3 incredbible days squished into a bad post

view from Ajoun castle

Ajloun castle...day 3

Dave David RObert K and a random in Amman first night

a lovely Jordinians house for shai - he brought out his oud!

mish mish orchid : admiring the well as Omar talks us through it

Journey of a cloud indeed, for I am dancing with the current of the wind.

  The first sign of this sat beside me on the plane.  That he was a boy my age on a gap year was exciting enough at first but it became creepier and eventually i stopped saying 'me too!!' because I'd simply said it too many times.
  What conjures my suspiscions of fate is probably the sense of belonging which I've been showered with since

OK PAUSE David just ran in to announce that a man we met yesterday (to whom we mentioned our accomodation) just called the hostel and has invited us over for coffee.  my 2$ watch says its 830am so I think its time i showeered and went!

Now where was I? So Dubai airport had me nervous.  The city sparkled with opolent lights, bleeding through the night sky while inside sparkled the whites of hundreds of eyes.  I was overwhlemed.  They spoke of hardship and desperate times and I felt embarrassed for having experienced so little.

I tried to tame my smile as I skipped around the airport.  I lost it for sure after I sat down at my gate, when all my bag's contents scatter across the floor and I realize I had been walking around with my bag (of importance) wide open.

  In Dubai, I began to fear if I would ever fit in with these people.  How silly that was.  Before I had left customs, two men had already warned me to be careful and given their number in case I needed anything.  Ironic, as if I were to follow their advice, surely it would mean that I had not listened their advice?)
  Every Jordanian thus far has made me feel welcome from the depth of my heart. It's as though Jordan is their home and I am their guest and it is their duty to show me a good time.  And have they what! I feel it's impossible for me to explain what I've been up to because since I've arrived it's been non-stop.
  Travelling with David has been really fun because he puts in an effort to get to know people and make them feel special, so everyone likes us.  On top of this whenever I say 'ana min Palestine' wella! She's from Palestine! Where in Palestine? Your father? Your mother? etc. I have learnt that around 70% of Jordan is made up of Palestinians.  The remainder are from neighbouring countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Syria.  The true Jordans mainly only consist of the Beduins.
  I am yet to meet the Beduins. It takes a while to do anything here because the country is lazy like the camels.  Slow and happy. You have to be in order to safe your energy in the desert.  Don't get me wrong: They work hard 7 days a week of 10 hour shifts is not uncommon.  But they face their task with a laid back attitude one practices while they smoke shisha.  On our first day we (David, David (australia), Robert & K (America)) ventured up to a film festival. as everything in jordan it took much longer than expected, for people care about you.  You ask for directions 'where you from? welcome! how long you sit down (stay))
It was also this journey which led us to the front porch of a Palestinian Christian man who invited us all in for tea, brought down his ouud (arabic lute) and told us about his family.  His kindness was touching.  I would bore myself to talk about every encounter with a Palestinian Jordanian who has spoiled David and I.  They're extravagent with generority and terribly proud about their home.  Still.  They lost their family home in Palestine yet still they are proud - Proud to have had a home in Palestine and proud to share with you in their new home in Jordan.
  The dead sea, similarly, reflects the lazy desert country.  It's thick with sparkling crystal clarity and you feel stoned as you wade your way through it in slow motion.  It was here that we met our first Saudi Arabians.  They were pretty awesome; bought us ice-cream (people here set you up so you cannot say no!!) and were open to discuss their culture, politics and general attitude.  David talks good politics with the people so I can enjoy listening and learning (and saying funny comments).

Omar, anas and mohammed's weekend house where we danced

YEsterday we visited some ancient desert castles and a cool church.  Very pretty, great views etc.  We met Omar there - a Palestinian who thought it fun to do tourist things on his weekend.  He and his three friends took photos of eachother doing everything everywhere and while taking photos with us they invited us to their house.  Three of them and four of us (for Daoud (davids new name) and I met an australian/austrian couple - very worldly and on the ball) the car was very squishy.  We ended up at Anas' mish mish orchid where we picniced on nectarines, apricots and the nuts inside their seeds.  The three men were very funny and when it started raining (!!!!) we all ran muddily to the car and ended up playing snap, discussing the world (slowly), and dancing in their livingroom.
  After the 10 hour lunch visit they drove us all the way to our hostel in the downtown.  Daoud and I were too late to make our dinner plans (for we were invited to another Palestinians' for a dinner made by his wife) but Jordanians don't worry - for we can call him today at 430 and hang out some more anyway.

the key board has been so hard to use and I have no time to polish up this mess of ideas flying in the sky so I hope you make something good out of it :D