tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441940327489565832024-02-18T19:08:41.162-08:00notes from a sun-scorched landAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-45992390048442388442015-02-16T07:41:00.001-08:002015-02-16T07:41:03.281-08:00Things I became used to, and some things I did not ... observations<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In talking to people about living in Abu Dhabi, I started a mental list based on questions I received from US colleagues and from friends and family. As a sort of closing of this blog, I thought I'd share, as it gives a glimpse into some things that are different in the UAE than in the States (or at least seem(ed) different to me). Please know these are observations, <i>not </i>judgments. I think it's interesting to hear about similarities and differences in how people go about things. I am sure I am forgetting things; I hope you do find it interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things I became used to ...</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not driving in the far left lane, unless you are going really fast. Really fast.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If in the far left lane, getting out of that lane when a car comes up on you really fast. That car will usually give you the "courtesy" flash of headlights to get out of the way, fast.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hearing Arabic.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hearing many different languages.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Within the circle of people I know or have met, being a minority as an American.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Women in Abayas & Shelas & Niqabs, Men in Kanduras (or more commonly referred to as Dishdashes).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People (Southeast Asian males mostly) walking up to communion in their stocking feet. (It's considered good manners to take your shoes off indoors.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hoses with nozzles in every bathroom stall (for washing of feet in preparation for Islamic prayer).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Skype being my new telephone for talking to folks in the U.S.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very cool: at some malls in the underground parking are little lights. If the parking space is empty, the light is green; if the parking space is occupied, it's red. And a count of available parking spaces when you drive into the underground garage. Uber-helpful!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The smell of Arabian incense in malls.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hospitality offered in both homes and offices (coffee and tea; sometimes cookies or dates; and a genuine and ardent desire to make sure you are comfortable).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lighting on high rises (some have fun neon outlines, others have moving lights up and down their exterior) and the green up-lights on mosque minarets. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hearing the call to prayer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You never pump your own gas. (Or, "petrol" here.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Universal truths about college students. For example, how college students load up on french fries for lunch; how they will find loopholes in syllabi and academic policies; how they calculate just how many classes they can miss and still pass; their energy and inquisitiveness.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being both an defensive and offensive driver. Defensive is just not enough here.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Calling cell phones "mobiles." (Makes more sense, really.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The passion and patriotism of the UAE nationals for their country. (You should see the decor out for National Day in December.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not stopping for stop signs. You'll just get honked at it if stop and there are no other cars coming through or near the intersection. <i>I will need to get used to full stops again when I move back to the States! What I have described are not 'California rolling stops.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can leave your purse (or any valuable object) lying somewhere -- even the middle of a mall -- and no one is going to mess with it. <i>When I'm outside the UAE, I have to remember to keep things with me, and keep my purse closed.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things I pretty much got used to ...</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3-4 lane roundabouts and the car in the far left lane turning right ... right in front of you. (Skilled, or lucky, drivers will squeeze through some of the smallest traffic openings.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">People gliding into another lane in the road, and the majority of people will simply slow down or somehow make way for that person.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Leaving your car running while the station attendant fuels your car.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sidebar conversations in meetings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taking mobile phone calls in meetings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Walls around everything. Villas, estates, businesses ... it's an exception if there is not a wall.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The size of some of the villas and palaces. (They aren't <i>all</i> humongous, but some really are ginormous.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Washing of feet in the public bathroom sink (pre-prayer).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hot outside and freezing inside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Making sure I take a bottle of water with me everywhere I go (as it is hot and humid) -- sometimes I don't and I usually regret it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The challenge it can be to find some places (especially small businesses; physically bigger places are easier, of course).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The scarcity of parking in some locations. Some places, you take a taxi because you know you won't find parking.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The scarcity of petrol stations in some areas, which I find ironic in an oil-rich country that loves its cars at least as much as the U.S. does.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How people leave their cars running while being fueled, because it is so blinking hot outside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lines at petrol stations on weekday mornings, and every evening. (Friday and Saturday mornings are a great time to stop for fuel.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a country where conservative dress is the norm, the fact that several malls have Victoria Secret and other lingerie stores, with displays visible as you walk by the store front.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What a stunning color of Turquoise the water is -- it pretty much takes my breath away every time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Camels -- I don't want to get used to them, because they make me smile :-). It's simply was not a complete trip (for me) to one our campuses without seeing a camel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having moments where I mentally stop and think "wow, I am in Abu Dhabi" or "wow, I am in Dubai".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having more moments than not, that -- for that time being -- living in Abu Dhabi felt normal. At least for while I am here.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things I never did get used to ... (Expats and Emiratis alike display these behaviors) ...</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving vehicles with kids not strapped in. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or kids sitting on the console (between the two front seats) as a car is moving down a street or highway. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or kids standing on the console with their heads out the sunroof, while parent is driving in a neighborhood.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cars passing by you so closely and so fast that you can feel them (literally, you can feel some sort of vacuum -- for lack of another word) ... had one the other night that had me reminding myself to breathe. How he </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">didn't</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> hit me was </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">only </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">God's doing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How close a driver will ride another car's bumper. Honestly, can make you gasp. It's like drafting in a stockcar race.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taxi drivers who that make you feel like you are on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, or who think they are Mario Andretti.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The huge number of people who text and drive and any speed.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What I most missed about home (besides Tim, our dogs, our home!) ...</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Easily calling and seeing my friends and family in the U.S. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Being outside more months of the year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Texting (for instant communication) with friends and family at home!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Really blue skies. (With ample sand, and being by the salty water, makes it hazy. It's quite beige most of the time.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Toilet seat covers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Street addresses and streets signs at every road and intersection; building numbers. (But there is a new plan in Abu Dhabi to add building and house numbers, and make sure that every street is labeled.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Outdoor malls to walk around.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do I miss about Abu Dhabi, now that I'm back in the States?</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My brother Tom, sister-in-law Danielle, and nephew Eric. And Grover, their sweet and deep-thought (hahahaha) dog.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Friends that are now 8500 miles away ... Emily, Hannah, Amanda, Kim, Iain, Iliana, Manal, Ahmed ... Bible Study partners Christine, Louise, Anna and Justina ... forgive me if I have inadvertently left someone off this list!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Brilliant turquoize of the Gulf water</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-31317375330920544892014-02-26T20:24:00.000-08:002014-02-26T20:24:11.865-08:00Thank you Fadi and family<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our guide Fadi Wishahi treated us to something special our last evening in Jordan. (Our flight left at 8:30 p.m. on a Friday.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were invited to share in a dinner at his mother's home in Amman, Jordan, including Fadi's two brothers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not sure I can adequately express how special this was for us. To be invited into his childhood home, and so welcomed by his family. The few hours we shared were filled with delicious (and I mean <i>delicious</i>) food, and wonderful conversation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The meal we shared is called <i>mefseh</i>. This is a dish that takes hours to prepare, and is one to share with guests. Tim and I were invited into the kitchen, to watch Fadi's brother Mohammed place the food on the large metal platter. First the rice, carefully and methodically spread out by hand, ensuring that every centimeter is covered evenly. The lamb that has been cooking in yogurt all day is placed in the middle, heaped high. And then the yogurt broth is poured onto the rice ... as this is all plated, and throughout the meal as we ate.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwPdviMeRD318lBsFjM3v9YzG56jQQSSntKI8EYCxAMsvZWPRViSLQh4iTkEL5wIYoNPpoNqx1Ht4OLWOEBX9lNHfCQqSFgPERoI-znGEBpzlp2LPqj7beKFSFoo1Dk6xCTBjhaY0pek/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwPdviMeRD318lBsFjM3v9YzG56jQQSSntKI8EYCxAMsvZWPRViSLQh4iTkEL5wIYoNPpoNqx1Ht4OLWOEBX9lNHfCQqSFgPERoI-znGEBpzlp2LPqj7beKFSFoo1Dk6xCTBjhaY0pek/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You eat with your hands. We were offered spoons, but both Tim and I wanted to try it this traditional way. When Fadi's mom Feryal (apology if I've spelled your name wrong!) started eating with a spoon, our reaction was "hay!" But we went on eating with our hands. Messy, but oh so yummy!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBz9mT-NotiU4GQZ1T7VewP_hCr3IQHsNu64kHNmWRP_6Bmz02I1elG0VnD-774VkCo4moRn9AzQT4wfN6P0OV70njkZS9Ri7SYrTGH70aGx4HfsWe51ndU9wpw-tr0zLHxdWlHhcJEc/s1600/IMG_2569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBz9mT-NotiU4GQZ1T7VewP_hCr3IQHsNu64kHNmWRP_6Bmz02I1elG0VnD-774VkCo4moRn9AzQT4wfN6P0OV70njkZS9Ri7SYrTGH70aGx4HfsWe51ndU9wpw-tr0zLHxdWlHhcJEc/s1600/IMG_2569.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVX_lNB-7nNxjwSQlg9VEgUshAI9QKsSn4dPE24CHQVp8l9pXpnA_OzBZfQEXN4STvB-UYLuC5NCf4RGhMRjXgUvkK4rGflRameJ9que-0eJa1zbgG3GqCJPfGjzTGdh1DIwYhsKQQpM/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVX_lNB-7nNxjwSQlg9VEgUshAI9QKsSn4dPE24CHQVp8l9pXpnA_OzBZfQEXN4STvB-UYLuC5NCf4RGhMRjXgUvkK4rGflRameJ9que-0eJa1zbgG3GqCJPfGjzTGdh1DIwYhsKQQpM/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4Z9o057dpwpOfiJ0uhuSBiDG9ZIvPmKJp8xSmiAf72RsteDpsmA-rsmoFWp7PIhtY4n6a0vQEJRBr2BsdxANMMJLGV_onSlUh-FJeONWhf0_QQ8kxv9udOscT_Irg8wM_E1ubyNNHh0/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4Z9o057dpwpOfiJ0uhuSBiDG9ZIvPmKJp8xSmiAf72RsteDpsmA-rsmoFWp7PIhtY4n6a0vQEJRBr2BsdxANMMJLGV_onSlUh-FJeONWhf0_QQ8kxv9udOscT_Irg8wM_E1ubyNNHh0/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ6ilwPdA1vaULLRbA2mqfnFpjGHoQawbT7fYMJxNkZtbFeF0xVK9CavlWxvAqPyYodHOz-7ZFte76S5HRRVYETvu9yaL57qnnxJzNzReLDe6yrY3iCpV22oaQWFCiKH7T8MpifYKk1A/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ6ilwPdA1vaULLRbA2mqfnFpjGHoQawbT7fYMJxNkZtbFeF0xVK9CavlWxvAqPyYodHOz-7ZFte76S5HRRVYETvu9yaL57qnnxJzNzReLDe6yrY3iCpV22oaQWFCiKH7T8MpifYKk1A/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCYFYmedbyW-6DdTI322kWhEEkW83QMn3d8nV3Y4D-pyY4_OLbe_nHhdSp8rLv62oIqgiDHZgHEJil763f2QGD_552ynKZT6s5uT-FAKRElqakfrvEFGdtiwIPPRV1L2Ovh8pyoWn5Q4/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCYFYmedbyW-6DdTI322kWhEEkW83QMn3d8nV3Y4D-pyY4_OLbe_nHhdSp8rLv62oIqgiDHZgHEJil763f2QGD_552ynKZT6s5uT-FAKRElqakfrvEFGdtiwIPPRV1L2Ovh8pyoWn5Q4/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicqO1VPWJvWRHE3CcxdyRto3Z00bs6V2ZTav__OHWtoGqGyAdcOZRJC_RduOkbqAuPIZuiZ5pUqoGcSqzfcOtbMw4x1waZvyKDksiUtSTIqUPd_7EgVU30kI0Q7EeussXjWfFaSmS5YQ/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicqO1VPWJvWRHE3CcxdyRto3Z00bs6V2ZTav__OHWtoGqGyAdcOZRJC_RduOkbqAuPIZuiZ5pUqoGcSqzfcOtbMw4x1waZvyKDksiUtSTIqUPd_7EgVU30kI0Q7EeussXjWfFaSmS5YQ/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4LdnB1OFDVFcR2fUAoI5sESkzQbSTDz8vx2QxtHrZXnsFZSdjrkXBuCLsEZcKa84nfnKNuKslxW_2gNThiNmE7c7mnh5c03D7VFkwI5TLcIFvXyip_q6l6Rgyolocz3aKjtbbC77x08/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4LdnB1OFDVFcR2fUAoI5sESkzQbSTDz8vx2QxtHrZXnsFZSdjrkXBuCLsEZcKa84nfnKNuKslxW_2gNThiNmE7c7mnh5c03D7VFkwI5TLcIFvXyip_q6l6Rgyolocz3aKjtbbC77x08/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wLGMAcF_S9UhY3tLJF8RVo9s2378CqUbnZFdAK-0xUjEPZmkbohVs0kM28yOq98XKqK670YuPXyBSq8pkusrSRG3kYHenCNPi4-m_jpCewShKBvJT-1nycbds1j9znP3rX08aieb60/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wLGMAcF_S9UhY3tLJF8RVo9s2378CqUbnZFdAK-0xUjEPZmkbohVs0kM28yOq98XKqK670YuPXyBSq8pkusrSRG3kYHenCNPi4-m_jpCewShKBvJT-1nycbds1j9znP3rX08aieb60/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you , Fadi, Feryal, Mohammed and Omar for a wonderful and special evening that we will never forget.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk4bDq7B9cckJtjp5Jn_JLJekfB10NanlYx6PCgFqVyDRQrk-pY362qODIKTCMcMJF0ZznfbT80NRtGYDO-JsJoSI-xWaSRRDxNdbPtRjFJ5fXD-KeCe2UrhwPTc341CSe4NUoLWs3Pc/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk4bDq7B9cckJtjp5Jn_JLJekfB10NanlYx6PCgFqVyDRQrk-pY362qODIKTCMcMJF0ZznfbT80NRtGYDO-JsJoSI-xWaSRRDxNdbPtRjFJ5fXD-KeCe2UrhwPTc341CSe4NUoLWs3Pc/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mWkyIU0hzGLrnaIRyA3sAQeoJziny8ZHa7ngwWM_5EEVIuiOE0CIv19D6Dk8vRXZPfvkkFdR-JVCsalvGaaLFmBgbuQehUTckhI2H-yM0a8DU8vzlTk8cRLQNDMv-o33nFEyVdYsnqE/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mWkyIU0hzGLrnaIRyA3sAQeoJziny8ZHa7ngwWM_5EEVIuiOE0CIv19D6Dk8vRXZPfvkkFdR-JVCsalvGaaLFmBgbuQehUTckhI2H-yM0a8DU8vzlTk8cRLQNDMv-o33nFEyVdYsnqE/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-16200926522641286012014-02-24T21:30:00.000-08:002014-02-24T21:30:05.737-08:00Exquisite Roman ruins in Jordan<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When planning our trip to Jordan, friends who had been there mentioned that we shouldn't miss seeing Jerash. I'm glad we took their advice ... wish we had allowed even more time for this fabulous site!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hadrian's Gate, at the entrance:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFLto2CcIXfdfTGe8dMjP58dcL7fiAGN-h1qOXme0gBAbzgfnRyxl2s0gt6LZap3l4KBDjhZX9gPg1B3tN-UJ74eSf9IUOxdXvhO6bckEBHNszlYqZadmfsn0GILi3my_j9qgSbO6wA4/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFLto2CcIXfdfTGe8dMjP58dcL7fiAGN-h1qOXme0gBAbzgfnRyxl2s0gt6LZap3l4KBDjhZX9gPg1B3tN-UJ74eSf9IUOxdXvhO6bckEBHNszlYqZadmfsn0GILi3my_j9qgSbO6wA4/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jerash is this wonderful large area of Roman north of the city of Amman, Jordan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Archeologists (from France, I believe) are, steadfastly and with great care, putting the pieces back together. Before sharing a selection of photos, here's a little history as listed by the Jordan Tourism Board (</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.visitjordan.com/default.aspx?tabid=65</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"A close second to Petra on the list of favourite destinations in Jordan is the ancient cith of Jerash, which boats and unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities of the Decapolis League.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The city's golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates."</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ4ota7bqnMMm-N6rAsjdKDLvv-AF3WbCnZG7za1S2o7IiGTn_08thsZGVv0pFTf2mykPwlWuAPSL2fd278gs6ar94E_YkKpgtqPQIKpE0O24naBUdxA2IXG6kUOohOE-ry9brbh2pdg/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ4ota7bqnMMm-N6rAsjdKDLvv-AF3WbCnZG7za1S2o7IiGTn_08thsZGVv0pFTf2mykPwlWuAPSL2fd278gs6ar94E_YkKpgtqPQIKpE0O24naBUdxA2IXG6kUOohOE-ry9brbh2pdg/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5K9xySOIv2vxuouSndB3JTKjJAu83Tid5azlCETuxo58yLDHIk9sSR4uTr6nakC9Ji-1lB6TFM7zdfJFhj1RvXSR7wsOrbzpYQwQYrWKD1wfc2kNKeNyEYQgX8zxT5HqW24OeiQL4Nw/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5K9xySOIv2vxuouSndB3JTKjJAu83Tid5azlCETuxo58yLDHIk9sSR4uTr6nakC9Ji-1lB6TFM7zdfJFhj1RvXSR7wsOrbzpYQwQYrWKD1wfc2kNKeNyEYQgX8zxT5HqW24OeiQL4Nw/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaoe3hT5Es8Midbv8fQfVUBFhBzwF4Avut6xsJnh4fJcId0U8T0rVz1p8GrpCXQHkxDLJBbTv12WJv6M19hdNtJfqKrw1uS84srECKk92fJ7gsh0OruJUFBB8QcMVbMp9u6L9j3OiCQ8/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaoe3hT5Es8Midbv8fQfVUBFhBzwF4Avut6xsJnh4fJcId0U8T0rVz1p8GrpCXQHkxDLJBbTv12WJv6M19hdNtJfqKrw1uS84srECKk92fJ7gsh0OruJUFBB8QcMVbMp9u6L9j3OiCQ8/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chariot ruts in the stone roads:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2H6VLGR94_u_TDM4eUnDhjiGf71GkcQIQZeUPy3BdfDZLBS9Qe6pDz30P1-AnXWSai-fCTTjv530m9pyBcB4qEA19xQleVGFWZc8CBTlKcyOvFwOsHNz_n0RQq3plE95l1Xww651fuY/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2H6VLGR94_u_TDM4eUnDhjiGf71GkcQIQZeUPy3BdfDZLBS9Qe6pDz30P1-AnXWSai-fCTTjv530m9pyBcB4qEA19xQleVGFWZc8CBTlKcyOvFwOsHNz_n0RQq3plE95l1Xww651fuY/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ancient sewer cover.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70cdCYzAmpbtc6d4K49zqk8gOOIoi6ZEdSdeghJ1kyt44yTyPfHwZ0MDomqxZpOvEfx9nahiUVdBW00YHc7DZDC7p0AKH0QKwQ02X3SdUi1w-FvmtYk3ugnwjhVTajj1dMr3xtScXU8A/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70cdCYzAmpbtc6d4K49zqk8gOOIoi6ZEdSdeghJ1kyt44yTyPfHwZ0MDomqxZpOvEfx9nahiUVdBW00YHc7DZDC7p0AKH0QKwQ02X3SdUi1w-FvmtYk3ugnwjhVTajj1dMr3xtScXU8A/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Various photos of Jerash ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQkbylIsxtemfG_k3li5ZuF0l2q8R8rk7gTZpCwRlA1bK14VUXfB-XobR9g0Zb1nFycqPJ2XV68DgYF4XEDQXGNAq49GkiBI9DrOw0w8GjDjPfbfucnchK6MXYa0j_Mm1Ytty_FKhPe4/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQkbylIsxtemfG_k3li5ZuF0l2q8R8rk7gTZpCwRlA1bK14VUXfB-XobR9g0Zb1nFycqPJ2XV68DgYF4XEDQXGNAq49GkiBI9DrOw0w8GjDjPfbfucnchK6MXYa0j_Mm1Ytty_FKhPe4/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1bU57Mn_KSAM6fq4QFLTXahWnCzUWFr1ncn2KfyWuiqnb8mX5ErqTHuLs7JBb88w5Aj4hDmxBz-wBMoHBSTUGD4H0iNPCIhNX0D0v9iZViMIKtmLQSaZFY1X05ffyyVUsFFMPr5qVWk/s1600/IMG_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1bU57Mn_KSAM6fq4QFLTXahWnCzUWFr1ncn2KfyWuiqnb8mX5ErqTHuLs7JBb88w5Aj4hDmxBz-wBMoHBSTUGD4H0iNPCIhNX0D0v9iZViMIKtmLQSaZFY1X05ffyyVUsFFMPr5qVWk/s1600/IMG_0566.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wZaOXG5DiWvpVJTd15b2oAdod_FCE8kmxycTCUIlSkmMtq1rGm_XA_QMLn3eMuHIetEas3Bgs9dg9i-IofiY7Xt3Ghp6jjVkPT9wl6q6h0IeW52IKhMOgpo4JBtamp4yy9wKigRv1Gg/s1600/IMG_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wZaOXG5DiWvpVJTd15b2oAdod_FCE8kmxycTCUIlSkmMtq1rGm_XA_QMLn3eMuHIetEas3Bgs9dg9i-IofiY7Xt3Ghp6jjVkPT9wl6q6h0IeW52IKhMOgpo4JBtamp4yy9wKigRv1Gg/s1600/IMG_0555.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The columns were built and set up to endure seismic activity. Imagine that. All those years ago. My battery was failing, so I didn't get video of this. The forks moves as the column moves, every so slightly and gently. You can place your finger in between as well, and feel the column move.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSbPMktZAgCKo24LiDtCclSHn1l0SW78etKWSm-2aS07HaKwzm5JO5vHDDU7ZG7xPzDvYvvceZTCBLq3kZPWH7Eg7ZHKqOcx1DTffzansMAhzCaUX00eaUlI87r5aCo4j026J3s0BD6w/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSbPMktZAgCKo24LiDtCclSHn1l0SW78etKWSm-2aS07HaKwzm5JO5vHDDU7ZG7xPzDvYvvceZTCBLq3kZPWH7Eg7ZHKqOcx1DTffzansMAhzCaUX00eaUlI87r5aCo4j026J3s0BD6w/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This marked the butcher's stall:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICOiyGKcMtTmzVERxKYVV8zJaIYmNIAEHgPCdSCOHU1eExHzgPTzyzqrsEzGPPv7mO6EFUfYxgVkF4eEbgQLJSCuSSZYZ7L47bZiSQxBTx5xSWfl1q8uK167A0RsTPyvPIGTvIfZ_M74/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICOiyGKcMtTmzVERxKYVV8zJaIYmNIAEHgPCdSCOHU1eExHzgPTzyzqrsEzGPPv7mO6EFUfYxgVkF4eEbgQLJSCuSSZYZ7L47bZiSQxBTx5xSWfl1q8uK167A0RsTPyvPIGTvIfZ_M74/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few more photos ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKqj_uacWF3EiLvn7Vvd55NYcSEHr63M6HWTUNqIK1yAl9ekrlXC6p7dHS9v-tW6k9y4ZmFWS9xV6Bvp0Y0ADTAK79nGDismfILKUwbC07OlZmDmZiwh66eO_PGfZ7ITp2-TXUQ3y3RU/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKqj_uacWF3EiLvn7Vvd55NYcSEHr63M6HWTUNqIK1yAl9ekrlXC6p7dHS9v-tW6k9y4ZmFWS9xV6Bvp0Y0ADTAK79nGDismfILKUwbC07OlZmDmZiwh66eO_PGfZ7ITp2-TXUQ3y3RU/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aN_kHruYKMI1jUAkyTlGs4eOBQfYRDE6MqxOTRmnQ-HSsdMLAhc94aRmCXc7_E43CebUGzmM3Z7be88fhi0uWPkvQBgq9Eg7RyQnD-_ATGosGauhPrLUCd5qPIO-cprG5VzwhMF0z7w/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aN_kHruYKMI1jUAkyTlGs4eOBQfYRDE6MqxOTRmnQ-HSsdMLAhc94aRmCXc7_E43CebUGzmM3Z7be88fhi0uWPkvQBgq9Eg7RyQnD-_ATGosGauhPrLUCd5qPIO-cprG5VzwhMF0z7w/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH0zFN3atg1ymVEusrwswRaTRvELsJ0TCe0cEDep3g6-1JlTL7XcF0yxrFwkanepqA3qaJyqq4X7YOiYtIRGC_DGwYiYRhWUgLPxQWjwtHfYSCG5gDObmi2fRZQC58z7pSHCUqXqljKg/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH0zFN3atg1ymVEusrwswRaTRvELsJ0TCe0cEDep3g6-1JlTL7XcF0yxrFwkanepqA3qaJyqq4X7YOiYtIRGC_DGwYiYRhWUgLPxQWjwtHfYSCG5gDObmi2fRZQC58z7pSHCUqXqljKg/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ei6Ev6SRFzbYRF3bwQEcHLb7xn00gE42WxITkx7Cslc6mFcdorIjkZ7nnpNXfMM_QyB0939X1Z4mwTOW5Wch8eLFWPM8gupM-UG4CtxmO_dcw0c-VXckYwYQrW0qQy9OA9f5EZUlo9Q/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ei6Ev6SRFzbYRF3bwQEcHLb7xn00gE42WxITkx7Cslc6mFcdorIjkZ7nnpNXfMM_QyB0939X1Z4mwTOW5Wch8eLFWPM8gupM-UG4CtxmO_dcw0c-VXckYwYQrW0qQy9OA9f5EZUlo9Q/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUMaHl4vABMnjMX05ZH5GmCZlzlY1UepwdeEerLKE57zGvP7jM6lRjM_qbM0ekZDD0KAyYajEMlS69zvGyxg2bxYffQ_59bNpiCWO5Y0BE5ZbvaRH4Ih6f84L-eFR8fk1M_ZxBYmX39U/s1600/IMG_2202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUMaHl4vABMnjMX05ZH5GmCZlzlY1UepwdeEerLKE57zGvP7jM6lRjM_qbM0ekZDD0KAyYajEMlS69zvGyxg2bxYffQ_59bNpiCWO5Y0BE5ZbvaRH4Ih6f84L-eFR8fk1M_ZxBYmX39U/s1600/IMG_2202.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5inu12RcxvP3Qv_u4V3wnokTPGtdxUBvYqUvvrL5vvQaxGgF44i48EvuzLoa7kyNanzbOTar9wFeph8JVpIsaZr1c_B8ygoYE96s6lODEK-QeR67IiSh0TYMORYjCqw1V2bboLkUIJ_c/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5inu12RcxvP3Qv_u4V3wnokTPGtdxUBvYqUvvrL5vvQaxGgF44i48EvuzLoa7kyNanzbOTar9wFeph8JVpIsaZr1c_B8ygoYE96s6lODEK-QeR67IiSh0TYMORYjCqw1V2bboLkUIJ_c/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One thing I didn't expect was to hear bagpipes. I'll leave this post with a video of that.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw9nc9RnhXRtWEXb0BOaeaawsl4yuYE2cQiTWXC3daQk5sSglLcmTwAUQ5sU9waBnwCdBkTFQglGeYXPVsriz-RuCeI8scYlgvT69QKKoBbhoaNh1EKsPpvcCQnGohUzRa_a5vmV3Cbo/s1600/MVI_0596.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw9nc9RnhXRtWEXb0BOaeaawsl4yuYE2cQiTWXC3daQk5sSglLcmTwAUQ5sU9waBnwCdBkTFQglGeYXPVsriz-RuCeI8scYlgvT69QKKoBbhoaNh1EKsPpvcCQnGohUzRa_a5vmV3Cbo/s1600/MVI_0596.MP4" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-22265513432024467012014-02-17T20:47:00.000-08:002014-02-17T20:58:45.009-08:00Crusaders and Castles in Jordan<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During our trip to Jordan, we visited two different castles that were active during the time of the Crusades. So, a bit old :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One was Karak Castle, south of Amman, and off the road known as Kings Highway. From the Jordan Tourism Board's website, some information on Karak Castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"While the castle we see today essentially dates back to the 12th century, Karak has been a fortress since biblical times. The Bible relates how the King of Israel and his allies from Judah and Edom ravaged Moab and besieged its king Mesha in the fortress of Kir Heres, as Karak was then known. Centuries later, it took the Crusaders some twenty years to erect their vast castle." It was finished in 1161. (</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">http://www.visitjordan.com/default.aspx?tabid=163).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxRBymBH0KBVeLQuMlsfnyXas4PV5IBjEg4Qcau8lq5kQNgctroXP5E8Jc7jR8lHxWadK9S3L2HCOP869fNpeLTdHTjA1u33gAUKoi7qhcus1pCwHIW6Wy1AjHSoC36B1MjglRNzSvGU/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxRBymBH0KBVeLQuMlsfnyXas4PV5IBjEg4Qcau8lq5kQNgctroXP5E8Jc7jR8lHxWadK9S3L2HCOP869fNpeLTdHTjA1u33gAUKoi7qhcus1pCwHIW6Wy1AjHSoC36B1MjglRNzSvGU/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxPFQQ5GHLVkQkfwacsGgZEwYMtFI3WJ4xmhk4uDJZED5d1iHBH5Ad2RU7IrOMw6Pl_nLn-EKzLsp9knIo_UM7YljDSRrMt-7B7095zE11_uhZEurRjnyhKV7xtDWjXdiulTv0FlGzmE/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxPFQQ5GHLVkQkfwacsGgZEwYMtFI3WJ4xmhk4uDJZED5d1iHBH5Ad2RU7IrOMw6Pl_nLn-EKzLsp9knIo_UM7YljDSRrMt-7B7095zE11_uhZEurRjnyhKV7xtDWjXdiulTv0FlGzmE/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oNMdqB0YNQujjffrh5Imd-2t3O_5B4D8lJeQ58hfkjtBcpIHGPVxsJHJKoTsHc4OdQioyuGpl4jouBprSDq4iL_MjhEkyal1Sh2PKKWB3d_hx-3awaVmPNHy5kPzsMQ56hRFdHUX3XU/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oNMdqB0YNQujjffrh5Imd-2t3O_5B4D8lJeQ58hfkjtBcpIHGPVxsJHJKoTsHc4OdQioyuGpl4jouBprSDq4iL_MjhEkyal1Sh2PKKWB3d_hx-3awaVmPNHy5kPzsMQ56hRFdHUX3XU/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxnIZICAu7jqjwzFC1JfAQM1YV5mggEJ5Qg1fYlOnjKha5lQFb3WicYsM5B05KPxi3Is87W9ueB9M2QuIV2VeEV1XiZsCH8vJ8sY717bMgKoL3AO74V5omsCyyAVXdmM_W7RU4S3e5I/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxnIZICAu7jqjwzFC1JfAQM1YV5mggEJ5Qg1fYlOnjKha5lQFb3WicYsM5B05KPxi3Is87W9ueB9M2QuIV2VeEV1XiZsCH8vJ8sY717bMgKoL3AO74V5omsCyyAVXdmM_W7RU4S3e5I/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeNWAtTrxWgmqHovJkI8YNxdWhk41O7ph0W2BUpjo1D9dbX7iJ1uGlolILxMzBFytwbaMrlSdZHjUNY5IuTwDJv9VK2LmZbciIC9kK1qWOwY90F1vk7F5OUpb2cffpGDwsB0gnAW-cKc/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeNWAtTrxWgmqHovJkI8YNxdWhk41O7ph0W2BUpjo1D9dbX7iJ1uGlolILxMzBFytwbaMrlSdZHjUNY5IuTwDJv9VK2LmZbciIC9kK1qWOwY90F1vk7F5OUpb2cffpGDwsB0gnAW-cKc/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMphJNBpC-CCGX10ipxGKfSWBq59IklwIFLTXVrwccNtzZT1AEM5uEcn3afJW-LqpS_sUnR8-H7-KDkupgAHetkx1gMxh0DK93GL3vXT7P6CGncDW4jrTuHWF42XLQP2rR9N-X83oOmo/s1600/IMG_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMphJNBpC-CCGX10ipxGKfSWBq59IklwIFLTXVrwccNtzZT1AEM5uEcn3afJW-LqpS_sUnR8-H7-KDkupgAHetkx1gMxh0DK93GL3vXT7P6CGncDW4jrTuHWF42XLQP2rR9N-X83oOmo/s1600/IMG_0295.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfOr5SPvC-me-uxeK-emklDQZh4Q4fPRuBC6g8JbAblWR_ROlSNh22EOerbhxP_5qGOIX3qWLOtKoziE8VmJ1khODUTIS5Ni4918yn3pQu5NU5rBs1c3qtoUbzjMoPd0y4f6KyNBty-Q/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfOr5SPvC-me-uxeK-emklDQZh4Q4fPRuBC6g8JbAblWR_ROlSNh22EOerbhxP_5qGOIX3qWLOtKoziE8VmJ1khODUTIS5Ni4918yn3pQu5NU5rBs1c3qtoUbzjMoPd0y4f6KyNBty-Q/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqdtyC7hzgm9C3x0CDKnEqlGX_tTWHIeqCh1_zGa8H90bJoiZRAH99Y_B6k99-3CYL5dQbEpyZdBE7WD9zeBHjiYlYIhruwRS4VKDTHXFjnUfJzjLRSK31U4JDZ8gX3qcD6w-MF8zwYk/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqdtyC7hzgm9C3x0CDKnEqlGX_tTWHIeqCh1_zGa8H90bJoiZRAH99Y_B6k99-3CYL5dQbEpyZdBE7WD9zeBHjiYlYIhruwRS4VKDTHXFjnUfJzjLRSK31U4JDZ8gX3qcD6w-MF8zwYk/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhc9j739nbM1w9cvXauGV9eyXDCYh6TbotW0rLb_m2vqeQLTLeNWCiHINwsD7lg1WI5s5q0htycYu8Cq_UTqd8XZnX3aW3561xRKXGn2h5-1DggQDPns_VtzhRgsq47McsUdMtdATM3E/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhc9j739nbM1w9cvXauGV9eyXDCYh6TbotW0rLb_m2vqeQLTLeNWCiHINwsD7lg1WI5s5q0htycYu8Cq_UTqd8XZnX3aW3561xRKXGn2h5-1DggQDPns_VtzhRgsq47McsUdMtdATM3E/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you've seen the film "Kingdom of Heaven", the story is set at Karak Castle. (The actual castle was not used in the filming.) The Jordan website notes that Karak is an example of "the Crusader's architectural military genius."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickWiJlmHVuqg36fmFQ5MWH8zGkhCIT0TdO00lN94ySpfTiLA9pn6vV1f_wh2GrU9vUn4Ml81htxJIbUiEJxw3a4tbD6Je24TEw72rrPGF9OK6H6xNjhQX7OcPr4HqGwfCq9RuQRy-xVc/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickWiJlmHVuqg36fmFQ5MWH8zGkhCIT0TdO00lN94ySpfTiLA9pn6vV1f_wh2GrU9vUn4Ml81htxJIbUiEJxw3a4tbD6Je24TEw72rrPGF9OK6H6xNjhQX7OcPr4HqGwfCq9RuQRy-xVc/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other castle we visited was north of Amman, called AlJoun (or Aljun, in some publications). This one was built by the Ottomans, to defend against the Crusaders. Details about AlJoun, from the Jordan Tourism Board's website ... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Aljun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) was built by one of Saladin's generals in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajlun, and to deter the Franks from invading Ajlun. Ajlun Castle dominated the three main routes leading to the Jordan Valley and protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria; it became an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who, unsuccessfully spent decades trying to catpure the castle and the nearby village." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.visitjordan.com/default.aspx?tabid=169</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvjVa5U_elZ4RfSalI5cQs3ylGOtaDvACh8sBwMh4RD84VPfEbfLTemVsulMHp6rCQ_SEVQdRR_XDd2_cGLvQpQdeQrv3riBfPxjKAR0AEo07H7UMJGVdVn1Vo5tu_xtMuzRxK-LKbHo/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvjVa5U_elZ4RfSalI5cQs3ylGOtaDvACh8sBwMh4RD84VPfEbfLTemVsulMHp6rCQ_SEVQdRR_XDd2_cGLvQpQdeQrv3riBfPxjKAR0AEo07H7UMJGVdVn1Vo5tu_xtMuzRxK-LKbHo/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWEPo6on1cOlmuClIw6wwYMHtdJGJrSEt47Fk__BoTXyYl8Lh73Nqgqschu__PLAAsYkS8LiGQWDfhQN1VBWaOcEwqBe0NSvq2SvriuPaX-6EYwdASJ8q-R-NuulolGlV-qmAAKxFYhk/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWEPo6on1cOlmuClIw6wwYMHtdJGJrSEt47Fk__BoTXyYl8Lh73Nqgqschu__PLAAsYkS8LiGQWDfhQN1VBWaOcEwqBe0NSvq2SvriuPaX-6EYwdASJ8q-R-NuulolGlV-qmAAKxFYhk/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelFeE7QM-zOGNnTqbUECpzWNvlyZ8HAUq8DkwD_EXyYbkskpSIJuE9dMx53UvqdvnC5pFK3mjzeEHw_njwv5_RgwhssyvJ_6FGA8L7vpd6OArTzh-aZ807sYe31c8VTeS54Jt6Ot9ynY/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelFeE7QM-zOGNnTqbUECpzWNvlyZ8HAUq8DkwD_EXyYbkskpSIJuE9dMx53UvqdvnC5pFK3mjzeEHw_njwv5_RgwhssyvJ_6FGA8L7vpd6OArTzh-aZ807sYe31c8VTeS54Jt6Ot9ynY/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudWHV91Mu1BZUH0NiuoCXKJUqbBVGxAP1ry9lTD4xP6MFC_5Mw4YvQQ2toAeNcxorEs8n0oWALkg3D8yyK_PBgx3i1avUKzG4rcYCpnHkaS7d7_DEgTyjp31PbwrHadaMePhTzBoqQIM/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudWHV91Mu1BZUH0NiuoCXKJUqbBVGxAP1ry9lTD4xP6MFC_5Mw4YvQQ2toAeNcxorEs8n0oWALkg3D8yyK_PBgx3i1avUKzG4rcYCpnHkaS7d7_DEgTyjp31PbwrHadaMePhTzBoqQIM/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-x5RwXG3kVlhfVsyRpoBsixhpleYK3Njx2Io9xpq_jqoSBC4G3goTavn26n4rsVaRzJpgRIYm5cmS29SZs_42WcF_tCHyLd0z68LoY56NoLJKTapnTXZ29QrVEX-2dNIYkyXAvx8eH0/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-x5RwXG3kVlhfVsyRpoBsixhpleYK3Njx2Io9xpq_jqoSBC4G3goTavn26n4rsVaRzJpgRIYm5cmS29SZs_42WcF_tCHyLd0z68LoY56NoLJKTapnTXZ29QrVEX-2dNIYkyXAvx8eH0/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_uvcjCLkuCsLDdFZFY5-pwK4ScJZBsD0WBfKZrkCX4Vl4pU_2fNn_PVTT3c4esQyur-xiN_YO5l_1GEVXbO6TZIDYgW4s_Ht9TF8nxZk-pKbZOi2cQqm2xOE96a7I22znajHjo-nH2g/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_uvcjCLkuCsLDdFZFY5-pwK4ScJZBsD0WBfKZrkCX4Vl4pU_2fNn_PVTT3c4esQyur-xiN_YO5l_1GEVXbO6TZIDYgW4s_Ht9TF8nxZk-pKbZOi2cQqm2xOE96a7I22znajHjo-nH2g/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc-i8LyVOfI9xKUY7-jt6ERcML6uLPS3C-ZX6xvqup8BSbReGyBWlm7s-DxrjGMbyf25YTuBOkUQzgt0qiL7DS6o-M23Ei0M_5wWs6I915r7u_howVH3Wp0Sugo2P6L8b3rTLpZtmG6s/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc-i8LyVOfI9xKUY7-jt6ERcML6uLPS3C-ZX6xvqup8BSbReGyBWlm7s-DxrjGMbyf25YTuBOkUQzgt0qiL7DS6o-M23Ei0M_5wWs6I915r7u_howVH3Wp0Sugo2P6L8b3rTLpZtmG6s/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AlJoun is up on a mountain. The week before we visited, areas of Jordan experienced a snowfall of several feet. There was still snow on the ground in the higher elevations, including AlJoun.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaE8QF7QB0m_DFLP-e5yLMGwgOsK1lBpNoTZujQrVd2mUHjgMDJ1Ltu7OakunJ7NYtMK1-DMp9z0Jx7be0GBQQiwjcq1O1t_4Tfe2FGaeYS5oVezg1kIJ3VxzB27Drn-AJC0m_I3QUEw/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaE8QF7QB0m_DFLP-e5yLMGwgOsK1lBpNoTZujQrVd2mUHjgMDJ1Ltu7OakunJ7NYtMK1-DMp9z0Jx7be0GBQQiwjcq1O1t_4Tfe2FGaeYS5oVezg1kIJ3VxzB27Drn-AJC0m_I3QUEw/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoYDTVXmsS_N3Crp5ZE667Ebc57dY0Cq7IZ9XX1vpd9BuL4Q59P99OIHGiJFsVUgHbSRdrC1bN7LrLTM6m9A-Rg8Hg2gqb665CYIGC_BNa22iOeV7OBrUF8LPPG-i-ODy4PeLPpXhlzg/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoYDTVXmsS_N3Crp5ZE667Ebc57dY0Cq7IZ9XX1vpd9BuL4Q59P99OIHGiJFsVUgHbSRdrC1bN7LrLTM6m9A-Rg8Hg2gqb665CYIGC_BNa22iOeV7OBrUF8LPPG-i-ODy4PeLPpXhlzg/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walking the grounds and around the crumbled walls of both of these castles, you could easily imagine knights and soldiers walking those same grounds and halls all those years ago; easily imagine the sounds of voices and armor and weapons, and the smells of smoking fires and the sight of eager lookouts and ardent battles to defend the massive buildings and surrounding cities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Copy of a photo from Google, showing AlJoun castle up on the mountain. To get there, Fadi (our guide) had to drive several kilometers through winding mountain roads and small city streets.</span><br />
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-62334454988892012182014-02-16T20:55:00.001-08:002014-02-16T20:55:08.722-08:00The Dead Sea<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. And the salt content ranges from 30%-40%. We stayed at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel. One in a small cluster of hotels, right on the Dead Sea.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaLg-2IBC4Gyf4skpZT_VotXrgYCfhqw6k8Ef1xKq35mp9Cvi17407sy8oyKxpnVw9IrT1NkcfocFJIl9hEKXbP9Yv65wWSMbR6qjrtxO6bmhJRzm0DwL0DB7b2dCBeCzuYByQdMAwAA/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaLg-2IBC4Gyf4skpZT_VotXrgYCfhqw6k8Ef1xKq35mp9Cvi17407sy8oyKxpnVw9IrT1NkcfocFJIl9hEKXbP9Yv65wWSMbR6qjrtxO6bmhJRzm0DwL0DB7b2dCBeCzuYByQdMAwAA/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDdvJI5-oscRX-lcrOiuzYF-Jg38oUk6X8K-WlxEQuKF8zr6OvjbyJxDoe8-6bRQjJpAD15E5NJZHC1Pf_A-gy9LZXxBdgVXIUUsF0HlIrigmXAVFNE9kKrj0_9mQHsgqDYkSFft7kOQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDdvJI5-oscRX-lcrOiuzYF-Jg38oUk6X8K-WlxEQuKF8zr6OvjbyJxDoe8-6bRQjJpAD15E5NJZHC1Pf_A-gy9LZXxBdgVXIUUsF0HlIrigmXAVFNE9kKrj0_9mQHsgqDYkSFft7kOQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived in the evening, and before dinner we enjoyed the sunset.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn6xRaDR2SNq-fWBtVPtMOQ75i9CY51fJ3I4JcfUDJGUbcNhKD8VT1k7TP0Tw-BomU0AhJwNy6EyfTR_0TYmQW30Q-2T3jEJAg42b4J-Bf-HOrsQso1SefwidpjIc0CrwmYeqlrDR6t8/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn6xRaDR2SNq-fWBtVPtMOQ75i9CY51fJ3I4JcfUDJGUbcNhKD8VT1k7TP0Tw-BomU0AhJwNy6EyfTR_0TYmQW30Q-2T3jEJAg42b4J-Bf-HOrsQso1SefwidpjIc0CrwmYeqlrDR6t8/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoof3CLCExvZ5c4BloNbQToOUXlzICDF4CElkzRhgZxdolh6PQoaJCgx-3iCXKza2gahAXZS5DYbSpAxy9rMxHKOrGPbapMf64zNZXZpDvqa4vdhSv5jGLoir3185jvcnTS0Sk8FNfU3Y/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoof3CLCExvZ5c4BloNbQToOUXlzICDF4CElkzRhgZxdolh6PQoaJCgx-3iCXKza2gahAXZS5DYbSpAxy9rMxHKOrGPbapMf64zNZXZpDvqa4vdhSv5jGLoir3185jvcnTS0Sk8FNfU3Y/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mZlGMxh1LLekZ0RyWh_h91yrZ9mRT7l2eckdmOEo9k7zYEq6x6JLqLHAf6FupGs7EbLkGmSuDwgES7aoXnMgd3tnTsqFFbfeuDwvE3ECkdHXQNxFU-eTWK4_01QetL2-9bELAcKlkW4/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mZlGMxh1LLekZ0RyWh_h91yrZ9mRT7l2eckdmOEo9k7zYEq6x6JLqLHAf6FupGs7EbLkGmSuDwgES7aoXnMgd3tnTsqFFbfeuDwvE3ECkdHXQNxFU-eTWK4_01QetL2-9bELAcKlkW4/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQWd4xd7w4F7lZ2YrWT35FXosfrhFNAtlv5CK2_PRp6dQ0aMxFaD40IKfG8rHUnIQhdNmoLgZpwB9lp9scvnd5zmg8zkNMJzK3QB3ePDLKBJWm_IEd2Ijd_MotfLEKgr-DvGbIJ-xcNw/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQWd4xd7w4F7lZ2YrWT35FXosfrhFNAtlv5CK2_PRp6dQ0aMxFaD40IKfG8rHUnIQhdNmoLgZpwB9lp9scvnd5zmg8zkNMJzK3QB3ePDLKBJWm_IEd2Ijd_MotfLEKgr-DvGbIJ-xcNw/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi2VMFY0IjY0Ka0l_C34EMNLODHqYVP91YoDV3-P7bb_jrqbppdI7bWZDrfbjggbEx5Kx8Mpa5oQtjy9tShj8C5A4HCVX0eM_OSmcgOf7CseZOWYx_yR4_auf9hKWgxdP6S469E1TREc/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi2VMFY0IjY0Ka0l_C34EMNLODHqYVP91YoDV3-P7bb_jrqbppdI7bWZDrfbjggbEx5Kx8Mpa5oQtjy9tShj8C5A4HCVX0eM_OSmcgOf7CseZOWYx_yR4_auf9hKWgxdP6S469E1TREc/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a bit hazy, but the mountains you see in the photo are in Israel, and at this point we're pretty much looking toward Jerusalem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next morning, we opted to not submerge into the Dead Sea, but absolutely had to at least dip our toes into the water. The air was chilly, but the water was quite warm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3U2Y131snlp1ZW93T2z4hkZye_7nnHVGCS3XJ6a7gLQg1SgS_WuRIWMuKSfedw4giGPTd_LIrgzbztN6cuhMJrbcEAMdfnPnwfI7OMM78yxg7iOOOLz5nStOcSi-OTQ7O1lYtvQEjxwQ/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3U2Y131snlp1ZW93T2z4hkZye_7nnHVGCS3XJ6a7gLQg1SgS_WuRIWMuKSfedw4giGPTd_LIrgzbztN6cuhMJrbcEAMdfnPnwfI7OMM78yxg7iOOOLz5nStOcSi-OTQ7O1lYtvQEjxwQ/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6l8BpKCcxI7Q3AkW8SjxVm17o1USWOIaFVvvpLSGmxpfPT0ko0oYCFnD05wEHFm1QRB2vx2-W-iqsoRZH0S_Ks0FaXFLE5XQJE5Een5-hyCVAYtqcSL_ZwPBlXAvmcyJwQ5jtBAPIr0/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6l8BpKCcxI7Q3AkW8SjxVm17o1USWOIaFVvvpLSGmxpfPT0ko0oYCFnD05wEHFm1QRB2vx2-W-iqsoRZH0S_Ks0FaXFLE5XQJE5Een5-hyCVAYtqcSL_ZwPBlXAvmcyJwQ5jtBAPIr0/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People in the water were covering up in the Dead Sea mud. We'll see if the store-bought products are a good substitute :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not a place I had previously thought I'd ever get to visit ... like other places we visited, so glad the opportunity presented itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-34001080458876698772014-02-10T22:02:00.000-08:002014-02-10T22:02:03.305-08:00Mt. Nebo and Madaba Mosaics<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, backing up our trip to Jordan a bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Backing it up to our first day of that trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A friend and colleague of mine from Abu Dhabi had visited Jordan with her husband. Through their Jordan guide (who has since moved abroad), we found Fadi Wishahi, who does personalized tours of Jordan. (Thanks Kim!) If you are ever planning a trip to Jordan, talk to me ... Fadi is terrific, and I'll give you his contact information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fadi met us as the Amman, Jordan airport. Our first stop was a small Greek Orthodox church in Madaba, St. George's, known for the mosaic map on its floor. When being constructed in the 1800's, it was discovered that there was originally a Byzantine church on the site. According to the Lonely Planet guide (2012), this map "represents the oldest map of Palestine in existence." That same guide shares: "Crafted in AD 560, the map has 157 captions (in Greek) depicting all the major biblical sites of the Middle East from Egypt to Palestine. It was originally around 15m to 25m long and 6m wide, and once contained more than two million pieces."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyB7Kg7vr9QDtXM8DtJtbDw3FtuBei7OddkmucXr4JLncKnFjvARiWyMinh2d-rh5cSgldqZSrKOmiwThKnpaufWEiOe8kfwrixJ8RCESbMXvA7WXOuZCZxbtYyAkoBJ4xKIBJxUllz8/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyB7Kg7vr9QDtXM8DtJtbDw3FtuBei7OddkmucXr4JLncKnFjvARiWyMinh2d-rh5cSgldqZSrKOmiwThKnpaufWEiOe8kfwrixJ8RCESbMXvA7WXOuZCZxbtYyAkoBJ4xKIBJxUllz8/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMXlTMBuSu1cR9Kf8vwSKVgwwMyDtdG2caJqSA58yyShp6FCkWcER1iXdVmSqbytL264r4Iyn51z0zK0fhL2NlDKBEeawt3Jh3eyloPlJlzODOaZZUkoKcznAj6WLAEzVWexcyIc3tkg/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMXlTMBuSu1cR9Kf8vwSKVgwwMyDtdG2caJqSA58yyShp6FCkWcER1iXdVmSqbytL264r4Iyn51z0zK0fhL2NlDKBEeawt3Jh3eyloPlJlzODOaZZUkoKcznAj6WLAEzVWexcyIc3tkg/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Outside of the church, there is a painting of the map, letting you know the different cities and countries represented, with English and Arabic translations.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjFqBAjZvOC0cRMOMK5A9WGkiK0_ikpkWUOEk4vywfLQyiMMYD4IOESRguWWmmOY8y7k8zSoqXAd0tjSlvHHaMzksycJAk3gXPn9hqZGIvrqa6GKJMlg1_ZlBTgydomB59xlACIFVe_0/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjFqBAjZvOC0cRMOMK5A9WGkiK0_ikpkWUOEk4vywfLQyiMMYD4IOESRguWWmmOY8y7k8zSoqXAd0tjSlvHHaMzksycJAk3gXPn9hqZGIvrqa6GKJMlg1_ZlBTgydomB59xlACIFVe_0/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The church had traditional Greek Orthodox paintings, as well as mosaics on the wall.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC65vIKF5vqsDiAH0spo739TvZiETccdb34oTOxXOrX9pRZxQ_AM4hCOTo8ZIh5-Zad2ae4qT2yJNL6l-JIKBq7aps0qz64-Bqm8rXrn9gfnn2KXudZPl5EGeTdBiDujCXXJ2yviIoTz4/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC65vIKF5vqsDiAH0spo739TvZiETccdb34oTOxXOrX9pRZxQ_AM4hCOTo8ZIh5-Zad2ae4qT2yJNL6l-JIKBq7aps0qz64-Bqm8rXrn9gfnn2KXudZPl5EGeTdBiDujCXXJ2yviIoTz4/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Streets of Madaba, outside of St. George's.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_8eX9u0VwI_0vg9dSUUGuxY8_pkDrKPO6qyEQyuC0V2LMkRX9-oJZ2yY9_uyo3vqXxfWOWKb9npmwXyiN04hV3BhY9Fpe_b9vx_ffHnTPLLvpoPvRwUHjXIwTPMESnlY_psODLF2Elo/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_8eX9u0VwI_0vg9dSUUGuxY8_pkDrKPO6qyEQyuC0V2LMkRX9-oJZ2yY9_uyo3vqXxfWOWKb9npmwXyiN04hV3BhY9Fpe_b9vx_ffHnTPLLvpoPvRwUHjXIwTPMESnlY_psODLF2Elo/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd73NF5lrWp4kPR7LG279kQWY4Ckt8YcnBXCz8sbtVcrKZKalCHVHYuUcQBBkotOsRaASPzPHkjNqfT_VNzLs2BuzFSpoaOHC7WTt8fLehWz2ddtwp56lRSc9sCnoA-Ta6KF3x6kufHvg/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd73NF5lrWp4kPR7LG279kQWY4Ckt8YcnBXCz8sbtVcrKZKalCHVHYuUcQBBkotOsRaASPzPHkjNqfT_VNzLs2BuzFSpoaOHC7WTt8fLehWz2ddtwp56lRSc9sCnoA-Ta6KF3x6kufHvg/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our next stop was Mt. Nebo. Mt. Nebo is the place where Moses stood and saw the Promised Land. They are restoring a large church on the site (Moses Memorial Church), and have artifacts and preserved mosaics.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DdGSMcX8GTCHp6jQzoGnYH5hRYsu1SR0nzyYhSl3fVQ55j5AM9-OhSXfGQl1wVy08nm-TigGoNxB-OfXmKubhZhyphenhyphenl3zVbng10ReX6iAxxMRuv-oRzejswfchT1elpv3tAU91iW-Z784/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DdGSMcX8GTCHp6jQzoGnYH5hRYsu1SR0nzyYhSl3fVQ55j5AM9-OhSXfGQl1wVy08nm-TigGoNxB-OfXmKubhZhyphenhyphenl3zVbng10ReX6iAxxMRuv-oRzejswfchT1elpv3tAU91iW-Z784/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFxKCokfeaDxHZo4-JWFd3Vq-_b49vsgoGUAMZvvAlcwqmCjPXsZWkphvkaKCCqbKJJhCW1l1b8Mv8g1JTAYtT3PwJFpTGWO3Wb-wL-kNqpvR1Cl8PDZ1wLqVyZ4oRLGCh8EIPzg_21I/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFxKCokfeaDxHZo4-JWFd3Vq-_b49vsgoGUAMZvvAlcwqmCjPXsZWkphvkaKCCqbKJJhCW1l1b8Mv8g1JTAYtT3PwJFpTGWO3Wb-wL-kNqpvR1Cl8PDZ1wLqVyZ4oRLGCh8EIPzg_21I/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Behind me is that Promised Land. (It was a bit hazy toward Israel and Palestine.) We had limited time in Jordan (4 nights and 5 full days), so did not opt for a trip to Jerusalem. Still cool to be that close (about 45km).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CO1BR8GLiiCza3_fkMwYsKp45KGUfl1RpGg6RphtAjbBA3PlkaL-nt5ByEqOT23UclJTKqU0g3qlVK5AhuHszdWMFzatrIQN_yrwC38Wm0D37BbiNGSshnYeFslr0UR1Cl_moEt8LaA/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CO1BR8GLiiCza3_fkMwYsKp45KGUfl1RpGg6RphtAjbBA3PlkaL-nt5ByEqOT23UclJTKqU0g3qlVK5AhuHszdWMFzatrIQN_yrwC38Wm0D37BbiNGSshnYeFslr0UR1Cl_moEt8LaA/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And here is a visual guide to show where the different cities are, such as Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Hebron:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-tBG42585IqWrlOr6Boz9Z3OtdQuFzmbciQeUsQo02jXWqaWCTE800P5VVbgeCQODWuPQxhIUr89Yp8tWZGgaJidYGA8_lOPwXH7OGVPyT5j7tdTIAKdQXlIeoBleglh8rwxKvvHCOg/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-tBG42585IqWrlOr6Boz9Z3OtdQuFzmbciQeUsQo02jXWqaWCTE800P5VVbgeCQODWuPQxhIUr89Yp8tWZGgaJidYGA8_lOPwXH7OGVPyT5j7tdTIAKdQXlIeoBleglh8rwxKvvHCOg/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Madaba is known for its exquisite mosaics. After Mt. Nebo, we visited a mosaic workshop and store. This particular workshop supports artisans from the community, and trains and employs community members including orphans and the developmentally disabled. Our guide was a lovely young woman who was born and raised in Ohio. When her parents passed away when she was a teenager, she and her younger brothers were taken in by her aunt in Amman, Jordan. Can you imagine, losing your parents and being uprooted and moved to a new home half way around the world? And needing to help support your younger brothers, and needing to learn Arabic after landing in your new life? An impressive young woman with her positive outlook and maturity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some art pieces in the making. This is the rough side. After being done, the side facing the cloth is the art you'll see and display.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoQdMWbtLSsfbaCYWhIUVebBBKutNARDA8GW6ZhuGuK892xDzE-2FqI2MyO-aqhqLRaLqFYKVcQnWXCOgBdEXnVurldTl0eUtm_QxaJNvx0bgnjk4gGWaTirAbMjBr1Hhof7bylAZyU0/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoQdMWbtLSsfbaCYWhIUVebBBKutNARDA8GW6ZhuGuK892xDzE-2FqI2MyO-aqhqLRaLqFYKVcQnWXCOgBdEXnVurldTl0eUtm_QxaJNvx0bgnjk4gGWaTirAbMjBr1Hhof7bylAZyU0/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKeT0EQ3yNG5x0BksFhQYsw8vfORkVEYj2DPiEKhs3UCWocurCrcdTHsQYU4ltPngCvE4Sf4rObvl3hllwJPBrMKliYUPZICVaNtrtqvskCRZFsLzcJoc4eKybr6iG6Kojw6QnHiDgXg/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKeT0EQ3yNG5x0BksFhQYsw8vfORkVEYj2DPiEKhs3UCWocurCrcdTHsQYU4ltPngCvE4Sf4rObvl3hllwJPBrMKliYUPZICVaNtrtqvskCRZFsLzcJoc4eKybr6iG6Kojw6QnHiDgXg/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9FPq2Cy8kwvNcaJ6DP3fdwBFRN6GkK97owCNJ3HPeu7B7PNCt0tbTAo_ZG9v_SxCVnAjkcBUNXP3FTpNwdMYsJh-aaPwZbijk7UUjr3BelYbvtruaShMWf7kO23SbYGmYrXkmsaqn6M/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9FPq2Cy8kwvNcaJ6DP3fdwBFRN6GkK97owCNJ3HPeu7B7PNCt0tbTAo_ZG9v_SxCVnAjkcBUNXP3FTpNwdMYsJh-aaPwZbijk7UUjr3BelYbvtruaShMWf7kO23SbYGmYrXkmsaqn6M/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_bLydgIWWVY-m2M4Ke4GTFwPICh3sNOpdlsjeKJjpqrxrwoQL9ZIOWyqdJ11cJv3ptdR0qitQaGR_xM9BL7_kfwGKr5TMqhzP4WAnoyl2jtIbLv53a2mDn7IkW7Zp3r66JAd3TKeS_c/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_bLydgIWWVY-m2M4Ke4GTFwPICh3sNOpdlsjeKJjpqrxrwoQL9ZIOWyqdJ11cJv3ptdR0qitQaGR_xM9BL7_kfwGKr5TMqhzP4WAnoyl2jtIbLv53a2mDn7IkW7Zp3r66JAd3TKeS_c/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The original rocks that get broken down into those teeny tiny pieces.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQzwDWYitji73Iksb7P1BmnAdEfMLO7nT5_I6yVnHxIGDMkQg2Wp2n5cze8EbXioxtmi4aVAybbbcgrweQRhK1PxW-93mEfYSQNal-bR62JbPysHKC2N2aG0QJFL_5AsDoPkoVyZxgLE/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQzwDWYitji73Iksb7P1BmnAdEfMLO7nT5_I6yVnHxIGDMkQg2Wp2n5cze8EbXioxtmi4aVAybbbcgrweQRhK1PxW-93mEfYSQNal-bR62JbPysHKC2N2aG0QJFL_5AsDoPkoVyZxgLE/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Painted ceramics are another specialty:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV9ZMS22c-ZKuYIiEdjAXseSDMkxpg7r51R8RO_U5ED3Slzl-c7eIPZMEEdA6rWwsWq4Sy_VY_Lj8JkaWWA-nvfc25XWUD2Rq0PRZXRIy92KDJ-VzNByijpXsCf7Y-uypzXN_WnCzK98/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV9ZMS22c-ZKuYIiEdjAXseSDMkxpg7r51R8RO_U5ED3Slzl-c7eIPZMEEdA6rWwsWq4Sy_VY_Lj8JkaWWA-nvfc25XWUD2Rq0PRZXRIy92KDJ-VzNByijpXsCf7Y-uypzXN_WnCzK98/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXSXXteOv9ZXe2sLDR_W_huZqrTqlvqS2RvMefPnBUYOyDq15lf1jU9G10XsRqaOXFnoY4NYOZn5iALuJSa_eBwLV3HaubPHkUq7lw9lxKVCUAQMlPxSiWfHtgkE7Uyzt40BlIERjVwc/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXSXXteOv9ZXe2sLDR_W_huZqrTqlvqS2RvMefPnBUYOyDq15lf1jU9G10XsRqaOXFnoY4NYOZn5iALuJSa_eBwLV3HaubPHkUq7lw9lxKVCUAQMlPxSiWfHtgkE7Uyzt40BlIERjVwc/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD20BR5H15_xB2SPhwu-d3MYqAMwRROaLV4fI87W7iu7UxQDQqVufmjSIU5EwfpU5kXEdr-jn3LAXb1h3xj5VkPLwlXCMZjUoEwj5UVyCKxCy1AHV-85tkpvbUyvEKOsYGxQR_soKcFc/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD20BR5H15_xB2SPhwu-d3MYqAMwRROaLV4fI87W7iu7UxQDQqVufmjSIU5EwfpU5kXEdr-jn3LAXb1h3xj5VkPLwlXCMZjUoEwj5UVyCKxCy1AHV-85tkpvbUyvEKOsYGxQR_soKcFc/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The store also held hand-painted ostrich eggs (big!), jewelry, and carved and inlaid wood boxes. Some of the (larger) finished pieces for sale. They do ship :-) And talk about heavy! All beautiful, with a variety of designs and colors.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPS5hGDVqueHCQDHJMkeiUdXG5u5ZPyEttZkh2E5DGJDzh_-SkpjEDvDf4lAbogD_cdi0kDhSwMUM-C7nC9cIKBkQ6jDIb0JXfvrUtX7VFW_eTHtsD3tWjkeRxRHuo3IKk8RLVUGCsds/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPS5hGDVqueHCQDHJMkeiUdXG5u5ZPyEttZkh2E5DGJDzh_-SkpjEDvDf4lAbogD_cdi0kDhSwMUM-C7nC9cIKBkQ6jDIb0JXfvrUtX7VFW_eTHtsD3tWjkeRxRHuo3IKk8RLVUGCsds/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim is loading oodles of photos from our Jordan trip on tmgimagery.com </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-90208656096561617192014-02-05T21:47:00.001-08:002014-02-05T21:47:09.065-08:00Wadi Rum<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Wadi is a valley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And Wadi Rum is one of those valleys in Jordan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And a famous one. Made famous by T.E. Lawrence, the Arab Revolt, and the movie "Lawrence of Arabia". (A movie that I need to watch, now that I've seen the actual place.) Here's a little video from the back of the 4x4. Beautiful large rock croppings and mountains. The video is a wee bit bumpy, as the ride itself was.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9MS4a6WfS-B9SwKa4ScybQz2hT8ylwmqQ_iyyHwSuHcrrA5Lf-QY6c1oTWq5sRp7qmJR4HLG3WL78EZJjfynznbcZEZwTMEDTpFm9ZBXiMzdxQCRY1Ny06ery_NGhBdUNk1nLEM0R5I/s1600/MVI_0437.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9MS4a6WfS-B9SwKa4ScybQz2hT8ylwmqQ_iyyHwSuHcrrA5Lf-QY6c1oTWq5sRp7qmJR4HLG3WL78EZJjfynznbcZEZwTMEDTpFm9ZBXiMzdxQCRY1Ny06ery_NGhBdUNk1nLEM0R5I/s1600/MVI_0437.MP4" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We stopped to see petroglyphs, and to take tea with an older bedouin gentleman, who also treated us to some music. The instrument is a wood framed box covered with goat skin. The bows are traditionally oleander and goat hair.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY_kVuPSOaHSbxLO6wU32J55KhGguIeT9VEpIlRhPueFtPsY2xAnYuv6Q40uc0kqFXyATJwQ3xYXG69g-urfsGPStOYFiUgavlzzrBYtrNxNl7fHVrfAdYTxMjgTxM4auVE4QRKV5Yug/s1600/Bedouin+man+in+Jordan+playing+music.wmv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY_kVuPSOaHSbxLO6wU32J55KhGguIeT9VEpIlRhPueFtPsY2xAnYuv6Q40uc0kqFXyATJwQ3xYXG69g-urfsGPStOYFiUgavlzzrBYtrNxNl7fHVrfAdYTxMjgTxM4auVE4QRKV5Yug/s1600/Bedouin+man+in+Jordan+playing+music.wmv" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Petroglyphs. You can see the crude drawings of camels.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rbc4E2npKNLS3VaN5n9IlKTkencLaU6iPI8xpFlBm9cvf9JJMt_duKwSQN9vD_gfxf9h0fIuKUX_RwELbbWcHsQvK5x8OTuuC97Urbd1p4DwUHi8Wx4E2y-pSAxxgFh1R-5nPmA9Dcs/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rbc4E2npKNLS3VaN5n9IlKTkencLaU6iPI8xpFlBm9cvf9JJMt_duKwSQN9vD_gfxf9h0fIuKUX_RwELbbWcHsQvK5x8OTuuC97Urbd1p4DwUHi8Wx4E2y-pSAxxgFh1R-5nPmA9Dcs/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHdrBcAaqPxLmCF55CnuKyHi9TpuRjHiZObqXFClq7La6t5tQk91vGBpwjNDw8hyVS3VgZm23MyjRmS46gHr7H6w6EUTmKVJ7SHlKFYyWtbSe0m1CAKhGq2YghKniKurFphef-ASwOxg/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHdrBcAaqPxLmCF55CnuKyHi9TpuRjHiZObqXFClq7La6t5tQk91vGBpwjNDw8hyVS3VgZm23MyjRmS46gHr7H6w6EUTmKVJ7SHlKFYyWtbSe0m1CAKhGq2YghKniKurFphef-ASwOxg/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were some impressive rock formations. Here is one that is an arch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yghrPtYFds9o5tXebe4zDElr_gDljG7WuNQ8HI4aonutm0bvvgfWGCYMZiNWQ0fG4rT0LObJ6gFtI0DYmGzs4th_szQykmFHPPRrCaNajlx0am9bvGH_uuUFsAyeMQH7vVwazws48zk/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yghrPtYFds9o5tXebe4zDElr_gDljG7WuNQ8HI4aonutm0bvvgfWGCYMZiNWQ0fG4rT0LObJ6gFtI0DYmGzs4th_szQykmFHPPRrCaNajlx0am9bvGH_uuUFsAyeMQH7vVwazws48zk/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AVP3pS-RRuwCKufZWTtfP7Mfd0h1k5i_Tc-tZWxt533FB9MtpbRmAaBe4aOlK4KmrBv8RXxCtwGVq8jA1cZ_KKGphjWDWCELVc77Kmd-LABKq0sKYayLbmyXOXRtUSPl2g_cdUsaxIs/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AVP3pS-RRuwCKufZWTtfP7Mfd0h1k5i_Tc-tZWxt533FB9MtpbRmAaBe4aOlK4KmrBv8RXxCtwGVq8jA1cZ_KKGphjWDWCELVc77Kmd-LABKq0sKYayLbmyXOXRtUSPl2g_cdUsaxIs/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In Wadi Rum, there are a many different camps. We arrived at the Hillawi Camp. Wasn't sure what to expect. The wool fabric tents sit on concrete slabs. The concrete floors have a red color. I don't know if it's from the sand, or if it's intentionally dusted with some red chalkiness of some sort.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgJtZ0GgkRkXeZsHAmy0v0hgZvXlD1wCTvcgHkPxKT69BNPV0RaSFw9sJt_KqVueGivd8JFQccR5YT6eQABFRMD8MQdN9uER89-rCuEpmILWAG7y0A-_xVBTc6B8VsTsoQFOYKz1tWz0/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgJtZ0GgkRkXeZsHAmy0v0hgZvXlD1wCTvcgHkPxKT69BNPV0RaSFw9sJt_KqVueGivd8JFQccR5YT6eQABFRMD8MQdN9uER89-rCuEpmILWAG7y0A-_xVBTc6B8VsTsoQFOYKz1tWz0/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtqZdAz-DlNRmDqIL-zSIrcREUxCBXY0xTP3NKcjdwh2OvmlgonfC87AeKTYvmXtpBuEocGu0ofgQh-uzFhJxKtBme5ZeSNcBqmsDaoBUYSirmUj7gwPgbLm_KrTnpGE1FXTDEmFrczE/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtqZdAz-DlNRmDqIL-zSIrcREUxCBXY0xTP3NKcjdwh2OvmlgonfC87AeKTYvmXtpBuEocGu0ofgQh-uzFhJxKtBme5ZeSNcBqmsDaoBUYSirmUj7gwPgbLm_KrTnpGE1FXTDEmFrczE/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOVtuYt1tzoJikq0p5wDkSYiQh2yvkVabUDOfMoK_0-3SAI-Fi2uw0VnNZcbv4piZTZbcs30Pucr9auicm6_Ru_o6jx-JemoRBVe2bW-CY5xwwYCuQGVDJiVj3WWnLtMbO_xBseA9VEI/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOVtuYt1tzoJikq0p5wDkSYiQh2yvkVabUDOfMoK_0-3SAI-Fi2uw0VnNZcbv4piZTZbcs30Pucr9auicm6_Ru_o6jx-JemoRBVe2bW-CY5xwwYCuQGVDJiVj3WWnLtMbO_xBseA9VEI/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were fortunate and had a room with its own bathroom. (Some of the tents did not have bathrooms, and you would have to walk across the camp's grounds to the toilets and showers. We appreciated having a toilet right there. We didn't avail ourselves of the shower, as the water was not heated and ice cold. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of blankets, that kept us warm.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQSvNwZe9a52X7qDq0HT8hJCcDqJGge2lLrtqc2aMK69cq-_XA5I4hseX-Xl8DryBOfYlC6CZoPLP60pcgYWL1vGAGHOngQqjenS2RSaqsyIukHx_dHQm-77y9SgOJ9wP3zpV4JW3nnA/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQSvNwZe9a52X7qDq0HT8hJCcDqJGge2lLrtqc2aMK69cq-_XA5I4hseX-Xl8DryBOfYlC6CZoPLP60pcgYWL1vGAGHOngQqjenS2RSaqsyIukHx_dHQm-77y9SgOJ9wP3zpV4JW3nnA/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZQaMZ4ijMQ3sH3q5J8uz2hyno7fgzmXWWd4H72B3zw7a2pZiAWYKrJFED3qOfezXr9YtfEfy9HeuuG4olzvzp7Vif-ZHAZD4tvLjZQUB_0doFi0xgjnP26ZOW4xoGRiP_fGu30jrFqo/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZQaMZ4ijMQ3sH3q5J8uz2hyno7fgzmXWWd4H72B3zw7a2pZiAWYKrJFED3qOfezXr9YtfEfy9HeuuG4olzvzp7Vif-ZHAZD4tvLjZQUB_0doFi0xgjnP26ZOW4xoGRiP_fGu30jrFqo/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVFzgp-K9cQIPz0bByMEgHs0xdWz4MbvkSi_uTgvLr1Z6sjZ6F_uDrH036qwQYhhYn2g0uJlwxB5K7P6OVDRacRSfEoc0XaXeRY4VxBAPThTZHUMmYeEFmKoScDrLcTXN-sQCFy7Ycyc/s1600/IMG_1568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVFzgp-K9cQIPz0bByMEgHs0xdWz4MbvkSi_uTgvLr1Z6sjZ6F_uDrH036qwQYhhYn2g0uJlwxB5K7P6OVDRacRSfEoc0XaXeRY4VxBAPThTZHUMmYeEFmKoScDrLcTXN-sQCFy7Ycyc/s1600/IMG_1568.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We spent one night there. In the evening, guests sat around a large fire pit, and enjoyed a delicious meal in one of the tents. The tent was three-sided, and rectangular. There was some dancing (fairly mellow paced traditional dancing, that looked simple but really wasn't when we tried it).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmtqtFwathDmGzcd5uuEZlfnyGy6B3MJqoWplpKdE7I5-kd9VQWHhE7rp3mAVx8I2GgJxzIc2B_MZ9pGIe_LLjpCvYumpVv2Hh8SucZp6zQw0Wt6S_sGwyl2-oK6nEZnMIf8TiXMO4LY/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmtqtFwathDmGzcd5uuEZlfnyGy6B3MJqoWplpKdE7I5-kd9VQWHhE7rp3mAVx8I2GgJxzIc2B_MZ9pGIe_LLjpCvYumpVv2Hh8SucZp6zQw0Wt6S_sGwyl2-oK6nEZnMIf8TiXMO4LY/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jJf5Om6fRrKU8I5Z70MhumCP3ZPLXkHejnSJf1UEDbLmHovdyJas8cXNxqGjCpQzGs9XtiS1IrpMGJQIZhoMsNtvKxgUEGeY-H2H2hTSIwB2Ys51vssBvJgdbwhAbUnYunYZuxJTnZ0/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jJf5Om6fRrKU8I5Z70MhumCP3ZPLXkHejnSJf1UEDbLmHovdyJas8cXNxqGjCpQzGs9XtiS1IrpMGJQIZhoMsNtvKxgUEGeY-H2H2hTSIwB2Ys51vssBvJgdbwhAbUnYunYZuxJTnZ0/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW9CpFbHNoE5fxthouk6Qgei9sI1xgTR1iMltaAzxwACMfEz1UQWnH-SGdtwm85ZAnHog29zj8panDVZ7zpaoDnD45kLv1bM1OnB5jMuuIoqEmSNDNrOatGPEkka6-TM8FI9Ag0_6igE/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW9CpFbHNoE5fxthouk6Qgei9sI1xgTR1iMltaAzxwACMfEz1UQWnH-SGdtwm85ZAnHog29zj8panDVZ7zpaoDnD45kLv1bM1OnB5jMuuIoqEmSNDNrOatGPEkka6-TM8FI9Ag0_6igE/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RSsceQRqU2SkaXVQcR3GwWcDpJUadzvJtL7xPzOgOb1B7SMPGSYCuyQ1-ucC3feBpcSqDCvuPXgIpNwQFJTi8y8xNnv-ns9c7uQNXtlTRSVB0ZDg-vawF17JaFuYSj4GdaL8nyp_QZg/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RSsceQRqU2SkaXVQcR3GwWcDpJUadzvJtL7xPzOgOb1B7SMPGSYCuyQ1-ucC3feBpcSqDCvuPXgIpNwQFJTi8y8xNnv-ns9c7uQNXtlTRSVB0ZDg-vawF17JaFuYSj4GdaL8nyp_QZg/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sitting around the fire pit, I was bundled up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was when we had a camel ride at 7:30am the next morning. Brrrr. I had two pairs of gloves on, two long sleeved shirts, a sweatshirt, and Tim's sweatshirt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">30-45 minutes into the ride, both Tim and I found ourselves thinking that we couldn't last the entire two hours. The walk and pace of the camels were a bit lurching. But then you get used to the rhythm of the camel and the two hours end up flying by.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYTT2Q2jck7o6pSEwZEoBOOKfZSI3gL4gYx76CQ7bHYJ93RngVDfDsCgYX6KDTv05IIU98VOGpOklurPHLdNT0J_zgWvh5cAwgjreki9sSx_XmZ0Vba-x7VE4CWxR6I_9GT1vXrDdP2E/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYTT2Q2jck7o6pSEwZEoBOOKfZSI3gL4gYx76CQ7bHYJ93RngVDfDsCgYX6KDTv05IIU98VOGpOklurPHLdNT0J_zgWvh5cAwgjreki9sSx_XmZ0Vba-x7VE4CWxR6I_9GT1vXrDdP2E/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The camels were a kick. They frequently bee-lined for shrubs, hungry for breakfast apparently. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8pr42p4meXUyjt98LqkcBHDXr1nZrbq6xrNhFq7T44hlDUVGplwzYlXnc1YR63o9nBDotOSUzWj85CbHkZmcrA72J1ZJrLEMhzuICPZeO4fwDts7fmrsZtE0emEmz4TMoi4NtRkwGxY/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8pr42p4meXUyjt98LqkcBHDXr1nZrbq6xrNhFq7T44hlDUVGplwzYlXnc1YR63o9nBDotOSUzWj85CbHkZmcrA72J1ZJrLEMhzuICPZeO4fwDts7fmrsZtE0emEmz4TMoi4NtRkwGxY/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After our camel ride, we packed up. We made one stop at another nearby camp. Our camel guide wanted to show us a baby goat that was 5 days old. SO cute.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbbWhvFhCdg1G3DtWu3Aw9SPfV9tyu7VO1cEDvl__fIoU2wK4nh6-R3EBVXfte9lxWyQaq87-U8qFvLgDqymbEt-n9N0-e2kPC4FCTt5lepTM1IpM3WFFcym61eAw1zPxpK1m43PztY8/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbbWhvFhCdg1G3DtWu3Aw9SPfV9tyu7VO1cEDvl__fIoU2wK4nh6-R3EBVXfte9lxWyQaq87-U8qFvLgDqymbEt-n9N0-e2kPC4FCTt5lepTM1IpM3WFFcym61eAw1zPxpK1m43PztY8/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim with our camel guide Shaban (middle) and our Jordan guide Fadi Wishahi (on the left).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUE5jzR6TnckoDYurxqCA6NI_yEdui6qqqCTY9YBwVYzGOV6JqxRV0XR0O6SWB12D3m4gtpR6SIV98zjBREIMMEcv-f4rF1YgHsb8xskZh9cKp6RpvB1Z3egX5UeMBgKVLabSvJ5anoM/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUE5jzR6TnckoDYurxqCA6NI_yEdui6qqqCTY9YBwVYzGOV6JqxRV0XR0O6SWB12D3m4gtpR6SIV98zjBREIMMEcv-f4rF1YgHsb8xskZh9cKp6RpvB1Z3egX5UeMBgKVLabSvJ5anoM/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-69526523218515669612014-02-03T21:42:00.000-08:002014-02-03T21:42:04.968-08:00Adventures in Petra ... more beautiful sights<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you can tell from the previous two posts, Petra is beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Treasury and the Monastery, well, I needed to give them their own posts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet there was so much more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The theatre, which was built to hold up to 6000 people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7wC3TZXDxT75qwzBN4GPSJkSx2hE7-bEicmaGqkjmXgPbJLBuk7wzOq6paDp1T-zcncad-omMgq0cBE-GbIj8MaRIo3XI5w81NFZp0F4i7lou7KEHYQNJTWhDtNy7IPwqmFFIuC0dBw/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7wC3TZXDxT75qwzBN4GPSJkSx2hE7-bEicmaGqkjmXgPbJLBuk7wzOq6paDp1T-zcncad-omMgq0cBE-GbIj8MaRIo3XI5w81NFZp0F4i7lou7KEHYQNJTWhDtNy7IPwqmFFIuC0dBw/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pyFkpTtjJxVaMCgEUOJGt51QXgW56QErW1-8gDJlmu_WtlEDJk6gzee52r-04szisn4PqNQfyoCCRNcxZ7XkI0vtWDABMdhlacfMrNw1IbeRCBIMyiWWIAxEG8M1OIDOLFq_hthMxJ4/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pyFkpTtjJxVaMCgEUOJGt51QXgW56QErW1-8gDJlmu_WtlEDJk6gzee52r-04szisn4PqNQfyoCCRNcxZ7XkI0vtWDABMdhlacfMrNw1IbeRCBIMyiWWIAxEG8M1OIDOLFq_hthMxJ4/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Various tombs. Some of the names include Roman Soldier Tomb, Palace Tomb, Urn Tomb.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8gy86NYdxh_YJU5sCk3upqNn7p37DSr2CZKWtLV8HnGPCSyfEzntiLIrndATf2g3IThNVgDYB8cjTwOXkmdHJlZ628ZKtLDqjbAIgNBSmQVKCeRs41TGt1YFiq6J-cQtTxq7PwB6SyU/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8gy86NYdxh_YJU5sCk3upqNn7p37DSr2CZKWtLV8HnGPCSyfEzntiLIrndATf2g3IThNVgDYB8cjTwOXkmdHJlZ628ZKtLDqjbAIgNBSmQVKCeRs41TGt1YFiq6J-cQtTxq7PwB6SyU/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen7mig-hrvuz-NToHUZ7y0NR-r317Gpxe4tO7AJjKPkP1BnYBwz0ccAAMSNgcKHAc4ENVAkm8XxhghdZ8i_gDefquRSaXpDw667QoznWo6sjXmAjlxRy9zabbyxnJgzWYHZNT-o6RGas/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen7mig-hrvuz-NToHUZ7y0NR-r317Gpxe4tO7AJjKPkP1BnYBwz0ccAAMSNgcKHAc4ENVAkm8XxhghdZ8i_gDefquRSaXpDw667QoznWo6sjXmAjlxRy9zabbyxnJgzWYHZNT-o6RGas/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV4qmtX9s-ztz23AidRupu_8bVD0wMotPFKgcvrGsfukIjAWpveYcC6N6jhxECFk5zNYIHxJS7Tld7YJJN_kUEZG_P0uf-6fB2sqsOACzNu2QrwGNHMKqqq7VG2ztzRAH23Mwbh9lZvk/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV4qmtX9s-ztz23AidRupu_8bVD0wMotPFKgcvrGsfukIjAWpveYcC6N6jhxECFk5zNYIHxJS7Tld7YJJN_kUEZG_P0uf-6fB2sqsOACzNu2QrwGNHMKqqq7VG2ztzRAH23Mwbh9lZvk/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZFHyJiY1u_kWd5ws4hNbL_V7s_R2RS47ON6gLsOzWZJ8I_0RUQNfrR1ZgEtysYzubtHhxBaynN3IeESWuhzdnIsdybPwmw6wS7gPaL2ac_06hxTHzDAJwssnyibDXdFKUhCY01anWTY/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZFHyJiY1u_kWd5ws4hNbL_V7s_R2RS47ON6gLsOzWZJ8I_0RUQNfrR1ZgEtysYzubtHhxBaynN3IeESWuhzdnIsdybPwmw6wS7gPaL2ac_06hxTHzDAJwssnyibDXdFKUhCY01anWTY/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKvHTol6x7cy1WR1MzYgB3cZN2Yk2EM4SbJVz8YXHWiZupOMRwjULF4J5csHclDEaeEC5h5jYJ7ev6ga8orXH2Gtcp21jRewMqzPjrbT-ZdF9P8b0TC0wuihyphenhyphendXXE0pp4fc35McLZGls/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKvHTol6x7cy1WR1MzYgB3cZN2Yk2EM4SbJVz8YXHWiZupOMRwjULF4J5csHclDEaeEC5h5jYJ7ev6ga8orXH2Gtcp21jRewMqzPjrbT-ZdF9P8b0TC0wuihyphenhyphendXXE0pp4fc35McLZGls/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQl9sK-f0R90YH29z7XI_fuDRKnGLy-jw3EeA30RZiWTzv-c2ZcAe8SCkFliKmnO3qpt9wvx8WRDYIjnFGH5VroH_4KMktN3R7vbSVHRCogH-HYweMJothnTuqjl9-A4BIo76DGOIUbk/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQl9sK-f0R90YH29z7XI_fuDRKnGLy-jw3EeA30RZiWTzv-c2ZcAe8SCkFliKmnO3qpt9wvx8WRDYIjnFGH5VroH_4KMktN3R7vbSVHRCogH-HYweMJothnTuqjl9-A4BIo76DGOIUbk/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At one point, Tim and I climbed up what must have been 1000 steps. We thought we were heading toward one of the tombs. We didn't realize until much later that the tomb was down near the others. Well, I guess we needed the exercise! Have to say, we were more than happy to get on the donkeys to go up to the Monastery after that detour. (It turned out that the path we took up, if you continue on it once at the very top, you can eventually look down at the Treasury.) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCWgvnMEuIfxGRjBNp87B4aWWkcW-IUbvBRC7go4XxGoQabpPOZYzvOzx5WDpCaVijoxMYyszEZlucl1UowgICwFXVUpSAR-NOUdcbSe9tjXqFBTcmASE4j3wycef_hscdNgoavIPiH4/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCWgvnMEuIfxGRjBNp87B4aWWkcW-IUbvBRC7go4XxGoQabpPOZYzvOzx5WDpCaVijoxMYyszEZlucl1UowgICwFXVUpSAR-NOUdcbSe9tjXqFBTcmASE4j3wycef_hscdNgoavIPiH4/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1-dlZd2P-d8s5hDc1MprGSc_Ov8cq3pZ3qLpG8oL5oDl3j2yc9vOcHDf6AgkR_zsA3oXLb1TU-_-QljabEK_aGT4Bh39lyN-v8FnJyOVBgxHDIE23z8bp_BrYSL1SjqWrQpmqTat0fc/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1-dlZd2P-d8s5hDc1MprGSc_Ov8cq3pZ3qLpG8oL5oDl3j2yc9vOcHDf6AgkR_zsA3oXLb1TU-_-QljabEK_aGT4Bh39lyN-v8FnJyOVBgxHDIE23z8bp_BrYSL1SjqWrQpmqTat0fc/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A vendor at the high point of one of the tombs, patiently waiting for tourists to buy his wares.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAXXVZfkWAVrGATp7hbQ5JkGwDR10cgS2_3O-nBiy0tuhyphenhyphenKQjyPANYU1-bJYpAT2t0WqVGNd-CUJ6t92VK0kM0oQ3M4fY60nDo8revwfUFFWXUfRP0vA07X4g1gt6ZGIW5fTdx550X9k/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAXXVZfkWAVrGATp7hbQ5JkGwDR10cgS2_3O-nBiy0tuhyphenhyphenKQjyPANYU1-bJYpAT2t0WqVGNd-CUJ6t92VK0kM0oQ3M4fY60nDo8revwfUFFWXUfRP0vA07X4g1gt6ZGIW5fTdx550X9k/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprS5hps7LyjVmCkSTnab49nAlCxv4RO3QY0Ipst6yPitOHXFrr6vvf9toLSiW3vkXkAzhEZMadKe6lAuPbn7VhWAEW2wUB0rgt8Pf__JRvMcJMBqpYftItWd43y63FMdSWRkHek9ajNs/s1600/IMG_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprS5hps7LyjVmCkSTnab49nAlCxv4RO3QY0Ipst6yPitOHXFrr6vvf9toLSiW3vkXkAzhEZMadKe6lAuPbn7VhWAEW2wUB0rgt8Pf__JRvMcJMBqpYftItWd43y63FMdSWRkHek9ajNs/s1600/IMG_0408.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roman ruins, being reconstructed by a team from Brown University.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7EE908leZV9dIpn5L2KcX1y6eMULLxnG6i6G-7UxbxLKp06ZqDfFbLUKM0c2nB5eWM8aHR03iZvI2dDADODvbpzEU46B5RbxjW1Or8xen5U5GqNc1yTaNv8LtHB9Bu0ldyu1pHfgrQU/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7EE908leZV9dIpn5L2KcX1y6eMULLxnG6i6G-7UxbxLKp06ZqDfFbLUKM0c2nB5eWM8aHR03iZvI2dDADODvbpzEU46B5RbxjW1Or8xen5U5GqNc1yTaNv8LtHB9Bu0ldyu1pHfgrQU/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA5nTmf8pNCWf4-2dJ_TGuDNVbbfqA5ccRrvMTXNfF-Kqqig5vdy4INFNplnMueRJ_kWAb4dP4r4LCxGvqlgdzDF7y7ueUK1CNpMn98zvThGmSTwf-pgptLsFg2q6dOmDPTG7Iogh654/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA5nTmf8pNCWf4-2dJ_TGuDNVbbfqA5ccRrvMTXNfF-Kqqig5vdy4INFNplnMueRJ_kWAb4dP4r4LCxGvqlgdzDF7y7ueUK1CNpMn98zvThGmSTwf-pgptLsFg2q6dOmDPTG7Iogh654/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE4ychWCqTiadTQyQLR5wyiW7lBmakKmMn09lnQ1HaRimulypklnsQ2nrEC6N63cxdKJ2-5875rwRYyBG0WZCa73peM4T-3yEx2m23jhzk3zaL2hmpqEeNYdcU6TYavq8CwgqO825AnA/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE4ychWCqTiadTQyQLR5wyiW7lBmakKmMn09lnQ1HaRimulypklnsQ2nrEC6N63cxdKJ2-5875rwRYyBG0WZCa73peM4T-3yEx2m23jhzk3zaL2hmpqEeNYdcU6TYavq8CwgqO825AnA/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed this brief tour of Petra in these three posts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coming up, more about Jordan: Wadi Rum; Dead Sea; Mt. Nebo and Madaba; Jerash; and a great dinner in Amman.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-11551961261379959682014-02-02T12:20:00.002-08:002014-02-02T12:20:30.451-08:00Adventures in Petra ... the Monastery<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the Treasury in Petra made my jaw drop, so did another site ... The Monastery took my breath away as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While Tim and I had walked around different tombs and pathways before heading up to the Monastery, Audi waited patiently for us. It was a slow day for the various vendors, including the men who have camels and donkeys that you can ride. Only the donkeys (as opposed to the horses or the camels) can make it up the 850+ steps up to the Monastery. A person can walk it, with no problem.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ389-g-x-oY9muPXQz0QHUgZfwY_BHH-fS79sMveL9kIK5Kw-1yZ6yFNZ9rOHdeGoI463w1YBpwZuysALlg9bUBAw5OTEBQoGA4B7_GcAKOzUzBokrvtowlwL6c7YyVmig5sIwDCMpw/s1600/IMG_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ389-g-x-oY9muPXQz0QHUgZfwY_BHH-fS79sMveL9kIK5Kw-1yZ6yFNZ9rOHdeGoI463w1YBpwZuysALlg9bUBAw5OTEBQoGA4B7_GcAKOzUzBokrvtowlwL6c7YyVmig5sIwDCMpw/s1600/IMG_0712.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But being a slow day, Audi and his two donkeys trailed along with Tim and I until we were ready for the trek up those particular stairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate with Audi guiding alongside:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tTBpFtCATnEmTBcRlwH3cfZaF5IsXo7oN61PIzgkEh1l_ZKDlhEluukEdaIybwb-XM_ZuCzmCkSvHu5JYHMYku7qZZ7h1BUe635dL19E5Z8nnGb0Qx3a597yyu3WQTU8IFR6XUsm5c4/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tTBpFtCATnEmTBcRlwH3cfZaF5IsXo7oN61PIzgkEh1l_ZKDlhEluukEdaIybwb-XM_ZuCzmCkSvHu5JYHMYku7qZZ7h1BUe635dL19E5Z8nnGb0Qx3a597yyu3WQTU8IFR6XUsm5c4/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meet Captain Jack Sparrow (Tim's ride) and William Shakespeare (my ride).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9gZpZX-E46aN3Fvl_y9yfYl-d8O8HS2KRtJBPucRVK8eoc0yG8BNzt3mpcqfTlLAwZRENH2OD97lWUiF9_To1535C3ea6Qy-f0eN4Wzkzufe8sBjVtWMMCtF3KrlF3bvAWaqx-Grh_c/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9gZpZX-E46aN3Fvl_y9yfYl-d8O8HS2KRtJBPucRVK8eoc0yG8BNzt3mpcqfTlLAwZRENH2OD97lWUiF9_To1535C3ea6Qy-f0eN4Wzkzufe8sBjVtWMMCtF3KrlF3bvAWaqx-Grh_c/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">William has made the trek many times. This was Jack's first trip to the Monastery. William has a path. A (= one) path. As a rider, you have no control. You aren't holding on to any reins. The donkey knows what he's doing, and you let him do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pedestrians are coming down the path as you are going up, and I just keep saying "I have no control and he has a path" and they'd move out of the way. Or Audi, our guide, would let pedestrians know 'people on the left, donkeys on the right'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, the the right hand side was usually the side where there is a drop, and the donkeys like to live dangerously and walk along the very edge. I just trusted William and flowed with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's some video from the back of William Shakespeare. It cuts abruptly at the end, simply because my camera battery said 'enough'!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eiKtsYOrq2h0AgNA4Ji0fyg2xSRmL5utz33fVbpcz91KZeNLrf2yDKZ_1bWF6wqtfHD083JE5MZOiF0rsQlt5DAPS9RCedp60y5lcg_hKPRHXI6twL0OdqvXvNRHmpaSJ75eK0MeCQ8/s1600/MVI_0433.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eiKtsYOrq2h0AgNA4Ji0fyg2xSRmL5utz33fVbpcz91KZeNLrf2yDKZ_1bWF6wqtfHD083JE5MZOiF0rsQlt5DAPS9RCedp60y5lcg_hKPRHXI6twL0OdqvXvNRHmpaSJ75eK0MeCQ8/s1600/MVI_0433.MP4" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You walk the last few dozen stairs, and you see a snack and coffee vendor, and a small white building up on the next hill. (Shrine to Aaron, from the Bible.) Then you turn to your right, and oh my goodness ... there's the Monastery. And getting there with the light of the afternoon sun, well, it's another stunning place.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_od6mSJ2GaAePqTCrWpjypu1dNEHdhtlktpq58do64KnHEqQvjQRpUosQdq3JxAxmCzpvK8VG00sLbZgAz2fDXskQBhT0FDnp_wVkDYVw_dXjeiqv2dXtRe3wcYuBLIlINVOWYNgoZU/s1600/Monastery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_od6mSJ2GaAePqTCrWpjypu1dNEHdhtlktpq58do64KnHEqQvjQRpUosQdq3JxAxmCzpvK8VG00sLbZgAz2fDXskQBhT0FDnp_wVkDYVw_dXjeiqv2dXtRe3wcYuBLIlINVOWYNgoZU/s1600/Monastery1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKohnTdal4dzDIAtbx_qi_w1FJnfuMIKZeb9t3phHNEtd0MpsXetZA1hG1TeFakdMT4MKwcAPF6EdCthU040aAbi_p1NufWAEpkt4tsZQc7a-hAKLeYMcP3hb_EDj7QTwTPE-NkfUMOQ/s1600/Monastery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKohnTdal4dzDIAtbx_qi_w1FJnfuMIKZeb9t3phHNEtd0MpsXetZA1hG1TeFakdMT4MKwcAPF6EdCthU040aAbi_p1NufWAEpkt4tsZQc7a-hAKLeYMcP3hb_EDj7QTwTPE-NkfUMOQ/s1600/Monastery2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFH8wF0R3wsqAyRHk9ssxYPb2AbOM_QtGNyKkIeka3KXH6pNZkueflRmnGkWpX0QcSMgvgmc20qICGJ6jsbf6qObS6utxSlbf0G0YFSwyl6eyr9AJMmz_IcAb6sfKdHaXN8mBkJ7xNDo/s1600/Monastery3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFH8wF0R3wsqAyRHk9ssxYPb2AbOM_QtGNyKkIeka3KXH6pNZkueflRmnGkWpX0QcSMgvgmc20qICGJ6jsbf6qObS6utxSlbf0G0YFSwyl6eyr9AJMmz_IcAb6sfKdHaXN8mBkJ7xNDo/s1600/Monastery3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the middle photo (above), you can see a person in the opening ... had to include that so you can see the scale of the place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On our way down, I found walking William by the lead was easier for me. Otherwise it was clunk, clunk, clunk and felt a bit jarring. Audi guided Tim on Jack Sparrow ahead of us, because Jack hadn't navigated this before. And on the way up, we knew without a doubt that William is accustomed to being the lead donkey. But he seemed okay with walking with me coming down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Audi had us stop at one of the vendors along the pathway. (2 separate six-foot tables, covered with jewelry and other small wares.) Turns out that this was his family's stall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Behind one of the tables was a small tent, where his mother sits and makes tea. His sister sells their wares. We were invited to sit and share his mom's home-brewed bedouin tea. A little sweet, and a little bit of sage. It was delicious. Made over a small fire, and a small cast-iron teapot. Her hands were dark and must be calloused, because she touched that tea pot and briefly handled the coals, with bare hands. And never flinched.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Audi and his family. (Audi is in the orange sweatshirt.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu0szOPReIlYFI8zGpZLqf4M-4a845jyPMlVMNmgPUGvlmoc5zetIW7pXWd3KXHt8GetHuQYQvCTVsKq0MLoSNe6gvR5ppp-CMIMt-lmM91yeRAigAra2Lh9N8PUVJ0U_OZQkc_D-VjM/s1600/Audi+and+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu0szOPReIlYFI8zGpZLqf4M-4a845jyPMlVMNmgPUGvlmoc5zetIW7pXWd3KXHt8GetHuQYQvCTVsKq0MLoSNe6gvR5ppp-CMIMt-lmM91yeRAigAra2Lh9N8PUVJ0U_OZQkc_D-VjM/s1600/Audi+and+family.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I now want to learn to make a similar tea! The brew ... not the method of making it over the open fire ;-)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB5S8oR_69Vev3F0_fHQJUkiULDlx134ztIMFkzg0OlNxM7u8LdDuzabA9PGWNEbdIY8laHyY7IYdYyMtGWu_c86aGHWROprj1-fjtU3_5Lr0_jvD1JdLMb_sWMNJRnKRYNH8j4eWXqM/s1600/making+tea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB5S8oR_69Vev3F0_fHQJUkiULDlx134ztIMFkzg0OlNxM7u8LdDuzabA9PGWNEbdIY8laHyY7IYdYyMtGWu_c86aGHWROprj1-fjtU3_5Lr0_jvD1JdLMb_sWMNJRnKRYNH8j4eWXqM/s1600/making+tea3.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Audi and his family were some of the hundred or so bedouins who lived in the caves of Petra for years. An interesting read is "Married to a Bedouin" by Marguerite van Geldermalsen. She describes living in the caves with her Petra-born husband, as well as the transition from the caves to the housing on the hill sponsored by the government. The tourism ministry, if I understand correctly, wanted to boost up the tourism industry and not have folks living in the caves. But those same bedouins and their families continue to be the lovely people who have the donkeys and the vendor stalls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll do another post of other sites in Petra next!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-7985266559749212812014-01-28T21:38:00.001-08:002014-01-28T21:38:51.826-08:00Adventures in Petra ... the Treasury<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My contract in the UAE ended December 31st. And I had some vacation time to use. Tim and I decided to go to a country that was easy to get to from the UAE, but maybe not as easy from the U.S. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Petra, Jordan has long been on our list of places we want to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Turns out that Jordan is just a 3 hour flight from Abu Dhabi, non-stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through a friend at work, I got connected with a gentleman who organizes personal tours. (You can arrange for tours through the country's tourism website, but we liked the idea of supporting an individual, and the cost was comparable.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our trip included, in order: Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Karak Castle, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, AlJoun Castle, Jerash, and a bit of Amman. I'm going to start with Petra, though ... it was as stunning as you would expect, and didn't disappoint. (Sometimes things or places get talked up and built up, and then you see them in person, and you go "oh". Not Petra. You see Petra and you go "wow!" ... if you can get any words out.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hotel we stayed at was the Petra Guest House. It was the closest hotel to the entrance of Petra. The timing of our trip had us arriving in Petra the evening of December 23rd. That evening, we had tickets for "Petra at Night", where you walk the 1 or so kilometers through the Siq (canyon), to the Treasury. It's interesting to navigate that passageway at night, with hundreds candles in bags along the way and in front of the Treasury. And other people navigating in the darkness, too. It's not an even pathway, so I took my time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb1oNlzgT19K8FOaxUWT0E9RSLGSvkmgXye25M2XthFOP2kgZ4R5kC8yIFq7MOizp5zMVOR6tAcYytvTSSp5I_cJsHQ_HDUaVY1bePgczCmFgjS3qCrgRoXCxqkFHOi4hX94G-2hFXWc/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb1oNlzgT19K8FOaxUWT0E9RSLGSvkmgXye25M2XthFOP2kgZ4R5kC8yIFq7MOizp5zMVOR6tAcYytvTSSp5I_cJsHQ_HDUaVY1bePgczCmFgjS3qCrgRoXCxqkFHOi4hX94G-2hFXWc/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the Treasury by candlelight was lovely, seeing it by day was stunning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With your ticket into Petra, you can ride in by horse. But friends and the guidebooks encourage entering by foot, so that you can soak in the visual. And I think they are right.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvxN1oxKEQznwGRBpagpllzi33PbUQ_s5qu5W76vgaO_eDvySOd_cTC11KNx64UVc35jDUi0KTcs_SCT4EFvhdEIpXEHcZ61K17_s8aw-EUaKDwWscmWln-srOs_g6vGCciRW-iiCU8/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvxN1oxKEQznwGRBpagpllzi33PbUQ_s5qu5W76vgaO_eDvySOd_cTC11KNx64UVc35jDUi0KTcs_SCT4EFvhdEIpXEHcZ61K17_s8aw-EUaKDwWscmWln-srOs_g6vGCciRW-iiCU8/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnWucfkvHa6Zxs9qRIZb9XKJZ1cJT8-WUuisydY53iPhVO-iD00yQc_d3wUm5ewP6yhfSBHYTiIXoJip83QPoxWGxRozRfdblpPmOhnhjajTXSGx7Uydyqyl6djMMiVRPicAGYZFUR6M/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnWucfkvHa6Zxs9qRIZb9XKJZ1cJT8-WUuisydY53iPhVO-iD00yQc_d3wUm5ewP6yhfSBHYTiIXoJip83QPoxWGxRozRfdblpPmOhnhjajTXSGx7Uydyqyl6djMMiVRPicAGYZFUR6M/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then you are in front of this famous edifice. Awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDAe0O-zcHd9UOmSnw8UoSWVcjbpuYNREd64QNaxCeM4omtvklzC4pHUMuNenlgOZ_h4zC1649VQQEJYsjX1bv0suShotSYM_KnSVzXS31DL3wsFAqjc9sxCLHCfMtrHOpB5e8JBWqKI/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDAe0O-zcHd9UOmSnw8UoSWVcjbpuYNREd64QNaxCeM4omtvklzC4pHUMuNenlgOZ_h4zC1649VQQEJYsjX1bv0suShotSYM_KnSVzXS31DL3wsFAqjc9sxCLHCfMtrHOpB5e8JBWqKI/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GPN5GtmgCucEJeBtwqLZYD2AKJtqbckidSVtDrYFcX8y3X6JYMtVL6isnEcn5D3hai8iImkO7ciLXQlp8Tex3BY6UHBFQbU74JTOO6KzdcDn3IBGd56midT75dVDsuqCMi2-amYdFrQ/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GPN5GtmgCucEJeBtwqLZYD2AKJtqbckidSVtDrYFcX8y3X6JYMtVL6isnEcn5D3hai8iImkO7ciLXQlp8Tex3BY6UHBFQbU74JTOO6KzdcDn3IBGd56midT75dVDsuqCMi2-amYdFrQ/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A very long time ago, names were given to the tombs in Petra, and the "Treasury" was one of them. I need to go back to my Jordan guidebook and give more history and facts in one of these posts. But for now, photos and personal narrative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We wanted to have as much time as possible inside Petra, so we headed in early. The sunlight hitting the Treasury in the morning, and the Monastery in the afternoon, is quite breath-taking. (More on the Monastery and other areas of Petra soon.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are donkeys and camels hanging around the Treasury, as guides invite visitors to ride instead of walk through the canyons.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8wio98bieklXRL2rEFvNFLWV64nHUw-yP5ve4UEjMo5nS6vaNfgoU1PUzqNn7qKdLcz3efPQsqI9IpEJA-RDE2MfY8elDnGzs0m-yrI0e7j5_pH3TZgK1qgEOZ2WgvD21JRuZGxrqDY/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8wio98bieklXRL2rEFvNFLWV64nHUw-yP5ve4UEjMo5nS6vaNfgoU1PUzqNn7qKdLcz3efPQsqI9IpEJA-RDE2MfY8elDnGzs0m-yrI0e7j5_pH3TZgK1qgEOZ2WgvD21JRuZGxrqDY/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwSlr8O8rilZn7uVpPrXd5piA1tHUgyjCAzZhAagJUP5aOvgIDGPr8lG7p-Uxh9gXrV7gWclUs_rKz8ex5T1WUqNi50J1m9VoEYk-Tp37_hWZUZImjiumj7ydlFxmqhNGNCCL9OkQcnw/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwSlr8O8rilZn7uVpPrXd5piA1tHUgyjCAzZhAagJUP5aOvgIDGPr8lG7p-Uxh9gXrV7gWclUs_rKz8ex5T1WUqNi50J1m9VoEYk-Tp37_hWZUZImjiumj7ydlFxmqhNGNCCL9OkQcnw/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL3YHi7BD1VgA4beuNl4kVwg2qelzoCe4mfVxqQEy4i66NjDVgF2hse0xCAsrQrkbOpM0WMrqGsSBGr3NTgTKZtshYp-NXlsE9xzU1RtbGH477zu1J57Uqz25xLjCrWOoPDtQy50GqN8/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL3YHi7BD1VgA4beuNl4kVwg2qelzoCe4mfVxqQEy4i66NjDVgF2hse0xCAsrQrkbOpM0WMrqGsSBGr3NTgTKZtshYp-NXlsE9xzU1RtbGH477zu1J57Uqz25xLjCrWOoPDtQy50GqN8/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(I didn't know that the bottom of camels' feet were soft. I had assumed they would be more horse-like.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eycmJy7US7DIicJMVyYtP1y70mVaDzQOS87CM8GC70ZHmKcSlyWExJWpT_uOi7XWNtWzyru0CGIK7DL76NBJNpPQf2t8UDNWFTWGOTTzawtd39spRrMu4uuRDIP8VMIXZCWWInqDANE/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eycmJy7US7DIicJMVyYtP1y70mVaDzQOS87CM8GC70ZHmKcSlyWExJWpT_uOi7XWNtWzyru0CGIK7DL76NBJNpPQf2t8UDNWFTWGOTTzawtd39spRrMu4uuRDIP8VMIXZCWWInqDANE/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I do want to share a couple of people photos. I mentioned that you can ride through the Siq and enter Petra on a horse (or by horse cart). These gentleman keep those paths very clean for those who choose to walk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YsDpbcLLV1Ev-uarvcDVlyoe73l0aBTmhew6JmedIEUMFWm2hMczeg-_JZebK7dclph-mO0fQaHt8JCofJW2I6DLwuygfd9MeUQ2elc7531o9huu8WrleAdlMhqC4H9Va_Sq3JSw0QY/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YsDpbcLLV1Ev-uarvcDVlyoe73l0aBTmhew6JmedIEUMFWm2hMczeg-_JZebK7dclph-mO0fQaHt8JCofJW2I6DLwuygfd9MeUQ2elc7531o9huu8WrleAdlMhqC4H9Va_Sq3JSw0QY/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zuS203K1gWHFzSWgTQ96ZnrNkCOI9-xdqW7AGNzeRNCWCi7zAPnXCaQ7PzIrd-DOLDemr-Kl9OgMBtQjGdYSmfJh4N2q2sNsNoLzbVgXoFgHVzAPkbUqC_pG2jhIRuEMJvWVKF1CBSs/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zuS203K1gWHFzSWgTQ96ZnrNkCOI9-xdqW7AGNzeRNCWCi7zAPnXCaQ7PzIrd-DOLDemr-Kl9OgMBtQjGdYSmfJh4N2q2sNsNoLzbVgXoFgHVzAPkbUqC_pG2jhIRuEMJvWVKF1CBSs/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You'll notice in some of my Petra photos that people are bundled up a bit ... it was quite chilly!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The photo of the two men above, they are sitting in front of a water channel that runs the length of the Siq. The Nabataeans</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, long ago, carved these out of the sandstone, diverting flood waters and enabling fresh water for residents' use. (Not that long ago, beduoins were still living in the caves of Petra.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKmWIUg05iD2S_SbPX0O6A06Je3Co-jyR68l0sKmlOgsZ9rgQSVIwOrh-fmKHEDelQLxgjn-DexI3SSLxVnzj88J8SfeQUUWe7xS5paPCdcu20CH5NUTky1vFiJnh_9NTTOJZZ5B5mEU/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKmWIUg05iD2S_SbPX0O6A06Je3Co-jyR68l0sKmlOgsZ9rgQSVIwOrh-fmKHEDelQLxgjn-DexI3SSLxVnzj88J8SfeQUUWe7xS5paPCdcu20CH5NUTky1vFiJnh_9NTTOJZZ5B5mEU/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also along the canyon walls are remnants of carvings in the walls. Water, wind, and sand have eroded the delicate features. Here the lower half of a statue of a man, probably a soldier.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VW4Sw9yYxrG9sxVqiD1A4THO6GsCupt5K0jb5RecagOB_JHfb1OdkBKZVk1_0Of9jNdrkaIdCnmDTKm1zUixW55HvAeL5flbXX3CMafuRVZqGt0isX0ExSAQOHochNaeVpx7pZRhh2Y/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VW4Sw9yYxrG9sxVqiD1A4THO6GsCupt5K0jb5RecagOB_JHfb1OdkBKZVk1_0Of9jNdrkaIdCnmDTKm1zUixW55HvAeL5flbXX3CMafuRVZqGt0isX0ExSAQOHochNaeVpx7pZRhh2Y/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And what was a camel carving. (You can make out the camel feet.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvoIve5J8zY9CplhcvcUUF32H8j0pSsW1H-3V9ANDrOofAcyrlVXDvITkXwv96Rkcdp34okCR2rdv7_3dyupZzmC59UeJGYHa9ncQoU1L8a8HVj-kT5y_3FcdHjqr3fccwB1bFQyhgVk/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvoIve5J8zY9CplhcvcUUF32H8j0pSsW1H-3V9ANDrOofAcyrlVXDvITkXwv96Rkcdp34okCR2rdv7_3dyupZzmC59UeJGYHa9ncQoU1L8a8HVj-kT5y_3FcdHjqr3fccwB1bFQyhgVk/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-28006576910145495122014-01-20T16:07:00.003-08:002014-01-21T20:55:22.858-08:00Camel Festival (complete with Camel Beauty Contest!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI_D6f9sxHIjUlx1HEDOSaUVNnLDe4PlxAL6qvBRWTvolHp8JV_tVe8NOXbvkOp7PpmVVdRpCkQi1VQl4c7WOyPnXyyqV2B2yjMNGskfUGT6VKRgMfx9BfVyR0Hm6uSRQHbyLaB3FpD8/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI_D6f9sxHIjUlx1HEDOSaUVNnLDe4PlxAL6qvBRWTvolHp8JV_tVe8NOXbvkOp7PpmVVdRpCkQi1VQl4c7WOyPnXyyqV2B2yjMNGskfUGT6VKRgMfx9BfVyR0Hm6uSRQHbyLaB3FpD8/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tim and I went to the 7th annual Al Dahfra Festival ... more informally known as "The Camel Festival". What drew me there was a desire to see the Camel Beauty Contest. Yup, you read that right. Camel Beauty Pageant.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGanImj9O60HVaHfi117nmBtqvKws1fpHBIKZMVKK5WFr975VWo_Pbv2JMKQbPoN6tYYzgqByFnpd4hBF1ZNtT-s0hRs7q6iBOLnTn_-G3pS04mwUtkI1uSbo9cueHQYhMlQd02OEuCc/s1600/IMG_0095b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGanImj9O60HVaHfi117nmBtqvKws1fpHBIKZMVKK5WFr975VWo_Pbv2JMKQbPoN6tYYzgqByFnpd4hBF1ZNtT-s0hRs7q6iBOLnTn_-G3pS04mwUtkI1uSbo9cueHQYhMlQd02OEuCc/s1600/IMG_0095b.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did you know that camels come in different colors? Some are the light brown. Some are dark brown. Some are black.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-ibB0a4vpx5x4YLaqdsQzvrhpCYWYzlUYL2kBohWABmtgBgYYCbUtRgVdd-bGvPp9GnTmD5jTLIFyVmKai3Rw00dZfrhwyVIyW7f7NftIuEgmsdRNcHDYFs2O6CNt5nZYJvrkmTlqTY/s1600/IMG_0096b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-ibB0a4vpx5x4YLaqdsQzvrhpCYWYzlUYL2kBohWABmtgBgYYCbUtRgVdd-bGvPp9GnTmD5jTLIFyVmKai3Rw00dZfrhwyVIyW7f7NftIuEgmsdRNcHDYFs2O6CNt5nZYJvrkmTlqTY/s1600/IMG_0096b.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year there were reportedly 25,000 camels at the Festival. Some are there to be judged as beauties. Some race. Some are sold for the milk they produce (the light camels provide better tasting milk, I'm told). Many are sold or auctioned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Tim and I arrived to the Al Dahfra Festival, we really didn't know what to expect. I think we both thought it would be contained in a smaller area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nope. It was spread out for kilometers, with people camping out with their families and camels and horses and goats, giving each other ample space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Festival grounds go on for miles. (To be geographically specific, I suppose I should say kilometers, not miles.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we drove in, we saw some vendors along the left. We saw a sign for the Traditional Souk on the right, and thought would be a good place to start. Emirati women were selling their homemade crafts (I've written and shared photos about their wares in a previous post), as well as dates and honey and incense and perfumes (all very popular products in the Middle East). The one thing we purchased was a book that included dozens of entries and winners of the annual photography contest, documenting the Festival. At some the vendor stalls (the ones that we drove by, and a few in the Traditional Souk) had some pieces that looked a bit like the old-fashioned glittery Christmas tree garland. We couldn't figure out what in the world that was for ... and then we saw the camels ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUndDjD439NYiwGTSucbIFCqU5TlCVZaZr04ZeRvq64AK8Kl_1zWwiSEqKm61K9EWM3bE3UHaF1EoVsyz8Tqqr-tEfHvPGUYLdeRQQ8C3f3rEabUgKoIpwN5gJRIFxRgdsua3H19orLBg/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUndDjD439NYiwGTSucbIFCqU5TlCVZaZr04ZeRvq64AK8Kl_1zWwiSEqKm61K9EWM3bE3UHaF1EoVsyz8Tqqr-tEfHvPGUYLdeRQQ8C3f3rEabUgKoIpwN5gJRIFxRgdsua3H19orLBg/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ahhh. So <i>that's</i> what the 'garland' is for. I should have asked what the Arabic and official name was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This black beauty above was -- if I have her name right -- Montilla. And she is a beauty. And huge! Look at those feet. She was entered into the beauty contest.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuc95cw-CTcKpsrLt1H_JIgJASp_ER6gPvq8O2gWGkAzypqR7CxAlArAmUpIM0hJasVYPIzzh4kt00AOUCrqdfSldUmMFGSZzxf1ZRjXDOU9naFJL2sc6gSerGUTR4_IHCk6DQzwfkTk/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuc95cw-CTcKpsrLt1H_JIgJASp_ER6gPvq8O2gWGkAzypqR7CxAlArAmUpIM0hJasVYPIzzh4kt00AOUCrqdfSldUmMFGSZzxf1ZRjXDOU9naFJL2sc6gSerGUTR4_IHCk6DQzwfkTk/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As Tim and I walked in, Tim mentioned that it would be great if we could talk to someone about what the contest criteria. What makes a camel award-winning in a beauty contest. Ask and ye shall receive. Right after I took this photo, per the request of these friendly young men ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mtiwj-VU_aCKyTJw4nL1TlPJOv9cvMxKH-DdlrRakt6sfP5HeOa6xIP0PRo4DptYwft63y0ymrlsTPJGdQoysrHJNwQk6XiVfmVPCWtaFNJJP3TZmGw4mzrrbi6N-APktt82jxMIOrs/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mtiwj-VU_aCKyTJw4nL1TlPJOv9cvMxKH-DdlrRakt6sfP5HeOa6xIP0PRo4DptYwft63y0ymrlsTPJGdQoysrHJNwQk6XiVfmVPCWtaFNJJP3TZmGw4mzrrbi6N-APktt82jxMIOrs/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim and I were the only Caucasians in sight. I was the only woman in sight. Yet it wasn't uncomfortable. But you absolutely notice these things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jaber from Saudi Arabia walks up to and introduces himself, and begins to tell us about the contest. Black camels are more prized and sell for a higher price. The judges look at a camel's ears, lips, legs, feet, hump, hair ... there are points awarded for the various categories. Tim and I ended up standing next to Jaber as he explained to a tv camera (in Arabic) what he had just explained to us. Jaber also had some fun, as a crowd (friendly!) gathered, and he asked us what we thought Montilla would go for if she won the beauty contest. We had heard that they could go for millions of dirhams, but we started low, not fully certain what a camel like her would fetch. I said 100,000 dirhams. That got some chuckles from the group. Then Jaber looked at Tim and asked what his guess was. Tim said was it higher or lower. Some of the men standing around us raised their thumb in a "higher" gesture. Tim guessed 500,000 dirhams. More chuckles. Jaber shared that if she wont the contest, the owner could get anywhere from 6 to 20 million dirhams. (Hint = divide that by 3.67) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next thing we knew, Tim and I were invited to tea at their camp. With their enthusiasm and our curiosity, how could we say no?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So off we went in a 4x4 SUV (white, of course -- the majority color of vehicles in the UAE) to their camp. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived to a beduoin-looking tent. In a C-shape, open on one side. Red wool pattern. Cushions on the floor, majlis-style. Carpets on the ground. Shoes come off before you walk all the way in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim, me, and about 60 Gulf Region men of all ages. (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHR-1OQF80knMdJSS1nXs-cuJhyphenhyphenWfJ4U3-9KQLvF6LdjD57pPq7QYl5RRsTcII8nu8KjOxtNMAcOZY6_SX-RacmJ1k9JiyHdyocS8eR9A1YdbvZjev3HLH2Z-v7-R548R-SIkRpxToFs/s1600/IMG_9598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHR-1OQF80knMdJSS1nXs-cuJhyphenhyphenWfJ4U3-9KQLvF6LdjD57pPq7QYl5RRsTcII8nu8KjOxtNMAcOZY6_SX-RacmJ1k9JiyHdyocS8eR9A1YdbvZjev3HLH2Z-v7-R548R-SIkRpxToFs/s1600/IMG_9598.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Arabic coffee served with dates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then sweet hot tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Young men wanting to practice their English with us. Ali and Sultan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jaber encouraging them to do so. (Jaber studied in the States and I think he was visited more U.S. states than I have ... his English was excellent.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me with Jaber:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kkk75xZXvHFffMTmW-orfAk8MjRt550wFtc_m2PWNvpENioxzWpvXRiKzmIMVDgLR9TXRqQnBNZnNFECDvd1yOyvj2P8v4E1-SVWBrrmMgz7jK5_66iSLriblWwYP1dr0L6mgouwNgc/s1600/IMG_9588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kkk75xZXvHFffMTmW-orfAk8MjRt550wFtc_m2PWNvpENioxzWpvXRiKzmIMVDgLR9TXRqQnBNZnNFECDvd1yOyvj2P8v4E1-SVWBrrmMgz7jK5_66iSLriblWwYP1dr0L6mgouwNgc/s1600/IMG_9588.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim walked to the other end of the tent with Ali to take photos of people. Tim ended up speaking to some of the older gentlemen, with Ali acting as translator.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HzQWI9qAkxAwkLtcI_XE9mvaVHDZsDnHBZe9EsVXYPARANDrmHr87-wmzKIJpZWgA9nJJXYCrHthsuLFZKh2Gp6aQM_bCaRTQ-FOQHsk-vRp3ND68CR2_arUj88Tf6rwOxpKqWyxIeA/s1600/IMG_9590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HzQWI9qAkxAwkLtcI_XE9mvaVHDZsDnHBZe9EsVXYPARANDrmHr87-wmzKIJpZWgA9nJJXYCrHthsuLFZKh2Gp6aQM_bCaRTQ-FOQHsk-vRp3ND68CR2_arUj88Tf6rwOxpKqWyxIeA/s1600/IMG_9590.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Tim asked about the small cane that the men walk around with, Ali's brother ended up giving Tim his. (Always held in hand during the UAE national dance by men, it's tradition stems from use with herding.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've mentioned in previous posts that hospitality is a huge thing in the Gulf Region. The "businessman" who owned the camel came to his tent and greeted close associates. In acknowledgement of us as guests, he told Jaber to make sure we were well taken care of. (We were!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then, we were invited to stay for lunch. Jaber asked if we would be more comfortable eating by ourselves. We accepted the invitation to eat with everyone else. After washing hands, people wandered into a different tent. Carpeted floor, with lengths of plastic on the carpet. We sat down on the ground, and out came large round metal trays, heaped with rice, a few veggies, and camel meat. Looked and tasted quite like pot roast. Jaber asked if we would like spoons. We opted to try the traditional method, and scooped with bread and with our right hands. It was delicious. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zgerjCcNL2DJtmExWKc80uN7fsWpYYv9EuyhZ4KnnIHykvV7xd-JLe7FjulHQivASqHpbi9OlAdQWjdEwvtlYY7v-obUpIe1f7nsuVgVEsysNcZl0yGQFjjgv4skvC2MausiU_Uo7W4/s1600/IMG_9599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zgerjCcNL2DJtmExWKc80uN7fsWpYYv9EuyhZ4KnnIHykvV7xd-JLe7FjulHQivASqHpbi9OlAdQWjdEwvtlYY7v-obUpIe1f7nsuVgVEsysNcZl0yGQFjjgv4skvC2MausiU_Uo7W4/s1600/IMG_9599.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PYMz_VcNpZ5JDp00DyCGlND7fQZgy4koF36fQDsP8Oh6Z-rRVjO3vV0mbENeLlDIEDJcAlqRGaee-LblrUuOjfTxGNNWWQ_CywuRezVhyxbvNOkziz1nQ8TPGg-xN5-WUNNhV7pLnJw/s1600/IMG_9600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PYMz_VcNpZ5JDp00DyCGlND7fQZgy4koF36fQDsP8Oh6Z-rRVjO3vV0mbENeLlDIEDJcAlqRGaee-LblrUuOjfTxGNNWWQ_CywuRezVhyxbvNOkziz1nQ8TPGg-xN5-WUNNhV7pLnJw/s1600/IMG_9600.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all headed back in the white SUVs to the stands near the camel pens, to find out what camel won the contest. Tim getting a tutorial on the contest criteria:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8o1JYOQuone1wqbAuxWFBJ8spBNSft6QZideaLi-KsTIMnAT8Kt_CFmixFvPmXgF-1XIirizn1A6VZUtR0gJvGN2nxfpEoVYkkgbPIX6_1t7S6-8a6fsSHMhZ4LzEG0gjru8QNbJHlE/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8o1JYOQuone1wqbAuxWFBJ8spBNSft6QZideaLi-KsTIMnAT8Kt_CFmixFvPmXgF-1XIirizn1A6VZUtR0gJvGN2nxfpEoVYkkgbPIX6_1t7S6-8a6fsSHMhZ4LzEG0gjru8QNbJHlE/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first contestants were the light-colored camels. Great celebration when the winners are announced. And the winning camel is dusted with saffron. Apparently they know the smell, and boy did that camel hold his/her head high and proud when it was dusted on it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm2mkPInlb9mLLAWOpI0xuTaHSXzskficv8y4RjoEVjnkndbuuGMi4sGqfgUuaiEHgiBpFKLfNnV57bgUD5YIErhAhyphenhyphenMbJZB5D8CwdxbFs1pzI-5BHqQHmFzfG0PjYPL2PNTsANnL8VQ/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm2mkPInlb9mLLAWOpI0xuTaHSXzskficv8y4RjoEVjnkndbuuGMi4sGqfgUuaiEHgiBpFKLfNnV57bgUD5YIErhAhyphenhyphenMbJZB5D8CwdxbFs1pzI-5BHqQHmFzfG0PjYPL2PNTsANnL8VQ/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've emailed Jaber to find out if Montilla won the black camel contest. Tim and I had decided to leave before it got dark. We had to trek around the place and find our rental car ... where we had parked and where we had wound up were not in the same place. Close enough to walk, but I think we only found the car by gut instinct!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Random camel photos from this day. (We both took many photos -- especially Tim -- a bit hard to pick and choose, but here you go!) And yes, camels pose for photos, especially the ones groomed for the beauty contests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39p6QMpYmDJ34QlT1z3_ZeegpWoUCIKP4tWqjvyi_KSn3ILDIJO5mGvtnh6wbv-hpai0SHEE9z2tcJ2SyHiZw9Ht5g0wN2vvbFAwvHKxIGuiUSyPsRBoXd_dMd9skCDQ3XUpZE23_jaU/s1600/IMG_9580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39p6QMpYmDJ34QlT1z3_ZeegpWoUCIKP4tWqjvyi_KSn3ILDIJO5mGvtnh6wbv-hpai0SHEE9z2tcJ2SyHiZw9Ht5g0wN2vvbFAwvHKxIGuiUSyPsRBoXd_dMd9skCDQ3XUpZE23_jaU/s1600/IMG_9580.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J1bBJYBb8HBvZf9gyvFUZ0csQyokqgiXaubAqzBSqkXPWudkyRCYJl9Se1fNsbmEgeyiqGaUBycrrtDXHAEwy7qgv7o5R1KKmGyV31BriAJ_AMPQn_Xe7vbI_j7IgoY-32agbGEPOfo/s1600/IMG_9619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J1bBJYBb8HBvZf9gyvFUZ0csQyokqgiXaubAqzBSqkXPWudkyRCYJl9Se1fNsbmEgeyiqGaUBycrrtDXHAEwy7qgv7o5R1KKmGyV31BriAJ_AMPQn_Xe7vbI_j7IgoY-32agbGEPOfo/s1600/IMG_9619.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3iURbMA1WmHeGEsT4LOhojdTmFle7kCs-fwge0ILnFndCuyyyVVcGneuTSsrR6Pzs5AKlQUyNw-seYGVs8fTlBr088I7FuBbm-KLcAz1oJYXhBWH5mSrZ5gIaeD12MCJrmp97u8ZZ1M/s1600/IMG_9610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3iURbMA1WmHeGEsT4LOhojdTmFle7kCs-fwge0ILnFndCuyyyVVcGneuTSsrR6Pzs5AKlQUyNw-seYGVs8fTlBr088I7FuBbm-KLcAz1oJYXhBWH5mSrZ5gIaeD12MCJrmp97u8ZZ1M/s1600/IMG_9610.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_aYy2Mrl5WF6nAA2KjXNpaZC_EP0fpW7pdecde8qQa4EcXr9o-VL2T0fQtyZwmdXpWM8mqi2xjRvBrosfCSUCfZPKBzm9k1IsSqrzwGmEUVxTTE2aqyTkYTF9_weEY1kGZPymkS8S54/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_aYy2Mrl5WF6nAA2KjXNpaZC_EP0fpW7pdecde8qQa4EcXr9o-VL2T0fQtyZwmdXpWM8mqi2xjRvBrosfCSUCfZPKBzm9k1IsSqrzwGmEUVxTTE2aqyTkYTF9_weEY1kGZPymkS8S54/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A video. You can hear men singing in the stands, awaiting the announcement of the contest winner. What I wish came out louder on my video was the noise the camels make.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEl7RDMOlhLf6uGLgQ_QuO4NRv9xkzLxli8Ahe19tB3-YArkoSp_0xYwC3155GM9vY9VaoOtcOYVGZHFLy3bTGgtqhk25mocnsHlMEtTzLqBgoUNL0JjkKYz000RC7KdtXy2hhNaXzms/s1600/MVI_0135.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEl7RDMOlhLf6uGLgQ_QuO4NRv9xkzLxli8Ahe19tB3-YArkoSp_0xYwC3155GM9vY9VaoOtcOYVGZHFLy3bTGgtqhk25mocnsHlMEtTzLqBgoUNL0JjkKYz000RC7KdtXy2hhNaXzms/s1600/MVI_0135.MP4" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is so much to share about this day. I think I've given a good overview, but feel that I've really only skimmed the surface.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A day that went from fun to amazing, with the hospitality of our coffee and lunch hosts. Thank you for making it so memorable!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-26582307660792237432014-01-16T21:45:00.000-08:002014-01-16T21:45:08.788-08:00More photos and stories coming!!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apologies that I haven't posted in over a week. Well, 10 days really.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has taken me longer to get things unpacked and put away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I enjoyed my time in the UAE, and it was overall a really good experience, it is great to be home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So ... I am hoping that with the upcoming "long" weekend, I can get caught up and start posting about the camel festival and Jordan!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks for our patience :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Kate</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-75098121429811133912014-01-06T21:55:00.002-08:002014-01-06T21:59:56.419-08:00Desert Safari<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim and I spent a couple of nights in Liwa ... that's in the southeast area of the UAE. Still in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi is both a city and an Emirate), and sits on the northern part of the great desert called The Empty Quarter.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDvPO2p3_9lRLgitIiObGtG3EKyGwoYDMyaFK23uoKMxuutPN0Ujo7YWXZYqvE3bW-nrVRgDhkIG90dDu1d-SzfkHnOKgk5HTtAt4-wDu1xHFocL1MnEiaC-0XA1FzKQcC6ywiwyipGE/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDvPO2p3_9lRLgitIiObGtG3EKyGwoYDMyaFK23uoKMxuutPN0Ujo7YWXZYqvE3bW-nrVRgDhkIG90dDu1d-SzfkHnOKgk5HTtAt4-wDu1xHFocL1MnEiaC-0XA1FzKQcC6ywiwyipGE/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We stayed at the Liwa Hotel. It's a stark white hotel, sitting atop a hill, and it overlooks dunes. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJAT7-Y2zq9TibA0DbLSlGHX46JIwlaUvpfD-GAy0kpbWfzEc9gDVO6VKLl7goIZslHUpVCvR0WGvV0FgcWLiKCKIf4BdRCkIUJ-bT8ToDqTy_7qST_QreVxOy3eZ4abrOfnMHcc60xk/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJAT7-Y2zq9TibA0DbLSlGHX46JIwlaUvpfD-GAy0kpbWfzEc9gDVO6VKLl7goIZslHUpVCvR0WGvV0FgcWLiKCKIf4BdRCkIUJ-bT8ToDqTy_7qST_QreVxOy3eZ4abrOfnMHcc60xk/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a deal on a suite ... far more room than we needed for the short time we were there, but fun to have a room with character. Would be a great room for entertaining or for an extended stay.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3rarYC-cbzyB35FIeLGIrWr9B1sMoDL2w1ULXZ5di2YgMuCYcOPxhNYPbOBtIdprcrBMXEkxV-hq3H-mQOzH-h7rlXVfTuSI8jUu_N-FJtd5CdGX9ijfAZWc6ACEY-350ZRhRsfF5oU/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3rarYC-cbzyB35FIeLGIrWr9B1sMoDL2w1ULXZ5di2YgMuCYcOPxhNYPbOBtIdprcrBMXEkxV-hq3H-mQOzH-h7rlXVfTuSI8jUu_N-FJtd5CdGX9ijfAZWc6ACEY-350ZRhRsfF5oU/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA5ylFlhIFF55jz67CZiBxRiGOlkyzMoDN_sulfAXOj8YKzYMiIFMQu0UPMvv5S5yAPWIhUOZpzUkzUnxUldNZAnZu2_St9VjFoSglFsl6HfBOp7reb6iH4eEAVThjLX3ro8zqwx6cG0/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA5ylFlhIFF55jz67CZiBxRiGOlkyzMoDN_sulfAXOj8YKzYMiIFMQu0UPMvv5S5yAPWIhUOZpzUkzUnxUldNZAnZu2_St9VjFoSglFsl6HfBOp7reb6iH4eEAVThjLX3ro8zqwx6cG0/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">LOTS of dunes ... almost nothing but dunes ... in this area of the country. Beautiful red sands.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sIrtGgJDvXAsu5zPc6J-aeB2ZRx2R0u9CR9u0uwu5-j5C4JqKHkAZYoUljAuvLzwybGX1VEXxdO7OSPbMS0YytMov0N43ZXMbtueq6_4tQHYCU6Fl-bRBNhjG_bpR2CgXUUk1iZ1_hY/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sIrtGgJDvXAsu5zPc6J-aeB2ZRx2R0u9CR9u0uwu5-j5C4JqKHkAZYoUljAuvLzwybGX1VEXxdO7OSPbMS0YytMov0N43ZXMbtueq6_4tQHYCU6Fl-bRBNhjG_bpR2CgXUUk1iZ1_hY/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Good ol' Wikipedia has information on the tallest dune in the UAE, the Tal Moreeb:</span><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moreeb_Dune">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moreeb_Dune</a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found some videos that show people "bashing" the dune. (</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTfdxrEG50">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTfdxrEG50</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) The day we drove out to the Tal Moreeb, they were prepping the area for a big festival and dune buggy competition, so we couldn't get right next to it and climb up any part of it. It's size is impressive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day we arrived, we had a sunset 4x4 excursion and bbq dinner. Karim was our guide and driver. He's from Egypt, and has lived in the UAE for 27 years. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On our way to our dinner site, we stopped at a camel farm. This pair were not penned, and were quite happy to pose for photos.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bnrL8chS_WJK6XpWXbDw9D4St_LPVxDKyczwUnDQt9tZ8NLrFYa8EFp0fEssyVTnCGjVBmzMAr6MaXRKUQKsY7sT9QUMf_c_c1Fj9_DC64WovU7IONWRcU-lomq5rnJEZesS0KdVtDU/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bnrL8chS_WJK6XpWXbDw9D4St_LPVxDKyczwUnDQt9tZ8NLrFYa8EFp0fEssyVTnCGjVBmzMAr6MaXRKUQKsY7sT9QUMf_c_c1Fj9_DC64WovU7IONWRcU-lomq5rnJEZesS0KdVtDU/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The person who minds the camels lives in a bedouin tent ... and right outside the tent is a tv satellite dish. (We saw similar as we roamed by car ... I just didn't expect to see such a modern convenience next to a temporary abode!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our guide/driver, Karim, had a Santa hat with him. As I said, camels pose for photos.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievPoelhQWUmuiDkNi0deUY64whr-pufD9rCC-lylbodOi5BSRcBHLnaJyxUp3slUfzGx2mIY8hR7Mw5ZIgXnnT1G1AidfIfhWYPXKIW92RYhHzbQo60Nb4Lw9M42daQt5Y4YgU00ldfE/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievPoelhQWUmuiDkNi0deUY64whr-pufD9rCC-lylbodOi5BSRcBHLnaJyxUp3slUfzGx2mIY8hR7Mw5ZIgXnnT1G1AidfIfhWYPXKIW92RYhHzbQo60Nb4Lw9M42daQt5Y4YgU00ldfE/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While venturing via 4x4 on the dunes, we saw a modern version of camel herding. Note the man on the quad :-)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjn9qX1mrmyNUM3HZilOJFtQWU3LYistVQmNha6K_oyszMXE9N-CL7aAruAYjjvDHD-4yfKZKuNHQL0Fuz4ciC0ddKZ-Egcg9g-wWwUPch5V_2tM7V_3wLeyVjCVfxng58lrxfvnl1nw/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjn9qX1mrmyNUM3HZilOJFtQWU3LYistVQmNha6K_oyszMXE9N-CL7aAruAYjjvDHD-4yfKZKuNHQL0Fuz4ciC0ddKZ-Egcg9g-wWwUPch5V_2tM7V_3wLeyVjCVfxng58lrxfvnl1nw/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQSDCb9l6sccpjwKpfbaVUsmUbA_b8jyCPofmUB6DUp-ty37GTs5RcTXKCTqkKqU2wjwgIE1jtElj3TVysLxCXl7gyMN8N8FLgLV_58O-Rh1zolb05BOg6Uy0LC2e0jGvv3_zMWjIyQM/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQSDCb9l6sccpjwKpfbaVUsmUbA_b8jyCPofmUB6DUp-ty37GTs5RcTXKCTqkKqU2wjwgIE1jtElj3TVysLxCXl7gyMN8N8FLgLV_58O-Rh1zolb05BOg6Uy0LC2e0jGvv3_zMWjIyQM/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtBR-F29wLUSyd2XshiMU4P-0KPSTWBElgp_ZUGNqiWsoi4yDTJ_O6ywZMbS5kNj232m-2kjVo7lr-DNcpgbsGDe1yNMbQobwUwnZD1QHDqcyDvzD5IYLDAZzsBv0oS_M3oxgvRpn238/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtBR-F29wLUSyd2XshiMU4P-0KPSTWBElgp_ZUGNqiWsoi4yDTJ_O6ywZMbS5kNj232m-2kjVo7lr-DNcpgbsGDe1yNMbQobwUwnZD1QHDqcyDvzD5IYLDAZzsBv0oS_M3oxgvRpn238/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiovGTA4_ZfJmNS6G78Rc_yypjSY7eV4IH_GFuN667Q2mRRfZM3Rft606EGU1xb6Lzm0L9wWl-5gG9cooYtYDvW2gRvG8Nx4S52KfnnOZLv4AUlqesUQ1C0EOSLpct01GSRKVafkWemow/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiovGTA4_ZfJmNS6G78Rc_yypjSY7eV4IH_GFuN667Q2mRRfZM3Rft606EGU1xb6Lzm0L9wWl-5gG9cooYtYDvW2gRvG8Nx4S52KfnnOZLv4AUlqesUQ1C0EOSLpct01GSRKVafkWemow/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once to the spot where we had our bbq, Tim and I had the time to hike up the dunes and watch the sunset.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6mtAIcQ7QCYaZtVecfS-BM5H62L5vGBbrmNKo35hAm_0HcQhKDNaFFWpTXUH6s7HJPGYZaLbpWwmiyTQBwsLVV3D9ijb3za3D_q3PJaNR5GX1ojGTnG6jw_Ygtb0gYTxAVNZ7cNDH4A/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6mtAIcQ7QCYaZtVecfS-BM5H62L5vGBbrmNKo35hAm_0HcQhKDNaFFWpTXUH6s7HJPGYZaLbpWwmiyTQBwsLVV3D9ijb3za3D_q3PJaNR5GX1ojGTnG6jw_Ygtb0gYTxAVNZ7cNDH4A/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi_uT1is1zKzoKGzI9H7g1xz1ih38R2DhzUXia_ANDRnwJ7ImJWpYjeiCodbcCgSmnCgRaoyRzIQuo8x1nj0YsYXjQBjo7AJOSVzC6t7M8mIh3VUl0eY0ACpfSJrSORJsVKbU28GZqu4/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi_uT1is1zKzoKGzI9H7g1xz1ih38R2DhzUXia_ANDRnwJ7ImJWpYjeiCodbcCgSmnCgRaoyRzIQuo8x1nj0YsYXjQBjo7AJOSVzC6t7M8mIh3VUl0eY0ACpfSJrSORJsVKbU28GZqu4/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhikQ48Xe2VZHFlDZTCjjQhVbbRoQBte3C1SmldtqmVnR4py_z4YSqL_uS8B4FQFe6sD_0EuoNpDsHK8obabqqcWoSJS5CuxZ9kSLGpLkkj4fo2qd4ym1wU1VBP0RL2vmxQqOPyrftmU/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhikQ48Xe2VZHFlDZTCjjQhVbbRoQBte3C1SmldtqmVnR4py_z4YSqL_uS8B4FQFe6sD_0EuoNpDsHK8obabqqcWoSJS5CuxZ9kSLGpLkkj4fo2qd4ym1wU1VBP0RL2vmxQqOPyrftmU/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_woycMFQrxUjtUpORVs2ww0I4bw5xwfBmDAJ8oU0cvHDCP5B95pAlaXJB3tlB3DuwmWVnSWNCh-OZ6qSL-uj8A0HMBcK084mWuPRwjdURWgn_r_WbwG5uoBWpkIMKiUoClPuK_YNycU/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_woycMFQrxUjtUpORVs2ww0I4bw5xwfBmDAJ8oU0cvHDCP5B95pAlaXJB3tlB3DuwmWVnSWNCh-OZ6qSL-uj8A0HMBcK084mWuPRwjdURWgn_r_WbwG5uoBWpkIMKiUoClPuK_YNycU/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was a bit of a breeze, and the sands gently blew across the surface. While the red was the most visually obvious, sitting down and touching the sand -- which felt like a fine powder -- you could also see black and beige sands mixed in. And whether it was an effect of light, the sand that blew across the surface looked like a very light color.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCZzWlmPjrYS2zN0oCz1EliMpM2_dYPSeqPwXc00APHRgB02_cjDT23OxeKThjGFDG8K3_HpkkZsFrGtDZ3B8DYvAd85vNH9qmaw-OWNprGYlGrp03z2tVL9OnvKuYIuk1H-RTFkiQU/s1600/MVI_0078.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCZzWlmPjrYS2zN0oCz1EliMpM2_dYPSeqPwXc00APHRgB02_cjDT23OxeKThjGFDG8K3_HpkkZsFrGtDZ3B8DYvAd85vNH9qmaw-OWNprGYlGrp03z2tVL9OnvKuYIuk1H-RTFkiQU/s1600/MVI_0078.MP4" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many thanks to Karim of Liwa Adventures (he's on Facebook) for a great afternoon and evening. And for so easily navigating the dunes in the dark after we finished dinner!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mGrHzf_j-OJ7uAbORH-6qsTb7sWk9i6ufFX8CC-PlJmnHIPzjvuB4TVBrKMmk3ZjBzIuthAFIM3AxxZx6X8DN2wOxmFuXcPSbQC1WQ2os17pSuMsiNViPC2Gm-ZZT6ajQw8VcK6noyY/s1600/MVI_0078.MP4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mGrHzf_j-OJ7uAbORH-6qsTb7sWk9i6ufFX8CC-PlJmnHIPzjvuB4TVBrKMmk3ZjBzIuthAFIM3AxxZx6X8DN2wOxmFuXcPSbQC1WQ2os17pSuMsiNViPC2Gm-ZZT6ajQw8VcK6noyY/s1600/MVI_0078.MP4" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-66351113172715152942014-01-03T19:49:00.001-08:002014-01-03T19:49:11.200-08:00Polo at the Palace<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's January 2014, and I'm home ... yay!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But yet, I still have many photos and several stories to tell about Abu Dhabi, and about our trip to Jordan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In November, friend Hannah Davies and I went to "Polo at the Palace".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had not been to a polo match before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From what I understand, Emirates Palace developed this portion of their property specifically for hosting polo matches.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E6dkUxDTnxhJhhV_VqB-YtMM4U_GT_-FD2TN3Gk9dWK8hyKzmJG8Z5kPehUuJpX1iSRTKXiA3G0nq_-yAfrOYLLQHZGHZ-Jv4YHebFo111lT2oL6mkxBkcKKwkuFzodKqbrzNFp-Gqg/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E6dkUxDTnxhJhhV_VqB-YtMM4U_GT_-FD2TN3Gk9dWK8hyKzmJG8Z5kPehUuJpX1iSRTKXiA3G0nq_-yAfrOYLLQHZGHZ-Jv4YHebFo111lT2oL6mkxBkcKKwkuFzodKqbrzNFp-Gqg/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tradition of divot stomping ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjbp3wlCU_dAg59kEpdCeYv1GOq-3mnwdSBdYFh_WisI6UJO0k64MIySvLJblFQes7TCJ6_RI5DPr76i4wrRW1xbHvnPdjUgGUraSi7sabp__GhkF45MRP1hhem3q6GtvHsZtsX7QzOU/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjbp3wlCU_dAg59kEpdCeYv1GOq-3mnwdSBdYFh_WisI6UJO0k64MIySvLJblFQes7TCJ6_RI5DPr76i4wrRW1xbHvnPdjUgGUraSi7sabp__GhkF45MRP1hhem3q6GtvHsZtsX7QzOU/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO0Pgqc65b_msbxPTCT3fdcFE6macgl9gjrkG65NUWRG8hPQAFuwy3-Ao4ONVKeyIimMmPasAiVFa8vVpwgIKq_vUaJskNCx5ma8vGTzwuaKsJsvQOydz5a_x-Ni2Ayy9PjxxwYgCwaU/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO0Pgqc65b_msbxPTCT3fdcFE6macgl9gjrkG65NUWRG8hPQAFuwy3-Ao4ONVKeyIimMmPasAiVFa8vVpwgIKq_vUaJskNCx5ma8vGTzwuaKsJsvQOydz5a_x-Ni2Ayy9PjxxwYgCwaU/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClwuljEUk2z2HrEOyH0Hd_dsr6HRxW-oiE9Mr_0sciNW-EeRgJ_NWUDwbkgePh9k3ZkOtCCZB53OahgrFsjI4hEL7FDHOlS9UJE55l1LBRbF1D7MeWUVvWn_n15LRrAiyiX4ugtvAp2Q/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClwuljEUk2z2HrEOyH0Hd_dsr6HRxW-oiE9Mr_0sciNW-EeRgJ_NWUDwbkgePh9k3ZkOtCCZB53OahgrFsjI4hEL7FDHOlS9UJE55l1LBRbF1D7MeWUVvWn_n15LRrAiyiX4ugtvAp2Q/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I liked that the players and horses are so close ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN9LPSCKX0Aswd5-SBRlTGAID844iuK2vzqXSWN6xozEmkBVpiGEbAeuKOuRCpEHv3r7X7vsprDcwE5twITH4W4xQyS-f7ll3_D4wMfFZ1Pei37MlwmaXrXj7_j_cGARpv1iawaq1KM0/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+050.AVI" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN9LPSCKX0Aswd5-SBRlTGAID844iuK2vzqXSWN6xozEmkBVpiGEbAeuKOuRCpEHv3r7X7vsprDcwE5twITH4W4xQyS-f7ll3_D4wMfFZ1Pei37MlwmaXrXj7_j_cGARpv1iawaq1KM0/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+050.AVI" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpt6Ld6J7-glTHrbomVCfJHfV4BfU7vFbeaHT7dlvji1K2jidWTFZ8mBVUgBg_V-eHbQ5Joqe0etIzouX05Gxhm1y25k4vQnOTopS3oS1LY__skQP8isE_GMjz53Px8bYRObUvjwVUsw/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+226.AVI" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpt6Ld6J7-glTHrbomVCfJHfV4BfU7vFbeaHT7dlvji1K2jidWTFZ8mBVUgBg_V-eHbQ5Joqe0etIzouX05Gxhm1y25k4vQnOTopS3oS1LY__skQP8isE_GMjz53Px8bYRObUvjwVUsw/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+226.AVI" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOxYvEA7FA64MuLppWGfxadTggVVLYbdicdHzZNhnY5gx_Ba_2IksE7fjSP2uCx4rBdTTipE2gMM_IfjouLs2W1fnvj9AGetpO2WcQM3L4JM1KbvJtX1iRSfHkuMxQZEj4vogFujo5e4/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOxYvEA7FA64MuLppWGfxadTggVVLYbdicdHzZNhnY5gx_Ba_2IksE7fjSP2uCx4rBdTTipE2gMM_IfjouLs2W1fnvj9AGetpO2WcQM3L4JM1KbvJtX1iRSfHkuMxQZEj4vogFujo5e4/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxKeJNWEOtvExkeDYl6sSiOQI8EwNgW73rPKDfEXufm0ewzM3MDMWMa9iv1jQrtzMn4hgrvMvgx3z8TdG95umVzltPkGEyfsYhbRAGBGAppZm1McY9Qn-h4t8RHDYFIX7FdbYK_NADIo/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxKeJNWEOtvExkeDYl6sSiOQI8EwNgW73rPKDfEXufm0ewzM3MDMWMa9iv1jQrtzMn4hgrvMvgx3z8TdG95umVzltPkGEyfsYhbRAGBGAppZm1McY9Qn-h4t8RHDYFIX7FdbYK_NADIo/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems a pretty straight-forward game. And the horses are impressive -- quick, agile, responsive to the riders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You could order drinks (alcohol and non-alcohol alike), as well as snacks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBUkDZjxbuJTxZNrKgQqCiLCKQGnWQK4Thq9uqvY88Lcjg6epCkwfHHhZI6rQtq0NWp1n_sY5eqtKbt6I-REa-SsguDR07AwWblRbWUx494p1porXInuLIv222stSyza_JaTGvgVFYTk/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBUkDZjxbuJTxZNrKgQqCiLCKQGnWQK4Thq9uqvY88Lcjg6epCkwfHHhZI6rQtq0NWp1n_sY5eqtKbt6I-REa-SsguDR07AwWblRbWUx494p1porXInuLIv222stSyza_JaTGvgVFYTk/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The weather was cool. There was a chance of rain, but stayed away. While the rain stayed away, it provided a really nice display before the sun set.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9Id1scIp2jeZisldGOPaHYG0fMiQYr0qiWkqELRuVQTDllsyyMo9Zj09_ldNarKv4oy25Eb6ThaNVGxz5y0-N4E9LPNm7cRZ7wLK_1zDqmp204Nb07KhQ0ZuI7WAS9VEtNIt_Jnoc5E/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9Id1scIp2jeZisldGOPaHYG0fMiQYr0qiWkqELRuVQTDllsyyMo9Zj09_ldNarKv4oy25Eb6ThaNVGxz5y0-N4E9LPNm7cRZ7wLK_1zDqmp204Nb07KhQ0ZuI7WAS9VEtNIt_Jnoc5E/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EagD3BQ8z-HnFhaw4O7TY6BQx-yl0Ho_za5k89tXDB2mn_SatQ0Q03tJXZhyOnInifkGByeBhipH861amNgYBsg45Mz3eXETIGxg28vbc9JEMiP8pgqRIeRg-P2S1GsxKB9f1kzwekc/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EagD3BQ8z-HnFhaw4O7TY6BQx-yl0Ho_za5k89tXDB2mn_SatQ0Q03tJXZhyOnInifkGByeBhipH861amNgYBsg45Mz3eXETIGxg28vbc9JEMiP8pgqRIeRg-P2S1GsxKB9f1kzwekc/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Twas a lovely way to spend the afternoon :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Emirates Palace:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aSqLC0K1Xgu3DdTCcVGH7cUuuCTlGYIT9GKwEUvKKSGouwTmKBSszIm2k-RjzhT3TSkqCB5gPNRKQIXDFAKD2RBgh6pC-EFWT0j6hlcrXBy6r3iHVgFummU7dzFPDrk1d_-oIXo5kXI/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aSqLC0K1Xgu3DdTCcVGH7cUuuCTlGYIT9GKwEUvKKSGouwTmKBSszIm2k-RjzhT3TSkqCB5gPNRKQIXDFAKD2RBgh6pC-EFWT0j6hlcrXBy6r3iHVgFummU7dzFPDrk1d_-oIXo5kXI/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCoh2dTsbVZh8NxVwPhmL-93TM04Q67WenvtNRydbJxhvF4hK7ItGvmwW2erxISRwDoElaJDYKl4v7cytVoAz3yb2FmCiwQOhRQqNajCW7p-Nl1jhz1yJepPLnEaKyIY3EvFaj8q0LUc/s1600/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCoh2dTsbVZh8NxVwPhmL-93TM04Q67WenvtNRydbJxhvF4hK7ItGvmwW2erxISRwDoElaJDYKl4v7cytVoAz3yb2FmCiwQOhRQqNajCW7p-Nl1jhz1yJepPLnEaKyIY3EvFaj8q0LUc/s320/Polo+at+the+Palace.Nov2013+041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-75243719158823905822013-12-30T05:09:00.004-08:002013-12-30T05:09:56.642-08:00technical difficulties<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hi everyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, I have so many photos and stories yet to post, but this blog website is not letting me upload photos right now ... I'll keep trying! Just didn't want anyone to think I'd disappeared ;-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Kate</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-30120339062486152962013-12-26T05:00:00.000-08:002013-12-28T03:27:09.079-08:00Temples and Stupas of Kathmandu<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Nepal, we saw lots of temples, stupas, and statues. (Tim has fare more photos of these at tmgimagery.com)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The largest Tibetan stupa in Asia, Boudhanath (notice the people in some of the photos, to give you some scale):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsFNkPZ9roZKmwUw7gy9hBiYCw2YZFcNlD9bH3c7KHqERSR59T3LgM_nZDlMmPK0p3gHNkt35HzMOwdikR8_IJ6vQ44OkaH0VSTfyMRi-LjrZUf3D8FyqiPUQkzmlQAP4XQzRsL4b2_I/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsFNkPZ9roZKmwUw7gy9hBiYCw2YZFcNlD9bH3c7KHqERSR59T3LgM_nZDlMmPK0p3gHNkt35HzMOwdikR8_IJ6vQ44OkaH0VSTfyMRi-LjrZUf3D8FyqiPUQkzmlQAP4XQzRsL4b2_I/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC6iOqmXdDUlnlaMFGvQzaukmJYaZSEGpxshpRA6NJx9i5kkhuN5V265FCXlURYz7-QMO_YPmQCIeaJKJHy9fjt1ZXd1MTfAzD3dCcDM4tI9s1muXeZxL75I5H8jDkwQ9ZPpHjlSIwCI/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC6iOqmXdDUlnlaMFGvQzaukmJYaZSEGpxshpRA6NJx9i5kkhuN5V265FCXlURYz7-QMO_YPmQCIeaJKJHy9fjt1ZXd1MTfAzD3dCcDM4tI9s1muXeZxL75I5H8jDkwQ9ZPpHjlSIwCI/s320/IMG_2578.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8sRHlsolLEZvwgTlw7uQWRaJAR6MiWE4W5ORM7RjD7ECTkIj8GmpvANadnL3wbEDLP2yNhVvaRmOswk4YokMyktQgx4uccBysDkW4Yt1p6pmGSKTAdSre2ilBU3lJteJ5K8JHUKjre4/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8sRHlsolLEZvwgTlw7uQWRaJAR6MiWE4W5ORM7RjD7ECTkIj8GmpvANadnL3wbEDLP2yNhVvaRmOswk4YokMyktQgx4uccBysDkW4Yt1p6pmGSKTAdSre2ilBU3lJteJ5K8JHUKjre4/s320/IMG_2579.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lLCN4qU9O4LZKHfNmpY0xIPaPu8E6OJGrlbERwE7kYgppYgMJN2iucuCpdi0kT1cf9FeW4RYAVV6AwsRmlRo4nK0QCW4dj2clcIi4_We8D5UGx-vko-pD0VE6zra-LJoazPfvYYutNQ/s1600/IMG_2557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lLCN4qU9O4LZKHfNmpY0xIPaPu8E6OJGrlbERwE7kYgppYgMJN2iucuCpdi0kT1cf9FeW4RYAVV6AwsRmlRo4nK0QCW4dj2clcIi4_We8D5UGx-vko-pD0VE6zra-LJoazPfvYYutNQ/s320/IMG_2557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWtD7eypIEF_3l_0e8eziIp4kOdZ00blmdGwz2ThtRb9x3NEq07J3O77XGowOLn9Bz2FOv8InT_J32V1L-pVvSFAxfV6eSuwHVPCrdZI8iBbBwVYBaU-uSXlt80WAr5g6_YsInsHMJvs/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWtD7eypIEF_3l_0e8eziIp4kOdZ00blmdGwz2ThtRb9x3NEq07J3O77XGowOLn9Bz2FOv8InT_J32V1L-pVvSFAxfV6eSuwHVPCrdZI8iBbBwVYBaU-uSXlt80WAr5g6_YsInsHMJvs/s320/IMG_2558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6ve_xzB4ixlTpVMgVFZ_J76XrJkcJpGoBL169OB31qY3a9Poy0zGeEVtU5oANFwZsJNc4tD-X-Ck49yD9y27xTsVQm6X4LEPWNgszI9Z7gA2NXDV7BXTx6V4OWz02RtpuHuzbTtMFSE/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6ve_xzB4ixlTpVMgVFZ_J76XrJkcJpGoBL169OB31qY3a9Poy0zGeEVtU5oANFwZsJNc4tD-X-Ck49yD9y27xTsVQm6X4LEPWNgszI9Z7gA2NXDV7BXTx6V4OWz02RtpuHuzbTtMFSE/s320/IMG_2566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The temple is indeed large, impressive. There is an air of reverence and respect, as people walk around. The white-washed exterior is striking, as are the eyes looking out from the top.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You enter through a gate that is on a busy street. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the inside, once through the gate, the stupa is surrounded (closely) by stores and restaurants:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz1dLV2nstPttrvk7LRPwxE6m8hi0bwekry_cVeHU8auX4p9LWCcU6eKvbGc54DS4jDx-_AglELiA1DLiic4z5kBvjNLiCbrUK-gOk0rw-Z6bM9-p1i7cw3zFjIWPPPcPN4_vLC94saw/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz1dLV2nstPttrvk7LRPwxE6m8hi0bwekry_cVeHU8auX4p9LWCcU6eKvbGc54DS4jDx-_AglELiA1DLiic4z5kBvjNLiCbrUK-gOk0rw-Z6bM9-p1i7cw3zFjIWPPPcPN4_vLC94saw/s320/IMG_2565.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH6wpPsOQNCOIy8NyptUI4fg_b8qNyGQ-qwTyq_YV3O8EMV3u44bAAJrxN48rtG8cjIwhLCGdswJGRTj25Jtu5VBCJYxPb0NpTOtBzvnVh2Zu7bmFcFP5X6CF2L7poV0WqEFlYPfkfsU/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH6wpPsOQNCOIy8NyptUI4fg_b8qNyGQ-qwTyq_YV3O8EMV3u44bAAJrxN48rtG8cjIwhLCGdswJGRTj25Jtu5VBCJYxPb0NpTOtBzvnVh2Zu7bmFcFP5X6CF2L7poV0WqEFlYPfkfsU/s320/IMG_2575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to the July 2012 Lonely Planet guide to Nepal (page 9): "The village of Bodhnath is the centre of Nepal's Tibetan community and home to Asia's largest stupa, a spectacular dome and spire that draws pilgrims from hundreds of kilometers away." "The first stupa at Bodhnath was built sometime after AD 600 ... The first stupa was wrecked by Mughal invaders in the 14th century, so the current stupa is a more recent construction" (p. 120).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When visiting a stupa, you are to always walk clockwise around it. You are also to spin the prayer wheels in a clockwise direction.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Temples and Durbar Squares (historic areas that are much like an ancient downtown, filled with many temples and statues that we visited included Bhaktapur, Changu Narayan (in the area of Bhaktapur), and Lalitpur in the Kathmandu area of Patan. All have admission fees that range from 150 rupees to 1100 rupees. Apologies that I did not keep track of which photos match with which temple areas. I am hoping you will enjoy the photos nonetheless. The temples, in my opinion, epitomize the look and feel of Nepal and Kathmandu.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_eyRyRo66EQ4LKRxc_Tge0AHOzbQWuV76kx2s771AOOFqwhj9O5z8nQ7oTXpjElu5RNHDvPpIMMq7UtZl5lXJeDS5gQcXVKLggId4dLQXX4X5UEwQmP6jhwPcMbLRpuAbIN3a0-9Sb4/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_eyRyRo66EQ4LKRxc_Tge0AHOzbQWuV76kx2s771AOOFqwhj9O5z8nQ7oTXpjElu5RNHDvPpIMMq7UtZl5lXJeDS5gQcXVKLggId4dLQXX4X5UEwQmP6jhwPcMbLRpuAbIN3a0-9Sb4/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy8zalJZ0clfrUZtxVhSMvAyMz5NILPS2IMmDlOu6nQx6BSadgEMp_66Z76YDzF5kAD0ogCvTXhe7pxuKTkQbQgDXr45V2nX3Ej0cgOasW-y2Zmh4Yxu-kr37Zk0yoOnOXvrdrXUAeMs/s1600/IMG_2286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy8zalJZ0clfrUZtxVhSMvAyMz5NILPS2IMmDlOu6nQx6BSadgEMp_66Z76YDzF5kAD0ogCvTXhe7pxuKTkQbQgDXr45V2nX3Ej0cgOasW-y2Zmh4Yxu-kr37Zk0yoOnOXvrdrXUAeMs/s320/IMG_2286.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMnjGBpyXmlD3Kfc3Z_hbTsSeRXn884STFwdYl0H8vdzZKLDjslsmWkN3y56Q4IaDy6koZg5S805O91AP45hqyZEBSSqopyvxvGXPc0HGW8kld7acb9V0fnzVtYr8SqvRj0gQ3l643nw/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMnjGBpyXmlD3Kfc3Z_hbTsSeRXn884STFwdYl0H8vdzZKLDjslsmWkN3y56Q4IaDy6koZg5S805O91AP45hqyZEBSSqopyvxvGXPc0HGW8kld7acb9V0fnzVtYr8SqvRj0gQ3l643nw/s320/IMG_2352.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmUsXWq4vkPhbXOsI7KlM5W5FvfgiNbZP2XC765_Y-8v2gzFpXyDtw-ECzCL0RIutiNgazvzuR7VAYJfGz15NXhICP1EvdOIVfRnvUmwMptFUvil3KggZvVuz93dZ0gg6l-EY8IJEakc/s1600/IMG_2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmUsXWq4vkPhbXOsI7KlM5W5FvfgiNbZP2XC765_Y-8v2gzFpXyDtw-ECzCL0RIutiNgazvzuR7VAYJfGz15NXhICP1EvdOIVfRnvUmwMptFUvil3KggZvVuz93dZ0gg6l-EY8IJEakc/s320/IMG_2473.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8MmiiwB3zlMUDAKfPWXlolAZ1JC-qsUUdP6DkRSyKFqOryLlmEY_agGldt5uy5wIwoHzn78VVqfvYPrJ9qUu0OEmqj9iaj3DZoxu9MwLhmvnKnCZr4Ky51jVtMr7OqSKeknZsmnv1uM/s1600/IMG_4173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8MmiiwB3zlMUDAKfPWXlolAZ1JC-qsUUdP6DkRSyKFqOryLlmEY_agGldt5uy5wIwoHzn78VVqfvYPrJ9qUu0OEmqj9iaj3DZoxu9MwLhmvnKnCZr4Ky51jVtMr7OqSKeknZsmnv1uM/s320/IMG_4173.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCJP4zH-D0O7haSesnXNR36GQSEQn5nIVQOG-bGUxKwinFbFjvMaZn3_20VuSIu_ZXQ7hKAS-yV6-XV03EJDCnw6tyIJ4Ap24EeOqRgRMBXtEW4mmNuAXXAh1aHnoQRGq-CW8ibYFvfQ/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCJP4zH-D0O7haSesnXNR36GQSEQn5nIVQOG-bGUxKwinFbFjvMaZn3_20VuSIu_ZXQ7hKAS-yV6-XV03EJDCnw6tyIJ4Ap24EeOqRgRMBXtEW4mmNuAXXAh1aHnoQRGq-CW8ibYFvfQ/s320/IMG_4231.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDS15XRg2LFuu29eAJzQCOTBa-pmvDeiYWaak8kd6Pyp3YEztS7CnURdxF5G4YLMjt2P4k_CRhcRI5bZ6OBZPYlULUZT1phcDj-1BINrd3KV2ZdlxRCY8Szpxd0pIpHHaWDLs6-7zcWY/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDS15XRg2LFuu29eAJzQCOTBa-pmvDeiYWaak8kd6Pyp3YEztS7CnURdxF5G4YLMjt2P4k_CRhcRI5bZ6OBZPYlULUZT1phcDj-1BINrd3KV2ZdlxRCY8Szpxd0pIpHHaWDLs6-7zcWY/s320/IMG_4247.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVWM32NfhV8ddxu00VI1VVkaOvDjoXd6Avk0koAN3EgZ8owOuisEFkipptPak7kle8lL9Qy7yLR1-F-YPexcQresSsLIkgphlZ2esTZZaMDg3dZGpB2e9cApG3rDuJyY9AyRVPJKuw7s/s1600/IMG_4269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVWM32NfhV8ddxu00VI1VVkaOvDjoXd6Avk0koAN3EgZ8owOuisEFkipptPak7kle8lL9Qy7yLR1-F-YPexcQresSsLIkgphlZ2esTZZaMDg3dZGpB2e9cApG3rDuJyY9AyRVPJKuw7s/s320/IMG_4269.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK-vmSFatAlT4l1dKyyxNxmNwKJBw9Ed5eG36aqvpZOdJuk4oyh2pKFHyr3KJdJMk679RcYeJztUuxq22RkoynrfM3752jMS-MQfODx_wRQM6JF4XMxnIA41GC2uKWa34ZflwAxaGpbI/s1600/IMG_4270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK-vmSFatAlT4l1dKyyxNxmNwKJBw9Ed5eG36aqvpZOdJuk4oyh2pKFHyr3KJdJMk679RcYeJztUuxq22RkoynrfM3752jMS-MQfODx_wRQM6JF4XMxnIA41GC2uKWa34ZflwAxaGpbI/s320/IMG_4270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdCGhVXRvWY1Y7XDzF1wXsMB8tylXih8fvGN7iHOYZpzLJdh3it0xbOjNAdpXVJMetAN4IRuVzFuh-YpLUnYCth_00ZDz2sdp5I27UbWavaB30oeMRJKtEVIP5OvvocM6SKVii00x1OI/s1600/IMG_4307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdCGhVXRvWY1Y7XDzF1wXsMB8tylXih8fvGN7iHOYZpzLJdh3it0xbOjNAdpXVJMetAN4IRuVzFuh-YpLUnYCth_00ZDz2sdp5I27UbWavaB30oeMRJKtEVIP5OvvocM6SKVii00x1OI/s320/IMG_4307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSKipXE-SkNRfNAWy-PcM3lkFdmI51u7YDRFF_Fn6lE0BORlvfNOJXc6lcDM4co2J6H6mnprqqzlpkp3GCmITgTsGSzvnwinB0R9rAh7UVyWR0eRH41dRYaVNCIz9WkIgni6U7GR5RBc/s1600/IMG_4318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSKipXE-SkNRfNAWy-PcM3lkFdmI51u7YDRFF_Fn6lE0BORlvfNOJXc6lcDM4co2J6H6mnprqqzlpkp3GCmITgTsGSzvnwinB0R9rAh7UVyWR0eRH41dRYaVNCIz9WkIgni6U7GR5RBc/s320/IMG_4318.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-33428152971439332532013-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:002013-12-28T03:26:39.481-08:00A sampling of statues at Kathmandu temples<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Statues and intricately carved woodwork are abundant at the temples and Durbar Squares of Kathmandu. The wide range of animals and gods are so interesting and intriguing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are a sampling from places such as Lalitpur (Patan), Bhaktapur, and Changu ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTC0NtN3FmMAGiUrNZnvydDpSzGL9VovpKoVGLq6EWzJCWo1Mho9k7PxolNnfuasAZOVsPbBwTTtw1EM53KwUjbjcpLTqu3SYQsK5rjd4yLyBZYkiyp5fsiboiEu6-JiBGWU4DW6T4rI/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTC0NtN3FmMAGiUrNZnvydDpSzGL9VovpKoVGLq6EWzJCWo1Mho9k7PxolNnfuasAZOVsPbBwTTtw1EM53KwUjbjcpLTqu3SYQsK5rjd4yLyBZYkiyp5fsiboiEu6-JiBGWU4DW6T4rI/s320/IMG_0197.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeS2S2hky3ctgy5Mq2fz_S6qadaRD4v9uL1y_ZHSZyQ1ILg6rvzhXrKBHiIz6zY6vyUf0n_xNtLloqXNKRB0fHDO3-YfE23yFuJ4F2oLVF4i9wLJFacU9FwoyvoUS_DbE-8mDdsS6wJ0/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeS2S2hky3ctgy5Mq2fz_S6qadaRD4v9uL1y_ZHSZyQ1ILg6rvzhXrKBHiIz6zY6vyUf0n_xNtLloqXNKRB0fHDO3-YfE23yFuJ4F2oLVF4i9wLJFacU9FwoyvoUS_DbE-8mDdsS6wJ0/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5mFCm63NznVIDgiXouhSl6yVndTZuUZApzGftMb7GZC2a9SAlSK0O23HdVsh-wKMGGPUkoaiAmI9IpUy2EY8uuz24RuQcfXvTLKU7_nIeSND3ZM-VaSc6Xy37tJuN0xP-9d0581eN4I/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5mFCm63NznVIDgiXouhSl6yVndTZuUZApzGftMb7GZC2a9SAlSK0O23HdVsh-wKMGGPUkoaiAmI9IpUy2EY8uuz24RuQcfXvTLKU7_nIeSND3ZM-VaSc6Xy37tJuN0xP-9d0581eN4I/s320/IMG_0225.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc-rb9qSkFSnlvB1rXqCeD0eAhqb-Le3FcTQcClhgfeYjL_n9lvQZDLc3Uioqb39Qa-wj5MHEUGpgzUa6veIxLpSX1uGAUzEzSoR9mnadD-VH-SvYH11opDVmgV9YsDmp3EInTUE1Z-M/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc-rb9qSkFSnlvB1rXqCeD0eAhqb-Le3FcTQcClhgfeYjL_n9lvQZDLc3Uioqb39Qa-wj5MHEUGpgzUa6veIxLpSX1uGAUzEzSoR9mnadD-VH-SvYH11opDVmgV9YsDmp3EInTUE1Z-M/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZthXXBSOZ_EzQR8dZ0xWqdGxUDNzMCO2d8KqvLnTrqsR61Dz7kPcNpSzJoGtmAxi540taqsF5GcbKeAtwqKHk1MuQooeqJ_FNe1rQGVKyh32qbPY6SbEEd0H7BautWe39uP8JgnzmAw/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZthXXBSOZ_EzQR8dZ0xWqdGxUDNzMCO2d8KqvLnTrqsR61Dz7kPcNpSzJoGtmAxi540taqsF5GcbKeAtwqKHk1MuQooeqJ_FNe1rQGVKyh32qbPY6SbEEd0H7BautWe39uP8JgnzmAw/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvJOWaD-bRaUIzLywlILCf2pG5sHgrUzYPlwfCjp1MsO8uLXikSWyQyvDxLRw5xVMkc9FwTe9ejorP7eBZd9W6PLajKB4IwXpIDy97plxhFxCY6gfLYpa7hPg2OyYuOpqC1t_CmMQGTs/s1600/IMG_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvJOWaD-bRaUIzLywlILCf2pG5sHgrUzYPlwfCjp1MsO8uLXikSWyQyvDxLRw5xVMkc9FwTe9ejorP7eBZd9W6PLajKB4IwXpIDy97plxhFxCY6gfLYpa7hPg2OyYuOpqC1t_CmMQGTs/s320/IMG_0566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPN-tIutdj6oNx8f-Ed4QmjSE1H-mr8GPXhHTf2l3jUe0pQgCm2vkFDEFLzdy90rmasVVUC1CRCwUC_Fc7g8uLleb76adXUMK_Rgjf6EPmI05J9QT2KePhA2daY91aSoMPrrPa29aimU/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPN-tIutdj6oNx8f-Ed4QmjSE1H-mr8GPXhHTf2l3jUe0pQgCm2vkFDEFLzdy90rmasVVUC1CRCwUC_Fc7g8uLleb76adXUMK_Rgjf6EPmI05J9QT2KePhA2daY91aSoMPrrPa29aimU/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgclYBIc-s-SQXnbOQdb0gCI5_kGTIiEX3m7cX2up0IjotACOiMRwSe2WkXryObER2kDjhsAmbxFQdLT-wbrGDp2rbmYNgP1faDxVEP1ImV4bRrZ0VAQ9a5rQKGzGRlcWdaXGq9PU9NFg/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgclYBIc-s-SQXnbOQdb0gCI5_kGTIiEX3m7cX2up0IjotACOiMRwSe2WkXryObER2kDjhsAmbxFQdLT-wbrGDp2rbmYNgP1faDxVEP1ImV4bRrZ0VAQ9a5rQKGzGRlcWdaXGq9PU9NFg/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFa2PEre6L-kGqVjzbM36Ahqlz47iZUJPcEpMvSleu58jqZkDfFjx3R6Av78LghHvYg50o7ewQ3otIHQfy-L4eqFyhSef_yHtK-9yAYUTwrvkZhYOHLETuqdFDycNGa9SncVlac5Pgj4/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFa2PEre6L-kGqVjzbM36Ahqlz47iZUJPcEpMvSleu58jqZkDfFjx3R6Av78LghHvYg50o7ewQ3otIHQfy-L4eqFyhSef_yHtK-9yAYUTwrvkZhYOHLETuqdFDycNGa9SncVlac5Pgj4/s320/IMG_2486.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2qbKbgTmQYIkH6rj7q0AICWRdmvcG0wFAJqYuYwldnGdKdniUdJPPWunC7ntU1DPLeq8fO7MrMCNKLkaOHQPKwMSmETAmEkUWT8qyqvn31a4H6crYy5r79XELR5gQHUXErv_zHGoiJ4/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2qbKbgTmQYIkH6rj7q0AICWRdmvcG0wFAJqYuYwldnGdKdniUdJPPWunC7ntU1DPLeq8fO7MrMCNKLkaOHQPKwMSmETAmEkUWT8qyqvn31a4H6crYy5r79XELR5gQHUXErv_zHGoiJ4/s320/IMG_2506.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx9k0OH_kYDen4n_6xWdAVN1Wr54xf98tlo4nJxy03-4L43XPbFY0S-uffq1l3_mKax8PDbbkBj6Qrp8ai4vE5s03HkMXfXl6_MS99x-mAwOcp33OSxecx84v2BfXeAv9bxHunUDv6lM/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx9k0OH_kYDen4n_6xWdAVN1Wr54xf98tlo4nJxy03-4L43XPbFY0S-uffq1l3_mKax8PDbbkBj6Qrp8ai4vE5s03HkMXfXl6_MS99x-mAwOcp33OSxecx84v2BfXeAv9bxHunUDv6lM/s320/IMG_2514.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxueADIulwvNHHdIeHHhrP9kodtYLAcbUn_dC94yMqsEHfkCFeMlMXAQT1IsX5Z1nYccpwracbfbCspK0TwvULg0wvSstL1znJjsxoTyhrCEN8SU-7bfD5ycAd6ypDRf7oyDyGAlJgetM/s1600/IMG_2515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxueADIulwvNHHdIeHHhrP9kodtYLAcbUn_dC94yMqsEHfkCFeMlMXAQT1IsX5Z1nYccpwracbfbCspK0TwvULg0wvSstL1znJjsxoTyhrCEN8SU-7bfD5ycAd6ypDRf7oyDyGAlJgetM/s320/IMG_2515.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuMMoSHWbNIIXLbNgLGodlrO8ykI1wqVHg-pbAnC3eufGrxf8OQsRzAnd_tFYk2oDxoZ0HZa3eMlUKw5BTG_XYJpGmOH6clPrut-f-fqgcftZH17GZfNxEDgQ0xfkoeZnEaM_hQFhUrA/s1600/IMG_4122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuMMoSHWbNIIXLbNgLGodlrO8ykI1wqVHg-pbAnC3eufGrxf8OQsRzAnd_tFYk2oDxoZ0HZa3eMlUKw5BTG_XYJpGmOH6clPrut-f-fqgcftZH17GZfNxEDgQ0xfkoeZnEaM_hQFhUrA/s320/IMG_4122.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zY6F_sS5fSKYluLhBghnpgMMdEPsoNZ6vA-sjfSIrwH8CFGw2uedmE9yXePH2dYRLzhnk6E4B7TLuvoNyCz3OJeQm7b3qz31SikfhkUvjxRg8tIcChnSsySN8SWGFJXXBrLzy9wKHXg/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zY6F_sS5fSKYluLhBghnpgMMdEPsoNZ6vA-sjfSIrwH8CFGw2uedmE9yXePH2dYRLzhnk6E4B7TLuvoNyCz3OJeQm7b3qz31SikfhkUvjxRg8tIcChnSsySN8SWGFJXXBrLzy9wKHXg/s320/IMG_4185.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUGeCphUuXhO-F7IIvtwujaJRj_h-pX5xxBbg7oZa4MHWsRyul8RtEUzLEoHSUhGzB9X_mxIyk1CkoOE2ApaqcUP_DvuTp5BqN-nyPNwR07jYhsTNb7-sW7oTM4cwSkTKVyDR-Eowanc/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUGeCphUuXhO-F7IIvtwujaJRj_h-pX5xxBbg7oZa4MHWsRyul8RtEUzLEoHSUhGzB9X_mxIyk1CkoOE2ApaqcUP_DvuTp5BqN-nyPNwR07jYhsTNb7-sW7oTM4cwSkTKVyDR-Eowanc/s320/IMG_2353.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJej49BUIp7_CoShT0c0qg6h5vBscOpCBSfwaOKdRagpJSVZn4GCQ5C9ptaBa-ZjDn-3COt-x4vV7JZ6bi5PZQqY1Up7lPuNrkZd-j7vwV-1_b9-n73-ONzMA_mWoRVEzdLMeO4ioqbQ/s1600/P1010409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJej49BUIp7_CoShT0c0qg6h5vBscOpCBSfwaOKdRagpJSVZn4GCQ5C9ptaBa-ZjDn-3COt-x4vV7JZ6bi5PZQqY1Up7lPuNrkZd-j7vwV-1_b9-n73-ONzMA_mWoRVEzdLMeO4ioqbQ/s320/P1010409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GfAt5tG8z_zhqBppSmMSMiGDLqKy1NkwKaXvRhQCdV6Z2ExCQ4Di8F1G65BDU2U0P7ohVuFdN0zpcjoy_6gwqenH2tmeK7z59_8nltT9IdDeeOzvBj8zdd_Y4Oq7vtTQvCHYUQfDnKY/s1600/P1010420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GfAt5tG8z_zhqBppSmMSMiGDLqKy1NkwKaXvRhQCdV6Z2ExCQ4Di8F1G65BDU2U0P7ohVuFdN0zpcjoy_6gwqenH2tmeK7z59_8nltT9IdDeeOzvBj8zdd_Y4Oq7vtTQvCHYUQfDnKY/s320/P1010420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN8bm2KthuYh92FwRnus3Xt_oKSYAyolYs03XKbw3KJDHL5ksRXqaSC9_f8kH5FOX4Z27szUA50dCjp0XCzN8P4qUrJFadkQzWGLdLgq6PDAnOuOvNBr0vdniI6WSZihxu9fJjCN7o0c/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN8bm2KthuYh92FwRnus3Xt_oKSYAyolYs03XKbw3KJDHL5ksRXqaSC9_f8kH5FOX4Z27szUA50dCjp0XCzN8P4qUrJFadkQzWGLdLgq6PDAnOuOvNBr0vdniI6WSZihxu9fJjCN7o0c/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0e-LDW0lLwfIPB7k3mlbzxcbuSE6mLyWHRSveowBXY-ECAum5IWpVpZUdOCSLE9BhrP8leUooT-9ZsXkCXpKrEAh7M2Pvahwqy4i22kzHHR_RXf5A-JctdxN5AnYoJ9uJQnJoxphdlQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0e-LDW0lLwfIPB7k3mlbzxcbuSE6mLyWHRSveowBXY-ECAum5IWpVpZUdOCSLE9BhrP8leUooT-9ZsXkCXpKrEAh7M2Pvahwqy4i22kzHHR_RXf5A-JctdxN5AnYoJ9uJQnJoxphdlQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was hard to pick and choose a sampling of photos. (Between the three of us, we took a <u>lot </u>of photos! And, there was such a variety of statues and carvings.) As mentioned in other posts, you will be able to see even more photos as Tim uploads images at tmgimagery.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As always, thanks for reading!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-19211432062254274292013-12-20T22:49:00.001-08:002013-12-20T22:49:02.700-08:00Jungle Safari ... Day Hike In Chitwan National Park<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I have a handful of posts still to post for Nepal, and those will come up over the next week. Tim and I just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary ... I look forward to posting photos and narrative about our last few days in Liwa (southeast area of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, bordering the "Empty Quarter" -- a HUGE area of desert), 4x4-ing on gorgeous red sand dunes and visiting the 7th annual Camel Festival.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>* * * * * * *</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During our stay in southern Nepal, we did a little half-day trek through part of Chitwan National Park.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've mentioned the critters of Nepal in another post.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post is about the beautiful scenery.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And one of the striking things about this walk, was the quiet.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was just us, until we got to the edge of the river, and ran into Chitwan Park police, explaining to some locals that they could not be harvesting firewood from the Park.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the paths had some wood foot bridges.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They felt sturdier than they looked ... but we didn't linger on them long enough to test our weight against their strength.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIwyMePNM-MYjqmTkw97amJQVJyqZwkCaFDfLEOQe4K727G6PaJ5EiAKLU6QJ4jKGEegPHfo4BQ_g_MdVn-N72WVln9eTnUfoRz2705iDtu48EWd1uZnevm2Cv93Hj-LizZWTzRmyQ-s/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIwyMePNM-MYjqmTkw97amJQVJyqZwkCaFDfLEOQe4K727G6PaJ5EiAKLU6QJ4jKGEegPHfo4BQ_g_MdVn-N72WVln9eTnUfoRz2705iDtu48EWd1uZnevm2Cv93Hj-LizZWTzRmyQ-s/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+659.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphNpQ1sGb27ZCLcF-z_EYPhy3-1N7tmZWxCBsiXdq5pEKHkdCiyfod-Tejc-mzgOHDsIQCyjxm_VrcSlLkJOgKcYIZJcnsTOYjD0qdCIEZPljU8rW71D1m5x91uXB40tFkVF6Q-3rvcQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphNpQ1sGb27ZCLcF-z_EYPhy3-1N7tmZWxCBsiXdq5pEKHkdCiyfod-Tejc-mzgOHDsIQCyjxm_VrcSlLkJOgKcYIZJcnsTOYjD0qdCIEZPljU8rW71D1m5x91uXB40tFkVF6Q-3rvcQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+666.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV09Cb6xT1k-sYYAXlVbDx55GUs4OwOPHB5krFsBygW1ZRVzNV5t3kz5cMBcvRnJdJXVYZTRYpAaaB5caTyYGoG_wgN_G7tXhZOI9cvQ226S8ieJaPYFdM2iwYbtH9c9D69u4AbAkrzE/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV09Cb6xT1k-sYYAXlVbDx55GUs4OwOPHB5krFsBygW1ZRVzNV5t3kz5cMBcvRnJdJXVYZTRYpAaaB5caTyYGoG_wgN_G7tXhZOI9cvQ226S8ieJaPYFdM2iwYbtH9c9D69u4AbAkrzE/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+584.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In one area, there was an observation tower. Given that it was made of wood, it was a bit wobbly. I wasn't particularly comfortable with every little movement making the tower sway a bit. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UFthJx6Mt1AO6-BntXG4YO9b_8Xc1qCR0cjcavXXDOiaV_iWuO2SitL3NRzzEUNBoY2Hsd4xHLc9v0MRavqRMW938Gqfujk-BF-Gf8N7hI0dMaKJZ1NZJnOvLLMKnsimakqXdLQ5wqs/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UFthJx6Mt1AO6-BntXG4YO9b_8Xc1qCR0cjcavXXDOiaV_iWuO2SitL3NRzzEUNBoY2Hsd4xHLc9v0MRavqRMW938Gqfujk-BF-Gf8N7hI0dMaKJZ1NZJnOvLLMKnsimakqXdLQ5wqs/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1019478585"></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the view was great.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOksGZxtTwwszfUvF7oR0xo-zA2oXHcy7ygHhWmXcb26jnZqzBHtl8f03t_qu5ptfi8b_vU6Sf0sd-6KTaW0IydPytVdRLjr2-p-Aqv7C2DIZVSsEvuriqZCQdSjQqdLOzyXNBFSpzSU/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOksGZxtTwwszfUvF7oR0xo-zA2oXHcy7ygHhWmXcb26jnZqzBHtl8f03t_qu5ptfi8b_vU6Sf0sd-6KTaW0IydPytVdRLjr2-p-Aqv7C2DIZVSsEvuriqZCQdSjQqdLOzyXNBFSpzSU/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nafY_xlcWylnuZBWs6wDSwqlG4n3eXmbGnx7rSRNNFq7jU5CLzl_btFBQJgw5TfL-Jm6K8MJeSPPVLlozxVTMFe81Rdlz0iqc6F4W6yV4kWyiEe2JhvF_9ZfHcBXwvEik41AzcPWBpk/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nafY_xlcWylnuZBWs6wDSwqlG4n3eXmbGnx7rSRNNFq7jU5CLzl_btFBQJgw5TfL-Jm6K8MJeSPPVLlozxVTMFe81Rdlz0iqc6F4W6yV4kWyiEe2JhvF_9ZfHcBXwvEik41AzcPWBpk/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG-a64ZswoabG8VWL5AyEgL3QECLXdGtUxhCR3erA1nifTXRrczMZv-qUZxXzCSbwESSiyaec0aJlodcJwhpGA3gqV7kghC9to2o6hE2pXJiYbU2r9TWrHzJoFyj8EglviAqWtkvWXDY/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG-a64ZswoabG8VWL5AyEgL3QECLXdGtUxhCR3erA1nifTXRrczMZv-qUZxXzCSbwESSiyaec0aJlodcJwhpGA3gqV7kghC9to2o6hE2pXJiYbU2r9TWrHzJoFyj8EglviAqWtkvWXDY/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lush greenery along the path we walked. Interesting trees and beautiful grasses.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cz7OiW7bh-4R317eZVyflvRRLhZm1WymHXKPLDXt5Xexyd9hzBB_i_zbNuZ3YkRhKmEnut4drdzqzUcYFdBS5PsBC3fJ569b-TaKtwu86jKqzZ-hrfkyOlrmaXBl5rqdVW2r6L3LhvM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cz7OiW7bh-4R317eZVyflvRRLhZm1WymHXKPLDXt5Xexyd9hzBB_i_zbNuZ3YkRhKmEnut4drdzqzUcYFdBS5PsBC3fJ569b-TaKtwu86jKqzZ-hrfkyOlrmaXBl5rqdVW2r6L3LhvM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+570.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4r95Z1z-fbW788rN8K3q2sOjKuvGBQCsrJ8XUd3cE-Uq836VUXVaz32Dyz06AzeFhnb6G2EzV9y2axJ27LEE-E-mGeM4ChY8yNLtu_l5Hc_A-V2vQsQ-5Nk3wg4spUVkI-4HLyrwS-U/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4r95Z1z-fbW788rN8K3q2sOjKuvGBQCsrJ8XUd3cE-Uq836VUXVaz32Dyz06AzeFhnb6G2EzV9y2axJ27LEE-E-mGeM4ChY8yNLtu_l5Hc_A-V2vQsQ-5Nk3wg4spUVkI-4HLyrwS-U/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+582.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the intermittent termite mounds.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShgJ5aoDEzHBG-8xnldJrepWl0k-fO2Q82Dg7Zz2mzTO_AkC6Jzm2L8yKpS3Unr9z8-OT1-MtXtHGPYJoet1JoHEMMZp_GhKS6LIIm5TuTUsqULxuzmQgfgRkUVmMH8wm_Ou6uH7TEQY/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShgJ5aoDEzHBG-8xnldJrepWl0k-fO2Q82Dg7Zz2mzTO_AkC6Jzm2L8yKpS3Unr9z8-OT1-MtXtHGPYJoet1JoHEMMZp_GhKS6LIIm5TuTUsqULxuzmQgfgRkUVmMH8wm_Ou6uH7TEQY/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+538.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the end of our walk, our ride back across the river --</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S2bBISMfclHQN4dfECTH3mZdYMkHfF4HX4Fv54tWOaXA31ZGD-aByiOa6C7hU-9ji4Qzq3Xi3iIRrLKok94OnY-FGpQhS8uPYDzSTMVOyq3F7KRZEpvGB-DXk-L-IEMMRcNKlC9VVOI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S2bBISMfclHQN4dfECTH3mZdYMkHfF4HX4Fv54tWOaXA31ZGD-aByiOa6C7hU-9ji4Qzq3Xi3iIRrLKok94OnY-FGpQhS8uPYDzSTMVOyq3F7KRZEpvGB-DXk-L-IEMMRcNKlC9VVOI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-32276019376832271392013-12-16T07:41:00.002-08:002013-12-16T07:42:46.233-08:00Turquoise waters of Abu Dhabi ... and an upgrade to First Class<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A brief detour from our tales of visiting Nepal ... I'll return to that straight away ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Typical flight times out of Abu Dhabi are 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Depending on where you are going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My flight to D.C. in December was a 10 a.m. flight and the weather was gorgeous and clear. And we took over the water (instead of inland) ... which gives you a view of the stunning waters off of Abu Dhabi, and a view of the city itself (cluster of buildings toward about a third of the way up), which is fun to see from the air.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3SNu2YRxzJb2h4fnhc8QEPyGGPsSG4ZN1eUtABpClu8VuEqy25OHwsafq7rCNhTFuVw5fQ8FTiUJ5ws4Q4u1UVRJV0TR76qOsZPcrKLXRtussgiga5mLXK_ve5yexcTiom7i4mUTvBc/s1600/2013-11-29_10-23-43_689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3SNu2YRxzJb2h4fnhc8QEPyGGPsSG4ZN1eUtABpClu8VuEqy25OHwsafq7rCNhTFuVw5fQ8FTiUJ5ws4Q4u1UVRJV0TR76qOsZPcrKLXRtussgiga5mLXK_ve5yexcTiom7i4mUTvBc/s1600/2013-11-29_10-23-43_689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL4XQzUOBi89DduLSZgPV8PQRhZ_LL3UGI2f_TtiLDQuadErI1blLUSiIoaNnLXPNas9qBm-gnPE56OicaxyVZLkvUn7J5LolTwqyXT1bKLL_Ak6JWiPhyphenhyphenHXs3SrSHotSZTtNOlYDTgg/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-11_182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL4XQzUOBi89DduLSZgPV8PQRhZ_LL3UGI2f_TtiLDQuadErI1blLUSiIoaNnLXPNas9qBm-gnPE56OicaxyVZLkvUn7J5LolTwqyXT1bKLL_Ak6JWiPhyphenhyphenHXs3SrSHotSZTtNOlYDTgg/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-11_182.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchWWERdNLGjB9clqFQuW46IxgKpaZJe1bzLTL1Uu8g2aTloxYv1M-wV5vBfPI0DHvl-vN3DBujEXTo9o5j6BpIbH6z7HRiXFTuIxMEC40TLjyIJTIqEbDpqgLqH_E-7rW8qdyiRG2Le0/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-32_587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchWWERdNLGjB9clqFQuW46IxgKpaZJe1bzLTL1Uu8g2aTloxYv1M-wV5vBfPI0DHvl-vN3DBujEXTo9o5j6BpIbH6z7HRiXFTuIxMEC40TLjyIJTIqEbDpqgLqH_E-7rW8qdyiRG2Le0/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-32_587.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TGSOM-kWZ_6ggTX6Q8EuPWj37wjp3Ubni3TSymXOoFcMuhvUvNVEG_y5I11MjJsUobB69G1-0tgyWtauCYEl_d0MAw7QwW_SHT-KQzPCZdCLxZjnf-y6p9PvcuAHRatyUQROPZfQin0/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-44_247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TGSOM-kWZ_6ggTX6Q8EuPWj37wjp3Ubni3TSymXOoFcMuhvUvNVEG_y5I11MjJsUobB69G1-0tgyWtauCYEl_d0MAw7QwW_SHT-KQzPCZdCLxZjnf-y6p9PvcuAHRatyUQROPZfQin0/s1600/2013-11-29_10-24-44_247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I mentioned on Facebook, I had upgraded to business class with miles. And I was totally taken by surprise when I was upgraded to first class on my DC to Abu Dhabi return flight. They had overbooked business class, and I was fortunate to be upgraded further.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First class involves little private cabins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And lots of leg room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And a chef that is part of the first class crew, and no other cabin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A kick to experience it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6DdavEqWcaJw01ytmAbgRUv8nlYcpyxWOg8Z9Uqox8WnqVNbHbernsehZyyMBuxkgWge2nEYym33i38duqWD7DzZ_q98ontrledkZ6zg1PQge5vAdqPfD1z9ijIHZE2_NtHyU7sVvCg/s1600/2013-12-07_20-49-17_986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6DdavEqWcaJw01ytmAbgRUv8nlYcpyxWOg8Z9Uqox8WnqVNbHbernsehZyyMBuxkgWge2nEYym33i38duqWD7DzZ_q98ontrledkZ6zg1PQge5vAdqPfD1z9ijIHZE2_NtHyU7sVvCg/s1600/2013-12-07_20-49-17_986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfcqm1wVnXNZmK8IGdO8yuvgpiXGajBKXraIoqgANHTVl4GX9Mfxb4_SP6vuJA6BwxZ7Tt2DWIqdfWcFRUIojikTDznDdBE4xXYBC-Jk-xWhJFIVaZ6pmKzhyDrIcBZc53W9V-Gjuiyc/s1600/2013-12-07_20-50-21_112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfcqm1wVnXNZmK8IGdO8yuvgpiXGajBKXraIoqgANHTVl4GX9Mfxb4_SP6vuJA6BwxZ7Tt2DWIqdfWcFRUIojikTDznDdBE4xXYBC-Jk-xWhJFIVaZ6pmKzhyDrIcBZc53W9V-Gjuiyc/s1600/2013-12-07_20-50-21_112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5H_i8bhphBvdhOfqJ87O4un59vX5wdkZEmzP_ef9JFNo9XQkC8O1wamjzou3J1OUhiNSLVFshyhwKYEpbRrQjw0i_GwKTIyTjAMOENAN_Zyw-DWFwD8rsRtu7GiAZaXFQz25WxUP7sQ/s1600/2013-12-07_20-51-11_290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5H_i8bhphBvdhOfqJ87O4un59vX5wdkZEmzP_ef9JFNo9XQkC8O1wamjzou3J1OUhiNSLVFshyhwKYEpbRrQjw0i_GwKTIyTjAMOENAN_Zyw-DWFwD8rsRtu7GiAZaXFQz25WxUP7sQ/s1600/2013-12-07_20-51-11_290.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7arJheWh9ZDZA-KHVFDMKi1_zkdyLqeMC6u1oE045UfDRtYZpIsEyUUuPVSBBY0q5t6JKhpYel_vkRHkh0VuM8U1P56lMIJhvu8Fz0Pld1_JiHvupZL_NTry_NSACaFnjV2X_NAHJKnM/s1600/2013-12-07_20-51-34_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7arJheWh9ZDZA-KHVFDMKi1_zkdyLqeMC6u1oE045UfDRtYZpIsEyUUuPVSBBY0q5t6JKhpYel_vkRHkh0VuM8U1P56lMIJhvu8Fz0Pld1_JiHvupZL_NTry_NSACaFnjV2X_NAHJKnM/s1600/2013-12-07_20-51-34_28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunset on the horizon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglViqw6JChOkQEIPpy-sUQrZ8qxHlJGTR86R6eJ4cKYUbZJ32mjCcpcehNx8Wp2OwaBYJh4iQEq16GhmhByPzwvzFyz6d10ELNKPhzSf4JVIlbZKzjp9nwdR4ZSGr6SxEAKoOREIiPaPM/s1600/2013-12-08_09-00-13_248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglViqw6JChOkQEIPpy-sUQrZ8qxHlJGTR86R6eJ4cKYUbZJ32mjCcpcehNx8Wp2OwaBYJh4iQEq16GhmhByPzwvzFyz6d10ELNKPhzSf4JVIlbZKzjp9nwdR4ZSGr6SxEAKoOREIiPaPM/s1600/2013-12-08_09-00-13_248.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-26240871135230349132013-12-13T07:42:00.000-08:002013-12-13T07:42:13.059-08:00An evening's entertainment, Nepalese style<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While in Nepal, we spent two nights at Into The Wild Eco Resort.</span><br />
<a href="http://intothewildecoresort.com/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://intothewildecoresort.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The resort is a small one. Comfortable. With friendly and accommodating staff and a lovely host.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is set on the Rapti River, across from Chitwan National Park.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A view from the restaurant's porch, where you can enjoy some tea or a glass of wine before dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsZgoijdId3KXkXIhh9YRQhNGNLNoWbtPLdD7nGAqylbwtl5Rt6ieWSpQwfpHLMFc3gIfwo1hlYnHZXMMuuiNDQ1En_SPS0HX9BZjU8oJYH356duAzTmPoW3FYEE3cHKCaOMH4VAR7LI/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsZgoijdId3KXkXIhh9YRQhNGNLNoWbtPLdD7nGAqylbwtl5Rt6ieWSpQwfpHLMFc3gIfwo1hlYnHZXMMuuiNDQ1En_SPS0HX9BZjU8oJYH356duAzTmPoW3FYEE3cHKCaOMH4VAR7LI/s320/IMG_2983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our room was on the left of this section of the resort:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYKTZQ7s8oGLGLtf64j6P_X2hpcMquab3Qxm7x_7pmAgKyPvFGD-alyGv8sXvbUdjs3RxOYwuXcA0wadv5dsRislzMXMkK6m5VeRy7fFx7h8lzjZuRmG0z7okbc1JgypYaNsadM0cc78/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYKTZQ7s8oGLGLtf64j6P_X2hpcMquab3Qxm7x_7pmAgKyPvFGD-alyGv8sXvbUdjs3RxOYwuXcA0wadv5dsRislzMXMkK6m5VeRy7fFx7h8lzjZuRmG0z7okbc1JgypYaNsadM0cc78/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">View from our porch:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjB_SP5s4U7OyWjNxSq8E_mWW2JHjQHwiYLgNU4maMRjMIqfjwJVH3Q2HJd7gisAZT-Dc4kI9YxWjuu_ljS4RRLMGIWERRSzkHkpTLY3W4O9nK_yohfvK_NXkV06yRmqsoeVtmSS7e5k/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjB_SP5s4U7OyWjNxSq8E_mWW2JHjQHwiYLgNU4maMRjMIqfjwJVH3Q2HJd7gisAZT-Dc4kI9YxWjuu_ljS4RRLMGIWERRSzkHkpTLY3W4O9nK_yohfvK_NXkV06yRmqsoeVtmSS7e5k/s320/IMG_2980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvy5J7hocYmAwZydzPIlkrwALjvI6p_78htXa3V3VaTd1ZtLx_qpX3YxgjAt9PMJVrliNA84crE3gHePcBQFFDL555yLhmLUAMH8K3A7s_veVlDpecmvPaqvJLN7dhfMTAA9oZlg5rYY/s1600/IMG_3758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvy5J7hocYmAwZydzPIlkrwALjvI6p_78htXa3V3VaTd1ZtLx_qpX3YxgjAt9PMJVrliNA84crE3gHePcBQFFDL555yLhmLUAMH8K3A7s_veVlDpecmvPaqvJLN7dhfMTAA9oZlg5rYY/s320/IMG_3758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you can see, this is not a "resort" in the terms of pools and water slides, gift shops and conference rooms. It <i>was </i>lovely and relaxing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first of our two nights there, the owner/host arranged for some local Nepalese women to share some traditional dance with us. There were some hand-held drums off to the side.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSqtMTLyaWxJTKaihEFRC6lAtQe1pn6HSjaNvA6y89IXg7i6rOvcfrDDZhEBQgayMi2yALpGLTEahyNv5H_8K5MS3tpJo9CmZjrSThyNvt0TpvI2x_vtNNvU5304qce1bQBgixmBFNKU/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSqtMTLyaWxJTKaihEFRC6lAtQe1pn6HSjaNvA6y89IXg7i6rOvcfrDDZhEBQgayMi2yALpGLTEahyNv5H_8K5MS3tpJo9CmZjrSThyNvt0TpvI2x_vtNNvU5304qce1bQBgixmBFNKU/s320/IMG_3028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wxcocbO5BiBgdimoHflPFkSRN5cTN0NIxXwVunJk5rT6coOsi2L20nRH6nUVjs4T1zFuTRE1WojFwPII0TM6jOjmfWd3VpfLtmdHwDhWzVl72XIajwWQALN6wZ_9kxEdm90Gf71LoHk/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wxcocbO5BiBgdimoHflPFkSRN5cTN0NIxXwVunJk5rT6coOsi2L20nRH6nUVjs4T1zFuTRE1WojFwPII0TM6jOjmfWd3VpfLtmdHwDhWzVl72XIajwWQALN6wZ_9kxEdm90Gf71LoHk/s320/IMG_3033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some video ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMFI_DEfI3X3EVfnyvwS14NA4HqM286pOolyTBaBO5cQVJDbb3U41IjTJOUEA0MTKYOhDmiBKCV1LQa54dihrpw6Mn8VPgiXmZjKaIAvFkKfER1WZ-TW8Nbvukamm46PkHWvku4D2Aik/s1600/MVI_3035.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMFI_DEfI3X3EVfnyvwS14NA4HqM286pOolyTBaBO5cQVJDbb3U41IjTJOUEA0MTKYOhDmiBKCV1LQa54dihrpw6Mn8VPgiXmZjKaIAvFkKfER1WZ-TW8Nbvukamm46PkHWvku4D2Aik/s320/MVI_3035.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk2qhi9Jg48-DWfVuKE6Cskze_CgsSz1CP7kX4_mBBdpg5xwRz8OJaf_n3JTRWwtqexHibacECieUwzkNS5mCzsjA4DhRCTS-HM0-nPzjI5Vyw5bfEkPMaHsM_FCkJUZRa_zsqPH32H8/s1600/MVI_3037.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk2qhi9Jg48-DWfVuKE6Cskze_CgsSz1CP7kX4_mBBdpg5xwRz8OJaf_n3JTRWwtqexHibacECieUwzkNS5mCzsjA4DhRCTS-HM0-nPzjI5Vyw5bfEkPMaHsM_FCkJUZRa_zsqPH32H8/s320/MVI_3037.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Resort guests were invited to join in the dancing. There aren't many guests at any one time (25-30 people maximum, I think, if you are filling up every bed in all 14 rooms). So in a situation like this, it's hard to hide and refuse to join in. Tim had the perfect excuse of taking photographs. Smart man.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It sure seemed like simple dancing, when watching. But when you tried to imitate the elegance of these Nepalese women, well, I had fun trying and was okay with not being successful in showing any kind of rhythm :-) <i>You really don't have to watch the whole video ... I was frankly too lazy to edit it to a shorter length than the 2 or so minutes</i> :-)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29CfWrRnB2wkCuws5ejmWrhu3GuG_HZqwJjlLcW0RT4eBMBP97YYHbpgcVmY2SSTeu04qBW9YPjX-gWfb4ayCCxUz4Cr4gJXotP5thH1UWQhPGGlTQqv9WZvc51kJ4aFHekVI45xBCk8/s1600/MVI_3040.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29CfWrRnB2wkCuws5ejmWrhu3GuG_HZqwJjlLcW0RT4eBMBP97YYHbpgcVmY2SSTeu04qBW9YPjX-gWfb4ayCCxUz4Cr4gJXotP5thH1UWQhPGGlTQqv9WZvc51kJ4aFHekVI45xBCk8/s320/MVI_3040.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of our fellow guests were from Japan. They chatted with Tim later (their English was far better than our non-existent Japanese!). Some, if not all, were from Hiroshima. They gave Tim a couple of postcards from Hiroshima, and email addresses were exchanged. We look forward to keeping in touch with them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's tough to get a good group photo with limited lighting in the dark edges of Nepal. You can see some faces in this photo. Tim is to the far left, mostly in shadow. Figured it was still worth sharing!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC07nNnrW__eNHQZ0iv7Vy7y9J29qNO8G55wgj1WXheBNOaUa2-DgriSEpmeuybOQ4kaCU_bBIF9CfwNXGgqVOkz6E7V4um6B2Hf9DN-voMQJr7N2MZh0H6LKH7vl8coNzsfngbaL9ZU/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC07nNnrW__eNHQZ0iv7Vy7y9J29qNO8G55wgj1WXheBNOaUa2-DgriSEpmeuybOQ4kaCU_bBIF9CfwNXGgqVOkz6E7V4um6B2Hf9DN-voMQJr7N2MZh0H6LKH7vl8coNzsfngbaL9ZU/s320/IMG_3045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a side, simply because I just had to share this photo ... During a walk to and through the little tiny town, we came across this particular local business. Not sure if I was more amused or more frightened by the artwork! (We did not venture in ...)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUlT6pIA0O4dQrDoN6vF4mzwKeMTX6_65MDEaI2T4MQEMipwojUULzTH3xs2OvJhL5sOtOLh-diHtwrv65QpaB7Q7TwkwO5m57mAJ5fRxsO3HnOn7GuOAnq55h7tOLFaZefIKMUdEbPY/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUlT6pIA0O4dQrDoN6vF4mzwKeMTX6_65MDEaI2T4MQEMipwojUULzTH3xs2OvJhL5sOtOLh-diHtwrv65QpaB7Q7TwkwO5m57mAJ5fRxsO3HnOn7GuOAnq55h7tOLFaZefIKMUdEbPY/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-28458335737619517612013-12-10T08:36:00.000-08:002013-12-10T08:36:59.712-08:00A glance at our hotel in Kathmandu<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you end up visiting Kathmandu, we highly recommend the hotel we stayed in. And we recommend booking ahead, as it's small, built on word of mouth, and for reasons that become obvious to a guest, gets repeat business.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4DiOhnObBCde4j3n5Lo5cxuZZaa9aPvp6OudT5_hbBYgAYir_bpGYdfwUMXX7fUv0TGFXSLgMCYcwW6A9FUwHhyFeBnIn65849QZEpTn3GRNAwxOVBNJKBZoyfkvfeGEcaKtDw-QQyQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4DiOhnObBCde4j3n5Lo5cxuZZaa9aPvp6OudT5_hbBYgAYir_bpGYdfwUMXX7fUv0TGFXSLgMCYcwW6A9FUwHhyFeBnIn65849QZEpTn3GRNAwxOVBNJKBZoyfkvfeGEcaKtDw-QQyQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkh3tAxzd0xdnNi4q-XziCyqkjHWN43G9x4Pt_HlfSXpDG67x5yMYOlVRhNQAai75RkkBOo4B-j2b-iLReKJ5BW3vC0BVGTs_Xg08-u0XYcc0J_kUW21AFZI3T-2MPLZJlgdFhC3DvSk/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkh3tAxzd0xdnNi4q-XziCyqkjHWN43G9x4Pt_HlfSXpDG67x5yMYOlVRhNQAai75RkkBOo4B-j2b-iLReKJ5BW3vC0BVGTs_Xg08-u0XYcc0J_kUW21AFZI3T-2MPLZJlgdFhC3DvSk/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+695.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the Kathmandu area of Thamel, Pujan and Michelle are the proprietors of Hotel Courtyard (<a href="http://www.hotelcourtyard.com/">http://www.hotelcourtyard.com/</a>). There's a reason for the name of the hotel, as the courtyard is a welcoming and comfortable gathering place for any guests who want to have good conversation with people from around the world, or simply relax with a glass of whatever suits you. Some of the guests have hiked Everest several times over, some stay for a few weeks at a time and make the place a second home. And then people like us, coming for a week or so.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47zPYEGhegmhBU-LJtQ6jfpbSaX3XdguV0regr9jXTIcJsNzK5QeAmlpz96YsrJAY9vQ-n2YYWNrrq6bH1urrF6YlWue8HxOMorDdtyPx9wflnmWgUBMoUKQf8wuZz1xFc9ORdY-hF54/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47zPYEGhegmhBU-LJtQ6jfpbSaX3XdguV0regr9jXTIcJsNzK5QeAmlpz96YsrJAY9vQ-n2YYWNrrq6bH1urrF6YlWue8HxOMorDdtyPx9wflnmWgUBMoUKQf8wuZz1xFc9ORdY-hF54/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part of the marvelous hospitality of Hotel Courtyard is that Pujan will arrange any excursions you care for, provide a car and driver if desired, make suggestions based on the length of your visit and what you want to experience in Kathmandu and Nepal.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN7e5qwO4ZEkJZ-oQYsW9un1T2VlQ9-jUcalxOYhu2ocaM09chRYIyubvWr1hGx25UUEL8r53it_hwUfzneXgSyotLnuRX5WBGQPk2SZY3BxBQowLIDDkDwwaCedG1hSQr3C5JJWf48o/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN7e5qwO4ZEkJZ-oQYsW9un1T2VlQ9-jUcalxOYhu2ocaM09chRYIyubvWr1hGx25UUEL8r53it_hwUfzneXgSyotLnuRX5WBGQPk2SZY3BxBQowLIDDkDwwaCedG1hSQr3C5JJWf48o/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7owhzTWI0C6sHkJDTCtg0Ev5QGJNBkJQT4fzrMCX5_v_lPjdt_nSPJbNE8sLeDjGX5uDYFp8BfvKgKaaIoh4O-j9J2B-WuASM2tGW5ShuTQ-YkkouVsMu4dlXDZhk8PABVlrYlBnV3E/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7owhzTWI0C6sHkJDTCtg0Ev5QGJNBkJQT4fzrMCX5_v_lPjdt_nSPJbNE8sLeDjGX5uDYFp8BfvKgKaaIoh4O-j9J2B-WuASM2tGW5ShuTQ-YkkouVsMu4dlXDZhk8PABVlrYlBnV3E/s320/IMG_1853.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9fkv-fFaP5n_zZM-qQQLlZ6L-5lSP93aBoqL1GJAK05eM96zfz78oM-d6HOACnTKtTBlSs306h-sgiZ_u0jqhloZoDRfRkPT7pHQhJ2d8EP98-_8LW8Jm0MyL5fW6Eyu9S1ULtEFHGE/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9fkv-fFaP5n_zZM-qQQLlZ6L-5lSP93aBoqL1GJAK05eM96zfz78oM-d6HOACnTKtTBlSs306h-sgiZ_u0jqhloZoDRfRkPT7pHQhJ2d8EP98-_8LW8Jm0MyL5fW6Eyu9S1ULtEFHGE/s320/IMG_1854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hotel has some classic Nepalese woodwork details:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvVyOj9vv7CRtq4MjHcdZXAzihSlTWn7z3fBNHEmD-Mt_EAj_Ozb9HxfTJ3rzz49s3PrLctxkK3sPwTMxaSoXI2M-8yJ9CFX2llZUkvXO_n7Q7YyH5Wko5U8sXSypO6Uis8aWp0M_44U/s1600/IMG_1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvVyOj9vv7CRtq4MjHcdZXAzihSlTWn7z3fBNHEmD-Mt_EAj_Ozb9HxfTJ3rzz49s3PrLctxkK3sPwTMxaSoXI2M-8yJ9CFX2llZUkvXO_n7Q7YyH5Wko5U8sXSypO6Uis8aWp0M_44U/s320/IMG_1865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdVcYTYApYgEcoDO4M757os2atoDcR1Mv_zW1IIr08FVjUcZnmRmImjtlvP8de7Pw1IzvmHwl8GuXI6xTb_ouJU88ryrJKdrNB6W4GcZfhGnA6JO17jfFOMkL3YtRKotAJxnwJDZfp88/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdVcYTYApYgEcoDO4M757os2atoDcR1Mv_zW1IIr08FVjUcZnmRmImjtlvP8de7Pw1IzvmHwl8GuXI6xTb_ouJU88ryrJKdrNB6W4GcZfhGnA6JO17jfFOMkL3YtRKotAJxnwJDZfp88/s320/IMG_1869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6ohyphenhyphenYYAWrl9YnNWi5k5kBVXY-IYQGX9RSV_z8GNkJcVkaMw9aTQdBdnL4flsBLTFfREJNzQDbpcsZvHg5frOINZoFvvFfbz8rsvcg78jfLoI6eU0Aryib66mMqHw1VoLyZS0SH_hawo/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6ohyphenhyphenYYAWrl9YnNWi5k5kBVXY-IYQGX9RSV_z8GNkJcVkaMw9aTQdBdnL4flsBLTFfREJNzQDbpcsZvHg5frOINZoFvvFfbz8rsvcg78jfLoI6eU0Aryib66mMqHw1VoLyZS0SH_hawo/s320/IMG_1870.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SgaXfdIoaGZUBbdGnNIQsfOpUaiBfdPtc8NcFKb7mQx4Nona__kEjDEQ0chOg28C8KX11Kk2yWHHBxokAjqaztXU1b-BQWqEqmiqRwpwEN4iI6KIbzLR1OenxKjYygeN_scvQidYLBc/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SgaXfdIoaGZUBbdGnNIQsfOpUaiBfdPtc8NcFKb7mQx4Nona__kEjDEQ0chOg28C8KX11Kk2yWHHBxokAjqaztXU1b-BQWqEqmiqRwpwEN4iI6KIbzLR1OenxKjYygeN_scvQidYLBc/s320/IMG_1871.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZWuo3IGo9XRfdhNrNUsrnU0iplIKcnjXHeuoKvSrgHaQXfCrPIw4luIXF7XMwsWKcedk_cfqiIl5Fwi_TGGgmNOBPbLfe783AWE09k5Rj-J3tgCwhkvfE3237ke2lnXFDkeYktqTk0/s1600/IMG_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZWuo3IGo9XRfdhNrNUsrnU0iplIKcnjXHeuoKvSrgHaQXfCrPIw4luIXF7XMwsWKcedk_cfqiIl5Fwi_TGGgmNOBPbLfe783AWE09k5Rj-J3tgCwhkvfE3237ke2lnXFDkeYktqTk0/s320/IMG_1872.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our last evening, we upgraded to a suite. Beautiful!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9nFD_sb553gvWB7KAUSLXWpurAQhZnLVv0UkJtJJx3Li7G-Cw8128Htv3aj6YpSPtu9IMfFK4Oz-tVi3S-DI6Hv4zROCW_yPRb5GmzmY9H0sYkCP91AgZlU1lNK7FRALvg7rljw-Qcs/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9nFD_sb553gvWB7KAUSLXWpurAQhZnLVv0UkJtJJx3Li7G-Cw8128Htv3aj6YpSPtu9IMfFK4Oz-tVi3S-DI6Hv4zROCW_yPRb5GmzmY9H0sYkCP91AgZlU1lNK7FRALvg7rljw-Qcs/s320/IMG_4364.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1163174742"></span><span id="goog_1163174743"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some streets nearby in the Thamel area ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqHHXvZknVyPBJiii_u0tFUI2HHGR0d4Baf-9Mi3uqxVqsQ689T0xWc-OILSHK6TVroZIpKsbDcCJJ-BTg5InDhyphenhyphenH_vciMPsCyYpKlGeIiR2dUhSd32qNwoirWtKN_R445GRO2LG666w/s1600/P1010812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqHHXvZknVyPBJiii_u0tFUI2HHGR0d4Baf-9Mi3uqxVqsQ689T0xWc-OILSHK6TVroZIpKsbDcCJJ-BTg5InDhyphenhyphenH_vciMPsCyYpKlGeIiR2dUhSd32qNwoirWtKN_R445GRO2LG666w/s320/P1010812.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3agYU-2XkZ9gK-Fv8pOuBYo743u9hBZxKmIPX4Blnf9EDKcVbelAZzmTYRT5k2nZ_wcU4csDFGiDuZ8HryXF8ufcuwL7jhqgqnY3hlCcDDt573GpFzrBuKa_hpLR9pSfvh2CGR8FdS_g/s1600/P1010813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3agYU-2XkZ9gK-Fv8pOuBYo743u9hBZxKmIPX4Blnf9EDKcVbelAZzmTYRT5k2nZ_wcU4csDFGiDuZ8HryXF8ufcuwL7jhqgqnY3hlCcDDt573GpFzrBuKa_hpLR9pSfvh2CGR8FdS_g/s320/P1010813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyV64MiYO546LKACXJPm8xtOmztASBVn_jEF271lp4BOOX3Dz48eO0rK59VXny31241TnLJenjZuRJxoLFQ3SBfRpo4iFwvtwA5pnNR_AGqbDSclVW0TL7h8R_SEUsmpDuLuynIimcrs/s1600/P1010814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyV64MiYO546LKACXJPm8xtOmztASBVn_jEF271lp4BOOX3Dz48eO0rK59VXny31241TnLJenjZuRJxoLFQ3SBfRpo4iFwvtwA5pnNR_AGqbDSclVW0TL7h8R_SEUsmpDuLuynIimcrs/s320/P1010814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-16760012299378319792013-12-07T16:32:00.001-08:002013-12-07T16:32:37.990-08:00Road Signs -- some unique, some just funny<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tim's great at capturing all kinds of signs with his camera.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During our trip to Nepal, he had the front passenger seat (unanimously given to him by me and by Hannah!).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And when Tim and I were travelling around the UAE, I drove (because I have the UAE driving license, and, he's a good navigator) and Tim was again in the front passenger seat.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That position gives him some great opportunities for photos. That, and his really good camera lenses.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nepal ... some unique, some funny ...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6nI8FEvxldgdvlPD7-0rEGREKlg5vNIlqzhIjYEPDeUH1BqGp1n2VZ1h3XdlVEe4W0FVIEydj7I4m3pQ8p87EV0ptqdxxbIrKHXmMS0eYzBdmO3IuP36o3MwOfHAuvpP1RJEXRdeDc/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6nI8FEvxldgdvlPD7-0rEGREKlg5vNIlqzhIjYEPDeUH1BqGp1n2VZ1h3XdlVEe4W0FVIEydj7I4m3pQ8p87EV0ptqdxxbIrKHXmMS0eYzBdmO3IuP36o3MwOfHAuvpP1RJEXRdeDc/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k5oy3-sHmmyVAD-VS4n99wxbEkeNDBPY0VG7fbFXDtjZF4D-sUkAnQCtU5_MUSY6qruJ1eF8m5f6qr02U4l2fZQK_ie8F18GR4WSR3a9Sj6iwDCr_HveG5kSAHo9QbwEmMR4iuuv4Ek/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k5oy3-sHmmyVAD-VS4n99wxbEkeNDBPY0VG7fbFXDtjZF4D-sUkAnQCtU5_MUSY6qruJ1eF8m5f6qr02U4l2fZQK_ie8F18GR4WSR3a9Sj6iwDCr_HveG5kSAHo9QbwEmMR4iuuv4Ek/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks7KXxItSzroXEUL5jUCb8snUPfxg500EP3TJWG13nT32mwqtpSVuwBWcaUnMhrS40GZSdY6mn2Cpaq0EBTeNaWBmHFcTw_vqxg-8hQX8x0Chy4jfIasV6YtWusVJLl8CCalTvr1mKqQ/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks7KXxItSzroXEUL5jUCb8snUPfxg500EP3TJWG13nT32mwqtpSVuwBWcaUnMhrS40GZSdY6mn2Cpaq0EBTeNaWBmHFcTw_vqxg-8hQX8x0Chy4jfIasV6YtWusVJLl8CCalTvr1mKqQ/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9J47aHXEmHGbfBIg0KMWu4HYaY8paiv5mh3iEMZdhyphenhyphenl7STL-IA-9Oydde2zQ2NjSZZ3SWfdbLw98mx2sw-UfXOmHRUdR_z14bBwj2ZcU256pm42B6xkRLgKGKZXwpuvBG1Yy5yRUHA4/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9J47aHXEmHGbfBIg0KMWu4HYaY8paiv5mh3iEMZdhyphenhyphenl7STL-IA-9Oydde2zQ2NjSZZ3SWfdbLw98mx2sw-UfXOmHRUdR_z14bBwj2ZcU256pm42B6xkRLgKGKZXwpuvBG1Yy5yRUHA4/s320/IMG_0337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSk9ILgGFWRGRwqWsWBQeeZnD-yyzypmiJbhgow88V6nHcAdN2AWdTsmjM-N5OhSAQwIGXEweVfpEqxJmvz5klh-tOnbrf322u7Jcqkfc211ZShnOlnLt6_JqMT5IOOKX76NOmhve2Hmg/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSk9ILgGFWRGRwqWsWBQeeZnD-yyzypmiJbhgow88V6nHcAdN2AWdTsmjM-N5OhSAQwIGXEweVfpEqxJmvz5klh-tOnbrf322u7Jcqkfc211ZShnOlnLt6_JqMT5IOOKX76NOmhve2Hmg/s320/IMG_0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some familiar (maybe not as polished as what we see in the U.S., but familiar nonetheless) ...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAcpCHfLxzxW59rzH0BDimvWgI7pJvz2FGOE4bEebQoeBcBgRzxK4Lg33LGkA3U_6NuvZb8IL75htGrsXIGG_3WWLGDhUghCk0cr-lnyRC2S_VukXkY4SGSAvPoXixwpawt_zPdCp0A/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAcpCHfLxzxW59rzH0BDimvWgI7pJvz2FGOE4bEebQoeBcBgRzxK4Lg33LGkA3U_6NuvZb8IL75htGrsXIGG_3WWLGDhUghCk0cr-lnyRC2S_VukXkY4SGSAvPoXixwpawt_zPdCp0A/s320/IMG_0319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And in the UAE ...</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Warning that you are passing through a Wadi (river bed):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRWQg30BKR0sGIylOUX97hAKN_H7WVXijjdYDW1bpPrDbUwbtN0C5BbY0HUfmJ3qutBDyN9EmSWoooSdoo_cGQgKMnPAxVG7K70LP05NfJ-j4t-iHHlUAgcb4O3B7wQmdYcLMyfTQgoM/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRWQg30BKR0sGIylOUX97hAKN_H7WVXijjdYDW1bpPrDbUwbtN0C5BbY0HUfmJ3qutBDyN9EmSWoooSdoo_cGQgKMnPAxVG7K70LP05NfJ-j4t-iHHlUAgcb4O3B7wQmdYcLMyfTQgoM/s320/IMG_1287.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
Camels might wander out aimlessly onto the road ... (they really do!) ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyAs_RqaGBS0jPrG8w_gLX21dTqthgymtaEkaPfwNe5DH0nAK-aDrUchz7KDVH8afNTQNtWRHVn0MNYbi_GAFsMckJPio3lxovTChRv8ilfh-91WlFqaQ7a-1PvSB9Ctk-CUEEJkbXnk/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyAs_RqaGBS0jPrG8w_gLX21dTqthgymtaEkaPfwNe5DH0nAK-aDrUchz7KDVH8afNTQNtWRHVn0MNYbi_GAFsMckJPio3lxovTChRv8ilfh-91WlFqaQ7a-1PvSB9Ctk-CUEEJkbXnk/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Self explanatory ... yet, not sure how the tires would actually cross like that, but perhaps that's the exaggerated point?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF47IBkLxBu0eRAmE77KYaoJNVNcVEQKQ4AiqBfVf0PVg5zhR9kX1swuNfzJE57QvuAz45S-azDBgbdU-qKQnePJij3DqOtIzJU7RwpNXxmBgrZ0UeH5b-2hCv8Tgdcq0M7XGdMihyphenhyphenbKg/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF47IBkLxBu0eRAmE77KYaoJNVNcVEQKQ4AiqBfVf0PVg5zhR9kX1swuNfzJE57QvuAz45S-azDBgbdU-qKQnePJij3DqOtIzJU7RwpNXxmBgrZ0UeH5b-2hCv8Tgdcq0M7XGdMihyphenhyphenbKg/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After Tim sees this post, he might have others to suggest, because he has quite the collection going and I have a feeling I've missed some! (I should have had him review this while we were both in D.C., but nope, thought about that a little too late! Now he's in the air, on his way back to California, and I'm posting this from the Dulles Airport in Washington DC, waiting for my flight back to Abu Dhabi.)</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-78400567579897889112013-12-04T06:21:00.002-08:002013-12-04T06:22:35.525-08:00Day trek to a monastery<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Hello from Washington DC. I am in the States for a NASPA Board meeting this week. The travel resulted in some delay in getting another post on this blog, but hopefully better later than not at all! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Enjoying cold weather, and time with Tim before my meetings start. I will have to download his photos from Colonial Williamsburg and from Jamestown, and share those on this site as well. But for now, more about Nepal!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">**********</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We crammed a lot into a week in Nepal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We feel we had a good mix of activities during that week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To add on at least a second or even a third week would allow substantial trekking (such as any of the Annapurna treks), as well as visiting Pokhara, and getting closer to the Himalayas so that you can see the amazing snow-capped peaks, including Mt. Everest. (After our drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park, I would fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara ... just an fyi should you visit Nepal yourself, and a note to myself, in case Tim and I are fortunate enough to visit a second time.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of our days, we trekked a couple of hours both ways, with a destination of the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse monastery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWkP3P9qYiNXnDtVBQOxFzCUmpfq5TTORnAlHn9NyNC-HDhzPqJ5xLjS6xihV9zUKy-V1Yfxmfler-kMmzh4JUnnM6ftqsVGb7aLaPFA2uCwvafuU1sjbxozUeAswIZatyawKbamkshg/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWkP3P9qYiNXnDtVBQOxFzCUmpfq5TTORnAlHn9NyNC-HDhzPqJ5xLjS6xihV9zUKy-V1Yfxmfler-kMmzh4JUnnM6ftqsVGb7aLaPFA2uCwvafuU1sjbxozUeAswIZatyawKbamkshg/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tibetan Buddhist, Lonely Planet's guide to Nepal (9th edition, July 2012) says it's "one of the three most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal" (the others being Swayambhunath, or the Monkey Temple, and Bodhnath, which I'll share photos of in another post). "The site is sacred due to the inspiring legend about the Buddha, who, when in a previous life as a prince, encountered a tigress that was close to death from starvation and unable to feed her cubs. In an act of compassion he allowed the hungry tigress to consume him, a deed that transported him to the higher realms of existence." (p. 175)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some photos of the colorful complex.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8AGwivjP9xYrNFl8taMbIp1Dl2XDhOJkMyqLZvZsdDZbLHPNb3on25ozIGGjdLb3Q2OaXufWAEMFslOEfeDt32wIMBPSQ0Sk84SApN3dGrWUFI5MwGjIkBUO2hyphenhyphenp45caI6NqExbhQe4/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8AGwivjP9xYrNFl8taMbIp1Dl2XDhOJkMyqLZvZsdDZbLHPNb3on25ozIGGjdLb3Q2OaXufWAEMFslOEfeDt32wIMBPSQ0Sk84SApN3dGrWUFI5MwGjIkBUO2hyphenhyphenp45caI6NqExbhQe4/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiooiFqjsyX34xpwe085B1uwG4Wc6wJUkhc8djpU55W2_bcSQYh7zKzRGuTEVNJSXanVAVEZbUFhi0SpJSzC1ZA7wsqwlNHQbh9F039VBcShGyVN5lVZA1TQtMEAb8HFRRon4_50M-VaI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiooiFqjsyX34xpwe085B1uwG4Wc6wJUkhc8djpU55W2_bcSQYh7zKzRGuTEVNJSXanVAVEZbUFhi0SpJSzC1ZA7wsqwlNHQbh9F039VBcShGyVN5lVZA1TQtMEAb8HFRRon4_50M-VaI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+334.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0H8p4uHaaH3ADW-DuiLQKMlnPRvpVWNMkHhmStjdlN9BmpkE2oLtuBsJ_228FF7ZfVGWRSNX1sNQwTU2QjrwDBngrWbM3x1rWsCq-VBv1J2KHbhM1fwsrcJDwrBSxntJZ_iHzdkaCBM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0H8p4uHaaH3ADW-DuiLQKMlnPRvpVWNMkHhmStjdlN9BmpkE2oLtuBsJ_228FF7ZfVGWRSNX1sNQwTU2QjrwDBngrWbM3x1rWsCq-VBv1J2KHbhM1fwsrcJDwrBSxntJZ_iHzdkaCBM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGTHfZsulDgCyS-FKVR4Q8z08CzjC5kjm71OJv2JOJi6KeiD3pL5LfFAQUZhACWm9gL5Zz_eBP79iYf_fyG57_z3Gy0keCCbFmxH4Z4qbb__vfMd0kOuE-zyhgFv122R2PtC4RHTmDlQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGTHfZsulDgCyS-FKVR4Q8z08CzjC5kjm71OJv2JOJi6KeiD3pL5LfFAQUZhACWm9gL5Zz_eBP79iYf_fyG57_z3Gy0keCCbFmxH4Z4qbb__vfMd0kOuE-zyhgFv122R2PtC4RHTmDlQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D3gCcVTY33NwptTksRueNsBH6v2TAUtLYCgK5gEv15WeTgPFl5ziqOZFk4OqyA9TLUePxMeR21H5w7UPDY55kLQ9OygbR4033Ajemi_NSMOpvO5f1NrWWaFgsWzBNLWH6gVAIROTz58/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D3gCcVTY33NwptTksRueNsBH6v2TAUtLYCgK5gEv15WeTgPFl5ziqOZFk4OqyA9TLUePxMeR21H5w7UPDY55kLQ9OygbR4033Ajemi_NSMOpvO5f1NrWWaFgsWzBNLWH6gVAIROTz58/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dbqNzopAMAlVB3EWGEYROpNQ7L7pnhGqxH6uv4PY6gAP57NiLlfU79LwcAMmzvYaqBDdP0Tvr-wxgcwr5AoeXbrMq48qcKWISt4XxoGZy4MWNEjheZssX9NHq7PZxylhb7i8_SwWcK0/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dbqNzopAMAlVB3EWGEYROpNQ7L7pnhGqxH6uv4PY6gAP57NiLlfU79LwcAMmzvYaqBDdP0Tvr-wxgcwr5AoeXbrMq48qcKWISt4XxoGZy4MWNEjheZssX9NHq7PZxylhb7i8_SwWcK0/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was a variety of artwork, in addition to the colorful buildings themselves. Much of it portrays Buddha. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OzlbPGL6__Kl6jsfvlmrsTo9BDlk3baTvnE4k1Hm2sgW3SV7QbWQXJIHcavxzlNCRkzK9xfl9wwkYXw25WTtpDJJzyowWo2yJA4d0NodFJc9wfZj_PZ-WMO325Z8zTScGU8IYl8ZJpc/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OzlbPGL6__Kl6jsfvlmrsTo9BDlk3baTvnE4k1Hm2sgW3SV7QbWQXJIHcavxzlNCRkzK9xfl9wwkYXw25WTtpDJJzyowWo2yJA4d0NodFJc9wfZj_PZ-WMO325Z8zTScGU8IYl8ZJpc/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPfRr8yVXSxWsTUqwwAlSZPLnM9fvlCvmO5j_d7URfsBZrSXnamapzaRf2xi4D2iJFsOYvlDcVj0bYZDKZz6KcCBvIljcW9SfRfonCBGNRlLV87ossfvbypPAHpeKA5oIePxQP5yW5ho/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPfRr8yVXSxWsTUqwwAlSZPLnM9fvlCvmO5j_d7URfsBZrSXnamapzaRf2xi4D2iJFsOYvlDcVj0bYZDKZz6KcCBvIljcW9SfRfonCBGNRlLV87ossfvbypPAHpeKA5oIePxQP5yW5ho/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWDd2r3sG8gK3vA4TSEkZBcywiJJHjoQPSIuPLloAxshUmhgOi0IQy2HZqezsoXzJeKWdJ-PZGTAeGe8hB5RtpYLEj0cMgSGnpHi5A_wsILqF_mVOYxo06dlDJUwMq8Z176jApNnzcIU/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWDd2r3sG8gK3vA4TSEkZBcywiJJHjoQPSIuPLloAxshUmhgOi0IQy2HZqezsoXzJeKWdJ-PZGTAeGe8hB5RtpYLEj0cMgSGnpHi5A_wsILqF_mVOYxo06dlDJUwMq8Z176jApNnzcIU/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+377.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIw3utP4dV6ZopLihDINAEnAbuEkpsLbNKZGwcAhDutJMQfAERDcwJHsMAGV_r9Bht8Mn4wdmWAqfwMT63QnNdGbhNwI2QizJaPosoZOLE6JuEwapEHRCHskepUPpCxXEZKDi6sfCnZI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIw3utP4dV6ZopLihDINAEnAbuEkpsLbNKZGwcAhDutJMQfAERDcwJHsMAGV_r9Bht8Mn4wdmWAqfwMT63QnNdGbhNwI2QizJaPosoZOLE6JuEwapEHRCHskepUPpCxXEZKDi6sfCnZI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+378.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VOLSRV9iPG4tWY_XdUdiUNTkMYGbLSRgM5pJQnbsmuBQ6Xb7PUfCSyxbtKfsMOWIb1OHEy2kiWZXPIPF22ZvZuXQOSgHQq1k1zzf7YGziPDIYu7jF1vqx6a1-NHPp33McuqO9_TC-wM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VOLSRV9iPG4tWY_XdUdiUNTkMYGbLSRgM5pJQnbsmuBQ6Xb7PUfCSyxbtKfsMOWIb1OHEy2kiWZXPIPF22ZvZuXQOSgHQq1k1zzf7YGziPDIYu7jF1vqx6a1-NHPp33McuqO9_TC-wM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUjxy-L2ScLj_6nyokujT8_VYddai9VfagEe2CRgWPqNykqXURdTTd6bq4nwt13m8v139hqru6Ln5rclWdVqcgiKf8Gy8jGXtncXmSTYQRPhwukSyYDb8avbNIeK-rA1rh84idQZJ0lA/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUjxy-L2ScLj_6nyokujT8_VYddai9VfagEe2CRgWPqNykqXURdTTd6bq4nwt13m8v139hqru6Ln5rclWdVqcgiKf8Gy8jGXtncXmSTYQRPhwukSyYDb8avbNIeK-rA1rh84idQZJ0lA/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+396.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKgKBTvzxCOs6GiovkfgiT7OpxZDGPiB214K9nm39GEumjAvXWaMCkhYhZVkqHMjiW4Fm0I3FhHnd5-oYDuCkV1t_4h95xCxbIcUgdmkieGa0UePIDIqCrFKPf9ABc6JqYJ1S0m4dTcI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKgKBTvzxCOs6GiovkfgiT7OpxZDGPiB214K9nm39GEumjAvXWaMCkhYhZVkqHMjiW4Fm0I3FhHnd5-oYDuCkV1t_4h95xCxbIcUgdmkieGa0UePIDIqCrFKPf9ABc6JqYJ1S0m4dTcI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+398.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW5EcQuIUqAdVl4NkjbOET8I0HAWaHLFkVvXAJ72r7NZxCukhdW3KDya7sp0_Gabsr3SxTy8Y79WEZ5fdQSY32t0J2Jnrnw7RIrjuZXeqk1odeOzP41EXyvKwYDY80s562HSDDrRhKaM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW5EcQuIUqAdVl4NkjbOET8I0HAWaHLFkVvXAJ72r7NZxCukhdW3KDya7sp0_Gabsr3SxTy8Y79WEZ5fdQSY32t0J2Jnrnw7RIrjuZXeqk1odeOzP41EXyvKwYDY80s562HSDDrRhKaM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Prayer flags are abundant in Nepal, and this monastery was no exception ...</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQzMOFEYfmuGwCCTmWH9zlpNper-T6vqkg70tMU4uaPV7y4ySXhSLUVYUE_uHaFS4nRdJnox61JasHVkX_jiBNCC4QyJM4QotxpZV6pCbeLd64LLMoWJfRVnSFDw5g1ev1sRfz-6ue4/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHQzMOFEYfmuGwCCTmWH9zlpNper-T6vqkg70tMU4uaPV7y4ySXhSLUVYUE_uHaFS4nRdJnox61JasHVkX_jiBNCC4QyJM4QotxpZV6pCbeLd64LLMoWJfRVnSFDw5g1ev1sRfz-6ue4/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ujfaaENLRPbDCas53ZWVIVSKXV96Crv65pb71soxszLRA7f1u8vNr1Ag5b2ll9r9w8V6hPlslbobUQL0HxCauyd97OxncvDiuXFrzA1pCAUwGsLAwjCVG0NK0YapkPDihvZOR-IwPXQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ujfaaENLRPbDCas53ZWVIVSKXV96Crv65pb71soxszLRA7f1u8vNr1Ag5b2ll9r9w8V6hPlslbobUQL0HxCauyd97OxncvDiuXFrzA1pCAUwGsLAwjCVG0NK0YapkPDihvZOR-IwPXQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvmbT1fWGq93FTzncnzt32uC4QP370iUQFngUdHz0Fc7NxjQ53G_3vXzzBoPt062AjYfBjZigx7auAjqVLgm4KC1lVipKgpUsGSrdYddft8JKoDAtf5HLQNOJDqiO4LxhxV3Z5sce-hA/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvmbT1fWGq93FTzncnzt32uC4QP370iUQFngUdHz0Fc7NxjQ53G_3vXzzBoPt062AjYfBjZigx7auAjqVLgm4KC1lVipKgpUsGSrdYddft8JKoDAtf5HLQNOJDqiO4LxhxV3Z5sce-hA/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDQbUyLM-f7bWUkdt7sVYO811ZSv2Fh-93UW4BbVnK5nG5hI2z8fCgyEuE3YEGtCP5RR1Y_c2DoAF0WrjV0cG-mQNLu5m0CCQDhLwSVDwzp8gHubA0P7SnNfsERmAKLCsGulsFVb53sk/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDQbUyLM-f7bWUkdt7sVYO811ZSv2Fh-93UW4BbVnK5nG5hI2z8fCgyEuE3YEGtCP5RR1Y_c2DoAF0WrjV0cG-mQNLu5m0CCQDhLwSVDwzp8gHubA0P7SnNfsERmAKLCsGulsFVb53sk/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hlF6zktSqyX7iSRipAhzjCSNNx1VmMd6CBlh0NtSiSOc9SXEaEzWpiafi2aLmZ7VldoAmMGJHk793NogrX-ATYeAXm0BkCIMpcQ0NIeHgetXGkKvFwDZA3NzADBm4AhWHt3IYiRj2dg/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hlF6zktSqyX7iSRipAhzjCSNNx1VmMd6CBlh0NtSiSOc9SXEaEzWpiafi2aLmZ7VldoAmMGJHk793NogrX-ATYeAXm0BkCIMpcQ0NIeHgetXGkKvFwDZA3NzADBm4AhWHt3IYiRj2dg/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One in particular was a bit too Stephen King's "It" for our tastes:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQcVqofDekOlcdD6uqAULAX_xxPSQAqZQqaX9BcmTdLSwFforTGxLQYwqCMseAs8nwiOnaCqdk-OH2BqcOVMWryKr5wWdDKD12AJ2hZa5gwi7osZV1nZ0EnHMjqHvSRydZCAoYaRXWlQ/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQcVqofDekOlcdD6uqAULAX_xxPSQAqZQqaX9BcmTdLSwFforTGxLQYwqCMseAs8nwiOnaCqdk-OH2BqcOVMWryKr5wWdDKD12AJ2hZa5gwi7osZV1nZ0EnHMjqHvSRydZCAoYaRXWlQ/s320/IMG_2716.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay, quickly back to less creepy images ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27vC1Z-3IVT05EJe_sbflHux2jvdCBiqJT8A61BK3xrvNvVZ4fISNHbZVinATAeKA_0C_lfGU1HwkAbnvgUXsblc65j1XuViBLFPoILlIe9vbDyzRRNSm44rt6FAZX1wf7sHEsv8z_Xg/s1600/IMG_2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27vC1Z-3IVT05EJe_sbflHux2jvdCBiqJT8A61BK3xrvNvVZ4fISNHbZVinATAeKA_0C_lfGU1HwkAbnvgUXsblc65j1XuViBLFPoILlIe9vbDyzRRNSm44rt6FAZX1wf7sHEsv8z_Xg/s320/IMG_2736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuhecSiRmTV2r6YpqzjSACdAONCh7y2BmDp8EghKSGu_BO2I50kjqyDv7GE4kpZnKvUTc7G__aKVRCz2EnTqy6OSR8geI84Q_OVSCrzqldz9yZ75_c4upauYFTrKPo39DZqUT-78m8A/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuhecSiRmTV2r6YpqzjSACdAONCh7y2BmDp8EghKSGu_BO2I50kjqyDv7GE4kpZnKvUTc7G__aKVRCz2EnTqy6OSR8geI84Q_OVSCrzqldz9yZ75_c4upauYFTrKPo39DZqUT-78m8A/s320/IMG_2724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg295rXJyY4Peb1ecJLobAyrFUupl2PJOFmr20fAJ0msrtcl8Nv7R4GSdJUrleBxn1Chhe_V3Fz1mhpkR6rU00EpnU7FwZzuIck2Xv5YdjKwbMKfgyIZtV9QCr989j3hGyDqV78lWHJTDo/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg295rXJyY4Peb1ecJLobAyrFUupl2PJOFmr20fAJ0msrtcl8Nv7R4GSdJUrleBxn1Chhe_V3Fz1mhpkR6rU00EpnU7FwZzuIck2Xv5YdjKwbMKfgyIZtV9QCr989j3hGyDqV78lWHJTDo/s320/IMG_2813.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hike itself was wonderful as well. Our guide was Kamal (see my post on people of Nepal for a photo of Kamal and Tim), a lovely young man studying at university. We learned a lot from him about the Nepalese culture (Tim asked great questions about the caste system, for example), education, and the area we were hiking through because that is where he grew up and his family still farms. On the way back from the monastery, we met his father who was herding their goats.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62Ps6FW2DIlapCgURnTteJFBHL0Y1XLmEmJmfXGf3_z2a49UGSlup9prMODBNRYIXmAQm-YO_kLk2pxmZQdjXKkLM87CsVE62d2vS38tvgcroTWy8v4kEqaN20Z3yezH3LO_af_0plOk/s1600/P1010559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62Ps6FW2DIlapCgURnTteJFBHL0Y1XLmEmJmfXGf3_z2a49UGSlup9prMODBNRYIXmAQm-YO_kLk2pxmZQdjXKkLM87CsVE62d2vS38tvgcroTWy8v4kEqaN20Z3yezH3LO_af_0plOk/s320/P1010559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The scenery was breathtaking. (And especially after many months of beautiful but beige Abu Dhabi, green hills and blue skies and clouds were a welcome sight.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1OitsmzzRu35rHJtU3YGw8LN2ZCwdYXYQ5pKpJNg4Tso64XFEmqanRFyZkNLRQ-o_DKUk_dk0pqxhJ0rs1XeWyi6Olg0v_rzjgnB2GRT3Sfq5mW_Vsq3WVEGooxVUWC1YMuo2vEC0GE/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1OitsmzzRu35rHJtU3YGw8LN2ZCwdYXYQ5pKpJNg4Tso64XFEmqanRFyZkNLRQ-o_DKUk_dk0pqxhJ0rs1XeWyi6Olg0v_rzjgnB2GRT3Sfq5mW_Vsq3WVEGooxVUWC1YMuo2vEC0GE/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYi7MQrAHeilVckDNsQ2lTyaEzmOoW_4I3Cm6oJFSlganXNds6OUFiAM94uKfpOEWqIR3GqNBUZoSuv_KQ9JFFnnM3-ybUPvy2mXX5IRfLfJjKzJCGwr_H_eEUkPdANziSvUWoMRgsqs/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYi7MQrAHeilVckDNsQ2lTyaEzmOoW_4I3Cm6oJFSlganXNds6OUFiAM94uKfpOEWqIR3GqNBUZoSuv_KQ9JFFnnM3-ybUPvy2mXX5IRfLfJjKzJCGwr_H_eEUkPdANziSvUWoMRgsqs/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+324.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQn6yMFUF27zWQQdG17RCjvMnlwmkpmY5gaqJbJWOER1GCkACITH7stoBfAp5fdqlLjqGmVbia43AOA_eLuaFsGmpe-OnUjUmYKmy4GYqTu_KoYiON-lVt6aAY9m1HH6pZ8XebkCslv0/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQn6yMFUF27zWQQdG17RCjvMnlwmkpmY5gaqJbJWOER1GCkACITH7stoBfAp5fdqlLjqGmVbia43AOA_eLuaFsGmpe-OnUjUmYKmy4GYqTu_KoYiON-lVt6aAY9m1HH6pZ8XebkCslv0/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG5RalE_zrmbK_5ZWQ38UDQjPs17mg3y1CYXK1YqT7Y8Ppn00an0yP1aOtbTE9hQ_OGaDnXzjRd_k5EQJjdgDEhomQnrgwgjLEZIbiwuFW5G7cV6tZgXOBgiTi0wBpVQTuLZNumXkZ5s/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG5RalE_zrmbK_5ZWQ38UDQjPs17mg3y1CYXK1YqT7Y8Ppn00an0yP1aOtbTE9hQ_OGaDnXzjRd_k5EQJjdgDEhomQnrgwgjLEZIbiwuFW5G7cV6tZgXOBgiTi0wBpVQTuLZNumXkZ5s/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The path we were on took as alongside homes and farms.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMhJSz3450v6x3jODVvYO7hL_8hNdG6pasvXTo-6XNnA8sr4kgiJGewA8DjXuVSfSbAnEce3p-Nf_FOrHHPlA7SqgkjaOf26n7o_0Pr6QCZOxc-u_BxXJOO9-Si3DzwSO_QARKT5X7LY/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMhJSz3450v6x3jODVvYO7hL_8hNdG6pasvXTo-6XNnA8sr4kgiJGewA8DjXuVSfSbAnEce3p-Nf_FOrHHPlA7SqgkjaOf26n7o_0Pr6QCZOxc-u_BxXJOO9-Si3DzwSO_QARKT5X7LY/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFD5lCjZe7OYYNou8np6snywR2q5XSssQnyk06hnAFUWxnZ4PMXxNCBntZ7binMOu2PDHHSTXxOAktEd5U1YHSlO1BOgpzZRv0NAGqTwDONbHCZ1BwEGzd2uTQLVVLQaUlocqTt-Zscsw/s1600/IMG_2921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFD5lCjZe7OYYNou8np6snywR2q5XSssQnyk06hnAFUWxnZ4PMXxNCBntZ7binMOu2PDHHSTXxOAktEd5U1YHSlO1BOgpzZRv0NAGqTwDONbHCZ1BwEGzd2uTQLVVLQaUlocqTt-Zscsw/s320/IMG_2921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yID2i6kk83BHxLIJmijJdL9uafy9CDjopzLHd9grn3y7qwMyJEUp3rdgOPGdvZ-IAdcFJxehSWIkIvJXDCI1PDSE8hTKGk7BEdSicjxrqz2bApL0SkuyTV4qWfv33-S-de8YOedko9E/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yID2i6kk83BHxLIJmijJdL9uafy9CDjopzLHd9grn3y7qwMyJEUp3rdgOPGdvZ-IAdcFJxehSWIkIvJXDCI1PDSE8hTKGk7BEdSicjxrqz2bApL0SkuyTV4qWfv33-S-de8YOedko9E/s320/IMG_2933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The yellow in the field is mustard. In this area they grow wheat, rice, mustard, primarily. They use their eaves, roofs and tin shed covers for drying corn and other foods.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSznsWhmv0NXRg_qMRWZZ5Tbnhh5wYNxS6B56bDtCrPKjogxxcynmZtlDvGNh93fmXb30UIMwJo4yMi13Yv7OiTUtVkBPeWfajZcF8zAeCCn7I0pjRgmPgC7NKG1GPY-u0YPKghEU6pc/s1600/IMG_2910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSznsWhmv0NXRg_qMRWZZ5Tbnhh5wYNxS6B56bDtCrPKjogxxcynmZtlDvGNh93fmXb30UIMwJo4yMi13Yv7OiTUtVkBPeWfajZcF8zAeCCn7I0pjRgmPgC7NKG1GPY-u0YPKghEU6pc/s320/IMG_2910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZMRIaYm9PE6iuRr_m50F7AVmUJb6e8VTXRpZr6JZCGUxLavj9JNqMJYXf9J_XHP1KA4-KB9JAkE-trQduRGKKIPdCbeBdhd8rIh2G4eloBgv1xBhiMXOe1GfrtsnCqqYDM_xiQe9maI/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZMRIaYm9PE6iuRr_m50F7AVmUJb6e8VTXRpZr6JZCGUxLavj9JNqMJYXf9J_XHP1KA4-KB9JAkE-trQduRGKKIPdCbeBdhd8rIh2G4eloBgv1xBhiMXOe1GfrtsnCqqYDM_xiQe9maI/s320/IMG_2953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As part of our day, it was arranged for us to stop for coffee at a Nepalese farm house before heading to the monastery. On the return, the trek included lunch at the same house. 'Twas yummy! And such a special treat to enjoy this home-cooked meal.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTYDkTPPlT4gOb5b6afSASFUVRZcQ8yclZ_MwK3inRP1x9h1w0oNVO7mZPpZFdyqSQtVCWxWvvJGQZXi4g3qGPcib8tpqTXIbCyr5WmFF0mWK3db2MiTq3ojNjJAKEsBrctNmCHWFKCY/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTYDkTPPlT4gOb5b6afSASFUVRZcQ8yclZ_MwK3inRP1x9h1w0oNVO7mZPpZFdyqSQtVCWxWvvJGQZXi4g3qGPcib8tpqTXIbCyr5WmFF0mWK3db2MiTq3ojNjJAKEsBrctNmCHWFKCY/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's cauliflower, potatoes, egg, rice, a Nepalese bread, cabbage. Had we wanted to, we could eat in the style of Nepalese, with our right hand and no utensils. Hard to break the habit of eating with a fork :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was hard to pick just a few photos to share, in writing about this trek. Between Tim and Hannah and I, we have SO many photos (of the entire trip, let alone of this one day). So if you want to see more, when I'm back in January, just say the word and I'll show you as many as you're willing to look at! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tim is also posting a lot of photos at www.tmgimagery.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-8164112096092904502013-11-27T09:50:00.002-08:002013-11-27T09:50:39.137-08:00It's a wild ride. Literally.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting around Nepal is an adventure unto itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is one main highway in Nepal. It's two lanes, and they are narrow lanes. Outside of Kathmandu, the roads wind through hills and mountains, and there are many sheer dropoffs with no guard rails.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it's a relief when you hit a stretch of highway that is smooth and solid asphalt. A great portion of the highway is pitted with potholes. Big deep potholes. And for that reason, a good portion of the time, cars and buses and trucks and motorcycles go around 40 kmph. You feel like saying "woo-hoo!" when the road and traffic is good enough to hit 60 kmph, maybe even 80 kmph. But that doesn't last long!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And in the city, there are some pitted roads as well, but overall not as bad as the highway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vehicles pass each other on these two-lane windy roads. We thought the driving in the UAE was on the risky side. Oh no. The UAE has nothing on Nepal. In fact, when we got back to the UAE and were in a taxi back to the villa, it was refreshing that the taxi was keeping a car's length behind the next car. In Nepal, that the bumpers of vehicles are actually not touching or hitting each other is remarkable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a system to the risk-filled passing of other vehicles. You just trust, and you pray, that the drivers around you know the signals and are adhering to them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For example ... people honk a lot, but they are short honks, to let other drivers know where you are. When you want to pass another vehicle, you honk. On the windy highway, if it's clear to pass, the vehicle (usually a big truck) will turn on its right turn indicator. If it's not clear, the driver uses the left turn indicator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeGIYLfpa-iLZuG5Der31jyhcjkbGzCTsGdXFNeIsd9VsSJncLJKV0ByUD0J7IYh-mT8VbtACcT3PhQN01LOEGzmRK7SnPHWAIJUoyeo-C3jLLCT2FwvQb963zIBEvM0PdFiRhSgiUTs/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeGIYLfpa-iLZuG5Der31jyhcjkbGzCTsGdXFNeIsd9VsSJncLJKV0ByUD0J7IYh-mT8VbtACcT3PhQN01LOEGzmRK7SnPHWAIJUoyeo-C3jLLCT2FwvQb963zIBEvM0PdFiRhSgiUTs/s320/IMG_0326.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bumpers of trucks actually have words on them, such as "honk to pass" or "wait for turn signal".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, "clear to pass" is another term that means something different in Nepal. Clear to pass means you have a few seconds and the length of a car or two to get around the truck in front of you before another car or truck careening toward you in the other lane might, oh, graze your vehicle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the city, at first you feel some relief when you are on a road that has a white line down the middle. But then you realize that that line is simply decorative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjflSZ8PtEBDi1dx3R0RlWYt7YrSSJlhnALx8ng4lTV4myL6Ke5dRjamiIs2B0XdUo2AjvhSvQhV2JY2DuBypEI6-IABCJI9KUDqTuTr1Vn03wluHePStF5tW_v4oaE9TKHj6x8xnXE3A/s1600/MVI_4079.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjflSZ8PtEBDi1dx3R0RlWYt7YrSSJlhnALx8ng4lTV4myL6Ke5dRjamiIs2B0XdUo2AjvhSvQhV2JY2DuBypEI6-IABCJI9KUDqTuTr1Vn03wluHePStF5tW_v4oaE9TKHj6x8xnXE3A/s320/MVI_4079.MOV" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And some "roads" look like they should be for pedestrians only. But nope! This is a road that has traffic going both directions, as well as pedestrians, and shops on the side. (Picture this packed with pedestrians and more cars and rickshaws ... because that's it normally is. This quieter street was a fluke!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3pCDGaiTkoU5R7RViMAyESlUX3LJG0U-lw35OtktugmtJCSv1qFCGklRSXQ5TgctpSvUfpLtZvI6kIKB7Ar2rm732WKb-S_z65EHREpizX-wInygLKts7GeY_faJumCK2vCexDTb5_o/s1600/MVI_4328.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3pCDGaiTkoU5R7RViMAyESlUX3LJG0U-lw35OtktugmtJCSv1qFCGklRSXQ5TgctpSvUfpLtZvI6kIKB7Ar2rm732WKb-S_z65EHREpizX-wInygLKts7GeY_faJumCK2vCexDTb5_o/s400/MVI_4328.MOV" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even this street was quieter than most ...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ3n2LQyLUvJbL0a9uhLW_Y3RWcuTNvxs684QP4m19lpMnzNCxE_bCPdKm1BZmWtoyQPJ6Es1uLz6Di_Ve0Q_dqDsAYQCLf2hlVqGBmUxS6NjsUuOTn6nWQA5AYmvZDYjsxK88QzE0HE/s1600/MVI_4327.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ3n2LQyLUvJbL0a9uhLW_Y3RWcuTNvxs684QP4m19lpMnzNCxE_bCPdKm1BZmWtoyQPJ6Es1uLz6Di_Ve0Q_dqDsAYQCLf2hlVqGBmUxS6NjsUuOTn6nWQA5AYmvZDYjsxK88QzE0HE/s320/MVI_4327.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Besides some crazy and intense traffic and driving, the modes of people transportation can be a bit crazy. (People on top of the bus is a very common sight. In fact it's rare when there are not people on the top, because the buses are complete packed inside.) A sight I wish I had been able to get a picture of was a dump truck. Instead of a load of rubble or rocks, it was packed with people standing up ... seems that anything goes, to get from point A to point B!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AXy7Q5Nn9sL1ECysYZ22_0kNpjtXOCDwQ9KOxa6TF4ATXOjUJY4Cqq8JRdTZM4h8L4Zzcw52ujv7TAbQY682Swmw66MWc_5MIlET5DBMmUw_UH5CJdihX_bhFhjaMKktm6DSjbPHjgQ/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AXy7Q5Nn9sL1ECysYZ22_0kNpjtXOCDwQ9KOxa6TF4ATXOjUJY4Cqq8JRdTZM4h8L4Zzcw52ujv7TAbQY682Swmw66MWc_5MIlET5DBMmUw_UH5CJdihX_bhFhjaMKktm6DSjbPHjgQ/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And colorful. The majority of trucks and buses are painted with bright colors, and are decorated.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylwgrTrcVXvZKW4XFGrQXs5cHU3HB9t79oWQzSEzPOwgKvpyHqlD7JKGJOH8RFyxV8avus_1ujwfogEk2dTmdX3RIS-0maAAK_maqd-2_ZTEL8CD1TEV4WSnKd-cN-2p6CLLBNM6huhE/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylwgrTrcVXvZKW4XFGrQXs5cHU3HB9t79oWQzSEzPOwgKvpyHqlD7JKGJOH8RFyxV8avus_1ujwfogEk2dTmdX3RIS-0maAAK_maqd-2_ZTEL8CD1TEV4WSnKd-cN-2p6CLLBNM6huhE/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSRW_wcHUuXISI25pF5emDs0SHgvYPr3gL6ebW5Xdcvz-5BCX_pABLSAFsym1svrTkDE9jL2iY4Suvh-kimLC6ni2TPya1WXTDI-RtDvudM7YpjYqzNTBrFbbDvkzWr8VsiSmSVTQKlE/s1600/IMG_2616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSRW_wcHUuXISI25pF5emDs0SHgvYPr3gL6ebW5Xdcvz-5BCX_pABLSAFsym1svrTkDE9jL2iY4Suvh-kimLC6ni2TPya1WXTDI-RtDvudM7YpjYqzNTBrFbbDvkzWr8VsiSmSVTQKlE/s320/IMG_2616.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Other modes of transportation include ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another kind of taxi called a tut-tut.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15VLHTwxM1bzA0xmtGBu1hdtq2WgsUlzfl_UFa3EIi1MVcVya6uRS1Wn_4RH67ZYcn4g9r4G7srfwiUAdNa6FS3CmAmL_cJPn6azszPmb0ZG6BNmEpMIJY6ospwo5OobFNPFXNjXZdQE/s1600/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15VLHTwxM1bzA0xmtGBu1hdtq2WgsUlzfl_UFa3EIi1MVcVya6uRS1Wn_4RH67ZYcn4g9r4G7srfwiUAdNa6FS3CmAmL_cJPn6azszPmb0ZG6BNmEpMIJY6ospwo5OobFNPFXNjXZdQE/s320/IMG_4323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A type of rickshaw, colorfully decorated.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAijOLn4Zv7pe0Ng_4lpx6ccQseDCQ-R-O7hC_vZw-lKPjrXrtfT5zox-GSAYCaCN0VbVkChD3ce46o44M5BS7zDFZOF_FxUBN83QNghoykMPGbUo6Bo6K7bNzPqm5yspWQEyJ3WmxhqQ/s1600/IMG_4325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAijOLn4Zv7pe0Ng_4lpx6ccQseDCQ-R-O7hC_vZw-lKPjrXrtfT5zox-GSAYCaCN0VbVkChD3ce46o44M5BS7zDFZOF_FxUBN83QNghoykMPGbUo6Bo6K7bNzPqm5yspWQEyJ3WmxhqQ/s320/IMG_4325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And these hauled goods, equipment, or people.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhAhEgQixnsZ9UL_PDXBgVDXM5sVUMgr1gUxqD6_v5sTiZ4_0u0P71XifBajaOjAB-x7si3OH4tH_Ax2oCewc8Aq0jqsPsXCtLrhgUFc_w4XGWGvq9CafgRJLf1T7XyWd4lxI3N68ojU/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhAhEgQixnsZ9UL_PDXBgVDXM5sVUMgr1gUxqD6_v5sTiZ4_0u0P71XifBajaOjAB-x7si3OH4tH_Ax2oCewc8Aq0jqsPsXCtLrhgUFc_w4XGWGvq9CafgRJLf1T7XyWd4lxI3N68ojU/s320/IMG_2460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because of the condition of the roads, it can take much longer to get places. For example, it's a mere 185 kilometers between Kathmandu and Chitwan National Park. And it takes 4.5-5 hours by car to get there. (Remember those top speeds of 40 kmph.) By air, this same distance is covered in 30 minutes max.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting to Chitwan, Seta our driver took us. We stopped about half-way, and did some white water rafting (that's another post coming up -- great fun!). We were supposed to fly back from Chitwan, instead of doing the 4.5 hour drive on an uncomfortable road. But ... the wrong tickets were booked, there were no seats available, and we ended up taking a taxi back to Kathmandu. About halfway through the 4.5 hour drive, I really needed to stop for a comfort break. But no way did I want us to pull over (there are a variety of toilets along the way) and lose our place in line on the road so to speak (our driver worked hard to pass and get in front of lumbering trucks and buses). Instead I focused on praying a lot when our (very good) driver passed vehicles with inches to spare or when our itty bitty taxi was sandwiched between buses and trucks with mere inches to spare, holding on to Tim's headrest in front me, and bracing my body against pothole after pothole.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Comparing notes later, all three of us had been praying to be out of the winding road and mountains before dark descended along with us, and we did so, with thanks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the Nepal highway:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFPd9q5qlQi-v4iiMmraEoK_PB_0Q5TefM_sGW-7Xl-TOSVN0D7mFn1N_3LvjzqNLMDGuJUOBmzgwftiZdXDR2iqUFV_1IK6EpS1KRCtoZbAHrqARctoR4ueyHPG1BxRk8bSI436A5rQ/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFPd9q5qlQi-v4iiMmraEoK_PB_0Q5TefM_sGW-7Xl-TOSVN0D7mFn1N_3LvjzqNLMDGuJUOBmzgwftiZdXDR2iqUFV_1IK6EpS1KRCtoZbAHrqARctoR4ueyHPG1BxRk8bSI436A5rQ/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A beautiful view from the road(same river as the one we rafted on):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpc_dwWsH0vDLPCipSZTVHuWxyHpImrBMe7m95xHyXvIuBesQ621gJz1aQej6tzN23PWiCL2zYb3tZ-J1osk0f0UhapXMqKvllNXrwetO7EveLB271cqpQp_p4ZOzngUVZbwilv4lHcw/s1600/IMG_3761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpc_dwWsH0vDLPCipSZTVHuWxyHpImrBMe7m95xHyXvIuBesQ621gJz1aQej6tzN23PWiCL2zYb3tZ-J1osk0f0UhapXMqKvllNXrwetO7EveLB271cqpQp_p4ZOzngUVZbwilv4lHcw/s320/IMG_3761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few times we got a glimpse of snow covered Himalayan peaks. What we didn't manage were any good photos of them to share here, unfortunately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Upon our return to the hotel (another post to come ... we highly recommend the place, and I'll share photos in an upcoming post), I beelined for the lobby restroom, after placing my order for a whisky :-) Then, detox from Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, thanking God for arriving unscathed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Wishing everyone in the U.S. and from the U.S. a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! (And yup, managing to have some turkey myself -- some local restaurants are serving up Thanksgiving feasts and some friends and I are partaking.)</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444194032748956583.post-44961727842328494242013-11-24T07:02:00.002-08:002013-11-24T07:02:41.605-08:00Rafting in Nepal<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part of our adventure in Nepal included two and a half hours of white water rafting on the Trisuli River (or Trishuli, depending on what map and website you are looking at). Neither, Tim, Hannah or myself had ever been rafting before. Had no idea what to really expect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And oh it was fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On our way from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park, we made a stop at the Royal Beach Camp (<a href="http://www.royalbeachnepal.com/">http://www.royalbeachnepal.com/</a>). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I recommend them highly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our first views of the river, from the Royal Beach Camp ("RBC"):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwGlmVTJnfAyOgiQCaRG2ahxQTQ4tMoEke_SAYGeBvgSoslf80d12echvJuXtDNx0u7NFiPfxPq9McTnyt9C4mwaraH0j4CxKTvZV25hOSgJluRtbB16O7pVy8c09OJz8qQDorBAWU_8/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwGlmVTJnfAyOgiQCaRG2ahxQTQ4tMoEke_SAYGeBvgSoslf80d12echvJuXtDNx0u7NFiPfxPq9McTnyt9C4mwaraH0j4CxKTvZV25hOSgJluRtbB16O7pVy8c09OJz8qQDorBAWU_8/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeETTAEbM1cIJHFCibmsgS30sdV2nApxLhY04_5L77PaxC2PVyDsfsHYJ25ZUVMYyafmfml8BvBQwHE2ngfSImDcxGNVGmdPv8glYhyphenhyphen1ni5lYsOatuCRyRf1FKRunaU5nv3o1QivXNEo/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeETTAEbM1cIJHFCibmsgS30sdV2nApxLhY04_5L77PaxC2PVyDsfsHYJ25ZUVMYyafmfml8BvBQwHE2ngfSImDcxGNVGmdPv8glYhyphenhyphen1ni5lYsOatuCRyRf1FKRunaU5nv3o1QivXNEo/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After some lunch and a warm welcome by the lead guide, we were suited up with life vests and safety helmuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, the fashion statements ;-)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpz6Jiq_4A625uRWTLaUeMwhrrW6SA3aG9eRp8CjA-aLmHexzqXAWpKZjEFNAcVaie-wf4wgb778b3IzNpOby8AXyi2ACuZPE3CCKn3iekXgvpgv7bT1wFA6KFDjxvpjkZDVBmRAakhU/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpz6Jiq_4A625uRWTLaUeMwhrrW6SA3aG9eRp8CjA-aLmHexzqXAWpKZjEFNAcVaie-wf4wgb778b3IzNpOby8AXyi2ACuZPE3CCKn3iekXgvpgv7bT1wFA6KFDjxvpjkZDVBmRAakhU/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+412.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMY0_t_OX8H8k6SD2aDKNFSo8Lq1Jr1zZrAo3owZYb-zoYpTWu4KkYgW41_tUbyoR61U3s5ogYyokVTkYQzOgJf01P4AmKmlLP7CSMP4wKnmVIlnPfFRsZKAia72QyFVBYfTRCsyEqb4/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMY0_t_OX8H8k6SD2aDKNFSo8Lq1Jr1zZrAo3owZYb-zoYpTWu4KkYgW41_tUbyoR61U3s5ogYyokVTkYQzOgJf01P4AmKmlLP7CSMP4wKnmVIlnPfFRsZKAia72QyFVBYfTRCsyEqb4/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw40t36x51CplgQYOep9UpL6kxkcC03JcUMfnByuwm2rxeu-AJq9qh20U6EzbEyZ7R1e-zpbQlUQ1608zEfs6sgWo0_xODFx2A6piV77bzeIGsGUpHhhG3NMjLwUiEZ4SDGMB-9qdfN-k/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw40t36x51CplgQYOep9UpL6kxkcC03JcUMfnByuwm2rxeu-AJq9qh20U6EzbEyZ7R1e-zpbQlUQ1608zEfs6sgWo0_xODFx2A6piV77bzeIGsGUpHhhG3NMjLwUiEZ4SDGMB-9qdfN-k/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did feel well protected though!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our fun and excellent lead guide:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwycrIgyoqpcrhx3bxbZnbD6egafmKcUNAUn0HxVHH7-kt1k0UKsZ2W0P-sfVMu6QFOC6IFXcc7vrI1ix51Ng2P-Y5UTnRsIZRE9iMncHK4nUYieVnQGCoyIdekMQA3SJDJH9olIsuiM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwycrIgyoqpcrhx3bxbZnbD6egafmKcUNAUn0HxVHH7-kt1k0UKsZ2W0P-sfVMu6QFOC6IFXcc7vrI1ix51Ng2P-Y5UTnRsIZRE9iMncHK4nUYieVnQGCoyIdekMQA3SJDJH9olIsuiM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We received instructions, complete with demonstrations, on safety. How to sit on the raft, directions when rafting (all forward, left forward, right forward, paddle, stop, etc.). And what to do if you fall in the water. There were two safety kayakers accompanying the raft; this was one of a few maneuvers we were instructed on, should one of us end up in the water.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWnGBi2FUe3JjSIOF9ointsZZLX9w0fZeXlJBYOyPOwCIN7PUe1sEpCQNfhZusTAD3jC-WN6ZeOUHdYCFXD1qyw_6m9RuJWAGztqY_HiRHluNkZxiDbLrMDvZjcwo_aJ-3CeR36VOuCI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWnGBi2FUe3JjSIOF9ointsZZLX9w0fZeXlJBYOyPOwCIN7PUe1sEpCQNfhZusTAD3jC-WN6ZeOUHdYCFXD1qyw_6m9RuJWAGztqY_HiRHluNkZxiDbLrMDvZjcwo_aJ-3CeR36VOuCI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our safety guys, who were so good at kayaking, and you could tell they were having a blast on the rapids. You could also tell that they were keeping an eye on the raft in case they were needed. At times there were small rapids closer to shore, and while the raft was in a calm spot, they would test their own skills. I was impressed!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtNw78fiEazwCh3zmNjiEFYPc73Uhuha3OCqf6Ax2n4tI-s7oPQqBEBHJoyUxmTybQCMvyoMaz4MMZv12fvsVMQo74lCnBX_XAD75fuGdeV2OIlYS2wMb8bUiJbZz5Q57cra3mJ0xrc0/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtNw78fiEazwCh3zmNjiEFYPc73Uhuha3OCqf6Ax2n4tI-s7oPQqBEBHJoyUxmTybQCMvyoMaz4MMZv12fvsVMQo74lCnBX_XAD75fuGdeV2OIlYS2wMb8bUiJbZz5Q57cra3mJ0xrc0/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjOeoyU237cfRS07mserhUMddag4q93E03GHfLDYH7D91akhGs2vBhYTDHUrnv-5cifEQVV-SpvusxjGrtekjmAa7Ty1ixi4gA9J1pcMDWujTzhVzsiT03qnkPECxZTolm-61ufNRroo/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjOeoyU237cfRS07mserhUMddag4q93E03GHfLDYH7D91akhGs2vBhYTDHUrnv-5cifEQVV-SpvusxjGrtekjmAa7Ty1ixi4gA9J1pcMDWujTzhVzsiT03qnkPECxZTolm-61ufNRroo/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I was ever truly situating my feet right, in anchoring them under the rubber seats, but I know that I met one of my two goals: stay in the raft, don't fall out of the raft and into the water. My other more goal was to have fun, and that goal was completely met as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When you think rubber raft, you think it should have some cushion to it ... nope! This thing was sturdy. You sit on the side of the raft, not on the rows in the middle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were seven of us in the raft. The three of us (me, Tim, Hannah), three staff and our lead guide (who took the photo -- we had my camera in a bag, and this photo was taken in between a couple of rapids).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavFzhvImbCNyBBKAJBpqBkDYhS57gI2E3vu4K05oZw_cZ1C2lizmgZSG1sj1j6UG2zNjPFUAJTtC8cB5eR2CHY_AXqjGFunIP-BjX2rFj_RdOr0G8YSA9ebKWBHyBDOU2qHFl2HUd2Fw/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavFzhvImbCNyBBKAJBpqBkDYhS57gI2E3vu4K05oZw_cZ1C2lizmgZSG1sj1j6UG2zNjPFUAJTtC8cB5eR2CHY_AXqjGFunIP-BjX2rFj_RdOr0G8YSA9ebKWBHyBDOU2qHFl2HUd2Fw/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two of the RBC staff who were in the raft with us.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXElZiqwKJwNh_hAtrqMm24ooO5pKUfcHNhJrWRdf6aIHoyO4F1Pwx00TRYbKtfYI9gHJippFw6uJerAaX1fsF0DTRkU8Si3-oi-hHnQ6KP_R00XKv0no8kIeV5eqmE3jgG3f94fhsbw/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXElZiqwKJwNh_hAtrqMm24ooO5pKUfcHNhJrWRdf6aIHoyO4F1Pwx00TRYbKtfYI9gHJippFw6uJerAaX1fsF0DTRkU8Si3-oi-hHnQ6KP_R00XKv0no8kIeV5eqmE3jgG3f94fhsbw/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_-tb-vAbBQVtnVNnHYxJ0qdIQ2ccx6XzAcMe4UrkurCjZLXaw_H_b7IxXHTlwUj2mp8V8K4si5Fb3iNXSrPOIM-ULALVdbx-vJ_RIDVgbUC0BR82_jwDj2X5BLiPky2WywbwxJYdzqs/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_-tb-vAbBQVtnVNnHYxJ0qdIQ2ccx6XzAcMe4UrkurCjZLXaw_H_b7IxXHTlwUj2mp8V8K4si5Fb3iNXSrPOIM-ULALVdbx-vJ_RIDVgbUC0BR82_jwDj2X5BLiPky2WywbwxJYdzqs/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After our first rapid, we then knew what to expect. What going on (through?) a rapid felt like, keeping your balance, staying in the raft and still managing to paddle, the feel of the cold water coming up and over you and the raft. After the first rapid, we eagerly anticipated the next rapids, all with interesting names such as Butterfly, Electricity, and Surprise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hannah and Tim after going through one of the rapids and a wave washing over their left side of the raft:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yop2rOvWCG3RTCow_Zi9Qr8hm7ujzfN6h5M6JMEeFupQB8RVcDPHqeu8Stm4edFF8MgqKogC-Dc95hsjZIygMl-3vQoD-Ct4c11MCGrN7s0XfqQxsts1RUEl1CdeYNAcvasyVTTz6cg/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yop2rOvWCG3RTCow_Zi9Qr8hm7ujzfN6h5M6JMEeFupQB8RVcDPHqeu8Stm4edFF8MgqKogC-Dc95hsjZIygMl-3vQoD-Ct4c11MCGrN7s0XfqQxsts1RUEl1CdeYNAcvasyVTTz6cg/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-HNvukoMhHo0KFNKu4opbc_myhrofCEaieJj5a6QZi6nFfu-iIMQgyBf-kPjDU7vH4Ebzl7ExNpOdVDSJJuZ0IV16S0-BrtynJTdfEXRm5VxPB8vpF7gC-lb81cPF6PrbeAZKR3HIVI/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-HNvukoMhHo0KFNKu4opbc_myhrofCEaieJj5a6QZi6nFfu-iIMQgyBf-kPjDU7vH4Ebzl7ExNpOdVDSJJuZ0IV16S0-BrtynJTdfEXRm5VxPB8vpF7gC-lb81cPF6PrbeAZKR3HIVI/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The little store at the end our rafting adventure, where we were able to change into dry clothes and get a snack. For Hannah and I, changing meant going to the lower level. Picture dirt stairs and dirt floor. And an adjacent small toilet room with the ever common squatty potty. A group of 4 men temporarily moved into another room so that Hannah and I could change. They then reclaimed their room and recommenced their card game. (I actually don't know where Tim went to change.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSec9M_WrSbc0VMOuEnl-JvHVs-g4XKFTpuNJkkLSKjKalOa2UaL5_9jfGWd_zJl3ZuuFx8fGk1ZtlWSPTbApShlQH1Epp7ZlrJqmcZB4Ot-LRP7qCOyDULZWT7SqCeTdhyzJs8NtbjM/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSec9M_WrSbc0VMOuEnl-JvHVs-g4XKFTpuNJkkLSKjKalOa2UaL5_9jfGWd_zJl3ZuuFx8fGk1ZtlWSPTbApShlQH1Epp7ZlrJqmcZB4Ot-LRP7qCOyDULZWT7SqCeTdhyzJs8NtbjM/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I need to find places at home to raft!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfNCa1D9bd2cxks0y5gdqT1g_NMxONvF2_F1F4TNaq4hAfC391w45x2T8vABvSqydyD7Hob2yHW_w4tE0i88kespbx-EcXEQgHLKhc31bc0yI7iwFTo3VDt5L3uAiVriDQXwuuQDQyDc/s1600/Nepal.Oct2013+475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfNCa1D9bd2cxks0y5gdqT1g_NMxONvF2_F1F4TNaq4hAfC391w45x2T8vABvSqydyD7Hob2yHW_w4tE0i88kespbx-EcXEQgHLKhc31bc0yI7iwFTo3VDt5L3uAiVriDQXwuuQDQyDc/s320/Nepal.Oct2013+475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01511173249308158250noreply@blogger.com2