Jordan Day 1 - 19th March 2008

2.30 am - Check-in at Khartoum International Airport for Jordan. We are the last passenger and the counter is nearly closing. The counter staff said there are only 3 seats available although we bought 4 seats. After arguing we decided to take the available seats. Had to wait about 45 minutes before boarding in the plane. Alhamdulillah at the very last minute we able to have our seat back.

Us at the runaway before boarding in the plane

6.30 a.m - Arrived in Queen Alia International Airport,Amman. Our tour guide - Ust Zaid a student in Jordan; were supposed to greet us but we have to wait about an hour. before he arrived. Change them out of their pyjamas and fed them before continuing our journey.

Ehsan & Erica waiting for the tour guide

10.00 a.m - Arrived in Ajloun Castle after a 2 and half hours journey from Amman. It was built as a small fortress by Izz Ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh on the site of Jabal Beni Auf. It permitted to control the road of Damascus and Egypt. It was also to develop and control the iron mines of the Ajloun. In AD 1260, the Mongols had destroyed sections of the castle including its battlements. After a majot destructive earthquake struck the castle, The Department of Antiquities had sponsored a restoration program and consolidation of the walls.

Ajloun Castle

The view from the top of the castle

The interior view of the castle

11.30 a.m - Headed to Jerash, the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Jerash, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River. It is considered as one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities. It was a city of the Decapolis - a group of 10 cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Jordan, Syria and Palestine.

We are lucky to arrive early for the 1st show of the Roman Army and Chariot Experience (RACE). The show started by introducing their equipment and demonstrate battle tactics Roman army used such as throwing pilae (spears) and wielding the famous short stabbing sword, the gladius. Apart from that four chariots with two horses (bigae) appeared in a whirl of dust. It was really enjoying watching the shows. Even the kids stay still to the final.

The Greek, the Trojan, Retiarius, Secutor, Thracian and Us at the battle field

The Roman Army

The chariots

1.00 p.m - About few kilometers from the hippodrome there is the entrance to the city. We had to enter the Arch of Triumph to see the whole city that reached a size of about 800,000 square metres within its walls. I left hubby to take some pictures inside the city while Erica and I waited for them outside. But it doesn't last long as Ehsan start been cranky. I guess they are all tired and hungry.

Arch of Triumph

The column

The forum - the so-called oval piazza

Part of 56 Ionic columns at the forum

1.30 p.m - We headed from Jerash and had our lunch before continuing our journey to Karak which took us 3 hours to arrived. We are really tired that we all slept all the way through the journey. I had a chanced to snap a few pictures along the way after I woke up.

Agak seriau jalan-jalan kat sini. Lots of steep mountains

5.30 p.m - Arrived at the hotel and had some rest. Had a bad experinced - the hotel doesn't have water heater and the water is so d**n cold. Had to wait for the manager to switch it on at 7.00p.m. In the meantime we had to bare the coldness if terasa nak terkucil. Macam ni punya service pun ada.

8.00 p.m - Dinner was served to us in the room. Eat and all of us knock out by 10.00 p.m!