Visiting Jordan: Exploring Petra

Visiting Jordan: Exploring Petra

A little history: Petra is  a unique city, carved into the sheer 

rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious 

Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, 

turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other 

trade routes that linked China, India and southern 

Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.

Petra is sometimes called the ‘Lost City’. In spite of its being such an 

important city in the ancient times, after the 14th century AD, 

Petra was completely lost to the western world. 

It was rediscovered in 1812 by the a Swiss traveler.

The ancient city of Petra was originally founded in the 6th Century BC, when it was founded as part of an effort by a tribe of Bedouins known as the Nabataeans. Over the centuries they built up a trade empire and used the city as their capital. Later it was conquered by the Romans and eventually abandoned altogether. As the centuries passed it was all but forgotten, until it was rediscovered by explorer Johann Ludwig in 1812.

Passing Aqaba, Jordan on the way to Petra

Goats on the road….

Wade Rum in the distance…

Images from Jordan…

The corridor to Petra from the distance…

Petra lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

This is how we enter Petra…

At the entrance…

Walking into Petra…

Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow corridor, over 1 kilometer in length, which is surrounded on either side by amazing 80 m high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is breathtaking. The colors and formations of the rocks are incredible. As I reached the end of the Siq I caught the first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury).

Water system in Petra (right below)

First glimpse of the Great Temple of Petra – The Treasury or ‘Al-Khazneh’

Al-Khazneh is a massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the pink rock-face. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king.

Below is my photo gallery from Petra.

Caves in Petra…

More caves…

a ancient monastery, Petra…

Climbing to the top…

Cave in Petra…

Image from the top…

From the top…

Obviously there are many more things 

to do and see in the country, but Petra is,

 without a doubt, the one destination 

you shouldn't miss.

Colloseum Rome Italy

Colloseum Rome Italy 

Colosseum, being an iconic landmark in Rome, is crowded by tourists from all over the world.

I truly recommend to spend an entire day with the Colosseum, get a guided tour so that you can get to see the interior and understand the history of this great and amazing piece of ancient site.

This was our drop-off point to Colosseum. Every building in Rome is just so beautiful.

We saw this when we were walking towards our destination. A Chinese couple were having their wedding here.

Look at this!

Witness the beauty of this famous ancient site with my eyes.

Can you feel it?

 This is the best shot.

This was a very much anticipated place for couple 

The long queue started here. Happy queuing!

We took a walk surronding the Colosseum. And we saw many many gladiators who posed for photos. Be careful, they will ask for money after you take the photos with your own camera.

After soaking in the majestic beauty of the place, imagining how each stone was placed, and how long it took for such a structure to be build, touched this gigantic arena a goodbye. Last piece of photo before left.

Some other buildings in Rome. They are all beautiful.

National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. A photo snapped in the bus.

Rome is the mad concentration of tourism and thus it has became a place with many pickpockets. We were warned by our tour guide to be extra careful with our belongings. Anything that you place behind belongs to others.

Besides all the cons, Rome is indeed a lovely city that has so much to offer. I wish to come here  to visit Trevi Fountain. 

the picture of Colloseum at day

We went there again on the last day to see night scene of Colloseum, not as beautiful as we expected (Took us 30mins by walk from where we were stayed) ! Night scene at Fontani di trevi has nicer scene, check out my post later..



Colloseum is one of the seven wonder in the world!!