Cancelled! Well almost. My flight from Dubai to Amman was scheduled for a 5pm departure, however at 4:45pm we were informed of a 10 hour delay due to mechanical issues, with a new depature time of 3am. The options given were either a McDonald's voucher, or to go back through immigration and leave the airport/go back home. I chose the latter.


Breakfast soon after our 3:45am departure from Dubai. With the 10+ hour delay, it was looking increasingly unlikely that I would get to make the 6:30am bus to Petra I had booked.


The A320 that gave us all the grief. The local time in Jordan I was supposed arrive according to three different sources (Kayak.com, Google & my iPad) all said a 6am arrival, and way too late for the Petra bus. Fortunately all three sources were wrong though! The local time on the IFE said it was a 5am on arrival, and as it gave me a tiny chance to make the Petra bus, I was inclined the believe that instead .


After speedwalking to the ATM, getting some dinar for my visa, and anxiously waiting for my passport to be stamped, I grabbed a taxi and was on my way to Amman in less than 30 minutes later.


After the 40 minute ride into town, I made it to the JETT bus station, pay for my ticket with only minutes to spare.


Climbing aboard the JETT bus for the 3.5 hour ride to Petra. A return ticket was only 19 dinar ($US27), so a cheap way to make the journey south.


Crossing over Wadi Abdoun Bridge on the way out of Amman.


At the Midway Castle rest stop, half-way between Amman & Petra.


A chance to grab a souvenir or two too.


The Desert Highway had a lot of trucks travelling between Amman and the countries only port at Aqaba.


Just after 10am, we made it to Wadi Musa, paid the 50 dinar entry ($US70!), and walked down to the 'Treasury'.


No sign of Indiana Jones, but certainly lots of other tourists. The treasury is named after the legend that treasure was hidden in a stone urn on the second level. You can also see bullet marks where someone has attempted to 'shoot it out'.


Some of the caves & warrens carved into the hillside.


The 'Monstery', a 800 step climb up the mountain.


And the obligatory holiday 'selfie'.


After arriving just after 10am, I walked out at 3:30pm to catch the 4pm return bus back to Amman.


Back at the Midway Castle.


Getting a Shawarma for dinner back in Amman for 1.25 dinar ($US1.75).


The bedroom at the appartment in Abdali, Amman. $55 a night and pity I only stayed one night after missing the first from the delayed arrival.


Up before dawn on day 2 to grab some breakfast from a corner shop...


...and catch the JETT bus again, this time for the 7am departure to King Hussein Bridge at the border with Israel.


After going through Jordanian customs, with my exit slip and 7 dinar bus ticket for the 2k ride through no mans land.


On the other side of the Israeli border post with my Israeli visa and some newly changed shekels. I was abit nervous about going through Israeli immigration, especially with my Yemen & Afghanistan visa's, but it wasn't too bad. After going through the X-rays, metal detectors, initial questioning etc., I had to sit and wait for a second interview, but the questions were pretty routine (why did you go to Afghanistan, why have you visited all these middle eastern countries etc.), and total time from was start to finish was 1.5 hours.


At a road check point, with a separation barrier from a Palestinian town. The road from the Allenby / King Hussein border crossing goes right through the West Bank. A soldier came onboard and a couple of ladies wearing headscarves must have known the routine, as they immediately pulled out their ID cards. No checks were made on anyone else though.


At the guesthouse where I was staying in Jerusalem. It was the top pick in the Lonelyplanet guide book, and right in the old city so was in a great location.


After checking in, I headed out into the Muslim quarter of the old city for a Shawarma for lunch for 35 shekels ($US10).


Outside the walls of the old city.


At the colourful Mahane Yehuda Market. The market had a mixture of Muslim & Jewish stalls, and was a great place to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.


Some yummy looking halva for sale.


And lots of varieties of bread.


Hebrew.


Christ, back in the old city.


I then walked down to find the bus company for the return journey to Allenby, quite hard to find as it is down the alley.


Supermarket.


Damascus Gate, the main entrance into the Muslim quarter in the old city.


Fresh pomengrate & orange juice.


In the many warrens of shops in the Muslim quarter.


At the Western Wall, one of the most sacred sites of Judaism.


All business.


Or not?


A Palestinian neighbourhood in the Kidron Valley.


At Zion gate, one of the entrances to the old city to the Jewish quarter. Significant damage from the 1948 war is clearly visible around the gate.


Giving mum the run around.


A plaza in the Jewish quarter. Unlike the rest of the old city, the Jewish quarter is relatively modern, spacious & residiential. This is because it was heavily shelled during the 1948 war, and later bulldozed by the Jordanians.


T-shirt humour.


Walking back up to Jaffa Gate.


More bread.


Some Chicken Kebab, hummus & pita bread for dinner for 60 shekels ($US17).