Here I Go Again....

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:53 pm

If you know me, you know I love to travel! And I've just found another trip to take next month....to a place I've longed to see for many years.

PETRA!:-6

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Anthropology/Petra/

We'll also see Jarash and Amman and Madaba and Aqaba and spend some time on the Red Sea.

(I know...I know....it's the middle east and it's a terrible time to even THINK of travel there! But, I've always been treated well in Muslim countries and I do know how to behave and dress. Besides...would terrorists hit the same hotel twice? Sheraton Amman couldn't possibly be targeted again...could it? Does anyone think it'll get better in years ahead? Nope! Didn't think so.)

This is very exciting to me....it'll be my 45th country.

Has anyone seen Petra? Any tips on places in Jordan?

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:03 pm

I might need some help with the photo thing, Pinks....can't I buy some throw-aways and have the pics put on discs? And then share them somehow with friends? Or am I imagining things?

I've always taken videos ..... but I'm thinking they're hard to share.... what's best?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:07 pm

Has anyone seen Petra? Any tips on places in Jordan?

Yes Petra and Jordan are like second homes to me. As well as Siam, Kiribati, Uganda and I keep a house in Novaya Zemlya. If you ever get an itch to visit the Arctic Ocean give me a ring. Ill let you stay in my igloo. :rolleyes:

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:13 pm

Right. Thanks, Nomad.

Has anyone actually BEEN to Petra?

Adam Zapple · Post by **Adam Zapple** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:03 pm

Have a safe, fun, and educational trip. But most of all, come home safely.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:10 pm

Thanks, my dear. I've always done well in Muslim countries...and don't intend to make a change now.

Adam Zapple · Post by **Adam Zapple** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:35 pm

Don't draw any funny little pictures of Mohammed while you're there.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:51 pm

Well...I was thinking of painting Mohammud's portrait on my bikini bottom, to wear while I shop in the SOUK! :wah:

itsme123 · Post by **itsme123** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:54 am

hey have u came to australia u should its mad cool to live here.

jes:guitarist

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:16 am

Lulu2

I am really excited for you, as I know you are most passionate about travel.

And bring back some excellent stories for us. How long will you be gone? :-6

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:19 am

How nice to see Petra, that will be fun to go out there in the desert this time of year. It will be warmer then here!

Nomad, can I store my diet cokes in your igloo for awhile?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:24 am

No I haven't been to Petra but I saw a KPBS special on it just amazing.:-6 Yes they have throw away camera's now and they work great. Have a great time, stop in and Visit NOMADNESS at one of his summer homes Kiribati :wah:

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:40 am

I had a friend named Petra in high school...

:p

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:11 am

I'll try to post from Amman or one of the hotels. Should be interesting. AND...I'll get some throw-away cameras and hope for the best.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:57 am

Hope you have a wonderful trip! :-6

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:11 am

Send me a pic of that bikini bottom Lu;)

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:18 am

OK...I've got about three weeks to plan. What do you want me to take/bring for you? A Bedouin tent? A camel? Perhaps a sultry desert princess?

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:22 am

a sultry desert camel?:-4

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:34 am

zinkyusa wrote: a sultry desert camel?:-4
and you pick on Texans....:rolleyes:

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:41 am

sunny104 wrote: and you pick on Texans....:rolleyes:

well i do like cowgirls:-4

but not girlcows

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:01 am

zinkyusa wrote: well i do like cowgirls:-4

but not girlcows
:yh_giggle

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:53 pm

Sorry...that's small print....GIRL CAMELS, you say? :wah:

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:13 pm

valerie wrote: I had a friend named Petra in high school...

:p

This isnt helping anyone Val ! Lets try and stay focused.

Ok ?

Grumpaz · Post by **Grumpaz** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:21 pm

Well there you go...galavanting around the world again. Have a great time my friend. You can bring me back a camel...Bud needs a friend.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:24 pm

How about one of those gorgeous camel saddles?

You KNOW you want one!

http://www.jordanjubilee.com/outdoors/camels.htm

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:40 pm

Guess what? There are only seven of us going on this trip! Normally, there would've been at least 25 people!

What that means is...extremely good service from the guides and local folks. My guess is that most people who signed up for this trip cancelled because of fears about terrorists.

Perhaps they knew what they were doing. But, I don't want to let terrorists run my life!

Back in 1990, just before the original gulf war broke out...I went with friends to Egypt. Everyone told us we were nuts! But we went and we found ourselves the only people at some of the most famous landmarks and tombs/temples, etc. We took one of the Nile cruises and, on a boat that should have carried over 200 people...there were 26 of us.

I remember saying to Sayid and Abboud (our crew)..that I was terribly sorry that the numbers of passengers were so small..that I knew they depended on tips and that there was no way they'd make the money they normally would, because of the terrorism, etc.

They said, "BUT, NO, Madam! Normally, we never have a chance to really talk with our passengers! Because of this, we can get to know YOU!"

(The Arab culture is very congenial and gracious and that's exactly the way they've always spoken with guests. This is something we've forgotten, because of the terrorists. But it WAS a reality and, I'm hoping it still is.)

Back to the ship.....we chatted for hours over cups of tea about life, customs, religion, etc. They wanted to know all about dating/growing up/education/I can't remember all that they wanted to know. They told me a great deal about their culture...some of it was good and some was very unpleasant for me to hear.

It was one of my best trips, ever.

I'm hoping that this one will be the same...they undoubtedly NEED tourists and. because of the terrorist threat...very few of us are coming. I hope to meet some Jordanians and really talk about who they are and who we are and to connect with them in a very HUMAN way.

AND, I want to go into the souk, to smell the vegetables and fruits and to see the quality of the goods for sale and to listen to the sound of Arabic and to smell the spices.

OH, DON'T WORRY! I'll wear a head scarf, and keep my eyes down and behave "well." We'll be in a Muslim country and I know what women "should do."

Can you tell I'm getting ITCHY to travel again? There's a chord in me which has always RUNG when it's time to travel or even think about travel!)

ZAP · Post by **ZAP** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:44 am

Lady Lulu-I wanna go!! But since I can't, would you bring me back a camel? I still have my camel saddle but I have nothing to put it on since the camel ran away as well as the cabana boys.

:-1

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:06 am

WHAT? You've lost your cabana boys? Lady Z! I'll try to replenish your stock!

ZAP · Post by **ZAP** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:26 pm

Lulu2 wrote: Right. Thanks, Nomad.

Has anyone actually BEEN to Petra?

I exercised with Petra Kolber this morning.

All kidding aside, I'd love to see Petra.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:25 pm

I'll get some throw-away cameras & have 'em put onto discs. I'm tired of carrying the video camera.