Dubai 2011
We happened to visit Dubai almost by chance in December 2010. We were visiting India and had to change our tickets at the last minute due to a change in my schedule and the only tickets we could get required a 4-day halt in Dubai. We almost jumped on the chance to visit a...
Arriving in Jerusalem
January 6, 2009, Eilat, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel (notes from my journal) Even though we had a bit of a mishap with Israir, we finally arrived at Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov airport at about 2:30 PM (as opposed to the original 9:30 AM). The flight was short and we got a glimpse of the...
Israir fiasco
After two days of pure relaxation in Eilat, we were ready to take on Jerusalem, like many who had before us! At 8:00 AM January 6, 2009 we are at Eilat airport ready to board our hour-long flight to Tel Aviv (from where we would take a train to Jerusalem). Sounds easy right? So we...
Two days in Eilat, Israel
January 3 – January 6, 2009: Eilat, Israel. (notes from my journal) January 3, 2009: After the immigration and customs, we got a cab to our hotel! The cab driver asked us about where we were from and in turn I asked him his origins. He mentioned his last name and told me that he...
Shalom Namaste
Aqaba-Arava Border crossing, Jordan & Israel After the Wadi Rum tour, we decided to skip lunch and headed straight to the border. Anna had to catch a bus to Jerusalem and we wanted to get to Israel ASAP. It was a Saturday and we were concerned that the border might close early because of Sabbath....
Wadi Rum
January 3, 2009: Wadi Rum, Jordan (notes from my journal) When we got to our room, we took our cold/cough medications, a shower and went to sleep. I woke up at 2 AM and tried to sleep until 5 AM with no luck. At 5 AM, we both were up for good. Since dawn had...
Petra: Higher places
January 2, 2009, Wadi Musa/Petra, Jordan (notes from my journal) I woke up 4 hours later at 7:30 AM. The antibiotics were finally working and my throat did not ache as much. Heena was absolutely fine – which means she had enough energy to make up for the time we spent sick. We ate a...
Petra: The Monastery
The route to the Monastery is uphill on stone steps carved into the rock. The climb to the Monastery is arduous. Bedouin kids all along the way will try to sweet talk you into giving them 1 JD for a few postcards. These kids run up and down the hill all day long! Where do...
Petra: Lost and Found
January 1, 2009. Wadi Musa and Petra, Jordan (notes from my journal) We started our day at 6 AM. After a quick breakfast, Atta, the owner of the hotel dropped us off at the Petra visitors center. We wanted to get an early start so we avoid the busloads of tourists. We got tickets (26...
Petra by night
December 31, 2008. Petra, Jordan. (notes from my journal) At 8 PM, Qasam, the manager of the guesthouse, dropped us off at the Petra visitors center. We were going to do the Petra By Night tour. There were quite a few people. The tour started promptly at 8:30 PM. The tickets need to be pre-arranged...
Amman to Petra
(notes from my journal) Our day started pretty early. I was up at 4 AM and Heena at 5. We left the hotel at 5:45 to head to the JETT office. The only cab driver around charged us a princely sum of 5 JD for a 3 minute ride. JETT is a company in Jordan...
Two days in Amman
Amman, Jordan (notes from my journal) December 30th, 2009 I woke up at 2:45 AM. After tossing and turning for the next three hours I decided I’ve had enough and got out of bed, made some coffee and decided to just start the day. Heena got up as well. As we sipped our coffee (nescafe...
