, they cook it!! I think Í'm going to enjoy Dubai.
There are 8 of us staying at the Sheraton and many other friends scattered around Dubai. First things first, a run in the gym to ensure I am hungry for my Lunch at the Burj. We arrive at 11am to enjoy the ambience of the hotel foyer. You can only enter the bridge of the Burj if you have a booking. The Burj is an amazing peice of articture, set on a man made island, merc's, jaguars, corvettes line the car park. The inside of the Lobby is over-the-top, bright colours, water fountain that on the hour spurts up without making any splashes (apparantly its a first in the fountain business). Much to my surprise, I run into a friend of mine who I met in London and then we both lived in Melbourne. How bizarre to cross paths again in the Burj... Small world..
The resturant is the top left shelf, and the heli-pad is on the right (my entry and exit!!) 
The Foyer
Eight of us enjoyed lunch from 12.30 to 4pm. The service was amazing, down to earth, and not the slighest bit pompos as I was expecting. Rows of chefs behind their respective cooking stations, dishes from around the world. I started with cavier, moved onto prawns, lobster, suishi, tuna, fresh calamari and just before I was to taste the cooked dishes, the Wagyu Beef Chef approached our table. After a 5 min explaination of the farming of the Japanese cow and that the beef can not be bought by consumers - all our mouths were watering (sorry my vegetaratian friends). And the taste did not disappoint. And what else to match the beef but a delicous wine, at $200 per bottle it was no worries - this is a moment to enjoy. Actually any moment involving quality food and great tasting red wine is a moment to savour.
The view from the resturant. 
Next to the Burj, a traditional/restored hotel resort, plus bars and souqs. 
Dubai is also famous for the gold souqs, though I can't comment on the souqs as gold just isint my thing. Though Jo and I enjoyed making up stories to shop sellers just so we can rest for 5 mins in the air-conditioned shop's.
