When hosting dinner parties I do find that having everything ready at the same time for all 3 courses can be a little too stressful for my liking. I find myself spending more time plating up rather than being with my guests. The great thing about Mezze in Middle Eastern cooking is that they are designed to be shared and don't necessarily have to be on the table at the exact time. This adds a nice relaxed environment to a dinner party and can be a great option for buffets and parties. When I was in Jordan last February I attended a cookery class at Petra Kitchen. I didn't learn any new cookery skills but I did learn to put together a fabulous meal fit for a Middle Eastern King.
Araies Iahma Ingredients:1lb minced beef/lamb/turkey 1 medium onion 1/2 cup olive oil 1 green chilli 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tomatoes 1 tsp salt flat bread 1 tsp cumin Araies Iahma Method: 1. Mix the meat with the chopped tomataoes and onion in a food processor. 2. Add salt, chilli, garlic and cumin to the meat mixture and mix well. 3. On 1 flat bread place some meat mixture, brush olive oil round the edge and put another flat bread on the top. 4. Brush the top with olive oil. 5. Make in oven @180oC for between 8-10mins, turn the pieces and keep in oven for another 5 mins. 6. Serve hot from oven. Read: Middle Eastern Cookery Workshop at Petra Kitchen My Jordan Diary Things to see and do in Abu Dhabi, UAE Useful arabic phrases
Day 7: Drive via the Desert Highway and the Dead Sea to Amman Returning north I headed past the unique saline waters of the Dead Sea. At nearly 400m below sea level this is the lowest point on earth. Surrounded by barren hills, this unparalleled water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! We will have time here to enjoy the strange delights of floating on the Dead Sea and bathing in the skin soothing (and allegedly youth making) Dead Sea mud before heading back to Jordan's Capital, Amman.
The Dead Sea
As its name evokes, the Dead Sea is devoid of life due to an extremely high content of salts and minerals which gives its waters the renowned curative powers, therapeutic qualities, and its buoyancy, recognized since the days of Herod the Great, more than 2000 years ago.
Scientifically speaking, its water contains more than 35 different types of minerals that are essential for the health and care of the body skin including Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Sulphur, and Iodine. They are well known for relieving pains and sufferings caused by arthritis, rheumatism, psoriasis, eczema, headache and foot-ache, while nourishing and softening the skin. They also provide the raw materials for the renowned Jordanian Dead Sea bath salts and cosmetic products marketed worldwide.
The salt content is four times that of most world's oceans which means you can float in the Dead Sea without even trying. It also makes swimming virtually impossible unless your count sculling. The dead sea is the only place in the world where you can recline on the water to read a newspaper. Just don't try and lie on your stomach or you will be tipped round the other way. Also, don't underestimate how difficult it is to put your feet on the ground. Well, I certainly had fun trying! In order to access the beach you need to go through one of the newly built hotels. After washing the mud off I enjoyed a couple of hours in the sunshine by the pool before driving 30 mins back to Amman for my last night in Jordan before an early flight home. Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
Day 3: Drive to Petra, via Madaba, Mt Nebo and Kerak Castle After another disappointing breakfast I headed south to Madaba, a small Christian town with its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of Palestine (6th century). It was the first time where I had actually seen other tourists. The town was small with swarms of tourists, mostly Japanese, filling the streets and swarming round the church and visitors centre. The mosaic was discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary. It contains a picture of Jerusalem which is scarely quite accurate giving that there were no planes back then to map the country out like now. Even the fish in the river are swimming away from the dead sea.
Next stop: Jebel Neba (808m). Better known as Mount Nebo, which is a pilgrimage centre for Christians principally because Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land from this summit. There is a lot of development work going on here. The churches were closed and due to the rain the view of the promised land wasn't very clear.
Then following the desert highway we reach Kerak, imposingly sited on a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader King.
After the castle was a 4 hour drive down to Petra where I was to spend 3 nights. The hotel, Beit Zaman, is a is a renovated authentic XIXth century village, known as Khirbet Al Nawafleh, in Wadi Musa which has been transformed into a village resort. The renovation of the houses was in keeping with the original housing design. The swimming pool here was great. The village contains 2 old olive presses as well as an old roman aqueduct in a small half-private courtyard. It is a unique experience that will add greatly to your stay in the Red Rose City.
This was yet another hotel where I needed to get a taxi into town. Petra high street consists of one road with a dozen or so restaurants and a few shops. For my first night in Petra I had a set meal at a local restaurant and had overcooked chicken, rice and salad. Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
Day 6: Drive via Wadi Rum to Aqaba Leaving Petra this morning we drove south, crossing more of the rolling desert landscapes towards the haunting vistas of Wadi Rum. We managed to stop at a cafe and take in the views across Petra. I could even see the white stone at the top of one peak where Moses' brother is buried.
During the drive I saw the remains of the Hejaz Railway, famously attacked by TE Lawrence and his Arab army during the turbulent days of WWI. This marked the world inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin for generations and steeped in the legend of Lawrence of Arabia, whose exploits have become the stuff of legend. Indeed scenes from the remarkable film of his life were shot on location, deep in the fabulous purple-black mountains that rise from the sand of the desert.
Once at the Wadi Rum I opted in for a 4x4 drive through the dramatic Siq al Barrah. The panoramas of what must surely be some of Jordan’s most dramatic wilderness are fabulously dramatic. Words struggle to adequately convey the beauty of this wondrous place.
The drive continues onto Jordan's Red Sea town of Aqaba. Once a dusty, small town with an industrial port, Aqaba is quickly turning into a 21st century upscale travel destination. There was a very nice ice cream salon by my hotel (Holiday Inn). Apparently it had a roof pool but I chose to walk along the beach to Here you will have further options of relaxing by your roof top pool, soaking up the sunshine and taking a break to recap on your weeks adventure or enjoy a snorkelling trip.
Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), is a liberalized, low tax and duty free, multi-sector development zone which was established in 2001. The initiative is aimed at turning Aqaba into a world-class business hub and tourism destination. I did walk around the gold souk which consisted of half a dozen shops. The prices seemed inflated for the tourists so I didn't buy gold. I did buy some dead sea mud and am still working my way through it still. Shops closed at 9pm. The I headed to a local seafood restaurant which was the best meal I had in Jordan. Fresh lemon and mint drink was really refreshing.
Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience.
I walked down to the Siq on foot, following its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The world famous Treasury).
I joined a guided orientation tour which highlighted some of the key parts of this remarkable and ancient site, one of the most impressive and exciting anywhere in the world. I had realized my childhood dream. I enjoyed the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs, walking off piste following a guide up into the rocks to enjoy the site of its amazing Roman theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from the solid rock from above. I had taken some bread and cheese from the hotel at breakfast and sat at the bottom of the steps to the Monastery in the shade and took a look in the small museum there is there.
800 steps of repentance
Once fed and rested I climbed the 800 steps of repentance, up to the Monastery.
On my way up, on several occasions hugging the mountain's side as I walked by the cliffs' edges, taking high steps due to the steepness of the mountain, avoiding falls by prudently allowing people (mainly Americans) riding donkeys to bypass me on the narrowed path, trying not to loose my balance as I stepped on uneven rocks, all of these and even more were all well worth the climb due to the beauty of the landscape. I was glad to be climbing these in February rather then in the hot summer time. Temperatures have been known to reach the low 40s.
As I climbed the steps Petra started disappearing from view by becoming smaller and smaller and the people walking around, starting to look like little ants. More dazzling red-rose coloured mountains were added in the picture each one of them having a unique glow under the sun's vibrant rays.
Along the climb, several locals sitting on rocks were selling hand craft souvenirs whereas others, simply watching tourists walk by. In several areas, middle aged women boiling water in huge silver kettles placed over camp fires, were offering cups of tea to people walking by with smiling faces, missing teeth and gold capped ones. Donkeys tied up loosely around scarcely seen trees, baby camels sleeping in caved holes along the mountain.
I headed down the same steps and back up to the entrance gates where there were female police officers guarding the gates. It was another taxi drive back up to the hotel where I enjoyed a swim before taxing back down to the Petra High Street for a cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
High Place of Sacrifice My second day in Petra I took the route up to the High Place of Sacrifice. Far above Petra on a mountain summit, the Nabataeans carved out the High Place of Sacrifice, their most sacred open-air altar where they performed ritual killings of animals. The path to the altar includes obelisks dedicated to the kingdom's two main deities: Dushara, the god of strength, and al-Uzza, the goddess of water and fertility.
Along with public worship, the Nabataeans also practiced private worship as evidenced by the shrines and niches cut into the surrounding rock face. They continued to practice this religion for hundreds of years, but by the early fourth century they had adopted Christianity as their main religion.
After taking in the views I headed back down other side down past the Roman soldier's tomb. For the rest of the afternoon I walked back up to the Royal tombs and then back up to the taxi rank at the entrance gates. A short taxi drive back up to the hotel and I was back in the swimming pool. A night in was just what I needed even though there was an option to see Petra by night. Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
Day 2: In Amman, city tour; PM visit Ajlun and Jerash This morning I joined a guided tour of Jordan's Capital City, Amman, where I saw mosques and churches happily situated next to one another. The origins of this remarkable city have been traced back some 9,000 years, but it was the arrival of the Ammonites in 1200BC that saw the city begin its rise to prominence as the great city of Rabbath Ammon. The intervening centuries saw it fall under the influences of the Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ptolomids, Seleucids and the Romans, under whose auspices it thrived as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. The morning tour showcased some of the highlights of ancient Amman (Philadelphia), including the Temple of Hercules and the 8th century Ummayad Palace.
The King Abdullah Mosque is rather large but a little dated. It lacked the intricacy of many other mosques but the size is quite impressive. It's also worth noting that muslim women are banned from the main hall and are encouraged to pray at home even though there is a small side chamber for women if they feel compelled to pray at the mosque. We western women were required to wear black wrap over gown with hoods before we entered the mosque. The King Abdullah Mosque is one of the city’s major landmarks. I walked through the gold and herb markets in the city’s downtown district which is undergoing major road works.
In the afternoon I headed to Jerash which is located in the Gilead Hills. It is considered to be the best preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths. It was still wet and cold. I bought a lovely square woollen scarf from the small market there. I wish I had bought more as I had hoped there would be more opportunities to buy mementoes later on. The restaurant at Jerash was very reasonably priced and the service was very efficient. The food was buffet style and there was plenty of choice.
After Jerash I visited the hilltop fortress at Ajlun, the only truly Islamic castle in the country. It was built in 1184AD by a nephew of the great Saladin, to counter the Frankish threat of the invading Crusaders, its strategic location saw it commanding the trade routes between southern Jordan and Syria. Destroyed by the Mongols in 1260 the citadel was then rebuilt by the Mameluke Sultan Baibars, going on to serve as an Ottoman outpost. Unfortunately by the time the minibus had arrived the castle was closed but our guides managed to convince the guards to let us drive up to the car park to see the building a little better.
After a disappointing last leg of the daytrip I headed back to the hotel. Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
Once I arrived at the airport at c.8pm I was asked for my passport in order to obtain my visitors visa. This guy wearing a large woollen coat and shades disappeared for 20 mins before re-emerging with my visa and passport. I was so relieved! I was collected by a pre-booked taxi and was taken straight to the hotel. Amman has wide streets filled with traffic going somewhere in a hurry.
Imperial Palace Hotel
The weather was cold, wet and windy. From the looks of the buildings, including my hotel, they don't seem to be prepared for rain or wind for that matter. Marble steps are great for adding cool but when wet they are a danger to all. I stayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel which is a 4-star 'boutique' hotel that supposedly offers 'a blend of the hospitality of the Orient and the luxurious comforts of the modern age'. It is ideally situated in the Fourth Circle, one of the most affluent districts of west Amman and 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Amman so was great for getting out and about but a taxi was needed to get anywhere. I found the breakfast to be very limiting with little fresh produce available and orange cordial called orange juice. The restaurant staff were on the boarder of being rude which isn't wasn't a good first impression of Jordanian people. The guest toilets were filthy and everywhere smelt of drains. The lovely chandelier you can see in the picture was filthy and looks as it has never been dusted.
Not the best first impression of a country but I have 7 more days to investigate. Overview Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
Ever since I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as a little girl I have wanted to travel to Jordan. And in February this year I did just that. If you are keen on spending the week somewhere truly undiscovered then consider heading to the Middle East or more specifically, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Whilst you are there, check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lost City of Petra. This astonishing sight is the country’s most visited tourist attraction, so you’ll know it’s not one to miss. It's worth noting that summer temperatures regularly exceed 40oC which can seem hotter without shade especially when you are climbing 800 steps up to the sacrificial spot in Petra. Read my diary of my trip to Jordan:
One of the things which I won't easily forget about my recent trip to Abu Dhabi are the scents. The whole city was awash or Arabic scents. The scents that featured the most was sandalwood. Shops would burn sandalwood outside their establishment, even inside shopping malls which I must admit I thought was a little bit odd as I had believed sandalwood was a natural mosquito repellent. How many mosquitos have you seen in a shopping mall? By happy chance I had already booked myself into a 2hr Introduction to Perfume-Blending workshop at Homemade London. With shadows of scents fresh in my memory I was hoping to be able to make a blend which I had smelt in the desert only a few days before.
Perfume-Blending Workshop
Nicola and Tanya warmly welcomed me with a glass of rose bubbly and as other ladies entered the workshop everyone relaxed looking forward to being creative. Tanya took us through the history and the bio-chemistry of perfumes. We shared our own 'signature scents, with most women favouring something floral. These of you who know me know that I don't 'do' floral. Thankfully a woman after my own heart Ann-Marie was sitting next to me and we became each others second nose.
Tanya took us through the three notes, top, middle and base. The top note is the most striking scent when you first smell at first, something usually fresh and light. The top note lasts about 30 minutes. Pink Grapefruit, Sweet Orange or Neroli are great top notes. The middle notes are scents that last 2-3 hours and come through once the top note subsides. They provide fullness and warmth. Jasmine, Rose and Lavender are great examples of these. Base notes are the heavier scents which can stay on fabric for days. Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Frankincense can all be used as base notes. A balance between top, middle and base notes is required to make a successful blend. Generally, top notes are about 5-30% of a blend. A middle note can be anything from 50-80% of a blend and base notes usually constitute 5-25%. The base note should be used sparingly so as not to overpower the middle and top notes. Creative Chemistry Class
After 30 minutes of learning the basics were then let loose with a selection off essential oils allowing our noses to try and put together a blend which reflects our own aspirations. We sat happily sniffing different scents, ooh-ing, aaah-ing and screwing our noses up at some. I must say I have never been a fan of ylang ylang, also known as the poor man's jasmine, and when visiting a rose oil factory in El Kelaa des M’Goun in Morocco, which is famed for its roses, I couldn't bond with that scent either. This was the most fun chemistry class I have had. We added oils one drop at a time into a glass beaker and like a good little science students we noted down our own formula. Stirring, smelling, adding drops, stirring, sniffing coffee granules and smelling again. Finally I came to a combination of oils which reflected the passionate heat of the desert. Coconut oil was added to the essential oils and then poured into rollerball bottle and labelled. What should I call my lovingly made concoction? A name that befits the romance and heated spirit of the desert, and then it hit me. A single image of a beautiful woman in yellow wrapped in the arms of a young handsome man; The Desert Song film (1953) featuring Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRae. It was then I realised that my love of the desert had started in my informative years when I could have been no more than 7 years old. And so with pride and a reminiscent smile I named my scent "The Desert Song".
Thank you Nicola and Tanya, I had a brilliant evening and am already very much looking forward to the next one!
Abu Dhabi city lies on a T-shaped island that juts into the Persian Gulf from the western coast. So there you see, about an hours drive to the West from Dubai. That journey in a taxi would cost about 200Dhs. Abu Dhabi is the capital as well as the second largest city of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Now the city is currently counted as one of the most progressive ones in the entire world, it was not always this way. Until mid C20th, the economy of Abu Dhabi was maintained by camel herding and the production of dates and vegetables. Fishing and pearl diving were other occupations taken up during summer months. However, things changed when in 1958 when oil was struck. After Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth changed the whole scene, escalating the city's economy considerably. Anyone who goes there looking for an adventure will be rather disappointed. Generally speaking, Abu Dhabi is no doubt conservative -- don't plan to let your hair down, literally or metaphorically. Language
The official language of the UAE is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and is commonly used in conjunction with Arabic. Religion & Culture Islam is the official religion in the UAE. There is no separation of the sacred from the secular, as Islam is a way of life for Muslims and it is something that you will have to get used to. Probably the first thing you will notice is the call of the prayer. This is a short verse sung by the 'Imam' from the mosque, which begins with "Allah Akbar", or "God is the greatest". You will hear it 5 times a day (once at dawn). All Muslims will then stop work, wash themselves ritually, and face Mecca to pray. The loudspeakers of most mosques will call the faithful to each prayer time. Dress Code
Abu Dhabi is generally conservative, but tolerant when it comes to dress code. Visitors are advised to respect local culture and customs by not wearing revealing clothing in public places. It is respectful for men and women to cover shoulders and knees when in public. As far as I experienced, the dress code for western women is not a problem. If you are female then men will stare regardless of what you are wearing. I tended to wear sandals, a maxi dress, leggings and then wrapped myself in a pashmina. Even though everything apart from my toes and my head were covered I still got looks. You can wear open toed shoes in Abu Dhabi.Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but make sure you pack something slightly warmer for the winter months. Some sort of jacket or cardi / pashmina will come in handy when visiting hotels or the cinemas, as the air conditioning can be pretty fierce. Although throughout the emirates the attitude is fairly liberal, in Abu Dhabi it is rather more conservative than in neighbouring Dubai. As in all countries, a healthy amount of respect for the local customs doesn't go amiss, especially when shopping and/or generally sightseeing. Short or tight clothing can be worn, but it will attract more attention than if you didn’t wear it - most of this attraction will be unwelcome. For ladies it is advisable to wear short sleeved rather than sleeveless tops and dresses, especially if travelling by local taxi on your own (shawls and wraps are often worn over evening dresses etc). I felt it to be a safe place to walk about as a single female.
As in any place with plenty of sun, good quality sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are essential and so is drinking plenty of fluids (at least 1 1/2 litres of water/day), don't rely on feeling thirsty!
Sex and the City 2 Movie Did you know that the movie was actually filmed 4,000 miles away in Morocco. Can you tell that in the movie trailer?
Well, if you knew there are no traditional souks in Abu Dhabi you would. Was there anything about Abu Dhabi in the Sex and the City 2 movie true? Well that super elaborate hotel Carrie and her friends stayed at is actually true. The Emirates Hotel is the only 7 star, yes I did say 7 star, hotel in Abu Dhabi. It's not in a very accessible part of town but not too far from the marina so you will have a short journey from your luxury Sunseeker, ahem. What is there to do in Abu Dhabi? I can really only comment on what I did over there but if there's anything that you experienced over there then please add them in the comments box below. Corniche Road at sunset Undoubtedly Abu Dhabi’s favorite strolling/jogging grown is along this water-side road — go in the morning or, best, at sunset, to avoid the steamy mid-day temperatures. I tried to take a few pics of the buildings in the distance but the sand was in the air and the pics came out all fuzzy. Don't forget your burkini. Shopping Abu Dhabi doesn't have a traditional souq. Visitors may be confused when they read about the Souk at Central Market in Abu Dhabi and think this is the one on the Sex and the City 2 movie. The Souk is located in downtown Abu Dhabi in the new Central Market development area. There did used to be an old souq in the same area, but it burned down in a fire and was later demolished and replaced with the new Central Market project. The new souq is quite impressive. Beautiful stained glass windows let in light from the streets into the building. It's hard to imagine such a serene place of beauty in the midst of this city. Not all the units in the building have been filled yet, in fact, most of the first and second floors are still empty, but the ground floor seems to be fairly well occupied.
Souk, Central Market, Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World
Ferrari World is a Ferrari themed amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The park is situated under a 200,000 square metres (2,200,000 sq ft) roof making it the largest indoor amusement park in the world and is truly outstanding. It opens at 12 noon. It got busier later on in the afternoon. The theme park is home to Formula Rossa the world's fastest roller coaster which was absolutely worth the 45 minute wait. I have been to Alton Towers, Thorpe park, Disney World Florida Universal studios and no other ride has come close to this one!!
G-force is a spaceshot tower which launches riders over 62 m (203 ft) up and out of the building and above the roof. If you're wearing a skirt/dress make sure you wear leggings! And don't forget that if you need to take your sandals off don't point your bare feet at anyone in public when you are putting your shoes back on as showing the bottom of your feet is considered to be rude.
Ferrari World, June 2011
There were two types of simulator. The 'basic' one which you can see in the video below and the advanced which was too super hich-tech for me. As you can see though, the basic simulator is more than you get in the Trocodero centre and I even surprised myself by coming 2nd out of 6 players. I must admit I was the only female getting my hands dirty as it were.
Ferrari World is a place is great for families and couples alike. I have no interest in cars but had a thoroughly enjoyable day. We were there for nearly 6 hours in total and the time just flew by. There were plenty of things to do to keep the kids entertained and to give the parents a bit of a rest. Read my TripAdvisor review of Ferarri world.
After Ferrari world we took the free shuttle bus to Yas Island Hotel bar for cocktails overlooking the marina and the F1 Grand Prix Circuit. This came as a recommendation from a friend, thanks Lisa! The cocktails here were as good as anywhere and it was surprisingly quiet.
Yas Island Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
As much as I would have loved to we didn't stay at the Yas Island Hotel. We stayed 3 nights at this hotel The breakfast buffet was extensive, serving the general cereals, an impressive selection of fruit and vegetable juices, fresh fruit (including bananas dipped in chocolate covered with grated hard cheese (don't ask - just try it). The lunch buffet had a generous selection of mains and desserts.The location was well suited to venture in the main town even though you get a taxi everywhere!
Madinat Zayed Gold Souk
Go to the Madinat Zayed Gold Souk to bag reasonably priced pieces of jewellery. Price haggling is an art you must learn before setting off for this trip. Usually you can bargain for as much as half of the originally quoted price especially if you are purchasing more than one piece of gold jewelry from the same store. Once a price has been verbally agreed on, however, the buyer is expected to make a purchase. The Madinat Zayed Gold Souk is a stone’s throw away from the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (mentioned above) and the Abu Dhabi Central Post Office. There were also some very nice pearl jewellery in the gold souk though surprisingly not as prized as the gold.
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi There is plenty of choices to stay in Abu Dhabi. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the centre (as there is also another Crowne Plaza hotel on Yas Island). Read my and other people reviews on Trip Advisor. The boring stuff:
Foreign currency: I purchased my online currency and picked it up at a local store.
