Most Inspirational Moment
I think everyone books to go to Jordan because they want to visit Petra. It doesn't disappoint. You walk for the best part of three or four kilometres before, as the path (carved out from an old river gulley) winds its way yet again through yet another twist between rose red vertical cliffs, you catch that first glimpse of the Treasury between the walls of the Siq. And stop to take at least one photo before walking on to gaze up - necks crooked - at the heights of the Treasury and the facing cliffs. Being there in the week before Christmas in the year of the Arab Spring, there were just no crowds - and very few other people - there with us; the moment was magical.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ala was informative, interesting, and hilarious in equal measure. A large chap, he created quite a splash with the locals wherever we went, being personally known to almost everyone everywhere we stopped - including the boat crew, who forgave him when he divebombed into the Red Sea and drenched the back of the boat including the BBQ with lunch being prepared! What they don't tell you in the brochure is that every tour involving American, English or Aussie tourists must - by order of the Jordanian government - be accompanied by a tourist policeman. That is usually a spotty 18 or 21 year old, newly recruited to the Jordanian police service, who will sit at the front of the bus and fall asleep on long bus journeys. Ala - bless him - ended up guiding the Exodus tourists in English, and the tourist policemen in Arabic (we had a changeover of policemen mid-trip), with a big smile on his face as he said everything at least three times (some of the tourists were a bit hard of hearing!)
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel with a smile, and see where the tour takes you. Be open minded. Compared to other places in the middle east - or indeed around the world - you really do get "no hassle" in Jordan, Petra aside. You can't help but smile at Petra as the boys see if you'd like a donkey or camel ride - "air condition taxi, miss?" In a country where people dress relatively conservatively, follow their customs and you don't get any hassle on the streets and do get a friendly welcome wherever you go.