An FA18 or an A321??

It's not the first time I've flown in a plane with an Arab pilot. They seem to have one thing in common. They fly like they didn't make Top Gun and have something to prove. Calm down, cowboys! Aside from that, the flight to Amman was uneventful. Actually, one might even call it inspirational having the opportunity to watch Invictus. Very good, by the way. Arrived in Amman at about 01:00am and it was the fastest I had ever been trough any airport ever. I actually mean that. I'm not being sarcastic. It was then up at about 06:45 (ouch) to head off up to Jerash. Jerash (or Gerasa, to give it its Greco-Roman name) is an enormous archaeological site in the north of Jordan. Although there are signs of inhabitance during neolithic times, a major settlement was first established during Alexander The Great's day. During it's peak during its Roman phase the population rose to 20,000. The town was supported by the very fertile agricultural belt it finds itself in. There are still many buildings to wander through and with the help of your imagination, the whole, magnificent city comes back to life. Temples, collonnades, amphitheatres, hippodrome, baths, alters, shops. All there for one to stroll around. And that's just with half of the city unearthed. The other half remains buried under modern Jerash.

Next it was onto the Dead Sea. This is located in very picturesque country. Mountainous desert. Just my cup of tea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth at 408m below sea level. It's probably the hottest place on earth too and this is causing the water to evaporate very quickly. At the moment it is dropping a metre/year and hence the salinity is at a staggering 35%! Despite this, UV rays are supposedly very low. So they say. Swimming in it is a bit like swimming in an oil slick. Very silky, a bit thick and obviously very buoyant. The other thing to do is to smother yourself in Dead Sea mud, let it dry then wash it off in the water. It leaves your skin baby bottom smooth. It's quite surreal to be swimming around with Israel on one side of you and Jordan on the other. You can even see the towers of Jerusalem and the city of Jericho.

Sorry this post is quick, but I'm sitting in a stinky internet cafe writing this. They still love to smoke EVERYWHERE over here!

Question of the day: Why do old people make such a fuss about things (just chill, guys) and have to give you a running account of what is going on in front of you (I actually do have two eyes that work!)

XXX