Postards from Petra

Petra is pretty. And pretty awe-inspiring. Love the brilliant colours of the limestone rocks - red, orange, yellow, white and shades of all those colours in between.

This was one of the few places in Jordan I truly enjoyed, despite the baking sun and the close to 40 degree heat. (Avoid Jordan in May although it isn't summer yet)

Best thing about Petra: the Siq - or the Canyon, hewn out of centuries of weathering, erosion, some say earthquake, a 30 to 40 minute walk to see the spectacular and extremely well-preserved Nabatean constructions.

Worst thing about Petra: Over-commercialised. To death. Touts, very persistent touts everywhere offering us rides on donkeys, camels, horses. Plus the people had set up stalls selling trinkets and other souvenirs on every inch of the old city of Petra, even on the old constructions itself. That I consider a blasphemy.

Indiana Jones the movie was probably the best advertisement for Petra but it also inflated expectations of Petra. Petra isn't what the movie glamorised it to be -- but it's great that the movie's driving tourists there, the people would be forever grateful for that.

(After Syria and its magnificent historical sites, the graciousness and coolness of its people, Petra and Jordan wasn't so cool or happening.)

Despite not being inspired by Petra and bothered by the desert heat and the not so nice Jordanians, my photos of Petra are some of the best. Must be the super sunny day with the bluest of blue skies, eseential ingredients for taking the best photos -- that always inspires me :D

Enjoy pretty Petra!

Walking into the Siq -- a 30 minute walk from the entrance.

The lovely lovely Siq.

Out of the Siq, we see the well-preserved Treasury -- this is one of the best known images associated with Petra.

The Treasury. Camel rides anyone?
More well-preserved Nabatean constructions -- they built magnificent temples/mausoleums etc from gloriously coloured limestone hills.



The High Places of Petra - takes half a day to get there! That's why people usually spend 3 days exploring Petra. (Hmmm - who's got the time? Especially since Syria and Lebanon's got plenty more to offer? ;) Camel rider and two camels coming down from the High Places.

















Don't you like this shot? Gal taking a break from the heat and the sun in the cave-like dwellings of the ancient Nabateans. Nabateans are essentially Arabic nomads who settled here in 2nd or 3rd Century BC.

Lovely lovely colours of the limestone hills.


Let sleeping dogs lie. Doggy takes shade and enjoys siesta at the cafe near the Monastery. The Monastery of Al-Dayr is one of the largest monuments in Petra, a 30 minute camel ride.



Pretty desert flowers bloom opposite the Al-Dayr Monastery.
More gloriously coloured limestone caves.
The Treasury at 5plus in the afternoon. Petra was close to cleared out of people -- heaven! So got this nice picture of the Treasury -- without any bodies in it :D Hallelujah!

Goodbye Petra. Walking out of the Siq.