After a night’s stay in Amman, we departed for Petra in the morning. This is definitely like one of my dreams come true.

Unfamiliar with “Petra”? If you have watched the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, Al Khazneh (The Treasury) was featured as the temple housing the Holy Grail.

Petra is an archaeological city famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established around the 3rd century BCE as the capital city of the Nabataeans. It is also known as the “Red Rock City” because of the color of its rocks.

From entrance, 700 metres ride or walk to the impressive eastern entrance. Then travel on foot or carriage 400metres down through the Siq, a narrow gorge at the end of which behold  Petra’s most spectacular tomb, Al Khazneh – the Treasury,  hewn into the rose colored sandstone cliff. A little further down, is a massive theatre, with views of a number of tombs obelisks and altars.

My adventurous parents climbed 900 stairs up the mountain  to the  Al Deir (The Monastery) on the top overlooking the Arrava valley. Each way takes approximately 40 minutes walk time. An optional mode of transport up the mountain is on a donkey.

Where did I go? Well, too lazy to climb but spent time befriending a youngster and understanding the way of life for the locals.

The experience in Petra was amazing. The locals and teenagers peddled their goods on the Plains but were never hustlers.

A common sense tip: Daypack with Hat, Cotton Long sleeves shirt to protect skin from sun, bottled water, sunblock, trekking stick, camera and face towel. Have good pair of walking or trekking shoes.