Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah, this event runs from August 20 to September 1, this athletic competition will bring together over 2,000 athletes from 18 Arab countries where they will compete in several sports events including:

• football (soccer)
• basketball
• handball
• volleyball
• table tennis
• badminton
• swimming

According to the Jordan Times:

Minister of Education Tayseer Nueimi said the fact that Jordan was chosen for the event demonstrates the country’s ability to host such high calibre sports tournaments, underlining that the Kingdom’s teams had been given all forms of support to prepare for the Games.

Director of the Arab League’s Youths and Sports Department Hani Mustafa said that Jordan was known for good organisation, hoping the Games would be a success. Fathi Idriss, deputy secretary of the Arab Physical Fitness and School Sports Association, commended the big effort undertaken by the Kingdom to prepare for the tournament.

Participating nations, other than Jordan, include Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Comoros, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon.

Now if they’d just update the English version of the Jordanian Ministry of Education website, I might be able to link up with more information (or perhaps I should just finish learning Arabic and start healing web sites over there).

What I have been able to scrape together is that events are free, held from 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM in Amman and that the Jordanian Olympic Committee can be contacted for further information at:

• Tel: 06 567 11 71
• Fax: 06 567 11 89
• Email: info -at- joc -dot- jo
• Website: www.joc.jo

dj.tigersprout of Aminus3.com shares with us this gorgeous picture as one of many he’s taken of the moonscape of Wadi Rum … describing the grandeur that inspired the likes of T.E. Lawrence, when DJ writes:

i happily leave you with another near monochromatic ochre desert shot i dug up the other night — it never made it into any of my previous slideshows for friends or work colleagues, and this is really the first time even i have set eyes on it, short of the minimal prepping i accomplished last night for the purposes of this evening’s posting.

If you’d like to enjoy more of this … as this 2 time visitor to Wadi Rum has … then visit DJ’s online photo album entitled “the Golden Lands of the Nabatene, Wadi Rum, Jordan”

Perhaps then one can understand the sentiment “… if Petra is Jordan’s Gold, then Wadi Rum is it’s silver.“

AMMAN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — Jordan’s government seeks to add four more natural sites to the UN’s World Heritage List, local daily The Jordan Times reported on Thursday.

The four sites are the Dana, Al Azraq, Al Mujib and Wadi Rum nature reserves, said Fares Juneidi, Secretary General with Jordan’s Environment Ministry.

Let’s see what this does for ecotourism in Jordan.

Franciscan Church atop Mt. Nebo - via Wikipedia

Me personally, I enjoyed my visits to Mount Nebo especially the latter.

There was no haze that evening and from this 3300 ft. elevation located just 6 miles north west of Madaba, giving me an opportunity to look out onto “Gilead, as far as Dan,” and seeing for miles what Moses was recorded seeing in Deuteronomy 34:1.

I also marveled at the magnificent series of Byzantine mosaics that adorned the now Franciscan church atop Mt. Nebo … the largest being some 10 yards in length.

That reminds me to get those pix and videos online … so little time …

… speaking of time … my aggregator brought my attention to a book entitled “Temple at the Center of Time: Newton’s Bible Codex Deciphered and the Year 2012.”

A ‘best-selling prophecy book‘ that asserts that via author David Flynn’s studies of the Temple Mount, the Ark will can be found at Mount Nebo in Jordan.

Just as a quick catch-up, Mt. Nebo, a.k.a. Jebel Musa and/or Fasaliyyeh, had like many sites of pilgrimage in early Christendom, a sanctuary was built to commemorate the Biblical history associated with the location. We know that Lady Egeria (Aetheria) visited the site in 394 AD.

We know that from Greek inscriptions on the mosaics, we know the name of the mosaicists, Soel, Kaium, and Elias, and the name of the Bishop of Madaba, Elias – both dating back to 532 AD. That later in the 6th century, it appears the structure was significantly expanded. Records indicate that the site was still active in the 13th century, but then found abandoned by a Portuguese Franciscan monk whom visited the site 1564.

Many of these discoveries the result of an that a handful of experts from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum whom were given stewardship of the site back in 1932. It was these Franciscans who discovered the mosaic of the Old Baptistery Chapel in the Memorial Church of Moses at Mount Nebo back in August of 1976. Since that discovery, an annual feast of Moses is celebrated on September 4, 1976 where the Christian community join with the Franciscan Fathers in this solemnity.

In 1993, the site was purchased outright by the Franciscans, who further excavated and restored the area. Work was completed in time for Pope John Paul II’s visit on March 19, 2000, where he planted an olive tree next to the Byzantine chapel.

Along with the many mosaics discovered, six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church.

Perhaps this is these discoveries, along with some Millennium inspired Internet chatter, that inspired David Flynn’s findings. I’m not sure, but either way, there’s quite a bit more written about the book over at WorldNetDaily - a good source for political punditry – though this writer isn’t so sure about their archaeological chops.

Whether or not the Temple Mount points to location of lost Ark, is the location of the Ark, is where the Ark once rested, etc … my recommendation is to visit Jordan for yourself, enjoy some shopping, mezza, and mosaics in Madaba … then trek on up to Mt.Nebo to see the sun set.

Just make sure to bring your filters for your camera lens, because while you may not find the resting place of the lost Ark of the Covenant up there, you will enjoy a spectacular panorama of the promised land, moving mosaics, and a chance to take photos of this beautiful place of Biblical antiquity … before it is dug-up crazy by Ark seekers.

However, experts expect the current average annual increase in tourist arrivals to the region to continue, and to record the highest worldwide growth rates by 2020.

… The Middle East is the cradle of ancient civilizations and the birthplace of world’s monotheist religions. The region’s precious collections of archeological monuments and ruins, including wonders of ancient and modern times: Egypt’s pyramids, Iraq’s hanging gardens of Babylon (which today exists through a duplicate), lighthouse of Alexandria, and recently Jordan’s Petra.

Furthermore, the region has a long list of diverse nature to offer today – ranging from green mountains in Lebanon and pristine beaches of North African and Middle Eastern countries overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea, to rare colourful rock formations, as in Wadi Rum and Petra in southern Jordan, and the charming colourful underwater coral reefs in the Red sea …

Read the rest of the story at GulfNews

the Monastery at Petra

Jordan impresses and depresses by Tan Siok Choo, Sun2Surf, Malaysia – 5 hours ago

“IMPRESSED and depressed – this is what I felt when I visited Jordan for the first time in early May. I was impressed because Jordan offers historic ruins, religious sites and natural landscapes; its tourism industry is well organised and the country appears to be exceptionally open minded about former foreign occupiers and about Islam.

I was depressed because Jordan’s positives serve only to accentuate Malaysia’s negatives.

Its top tourist sites are Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum. Petra is a city with spectacular temples and tombs carved from multi-coloured rock 2,000 years ago by the Nabateans. Equally stunning is the narrow, canyon-like passageway known as The Siq – a single rock rent apart by tectonic forces, the Lonely Planet guidebook says …

… Equally praiseworthy are indicators of Jordan’s religious tolerance. Mosques and churches were in close proximity to each other. In Amman, the King Abdullah mosque is situated directly opposite the Coptic Orthodox Church, while nearby is a Greek Orthodox Church.

Although Jordan’s population is more than 90% Muslim, biblical sites feature prominently in the itinerary suggested by the Jordanian travel agency. Two much-visited places are Bethany-beyond-the Jordan river where it is believed Jesus was baptised, and Mount Nebo where Moses is reputed to be buried.

In short, Jordan offers exceptional visual delights and a tourist-friendly, multi-lingual and tolerant religious outlook that Malaysia would do well to emulate.”

[read the rest of the story]

Crump on his trusty steed

A two-wheeled epic adventure from Amman to Aqaba through the Great Rift Valley that included:

• dealing with 95 degree desert heat;
• army checkpoints manned by “pimply teenagers” with big guns;
• stunning sandless desert landscapes with shining pebbles and sunset silhouettes;
• peddling through the lowest place on earth;
• friendly farmers waving from their tidy tomato fields and olive groves;
• camping out with the Bediouns in a tent; and
• peddling to points like Petra and the Dead Sea.

There’s much more to read about in the original article, including links to the tour company and six other similar cycling adventures.

These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. – John 1:28

Today’s trip was billed as ‘Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John Baptized Jesus Christ.’ It was everything it was advertised to be.

After breakfast we headed to the Baptismal site just east of the Jordan River. Near the entrance of the site we surveyed an ongoing archeological dig that is currently uncovering both a 1st and 6th Century AD settlement. The latter being Byzantine, including a monastery and pools for the baptism of pilgrims.

At these digs, located a few hundred yards from the Jordan River itself, we looked on a portion of the excavation that is thought to mark where Elijah ascended into Heaven (2 Kings 2). It was at this time we were reminded by our guide that this is also believed to be near the spot where Joshua led Israel across the River Jordan (Joshua 3-4).

From there we walked a stone path through a verdant glade of willows and trees which ended at a Greek Orthodox Church currently under construction. Look left and there was the river with Israel just a stone’s throw across … though we were not permitted to do so.

It is somewhere near this location that Jesus was Baptized by John as recorded in Matthew 3. As you may know, the Jordan River meanders a bit, so the exact location is unknown.
It was during this quiet walk in the woods that I was shooting snapshots and praying, ‘Lord, let me place my foot where your foot walked … let me touch what you touched.‘ This eventually evolved into a penetant and metaphoric ‘.. if I could just touch your garment, then I’d be healed of those things that afflict me.‘

After we dipped our toes in the Jordan, we enjoyed a simple but moving communion service amongst ourselves. It was when we broke the bread that I remembered He is already providing me a means of touching Him. I felt like singing a hymn, but then some noisy Russians came along so we quietly dismissed to the bus.

We returned to Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa where after lunch we again floated about the Dead Sea. Chuck has a hilarious picture of me floating on my belly with several stones stacked on my back.

Just before our farewell dinner, most of the gentlemen enjoyed the hot tubs, steam rooms and sauna, where most of the ladies gave in to an afternoon of relaxation, and spa treatments.

I am going to miss the Bible history that abounds in Jordan but I’m also anxious to be in the arms of my wife and have my 4 year old daughter. That said, I am so incredibly grateful to the Jordan Tourism Board for this once in a lifetime opportunity . It is my prayer that this blog will encourage readers to visit this amazing country and enjoy the gracious hospitality of the Jordanian people.

Shokran Gazillan.

It was an interesting drive, one which used to be lined with a fence constructed by Israel until The Jordan-Israeli Peace Treaty of 1994. Now, though army sentries from both sides occasionally spot the highway, most of the scenery is of little green pastures kept by Bedouins.

A bit further north, we stopped at the alleged site where Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt. From what I understand, the Israeli’s have their own version on their side of the Dead Sea.

From there, we once again headed north to the lowest point on the surface of the Earth along the Dead Sea. Some 400 meters, or 1 mile below sea level, the Dead Sea offers a rich historical and spiritual legacy. At least that’s what I’m told. Today was spent enjoying the splendid spa facilities here at the Marriot Hotel at the Dead Sea.

While some of the women enjoyed mud-wraps and massages, most the rest of us floated about the Dead Sea, hit the heated pools, relaxed in the steam rooms and dried out in the saunas. A big break from all the climbing and walking and lugging of luggage we’ve both enjoyed and endured this past week and a half.

Oh yeah, did I mention the belly-dancing? One of the unexpected hazards of our evening trip to the Movenpick next door for some of their World famous ice cream. A danger Tom Neven, former U.S. Marine and current Sr. Editor for Plugged-In is willing to make after having lived in Switzerland for a year and a half (where he dined on MovenPick’s delicious ice cream delights ALLL the timmmee).

More pictures of that and our day at the Dead Sea sometime tomorrow. The bandwidth is very good here at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, in fact everything here is top-rate, except for the rates they charge for international phone calls to the U.S. So if you’re reading this wifey-pooh, call me … I just emailed you my room number.

Aqaba is also the site of the ‘oldest church in the world.’ Discovered in 1998 by NCSU archaeologist Thomas Parker, the mud-brick building has the characteristics of Roman and Byzantine churches that sprang up in Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle East in the third and fourth centuries.

Afterwards, you can take advantage of the hundreds of wonderful little shops where friendly shop-owners are willing to make a deal on a variety of products such as spices, clothing, electronics and other items we found to fill our suitcases with. In fact one of our tour team was compelled to purchase an inexpensive but rather large suitcase to bring back all her bounty. I personally wasn’t so ambitious, though I am bringing home some of the ‘flavors of Arabia’ to add some more spice to my cooking. More on that in a later post.

Chuck and I also managed to find an inexpensive Internet cafe after dinner. It was dingy, the keyboards were sticky. It was run by a type-cast geek with coke-bottle glasses, greasy hair and all. Still, the $2 J.D. per hour was cheaper and just as fast as the Movenpick’s $9 J.D. for the same service.

Afterwhich, a wonderful sleep on a bed much softer and a bit less dusty then what we enjoyed in the desert the night before.