High Place of Sacrifice in Petra (J7/10)

I spent a whole day exploring Petra and it wasn't even enough to cover half of all that the Petra can offer. It was just too tiring climbing up and down all the slopes and rocks.

I am back for more the next day.

Another plant that grow from the crack.

Rock carving of Camel Caravan is  still visible.

Saw many of this Mitnan plant with small yellow flowers and was told that this is a toxic plant.

Another nature creations, what a beautiful wind carved cave.

After climbing nearly a thousand steep rock steps, finally reached High Place of Sacrifice. This place was once used for important religious ceremonies.

Apart from the pit, the view here is spectacular.

A shallow rectangular pool carved in the rock, perhaps to collect rainwater and to drain blood of the sacrifice.

Saw this rock bridge that very similar to the one at Wadi Rum but this is much smaller.

At the foot of the sacrifice pit, the only theatre in the world that carved into rock. 

Another closer look of the Treasury before making my way out.

Follow the footsteps of Indiana Jones to Petra (J6/10)

 After the satisfying trip to Wadi Rum, our next destination is about 120km away to Petra.

Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 as well as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

Petra also known as the 'Lost City'. 

Believed to have been home to 30,000 people during the first centuries BC and was an important trading city. It became the subject of many attacks, but the mountainous region made it an impenetrable fortress. 

 It then sat uninhabited for over five centuries until rediscovered later in 1812.

The entrance to the city of Petra is by a narrow passage cut through the sandstone as a result of years of rain and wind.

You may not heard of Petra before, but if you are a fan of the movie Indiana Jones, you will not miss it. Appearing during the climax of the 1989 movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this location - known as The Treasury makes for an impressive backdrop to the mystery and chaos of the film’s final moments. 

Monastery, another structure using rock-cut architecture that were as impressive as The Treasury.

The mark on the lower part of the structure show how deep it were once buried in sands.

Looking from different angle to have a sense of the height of the structure.

There are many stone cut room like this can be seen along the way.  This is another site that need a full day for better experience. There are still many point of interest that I didn't manage to cover and will have to come back again the next day.

Magnificient Wadi Rum (J5/10)

 

Wadi Rum features a varied desert landscape consisting of a range of narrow gorges, natural arches, towering cliffs, ramps, etc. Minimum of 2 days is needed to better explore the unique beauties of this place.

The Wadi Rum Protected Area has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011

I stay in this type of Bedouins style Camps. There are also options of more luxurious modern camp with built-in shower facilities available in the protected area. 

Each camps are are far from each other so the light pollution at night are minimise.

Many movies were shot here on this natural rock bridge.

Another plant that I found in the desert of Wadi Rum.

If you find these places familiar, you probably watch one of the movie that shot here. 

There a wild camels in Wadi Rum too. You may see them if you are lucjy.

Too many interesting and nice place for photo shoot. You have to visit this place yourself to experience it.

Saw School children return from school when we made our way out of the Wadi Rum village.

Overnight in Wadi Rum (J4/10)

During winter, temperature in Wadi Rum at night could dropped to below 5 degree Celsius. Probably that's the reason for not offering sleeping under the star option during winter for visitors.

We were offered to stay overnight in Bedouins style Camps. This is the cafeteria where our meal be served.

There's a fire place to keep warm in this cold night.

Our main dish for dinner is Zarb - a traditional Bedouin underground cooking used by nomadic herding peoples in the Arabian Peninsula. Just like barbeque, the methods starts by digging a hole in the soft sand. Follow by burning down wood to coals, place the food over the coal and cover the hole with sand.

Vege that use the same cooking method.

Since the light pollution is minimum in the desert. Star gazing is a good idea in this near total dark place.

These were photos taken just by using my mobile. 

I follow by using my dslr to capture the partial milky way.

Star gazing and astrophotography is an added advantage for staying overnight in Wadi Rum instead of just a day trip.