Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 2: Petra, Shobbak Castle and Drive to Amman

Monday November 29, 2010

            PETRA!!!! Holy moly it was SOOO AMAZING! We got there and I had complete opposite expectations for it. We walked for a while stopped a little more often than I wanted to learn things I don’t remember (that’s my fault for not being focused and listening). We wandered through a bit of a canyon and saw some cut outs of the mountain, I though “COOL! This is so amazing.” I had no idea what I was getting into. We kept walking and the trail lead to this incredible slot canyon. It was gorgeous! The rock formations remind me of Lake Powell with the bubbly mountain features, then the slot canyons gorgeous Zion slot canyons, except with so so many more colors. There were all kinda of browns, oranges, yellows, reds, and some blues. It’s all the different chemicals in the rocks that change the colors.

            The walk was totally worth it and gorgeous. I am amazed by Heavenly Fathers  variety of creations for me to enjoy. We saw a couple of idols that were carved out of the beautiful reddish- sandstone. They were so plain that it really surprised me. They also had a fantastic water system that ran in a gutter down the windy canyon to the city of Petra. The city was inhabited by Horites who eventually became the Edomites, and then the Nabataeans. In 400 BC they arrived and wrote Aramaic, spoke Arabic and possibly came from Kuwait. They dominated the trade for over 600 years from incense and eggshell-thin pottery. The king Aretas created Roman creations at the top of the columns (capitols-ionic swirls on a lot of buildings).

Pay special attention to the rocks in all the pictures! They are all carved into something beautiful!

This was an original 'God' that they would pray to. 

First sight!!!

 So we got the a view of the first thing “The Treasury”, which is one of the burial places of these people took me back and I was in absolute awe of how massive it was. We continued to walk and everyone’s expression was so awesome to watch. It was GORGEOUS and GIGANTIC! We took a bunch of pictures and I though, “Ok, now I’m ready to go back! This is so cool.” I had no idea there was a whole CITY to see! We were in for a treat. As we walked in there were so many things to see. Along the walls of canyons there were a ton of tombs dug out for the kings that had their bodies buried there. It was SO beautiful! We also saw a beautiful amphitheater carved into the mountain, and a bunch of Bedouin people! I don’t know how these people make money. They are so beautiful people and look so so different from the Arab people.

Petra

1. What mount was inhabited by Horites, but later became part of the land of Edom?

Mt. Seir

2. Why was the mount “compassed” by the Israelities?

They weren’t allowed to pass through Edom

3. Describe the Nabataeans (language they wrote, spoke; where they came from; who they displaced, where they settled...)

Displaced Edomites, pantheon of gods elite. buried in rock-hewn tombs.  Idumaens

4. Which north/south route did the Nabataeans use to import spices and incense?

The Kings’ Highway

5. Name the deity at the head of the Nabataean pantheon, along with the equivalent god.

Pushara, El

6. What did most rock-cut rooms at Petra (incuding the Treasury) function as?

tombs

7. Who escaped from Nabataean King Aretas IV’s governor of Damascus?

Herod Antipas

Look at that detail!!!

 We continued walking forever and finally got released to explore. We got to see all the huge burial places up close. Jacqueline, Brother Judd and I wandered over to them and it was actually quite anti-climactic. We would walk up to these GORGEOUS burial places that have been carved into the mountains and then there would be a very plain and beautiful room on the inside that once had their bodies there. There were so many of these, I couldn’t count them. We had lunch at a really nice restaurant in the actual valley of Petra and headed out the “high places”. Jacqueline recruited Brother Judd, Brother Muhlestein and Dr. John to come with us! I was stoked and he started on our very long trek. It was hot, fun and so beautiful. These men are so intelligent and incredible I love to learn from them. We got to the top for a beautiful view and to see a place that the people would offer animals as sacrifices. The hike really made the whole trip worth it because we got to be with these great men. We sweated a ton, and loved every second of it.
            We got down a much faster way than making it up and headed back up the canyon. I learned that there was a massive earthquake, which destroyed the city and killed more than half the population that lived there. Most of the standing buildings crumbled except one. I wish so badly I could go back in time and see them back then!

 Sitting at the place where the animals were sacrificed and blood would drain... then they'd cook it and eat in in the picture below.

 A lion in the rock!

Look! It's a camel in the rocks!

   When we got to the opening of the canyon the program paid for horse rides. My guide was the best, didn’t speak any English, and would say with a super excited face, “1,2…….3!” and take off booking it with my horse and I. Scared me half to the death, but I just laughed because it would have been so funny to watch. This crazy 60 year old man running with a girl from the United states totally terrified as we take off. This is my first time on a horse since my really bad accident, and I did ok! My horse had a little trip once and my heart literally skipped a beat, but I made it with this amazing man with a gorgeous smile missing most of his teeth. I love the people here so much! They’re so happy and loving, the language barrier doesn’t stop them.

            Sidenote: Everyones been joking about the“Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” in 1947. One of our teachers keep saying it over and over again, it’s awesome. All our jokes won’t make sense to anyone outside the center.

           

After we headed to Shobbak castle to go adventuring.

Formerly called Mons Realis (Mont Real, or Montreal – the Royal Mountain), The castle was built in 1115 by Baldwin I of Jerusalem during his expedition to the area where he captured Aqaba on the Red Sea in 1116. Originally called 'Krak de Montreal' or 'Mons Regalis', it was named in honour of the king's own contribution to its construction (Mont Royal). It was strategically located on a hill on the plain of Edom, along the pilgrimage and caravan routes from Syria to Arabia. This allowed Baldwin to control the commerce of the area, as pilgrims and merchants needed permission to travel past it. It was surrounded by relatively fertile land, and two cisterns were carved into the hill, with a long, steep staircase leading to springs within the hill itself.

It remained property of the royal family of the Kingdom of Jerusalem until 1142, when it became part of the Lordship of Oultrejordain. At the same time the centre of the Lordship was moved to Kerak, a stronger fortress to the north of Montreal. Along with Kerak, the castle owed sixty knights to the kingdom. It was held byPhilip de Milly, and then passed to Raynald of Châtillon when he marriedStephanie de Milly. Raynald used the castle to attack the rich caravans that had previously been allowed to pass unharmed. He also built ships there, then transported them overland to the Red Sea, planning to attack Mecca itself. This was intolerable to the Ayyubid sultan Saladin, who invaded the kingdom in 1187. After capturing Jerusalem, later in the year he besieged Montreal. During the siege the defenders are said to have sold their wives and children for food, and to have gone blind from "lack of salt." Because of the hill Saladin was unable to use siege engines, but after almost two years the castle finally fell to his troops in May 1189, after which the defenders' families were returned to them. The Mameluks later captured and rebuilt it.

The boys hitched a ride back up the huge hill on the way back! Bandits!

I’m not sure what the significance of the place was, but we got some beautiful pictures there! We loaded back on the bus for a couple hours until reaching Amman, the capital of Jordan. The bus ride was a blast as I sat next to Megan Hansen. I love that woman so much. We traded stories of our crazy freshman years of college and her psycho Midway hot pot stories. I miss midway and our cabin! I can’t wait to get back up there.

            This hotel we’re staying at is such a jewel. It’s a little sketchy, but at least it’s no overnight train in Egypt. It can’t get worse than that (haha). I found a couple hairs in my bed when I pulled the sheets back and the pillow still had a head indentation in it and I bust up laughing with my darling roommate Rachel. The shower was a drizzle, and I bust up laughing again, and she laughed right with me. We pulled our beds away from the wall just in case there are bed bugs, so I think we may be okay with that… maybe? This semester has really made me realize how blessed I really am. I’m truly humbled. It’s getting me ready for my mission, right? I love it.

        I had it explained to me the typical head dresses that a lot of people see on men in the news are actually worn here! I’d never seen them in Jerusalem or anywhere else I had been, except in tourist stores. A lot of Bedouin men wear the red checkered ones with the black bands. Only men in Jordan wear red, but elsewhere they were the black checkered, cool huh? So when I think the news of the middle east I associate these head dresses with them. So not true. I’ve lived here for over 3 months and saw it for the first time on locals. That’s gotta say something.

            Speaking of being here for 3 months… boooohooo! That means I only have 2 and ½ weeks left. I want to cry. Don’t make me come home, please? Actually there are days when I am very ready to come home. That’s mostly just because I want my family and my friends in Idaho back. I don’t want to leave Jerusalem though. When will I be back? Such a sad thought, so I won’t think about it.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 1: Drive, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Mikaris, Drive to Wadi Musa

Sunday November 28, 2010

We made it to Jordan! I really didn’t know what to expect here (and still don’t), but I got so excited when we actually made it. The border crossing was a doosy. It took over 3 hours to get through, but thankfully time flew!

            Our first stop was Mt. Nebo. This was vaguely familiar to me, and I was excited to learn more. We picked up a tour guide on our way in Jordan, which is required by Law to have a tour guide from the country because that is how they make their money. It’s always harder to listen to a tour guide vs. our teachers because their accents are so different, and they don’t exactly have the same beliefs as far as religion goes. It’s okay though, because our teachers will usually clarify when they’re done.

Mt. Nebo and Madaba

1. Describe the area where Madaba is located

along the Kings’ Highway in Jordan

2. Explain where Moses was taken and two significant things that happened there.

Mt. Nebo-he viewed Holy Land and was buried there

3. Describe two portions of the floor in the St. George church at Madaba, and tell why they are important.

1st map; historians used it to reconstruct Byzantine near east

 Mt. Nebo is the traditional place of Moses’ death before entering the promised land (Deut 34:5). We believe that from further translation in Alma 45:35 that he was translated, and didn’t die here. Numbers 33:47- Israelites pitch before Nebo. And Numbers 27:12,13 Moses first viewed promised land from Nebo.  I got back to the bus right before we were to take off and one of the girls told me there was an American Deaf group there!!! I almost jumped back off the bus, but that would hold everyone up. I miss signing SOOOO much.

            Side note: I swear as SOON as we crossed the border, weird as that sounds, there was an infestation of flies… JUST LIKE EGYPT! I don’t feel like Jordan is that different from Jerusalem, but we never have problems with those pesky little guys (as my father would say).

 We stopped in the city of Madaba, or known as Moab. We saw “The oldest map in the world” taking back to the 6^th century (so around 565 AD. Or so). Moab is mentioned 6 times in the bible!

1. Genesis 19:36-38 that tells about the origin of Moab. The people began by the name of Lot and his daughter.
2. Deut 2:9- (2 chron 20:10) descendants of Lot inhabit Moab not for Israelites to possess.
3. 1 samuel 22:3-4- David hides his parents in Moab for a time.
4. Ruth 1:4- Elimelech and family in Moab for 10 years; setting for the story of ruth.
5. Amos 2:1-3- Divine decree against Moabites
6. Jeremiah 48- Judgments vs. Moab; cities enumerated- Jeremiah knew geographical setting.

 Uh... Is this the women's bathroom? I'm don't think they have enough signs

 Next was Mikaris (Arabic Mukawir), which is one of Herod’s Fortresses with a gorgeous view of the Dead Sea. This was the place that Herod’s niece danced for him, and he granted her anything she wished, and it was the head of John the Baptists on a charger. He was killed where I stood! There were so many gorgeous valleys (wadi’s?) with Bedouin people camped all over the hillsides. It was actually a really cool experience, I walked away from everyone and just watched them for a while as you could hear their tinkering bells around the sheep’s necks and the little progress they had made up the dry mountain since we had made it to the fortress. I loved this moment.

        

            From my journal: “As I have time on our bus ride to watch the cities as we go in and out of them, one sight really hit home for me. There were two men walking down an extremely dusty road in practically rags, I’m assuming taking a break from work amidst these lush, gorgeous fields that they slave all day in just to feed their family. I sit here in an air conditioned bus, with a full stomach, listening to Colbie Caille on my iPod, sitting amongst people that I love, and I know my family at home is happy, full of food and healthy. How does this happen? Heavenly Father,WHY? Then the thought, ‘when much is given, much is required’ popped in my head. I am SO blessed. I can do SO SO much more.” How? Something I will be trying my hardest to accomplish all my life.

            The bus ride was very long, but completely worth it. I felt justified with my time usage/wastage and even got to learn from an incredible girl, Chelsea. I’m really grateful for the people here that teach me so much.