Dubai - What to do, what to eat, what to see?

That's the question I've been asked by my very good friend and former flatmate who's off to the sun in late October with his wife and young son.

Now admittedly it has been some time since I last visited Dubai, I was in Abu Dhabi in the summer of 2015 during an unexpected 12 hour layover en route to Jordan.  However just for you "Mr S" and for anyone else who's interested, here are some of the things I would do if I was visiting this cosmopolitan city with the family.

Here's the legal bit - use my tips as a starting point for some research of your own before firming up any bookings as activities and prices may have changed.

What to see and do?

• Dolphin Bay @ The Atlantis - granted it's expensive but this was a truly amazing experience to get up close with these magnificent creatures. When I visited, only the person going into the water had to pay, in which case it was just me, and the Mrs observed from the shore albeit it wasn't a great viewing experience for her. I was staying the Atlantis so booked the interaction when I got there. Note - professional photos cost extra.

Some poser with a dolphin - get a room!

• And whilst you're at the Atlantis then definitely check out Aquaventure water park, hours of endless fun and a great way to cool off from the heat. The little one will absolutely love it here. Alternatively there's Wild Wadi which some argue is better.
• Dune Bashing - we did this when we went out back in 2003 and if memory serves me correct we used Alpha Tours. I then did this with the Mrs but this time with Arabian Adventures who were more expensive than Alpha however they had use of the Dubai Desert Reserve unlike other operators so it was a lot less crowded. I've been doing some research to see if there are any operators who don't make you endure the irrelevant and completely inappropriate belly dancer and apparently Platinum Heritage do, so it maybe worth checking them out. 

No shortage of leg room in this gas guzzler

• Falconry - when I stayed at the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa one of the activities included was the falconry display and it was fantastic. Having looked at the Platinum Heritage website they do offer this so perhaps tie it in with a desert safari?

Falconry display at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

• Burj Khalifa - people are generally torn about whether the World's tallest building is best viewed from the outside or from within? Either way definitely go there, I have been told by relatives who've visited recently that it pays to pre-book as opposed to buying tickets on arrival.
• Dubai Mall & Dancing Fountains - Once you're done admiring the Burj Khalifa then why not lighten the wallet further with a trip to the adjoining Dubai Mall and then round the evening off with the Dancing Fountain display. Avoid the weekend though (Thursday evening to Saturday evening) as it gets particularly busy which may not suit the Mrs and the little one.
• Bastakiya District - I'm torn as to whether to recommend this or not as it's a great example of heritage preservation and a glimpse into what life in Dubai was like before it joined the fast lane. However it's not really a place for kids as there's little to grab their interest...

Bastakiya District at night

• Dubai Creek - ...that said Bastakiya sits alongside the Creek and the Abra crossing will definitely be more enjoyable for him.
• Malls, malls, malls - too many to list, too many to see regardless of how long you stay in Dubai. However all have something for everyone be it food, entertainment or kids play areas etc. and despite your best efforts you will spend a lot of time in them.
• Big Bus Tour Dubai - If the weather's warm and pleasant then without doubt one of the best (but not the cheapest!) ways to get round all of the key sites of interest and marvel at the wonders that make Dubai is from the top deck of the Big Bus. However a cheaper option might be to take the ultra modern and gleaming Dubai Metro, so maybe do that first and then opt for the bus if you still want the feeling of the warm desert air in your face

These are just some of the things that came to my mind and there are plenty more that I have missed but it should give you a bit of a starting point. I haven't mentioned Burj al Arab, Jumeirah Beach, Madinat Jumeirah, Ski Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Walk etc.

What to eat?

Now there's a question! You're in Dubai and one of the key attractions for me personally is the fact that I can sample cuisine from around the World in one city and almost all of it is Halal. You do have to be careful as there are restaurants that use alcohol in sauces, it should be marked on the menu but the obvious places where this is likely to be the case are contemporary European restaurants.

From my trips to Dubai, if you had to ask where I had my best meal? I'd have to say at the Seafood Market at Le Meridien Dubai. It was the fact that the fish was fresh and selected by me and cooked to order, it was perfection!

Well Mr S, and others reading this blog, I hope that gives you some starters for 10 for planning your itinerary and hope you have a great time!

PS - not jealous at all :-)

Mowgli Manchester - more of a miss than a hit

There is something of a street food craze at the moment and every major eating hotspot boasts about its street cred.

The recently refurbished Corn Exchange in Manchester has been reborn as a foodie's delight and for the Halal diner they can choose from Cabana offering Brazilian cuisine or Mowgli with its 'Indian street food' strap line.

And it was to Mowgli that I paid a trip to with the Mrs and the two young ones in tow. Only the Chicken is Halal but the menu offers quite an extensive array of vegetarian options and couple of seafood mains as well so there's plenty of choice. Steer clear of the sticky wings though as it contains Rum.

We ordered a couple of items from the Street section of the menu and a couple of mains with Roti and Rice on the side.

Starters were the interestingly named 'Yoghurt Chat Bombs' and 'Gunpowder Chicken'.

Yoghurt Chat Bombs - What lies within? A burst of flavour!

Gunpowder Chicken

I have to say that I really enjoyed the Chat (pronounced Chart but without the r sound) bombs, they appeared inconspicuous but lurking behind that thin crispy shell was a burst of tangy yoghurt, sweet tamarind and spices making for a very flavourful and enjoyable starter.

The gunpowder chicken pieces were deep fried in batter and sat on a bed of hot spicy green chutney with a layer of sweet tamarind sauce on top and garnished with hot red chillies and sharp onion. The first mouthful was chicken and the tamarind and I have to say it was a bit underwhelming, however after I stumbled upon the green chutney it became much more enjoyable. I would suggest that the drape the chicken in both chutney and tamarind to give the diner the best combination of hot and sour flavours.

The mains I'm afraid were a bit of a let down, for a start both my wife and I felt that it lacked seasoning and we don't eat much salt in our household. We went for the butter chicken for the kids mainly as we wanted something mild and not too hot and in this respect it was as expected, albeit lacking a pinch of salt. 

Butter Chicken - mild and as expected

Goan Fish Curry - sadly a bit of a let down

I picked the Goan fish curry and was expecting what the menu described as a tangy and fiery curry. There was plenty of tanginess from the tomatoes however I failed to pick up any fiery notes unfortunately. For me the dominant flavour was tomatoes and I wasn't impressed.

We didn't order a massive amount and thanks to a lunchtime offer they had on, the total cost for food was just over £20, which isn't bad I guess however I would rather have paid a bit more for some oomph.

Mowgli was busy enough and clearly does well and if I was judging it purely on the street section of the menu then I'd say this is a good place to eat however the mains just didn't cut it for any of us unfortunately.

If you are in this part of town then I would recommend walking for another five minutes to the Northern Quarter to the old established haunts 'This 'n' That', 'Al Faisal' or 'Kabana' (not to be confused with one in the Corn Exchange) for some truly authentic cuisine from the sub-continent, at a fraction of the cost and with gargantuan portions. The only thing missing will be polished floors of the Corn Exchange, instead you'll have the rustic charms of this historic part of town. 

Dalyan Diary

Think of Turkey these days and you're likely to think of politics, turbulence and somewhere you should avoid.

However, when I think of Turkey I think of a beautiful country steeped in history, blessed with a stunning landscape, amazing coastline, mouthwatering cuisine and without doubt the friendliest and most hospitable people you could meet.

There was a time when I wouldn't have considered Turkey for a holiday at all because my impressions were of a destination dotted with big, ugly package resorts where you have zero interaction with the local culture.

Whilst these resorts can still be found up and down the coast and no doubt they will suit some travellers they are definitely not for me and my family.

We prefer to stay somewhere that offers a glimpse of the real Turkey and if you're brave enough to break free of the package holiday resorts then you will find a Turkey that is more upmarket, intimate and a whole lot more enjoyable.

I have holidayed in Turkey three times now, the first time was a long weekend in Istanbul with my wife. Then two years ago we escaped to the seaside village of Turunc on the Lycian coast with our two young sons in a self catering pool villa in the beautiful mountains overlooking the Bay.

This year we headed to the coast once again but to the popular riverside town of Dalyan, only 30 minutes from Dalaman Airport. Our home for the week was the Aydos Club, a small family run hotel on the banks of the Dalyan river where we were one of only 3 groups of guests in a 20 room hotel, due to the unfortunate slump in demand for travel to Turkey this year. On the positive side it meant that we had free run of the kids pool for the entire week.

Club Aydos - compact and full of character

As our eldest is prone to car sickness we chose Dalyan as it's only a short drive from the airport without any of the twisting mountain roads. We booked with Simpson Travel who offer a choice of boutique hotels or self catering villas, I have already got my eyes set on one of their Dalyan Villas for our next trip!

We flew from Manchester on Monarch and were met at Dalaman by Jess, the lovely Simpson Travel representative who has called Dalaman home for the last 12 years. Whilst other holiday makers piled onto hot stuffy coaches we had a private transfer and were quickly whisked away to our hotel. Simpson Travel are more pricey than other holiday operators but they do offer a more personal service which we had no complaints with and we'd happily book with them again in the future. An example of this is when we told Jess that the kids had watched the DVDs that we brought with us several times, she offered to drop off more from her own kids collection and the next day there were a dozen or so Disney DVDs laid out on our bed after we came back from a day trip. Jess also offered lots of tips on what to see and do including where to find some of the best waffles in town!

As for Dalyan itself, tourism is the backbone of the town and us Brits are the main visitors. The river is the lifeline of the town, on one side you have Koycegiz Lake and downstream the river flows through Dalyan Harbour past the magnificent Lycian Rock Tombs carved into the mountains before reaching the magnificent Iztuzu Beach on the shores of the Mediterranean.

It is quite easy and therapeutic to switch off, sit by the riverside and watch the boats ply up and down the river, but be warned you will come across the odd party boat full of twenty-somethings blaring out trashy dance music off on an excursion. This is only a momentary distraction and they are gone just as quick as they appear leaving you to switch off once more.

Meal with a view at Club Aydos

Boat watching can be quite therapeutic!

The town is centred on the harbour which is teeming with boats of all shapes and sizes offering day trips to the surrounding attractions including the sulphur mud baths along the shores of the lake and Iztuzu beach. You can either join a boat that will take other passengers or arrange to private hire directly with the captain.

The bustling harbour of Dalyan

We were fortunate in that the Aydos club had its own boat and a beautifully ornate one at that decorated in Ottoman stye, which turned heads whenever we were on the river. We took a private BBQ dinner cruise on our penultimate night in Dalyan and it was made all the more beautiful by being on this boat.

The Aydos has its own distinctive boat which is a head turner

Sunset dinner cruise aboard the Aydos boat 

Overlooking the harbour is the simple but beautiful Cami or Mosque built in the traditional Ottoman style, which is typical in Turkey. The main square can be found here and off of this are the numerous restaurants, cafes and, if you're self catering, the local Migros supermarket where you can stock up on all the essentials.

Dalyan Cami - the centre of the town

One thing to bear in mind is that owing to the large number of tourists from the UK, quite a few of the restaurants do serve pork and openly advertise this. That said, as we walked about a lot of restauranteurs approached us to stress that they didn't serve pork in order to get our business.

A collection of some of the beautiful cuisine 

If you want a taste of authentic Turkish food, in other words, food that the locals eat then head to a Lokanta or Turkish canteen. The added bonus is that most Lokantas don't serve pork or alcohol, we found a great place called Pasha's right on the harbour front. The set up in a Lokanta is simple enough, there is no menu, instead you are shown all of the dishes that have been prepared that day and you select what you want, whilst there isn't a huge choice on offer the quality of what is offered is excellent. Truth be told, we had the best and cheapest meal at a Lokanta.

The delicious selection on offer at Pasha's

After your main meal you obviously have to go for dessert, you are on holiday after all! We found two great cafes serving delicious freshly made waffles!

Gerda's  Le Cafe is run by a German lady, called Gerda funnily enough, and is round the corner from the local post office.

A little taste of Germany in Dalyan

Gerda's Waffles

Then there is Cafe Dalyano, both serve home made waffles made to order which are served hot and topped with fresh ice cream. I am salivating as I type!

Cafe Dalyano's Waffles

I've mentioned Iztuzu beach in passing but you can't come all the way to Dalyan and not visit this great unspoilt beach which is a nesting ground for the loggerhead turtle and thanks to the efforts of 93 year old British Environmentalist June Haimoff is protected from development. That doesn't mean to say that there aren't any facilities, there are and they're basic but perfectly acceptable.

You have two modes of transport to choose from, either a boat from the harbour or aboard a Dolmus (minibus) from the Mosque Square.

The beach is set out with sun loungers and parasols which you rent for a flat daily fee which was around TL10 for 2 loungers, a bargain. You simply sit on a lounger and wait for one of the ticket people to approach you and then just sit back and enjoy your day. There are showers, toilets, food stalls and importantly a medic on site at the beach. For me the latter proved very handy as I stood on a blue crab whilst wading in the water and got pinched on my foot .... ouch!

The Boat to Iztuzu Beach will give you uninterrupted views of the Lycian Rock Tombs along the way and will take around 30 minutes. It will drop you on one end of the beach where the Dalyan river meets the Mediterranean Sea.

The stunning Lycian Rock Tombs

If taking a boat to the beach, you'll be part of a flotilla

The Dolmus will take around 20 minutes and cost us TL3.5 per person, it will make its way to the beach taking the mountain roads and offer stunning views of the beach as you make the final descent from the hills. The Dolmus will drop you at the opposite end of the beach to the boat and is the option to take if you want to visit the Turtle hospital and cabin/museum of environmentalist June Haimoff or Kaptan (Captain) June as she is affectionately known over here.

Modern, cheap and frequent, the Dolmus is a great way to get to Iztuzu beach

Iztuzu Beach from the Turtle Hospital

It was back in the 80s when plans were revealed to build a huge 5 star resort on Iztuzu beach threatening the nesting grounds of the loggerhead turtle that prompted June Haimoff to mobilise a campaign to protect their home.

Kaptan June's Hut and VW Beetle!

She won and has lived in Turkey since. She is a passionate environmentalist who has turned her original 80s beach cabin into a museum documenting her campaign. Supported by a team of volunteers the Kaptan has turned her focus to getting the boat owners of Dalyan to install propeller guards to protect the turtles from injury.

Propeller guard to protect the turtles from injury

Despite the propeller guards being free for the boat owners, this has had limited success but is an area that tourists can help. Simply ask any boat owner if they have a propeller guard and only give your business to those that do, they will display a Kaptan June sticker on their boat if they have one.

Only rent a boat that carries the Kaptan's seal of approval

Alongside Kaptan June's hut is the Turtle Hospital which cares for those unfortunate enough to have been injured by propellers back to health. It's open to everyone and allows you to see these magnificent creatures up close, it's free to visit although you should definitely give whatever spare change you have to help them in their efforts.

The turtle hospital and some of the magnificent creatures up close

Turkey hasn't disappointed me so far and this trip was no exception. God willing, this won't be my last trip to Turkey as my wife, kids and I love the country as it ticks all the boxes for us, short flying distance from the UK, great weather, availability of Mosques, delicious food and lots of it, stunning scenery and the fantastic Turkish people. The negative news stories haven't discouraged us one bit.

Next time we'd like to explore a different part of the coast, possibly Kalkan or Islamlar.

Countdown to Ramadhan 2016!

Here we are, another year and another opportunity to participate in Ramadhan, which will begin in around a week's time Insha'Allah.

Breaking our fast with dates is of course a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and whilst I normally buy Palestinian Medjoul dates, this year I will be buying them from SKT Welfare and their #Dates4Syria project.

According to SKT Welfare, these dates are ethically sourced that are hand selected and packed by a community of Syrian refugees from farms located in Jordan.

The dates come beautifully packaged in a range of multi coloured boxes that will make a great Ramadhan gift or you could just enjoy them yourselves!

Each box purchased will contribute to SKT Welfare's bakery project by providing 50 portions of bread for a Syrian family in need.

Counting down to the first fast insha'allah, hope you guys are too.

Amazing Jordan!

One year ago today I had the privilege of travelling to an amazing destination courtesy of the Mosaic Network, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, however it was a trip that very nearly didn't happen.

I applied and was successful in participating in the Mosaic Network's International Leadership Programme, a two week intensive course that is designed for young leaders aged between 25-35 from 18 different countries to equip them with the skills, training and support to make a difference in their local communities. 

I applied, I got selected and everything was looking great until I learnt that the venue was going to be Jordan.

The thought of travelling to Jordan filled me with dread. Situated south of Syria, my misconceptions of Jordan were based on news reports and, it later turned out, a lot of ignorance!

What I actually found was a country steeped in history, a rich and diverse culture, the most hospitable and amazing people and the best Middle Eastern cuisine I've had.

Reminiscing about my time in Jordan puts a big smile on my face and makes me want to return and I definitely plan to!

And therein lies my problem, how do I write about such an amazing destination??

I feel I won't be able to do it justice but here goes anyway.

Amman

Let's start with the capital, largest city and the port of entry for most people arriving into Jordan.

Amman is an ancient city initially built on seven hills, much like Rome, and it was actually part of the Eastern flank of the Roman Empire which left its mark in the form of the Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre which can be found in Downtown and well worth a visit. The Citadel gives you a great birds eye vantage point of the bustling city centre below.

When you first hear of Downtown you may immediately draw parallels, like I did, with what the Americans would refer to as Downtown i.e. wide roads, tall buildings etc. It's nothing of the sort.

Hashem's Falafels draws in punters from far and wide including the Jordanian Royal Family

Downtown Amman is the old city and bustling heart of Amman and amongst its winding roads you will find amazing places to eat like Hashem, which counts the Jordanian royal family amongst its clientele. Sitting under the night sky, the food arrives in the middle of the table accompanied by fresh warm bread for you to scoop up the fresh hummus, foul and labneh accompanied by that all time favourite street food staple, falafel! It's rustic, it's alfresco, it's cheap and it's packed (always a good sign) so highly recommended.

Foul, Hummus, Bread, Salad and fiery Salsa - delicious! 

The old buildings in Downtown also hide some great hangouts like Jafra cafe where you can spend a relaxing evening with Shisha and Mint Tea with soothing live Arab music strummed on a traditional Oud. The great thing about Cafes like Jafra is that they are not purpose built chains but decades old establishments with charm, history and character, come to think of it I don't think I spotted any global franchise outlets in Downtown Amman and just as well as it would ruin the authentic nature of this neighbourhood.

Fear not though, if you start suffering withdrawal symptoms for your extra tall, extra skinny, extra wet, double shot of overpriced caffeine hit.... then the franchises can be found in the newer parts of town or in the Malls.

The keyhole cutout is a visual reminder of lost homes in Palestine

One thing that will catch your eye amongst the many cafes and restaurants is that their menus will feature a keyhole shape cut-out in the middle. At first glance this appears to be a design feature but its actually a visual symbol and reminder for the lost homes belonging to Palestinian refugees who were forced from their homes when Israel was created in 1948 and now reside in Jordan. The keyhole reminds them and educates others that whilst they have shown grit and determination to stand on their own two feet by creating successful businesses, their hearts still yearn for their ancestral homes left behind in their homeland.

Top Tip: Take a taxi to Hashem, grab a bite to eat and then explore Downtown on foot stopping off to rest at one of the cafes, if you get lost ask for directions back to Hashem.

A panorama of Downtown Amman

The Entrance to Al Husseini Masjid in Downtown Amman

Also not to be missed in Downtown is the Grand Al-Husseini Masjid dating back to the 1920s. My local colleagues advised against visiting on a Friday as it tends to be a popular day for people to protest over issues but other than that it's completely peaceful.

Across town in West Amman is the newer King Hussein Masjid built in 2005 but in traditional beautiful architecture and we'll worth a trip especially as the Royal Automobile Museum is located practically next door housing a collection of cars which belonged to the late King Hussein, view the full collection of cars by clicking here.

There's also the Children's Museum Jordan, ensuring that there's something for the entire family in the vicinity, unfortunately I can''t comment whether it's worth visiting as there were no children with me but it's one to explore especially if you're travelling with little ones.

Top Tip: Pray Dhuhr at the King Hussein Masjid, admire the architecture and grounds and then take a short 5 minute stroll to the adjoining automobile museum and/or the children's museum.

The magnificent King Hussein Masjid in West Amman

A taster of some of the cars on display at the Automobile Museum 

Jebel Webdeh/Paris Circle

The other area of the city well worth a visit is Jebel Webdeh or Paris Circle/Square, which is Amman's uber trendy bohemian district popular with artists. Take a walk down its streets and you'll find lots of cafes/art galleries, restaurants and random works of graffiti-art adorning the streets.

Top Tip: This area is oozing with character and best explored at night, take a taxi and ask to be dropped off at the Paris Square/Circle and grab a bite to eat from one of the nearby restaurants, then take a stroll amongst the streets then head into an arty cafe, admire the creativity, absorb the culture whilst sipping on a black tea infused with mint.

Restaurants, cafes, art galleries and graffiti-art give Jebel Webdeh a bohemian vibe

Religious and historical sites in and around Amman

Within Amman itself in the neighbourhood of Jubeiha you will find the final resting place of Abdur Rahman Ibn Auf (R.A), one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and one of the blessed ten. This won't be easy to find unfortunately, your best bet is to take a taxi to this neighbourhood and then ask the locals until you spot the beautiful mosque below where he is also buried.

A short drive away from the Centre of Amman in Abu Alanda is the Cave of the Seven Sleepers from Surah Kahf. This is a truly amazing place and to know that this is the cave mentioned in the Qur'an and to be standing inside it gives you goosebumps. When we arrived it was muggy and humid but as soon as we stepped inside the naturally cool air made it seem it was air conditioned.

The adjacent Masjid Al-Kahf is also a peaceful oasis and provides a brief English language tour and overview of the Seven Sleepers in the context of the Qur'an whilst the cave itself contains the graves of the sleepers and the artifacts that were uncovered. Definitely a "must" if you visit Amman.

Outside Amman near the city of As-Salt you can find the burial site the Prophet Ayoub (peace be upon Him). The location of the exact grave is not known although the area where his grave may be located is signposted, albeit in Arabic, so brush up on your language skills!

There is also an accompanying Masjid and you should aim to get here to coincide with one of the prayer times to ensure you can access the site.

Top Tip: Ensure the taxi driver knows where he's going before getting into the cab as this quite a drive out of the city and the last thing you want to be doing is going round in circles with the meter running, it's better to agree a fare before getting in.

Slightly further away (approx 3 hours out of Amman) is the Blessed Tree, this is a sight to behold! Were it not for one of my colleagues on the Mosaic trip, I wouldn't have known that this is located in Jordan. For those of you unfamiliar with this living miracle, this is the tree under which the Christian Monk Bahira met the young Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and foretold of his Prophethood. This tree has stood on this spot for over 1,400 years and is surrounded by barren desert yet it still thrives. Some refer to the tree as a living Sahabah, whichever way you look at it, this is one special place to visit.

The Blessed Tree still thrives in barren desert after 1,400 years

Top Tip: Once again make sure that the taxi or transport that you arrange know exactly where to go as it is quite some distance out of Amman and take plenty of water with you as there are very few amenities around.

Madaba

In the city of Madaba, the home of mosaics, you will find the Greek Orthodox Basilica of St George which features a mosaic map of the Holy Land dating back to the 6th century. A historical treasure in its own right and one that has actually been used to locate and excavate religious sites throughout this region. 

Just outside the city is Mount Nebo, the spot from where Musa (peace be upon Him) is said to have stood and looked out towards Palestine. It is also thought to be his final resting place although no one has found his grave. On a clear day you too can stand at the summit and glance towards Palestine. See more photos of Mount Nebo and Madaba here.

Petra

Finally the one historical treasure for which Jordan is best known, thanks in part to Indiana Jones and the last Crusade, is the ancient city of Petra. This is quite a trek out of Amman, it took us three and half hours on a coach but it is well worth the trip, remember to pack plenty of water! 

The one thing you need to be mindful of is that at the time of visiting Petra the entrance fee was 50 Jordanian Dinars per head (approx £50) and there are no concessions for non-Arab passport holders. The latter get access for 1 Jordanian Dinar!

Entrance fees aside the city is amazing and you are visiting one of the ancient wonders of the World after all. Thanks to Hollywood, you will instantly recognise the Treasury once you walk your way through the gorge or As-Siq which is approx. 1.5 km long.

From here the city is yours to explore as much or as little as you like, it will all depend on heat,  the footwear you're wearing and your will power. Be warned though, if you want to see the impressive Monastery, it is a bit of a trek from the treasury and then a climb involving c. 800 steps!

I didn't make it but my colleagues who did said it was amazing!

Be wary of the stalls in Petra as the vendors will shout out low prices to lure you in and then reveal the "actual" price just as you're about to hand over the money.

Drinks and ice cream shacks can be found dotted around Petra as well as Wifi!! And if you get tired you can always opt for a camel, donkey or horse to take the load of your feet especially if you're heading to the monastery. See the complete photo collection here including a silhouette of yours truly in an Indiana Jones hat!

Top Tip: It goes without saying that you will be in the desert and essentials like, sunscreen, water, hats and some energy snacks should be packed although try to travel as light as you can.

Verdict on Jordan

Well I've rattled on for long enough I think and I still haven't even covered the Roman ruins of Jerash or the Dead Sea but what I have (hopefully) proved is that Jordan is one amazing destination and if you haven't included it in your travel plans then what are you waiting for!?

Personally I can't wait to go back with the family and catch up with the amazing friends I made.