The reptiles of Singapore

 While walking in the Singapore Botanic Gardens we spotted a snake desperately trying to swallow a lizard. Very ambitious.

And a lizards that was not a lunch for a snake sunning its self in 31C.

Dubai & Singapore 14th & 15th

 Left our Hotel at Madaba 5am for the airport at Amman. Quiet roads and quicker than driving from Amman. Hilariously taxi driver had to stop on route and using a torch wrote up the log to slip under a door as the dispatch guy was asleep. We initially thought we had stopped to pray given the call from the Mosque at 5.20am.

We had a 8 hour stop over at Dubai..37C. Hopped in a taxi and went to the Dubai Mall to see the Aquarium. Really very good and also found a Cafe Nero...much excitement ....real coffee after weeks of ghastly Arabic coffee or sugared tea.

In the murk is the highest building in the world which we opted not to go up at US$60 each!

We loved the "swimmers" waterfall

Arrived at Singapore 7am. Had booked a hotel near the Botanic Gardens but no shuttle at that time so taxi. Grateful the hotel allowed us very early check in so we collapsed into bed for a few hours. 2.30pm we hit the road to walk to the Botanic Gardens via Nassam Hill Cafe for late lunch. The gardens were fabulous as only you would expect here no litter, cigarettes and immaculate. 

The weed men in the little boat with an impossible task.

Weed man with radio controllers weed cutter

Swan sculpture in the swan pond of course

The orchid Gardens were amazing....they pride themselves on undertaking hybridisation having established the gardens in 1861. Also found that every tree and plant of note actually had legible signage and history boards.

Every house should have one

So back to the hotel for a swim...just wonderful

Today the 15th we will have a look around for a replacement IPad as our present ancient model died some weeks ago hence this blog has been tapped out on a tiny cellphone.👓👓

We fly out at 8pm to Christchurch and should arrive back at Leader Way in Nelson 4pm Sunday after yet another Sewell adventure.

Madaba 12th

 After the adventure of Petra we went back to the Jordan Guest House in the suburbs of Petra for our last evening where our host put on another meal of BBQ fish and vegetarian dishes. Several guests including Jeff went up to the top of the hill to see the sunset complete with boom box playing Arabic music on the back of our hosts ute.

Next morning we drove the Desert Highway to Madaba staying at the Aitch Hotel again where after 1000km we safely delivered the hire car with not a scratch from all the Jordanian roads we traversed.

Petra 10th & 11th October

Met our guide, Moath, at the Petra gate 6am. Plan was to be hikong before the hordes of tourist start arrived. Was really quiet first three hours so excellent for getting about. The Petra site is 264 sqkm so not just about the famous Treasury building but multiple buildings and places of interest. It is a 2.5km from the gate to the Treasury building  which is actually a royal tomb to King Aretas 3rd in the 1st century BC.

The whole area is dated from the Nabatean civilisation who were the central point in the trading routes and charged 25% tax to utilise their caravanseri for animals and traveller's. About 30000 people were estimated to have lived their with sophisticated water systems.

Buildings were carved out of sandstone, iron and various minerals that create the colors.

Some of the figures have eroded over the years but given the age incredible detail.

Beautiful colours in the ceilings of some of the spaces.

Theatre fully carves seating five thousand

Mosaics on the floors in the Byzantine church show the animals and seasons which had been buried under metres of earth.

Known as the soldiers tomb showing the fashion of the day.

A lion which used to have a water spout. Also saw camels and more soldiers carved into the stone.

Inside a cavern with surreal ceiling.

So that was the end of our first day at Petra covering some 10km+. Next day we parked the car at Little Petra and hiked to what is known as the monastery in behind Petra then scaled 900 steps or so to get back down to the main thorough fare and up back through Petra again so feel after the two days we missed nothing. Many people ride donkey, camel or buggies so as not to walk in the heat or are basically incapable of scaling the stairs. You see some pretty hefty people straddling a donkey or folks half our age struggling  up hill.

This was at the carpark Little Petra. Note the obligatory Arabic coffee close at hand.

This was a ceiling painted including winged cupid with bow and arrow and animals found recently under centuries of grim

A wine press would you belive for the  famous white grapes of Jordan 

Orb on top of the Monastery  was carved out the hill as a memorial to Obodas the 1st again first century BC.  Then in a later century used by monks hence the name. The circles under the Orb mean eternity.

Our guide Moath had invited us the night before to his home for a meal. Jordanians sit on the floor in a room spreading a sheet of plastic on the floor. Pots of rice, vegetables are the put down, salted yogurt served and the guests start first. We had balloons with us for the two children and some other Kiwiana  small gifts. Moaths wife teaches 8 years of age but no English. We bumbled along conversation wise and had a nice evening.

Dana 5th & 6th Oct

 Left Madaba heading down the Kings Highway to Dana where we were staying a couple of nights. On the way drove through what is known as the Jordan grand canyon. Absolutely vast.

Bedouin camp sites. Goat hair tents.

Bedouin sheep with the attending donkey. We always wonder what on earth they find to eat

Views from Karak castle to spot invading armies. Full on tunnels, water cisterns. 200 steps down through the centre of castle take one to the water source if foolish enough as 700 year old steps mot known for their integrity.

Our salubrius accommodation at Dana. A village they are promoting on the edge of the Biosphere where we start our hike for three days. Room was like a hot cave with no outside window ala air movement.

Shabruk village nearby we spent time watching the local falafel shop owner turning out the mornings orders at incredible speed while we drank tea and chatted as best as one can to his Arabic customers.  Carried on to the nearby Byzantine castle which again was used as a protectorate.