Day 19 Good bye Middle EastTo day is the last day I am here. I packed everything up and left the big rucksack in the hostel. I mysely carried the important things and went for a day trip to the Citadel of the Jebel Ai-Qala. On my way to there, probably there was a word ‘traveller’ written on my forehead, a lot of people said hello to me. When I took my camera out, kids approached me, and saw what I was doing. If I took their photos, or video them, they would be very cooperative. It was really amazing.
Since I have been there once, that was on the first day I arrived there, I knew the way very much, about 15mins, I was there. I’d got a, ticket; it was only 2JD. The high light of this sight was the Temple of Hercules . In fact it was the landmark of the Citadel. I could see these columns easily when I was in down town Amman . The main building of the Temple was all collapsed. What I could see was only some columns. There was a stone bar still sitting on the capitals of two columns. Other than that there were only rocks and rocks lying there.
The Citadel was built on the highest point of the Jebel Amman. So I could see a 360 Degree view of Amman . As I was looking around, there were a few groups of school girls. As expected that, they approached me to say hello, or taking photo for me, and also asked me where I come from. When I camera them, they were very happy and waved to me. Then I heard a lady, who dressed very neat and tidy in the traditional Arabic way, say that she was the teacher of the girls. So I paned to her with my camera, she quickly stayed away from my camera. I said apology to her. They were undergoing an excursion led by the teacher. They were very cheerful and energetic. I said goodbye, and they said goodbye loudly to me.
In the Citadel there was a museum. The entry was included in the ticket. According to the Lonely Planet, it was one of the best museums in Jordan . I prepared to spend two hours inside. It displayed some exhibits which were some 8500 years ago. The exhibits were arranged in chorological order, so it gave me a general idea what was happening from the past to modern in the nearby area.
In the midway, I feel hungry. I went outside and found a bench where was in the shade. I took out my ½ chicken, which was from my yesterday’s dinner, and I started my lunch on this historical sight. As I was having my lunch, I reported all my activities to my dear wife over this magic mobile phone.
Here I have to say thankyou to the father of optic fibre, Dr Guo (spelling?). After lunch, I went back to the museum,. It was very educational. About an hour’s time, I went out to the sight again. An Umayyad palace was just behind the museum. There were remaines of Umayyad residential buildings around the palace. A huge water tank with channelled water system was around the Citadel. And the indispensable ones, there were a bath house and a mosque.
Then I took a few more photos and said goodbye to this beautiful Jebel, Arabic means mountain.
I left at about 3pm; I still had a few hours to hang around. So I walk back to down town. Amman was very busy, I could see markets everywhere. I went into the fruit market. People were yelling out loudly, it was really a market atmosphere. And accidentally I went into a small street and I found that there was a dress makers’ street. As mentioned I had the word ‘traveller’ on my forehead, everybody said hello to me. One guy even came over to shake hands with me. It was fun.
I was mean to find a place like coffee shop so that I could sit down for a little while. You know that I kept walking since 8 in the morning, so I’d like to have a little rest. Yet I couldn’t find one. There were some ‘tea’ places, but I saw people mainly smoke nargileh. Whereas the other drinking place was only buy and drink. I didn’t want to drink, I wanted to sit down. So end up I went back to the hostel. Here I spent 1JD for 2 coffees, and I could spend some time in writing this blog.
I stopped here. I went out for my dinner then come back to continue the rest.
………………………………..
I am back,
I just went to the restaurant where I had dinner last night. I ordered the same thing. This time I took photos and video. Waiters and chefs are very friendly. Even the one sat opposite to me, he invited me to try his food. I of course said no, but with big thanks. After dinner I didn’t rush to leave but sat and watched how people behaved when they were having meals. After observation, I would say that there was not much different to us anyway. This meal was worth 4.3JD.
I walked back to the hostel. Then I will arrive the airport at about 11pm. The departure time will be 2am. And I will arrive HK 2005, on 1st April.
See you guys at the Pearl of the Orient.
photo 1 Temple of Hercules
photo 2 Inside the museum
photo 3 My packed lunch
photo 4 Umayyad Palace
photo 5 Rice stuffed in veggies
photo 6 My BBQ lamb chop
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