Amman!

It's 12.30pm on a cool and clear Amman winters day. We are in our hotel room after arriving about 90 minutes ago. As always travel has it's little adventures and challenges. The flight from Christchurch to Dubai took about 23 hours from our check in because the airbridge at the Auckland gate didn't work when the inbound flight arrived, and it took some dummy about an hour to work out it wasn't going to work before they shifted it to another gate and let the incoming passengers off. It meant we were about 2 hours late in leaving, time we didn't catch up on. It was a l-o-n-g-h-a-u-l alright with stops in Sydney and Bankok, and neither of us got much sleep. After the cattle class toture I would have easily given up all my pin numbers. Arriving in Dubai at 7.30am our pick-up person from the hotel wasn't there and arrived about 30 minutes after we got through customs, just as we were beginning to work on Plan B.

We got to the hotel, a real nice one, and Helen tripped on a step in the lobby and fell heavily on the marble floor banging her knees real bad and getting a blood nose. Had to take her up to our room in a wheel chair, and the staff were both concerned and caring. Went to sleep and didn't wake up until just after dark. The next day, (Thursday) Helen's knees were bruised and swollen but working OK with a it of care, so we embarked on a half day tour of Dubai. It was rushed and ran late because of the unbelieveable traffic, but we loved it and thought it worth while. The high light was the the old souk area of the spice and gold markets. We literally had to jog through the very narrow and crowded alley ways to keep up with our tour guide who gave us times to be at meet points, and if we were late he would leave without us, something we believed. Today's picture is of Helen with the worlds only 7 star $60,000 a night hotel. The trip back from the bus to the hotel took about 40 minutes (we are hearing our first prayer call from a nearby mosque as I write). The driver was running late and the trip was like being in a movie car chase, high speed, fantastic manouvering and on occasions not more than a layer of paint between the cars we swerved past. When we finally got out of the car outside our hotel we just stood there and laughed -phew, made it! Our impression of Dubai. Multi, multi ethnic, simply a magnificent mix of people and languages and dress and looks. Loved it actually. The city itself - simply extra ordinary, clean and amazing.

We got up at 4am this morning (Dubai time) to catch our flight to Jordan. Glad we allowed plenty of time as we had a brisk 40 minute walk from customs to our departure gate, all in terminal 3. The place is so huge. The flight took just on 3 hours, most of it flying over Saudi Arabia's desert. Coming into Amman we banked for the run in and had a spectacular view of the rift valley, but it was so deep we couldn't see the Dead Sea at the bottom. Jordan reminds us of Central Otago and the Monitoto without irrigation. It is 12C and clear. Our last adventure for this part of the trip was catching a taxi from the airport. We didn't do that well. As we came out of the customs hall this nice young man approached us and asked us if we wanted a taxi. I asked if he was a taxi driver and he said yes. We negotiated the price as per instruction, but when we got to his car it wasn't a taxi, but he was one of the scalpers we were warned not to use. Peter thought he looked OK, so we loaded up anyway and took off. Helen was gray looking all the way (she just making add she was terrified because we did read of scalpers like this kidnapping tourists and simply dumping them and taking off with their stuff or worse) - but Peter was enoying the drive in. Anyway, after calling the hotel for directions our driver got us here first pop. Part of the worry was we were told the hotel area was up market, but looking out and about - not quite - but we have been spoiled by Dubai of course. The hotel itself is a basic 3*, (with good internet connection) with three security guards in the lobby - but they tell us this is a very safe area to walk around. However, outside just up the street a jack hammer is going. Helen thought it was a machine gun when it started. And the call to prayer? To her ears she thought it was an incoming missile alarm or something. Peter thinks something to eat and a good nights sleep might helps her nerves. Our body clocks are messed up at the moment which isn't helping.

We have met one or two other dig team members and they are all nice and friendly - and American! We have a rest and in hotel orientation day tomorrow and start the dig on Sunday. Keep you posted.