Petra, Jordan

Petra

UNESCO World Heritage and 2007 Seven Wonders of the World "Petra".

 On our way, finding the Lost City "Petra".

There is entrance fee of 1JD for locals and 50JD for tourists.  The elderly can visit the place without the worries of a long walk for there is a number of camel and horses carriage services in the area. 

 
Al Khazneh or so called The Treasury

It has been called as Red Rose City because of its pinkish rock walls.

Petra has been the Nabataeans caravan trade center in early period.  Below is the Bab-el Siq or the long entrance to the ancient city of Petra.

The sun was pretty high on this day but walking along these huge walls is like in an open air conditioned area. 

 Djinn Blocks

These are tombs or memorial stones, cube-shaped monuments.

 Obelisk Tomb and Bal el-Siq Triclinium

The upper is the Obelisk Tomb crowned with 4 pyramids, below is the Triclinium or the funerary dining hall.

Sabinos Alexandros Station

Sacred stone blocks work of Sabino

Relief of the camel caravan driver

 Street of Facades  

Rock cut tombs neatly arranged in rows.

 

 

 The first view of the Treasury at the mouth of the El-Siq.

 

 The Amphitheater

Tombs

The Urn Tomb

Petra, Jordan

September 2013

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Aqaba, Jordan

Aqaba, Jordan

I came in Jordan before and never thought that there is this hidden paradise.
The flight landed in King Hussain International Airport, in Aqaba.  The downtown area can be reach in 20 to 25 minutes.  Israel is close to Aqaba.

It's not a clear shot as it was shaky.  Just to share the idea how close Israel is.  The lights across the road is Israel.  Our transport here is heading to the hotel from the airport.

Radisson Blu Sas in Tala Bay, Aqaba hides a haven.  It is a great privilege for me to be here.

 Heading to my room

 

My room :-)

View from the balcony at night

 Day view from balcony

Bay Watch area

 

Longer pool

The Heat Wave, Red Sea

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Blue Mosque, Istanbul, TR

Sultanahmet Mosque, Sultanahmet Camii by Turkish which  is popularly called as Blue Mosque because of its blue tiles interior.  

The mosque was constructed facing Hagia Sophia with as many minarets as the great mosque in Mecca causing a major rift between the two.  The Sultan has to donate extra minaret for Mecca.

Minarets are the tall slender towers usually situated at one of the corner of the mosque which call the faithful for the prayer.  

Pope Benedict XVI visited Sultanahmet Mosque during his visit in Sultanahmet in 2006.  It marks as the second Papal visit in history, to a Muslim place of worship.

It was crowded, families are celebrating their festival of breaking of the fast.  Felt hesitated to visit the mosque as it was their festival.  Those tiny eyes on the long queue of visitors at the entrance was enough to convince me to follow the queue.  Have to remove shoes before entering the mosque.  Plastic bags for the shoes are available by the entrance as well as scarfs for the ladies.  Scarfs are to be collected back when leaving the mosque.  No fees collected,  only donations.

It was my first time ever to visit a mosque and  I was amazed by its grandeur workmanship.  Tiles were finely decorated on such a high big dome.  

The courtyard

The Interior

 Mosque by night

Blue Mosque

Sultanahmet, Turkey

September 2011

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Turkey - Turkiye TR

My third destination on this year's vacation - Turkiye.

The word of mouth of my colleagues is shopping - shopping - shopping is all good in there.  Not my intention and not a strong reason for me to visit a country. 
Egypt is somehow been long on my list.  However, it's not a  good idea to visit there yet due to the country's shaky stability.  Maybe one day.

A colleague of mine is deviling me to go to Europe.  That is honestly unaffordable trip this year since I already made two trips earlier to Nepal in March and Philippines in May. 

Since, the company where I am working at started it's flight to Istanbul,  I gave it a thought.  When I saw to photos of Turkey...I told myself...I will go!  My colleague and  I ended up for Turkiye! :-).

Here is the shaping up of the plans.

Requirements:

1. Turkiye Visa Application form
2. Round trip ticket
3. Letter of support from the company
4. Copy of ID (CPR or company ID)
5. Original passport to be with held for processing, 3 days
6. A passport size photo to be affixed on the application form
7. Hotel Reservation / Travel Itinerary
8. BD22 non-refundable processing fee

Now, I need my travel buddy - Turkey, Lonely Planet.  The biggest mall in Bahrain with two bookstores does not have the book.  I was directed to Ali Mall where I finally got her :-).

The research and planning is much of the headache stage for me.  Sent email inquiries to tour operators about their packages and compared it  to my Do It Yourself travel.  Of course Do It Yourself travel is cheaper than the package but the later save us more time.  Time is essential when you only have few days to explore a country.  My colleague and I were both agreed to avail the package tour. 

Turkey has seven regions : Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia and South-Eastern Anatolia. 
On this trip, four regions are going to be covered.

1.  Marmara: 

• Istanbul - Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, The Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace,  Grand  Bazaar, Basilica Cistern
• Canakkale - Troy, Gallipoli Battlefields, ANZAC Commemoration Site, Lone Pine Australian Cemetary  

2.  Aegean:  

• Selcuk - Pergamon, Ephesus, Virgin Mary's House, Temple of Artemis
• Denizli - Hierapolis; Pamukkale

3.  Mediterranean:

• Antalya  - Kaleici, Termessos, Duden Waterfalls, Kursunlu Waterfalls, Perge, Aspendos, Side, White River Rafting
• Kekova - Lycian Sunken City
• Demre -   Myra

4.  Central Anatolia:

• Nevsehir - Cappadocia, Avanos, Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabagi,Uchisar, Ortahisar, Urgup,  Ihlara Valley, Derinkuryu Underground City,, Turasan Winery, Horse Riding, Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Selime Cathedral

Our tailored itinerary:

 Day 1   - Aug.31, Arrival in Istanbul, free day

 Day 2   - Sep. 1, Istanbul free day, evening bus to Cappadocia

 Day 3   - Sep. 2, Cappadocia - free day

 Day 4   - Sep. 3, Cappadocia Tour 1

 Day 5   - Sep. 4, Cappadocia Tour 2, evening bus to Antalya

 Day 6   - Sep. 5, Antalya Tour 2

 Day 7   - Sep. 6, Antalya Tour 3

 Day 8   - Sep. 7, Bus to Kekova

 Day 9   - Sep. 8, Kekova Tour, Myra, overnight in Fethiye

 Day 10  -Sep. 9, To Pamukkale

 Day 11  -Sep.10, To Selcuk

 Day 12  -Sep.11, Ephesus Tour

 Day 13  -Sep.12, Canakkale, Pergamon

 Day 14  -Sep.13, Troy & Gollipoli, trip to Istanbul

 Day 15  -Sep.14, Istanbul free day

 Day 16  -Sep.15, Istanbul free day

 Day 17  -Sep.16, Departure from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

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Kathmandu, Nepal Adventure

Kathmandu
Nepal Adventure

I found myself flying and overlooking Himalayas, a time where I was inside the cave, then canoeing while watching the crocodiles,  walking in the jungle,  joy ride on top of the elephant, a jeep safari and wild rafting, all of these happened in one week.  The challenged was to finish it safely, no finger cuts nor bruises, with take-home full of fun and challenging experiences. 

Here are the guidelines from what I learned from this trip.

Namaste.  Arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal.  Visa was available upon arrival at $25 for 15 days multiple entries.   A passport size ID picture is needed to process a visa.  There is a small photo studio available in case you forgot to bring your own ID picture and its located near to where the visa application forms are.

There is a good exchange rate at the airport compared to many exchange shops in Thamel.  Bahraini Dinars is not legally accepted for exchange in Nepal, better yet exchange your BHD into $ before departure in Bahrain.  Nepal sim card is available for $5 and with credit of Rs 100 at the arrival, passport is needed when purchasing sim pack.

A warm welcome and felt like a royal when I received a garland. Here with me, Sushant who helped me tailored this trip, http://www.kasthamandaptravels.com.np/.

Yeni, an Indonesian colleague from Bahrain Air joined me on this trip.

Thamel Area

I stayed in Hotel Utse in Thamel area. 

Had my first Tibetan noodle "Mix Thukpa" at the Big Belly Restaurant in Thamel for Rs 145.

In Thamel area you will find more shops from Pashmina, accessories, bags, traditional clothes, restaurants, hotels, trekking kinds of stuff, yak made materials, books, ATM's, money exchange and various tour operators. 

Purchased one of these at Rs 200.

Durbar Square

"Durbar' means palace, where the king has been crowned and legitimised.  Buildings are of great architectural engraving designs.

With Yeni

It was such a pleasure and honor to meet a local family and received the blessings from Baba (father), Ama (mother) and Sushant.

This was just the first day. 

up next...

Pokhara

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War Museum In Siem Reap, Cambodia

A place that you may add in your itinerary when visiting Siem Reap is War Museum.  It is an open field of aviation exhibit which welcomes you as you enter the museum. Apart from that the field has landmines, tanks and guns.    

Entrance fee of $3 for visitors, local driver is free of charge.  It is open from 0800 till 1730.  Tuktuk ride cost $6 – $7 for a return trip.

     

  

♦♦ Hope you enjoyed viewing the photos ♦♦

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