A Jordan Footnote

I added this to the Jordan page:

Despite the Jordanans relaxed atitude towards such things as no overtaking signs and traffic lights, driving was mostly a pleasaant experience – without doubt less scary than southern Italy. The long stretches of well surfaced, quiet highways could, however, lull one into a false sense of security. Cruising happily along, without waarning there is a large pothole, or an overtaking truck coming towards you in the middle of the road. Worst of all are the unmarked speed humps. They are not just on slow residential streets, but also on high speed roads, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, often with no warning sign. I lost count of the times when travelling at 60 or 70 mph I had to slam on the brakes at the last moment to minimise the impact.

Visting Jordan

The Jordan page is now ready! You can see it at https://robsroads.wordpress.com/countries/jordan/

Ads?

There seem to be a lot of ads on the posts and emails. Are they a nuisance? If so, I will upgrade my WordPress plan and get rid of them. Let me know what you think.

The Journey Begins

7th May 2019 2.20am Taunton bus station. A sleek, smart coach pulls up and a driver politely stores my backpack in the luggage compartment. That, sadly, was as good as it got. I would like to congratulate National Express on a quiet, comfortable, smooth ride. Unfortunately I can’t and it wasn’t.

Being an intrepid traveller now I put a positive spin on it: the roar of the engine left me in no doubt that the coach was moving, while the (solid?) wheels were unencumbered by any noticeable suspension in faithfully transmitting every little imperfection in our potholed roads through the well worn seat and setting off a cascade of rattles around the coach. All this had the marvellous effect of keeping me awake so as not to miss any of the fascinating sights on our night-time ride up the M5 and M4.

On the plus side we were spot on time leaving Taunton and arrived at Heathrow 15 minutes early. And I was given ample opportunity to test my inflatable Hikenture neck pillow, which proved a sound investment.

A minor blip at security saw me lose a tube of seam sealant from my utility kit and one of my two small cans of insect repellent. Although every item was 100ml or less and the total volume less than 1lt, the liquids and gels would not quite fit in the standard size plastic bag, I lost the second mossie spray at Prague security. They seemed less bothered by the size of bag but local rules prohibit insect sprays. Apparently they might be used as an offensive weapon, like pepper spray. I shall have to remember that if I ever get threatened in a dark alley. Pity I haven’t got any now.

The BA flight from Heathrow was fine, my backpack fitting nicely in the overhead locker (just!). We landed on time and Prague airport was easy with no need to go through immigration; it is one of those airports where arrivals mix with departures and you go through security at the gate or group of gates.

And then came the Ryanair flight to Amman. Bizarrely, just a couple of days before the flight, the arrival time was put back by one hour without any change to the departure time, making the flight one hour longer. Bit odd you might think. Do they now fly more slowly, or go on a scenic route, or did they just forget how long the flight took? I am sure there is some good reason. Probably.

As I mentioned I am now an intrepid traveller and as such I am determined to get the full travel experience, including exotic foods. Now, it may be pushing that philosophy to its limits, and you may consider me foolhardy, but it was six and a half hours since I ate a delicious home made sandwich at Heathrow so I went all out and ordered Ryanair French fries and pizza. Here is a picture of this ‘meal’.

I have to be honest and report that it fully lived up to expectations: the pizza, while lacking any flavour and bearing more resemblance to a small soggy piece of melted cheese on bread, was at least edible. The French fries, however really showed what Ryanair can do. They were in a class of their own, soft, stodgy and, despite my best efforts I could not eat more than few. Well done.

I rather fancy that when I get to China I will find a plate of crispy cockroaches far more appetising.

Amman airport was all shiny and modern. I picked up my rental car without problems (well, almost) and found my way to the hotel (eventually). More of all this later…

Egypt Beckons

I am not due in Egypt until the 9th May, but already I am coming under its spell. If visiting the pyramids is half as interesting as booking a transfer from the airport to the hotel it is going to be wonderful.

After requesting the hotel via Booking.com for a transfer I received a one word email: ‘Ok’, which, the more I thought about it, the less it really answered my request. I tried again – and got the same result. But then I suddenly started getting slightly odd WhatsApp messages from a foreign phone number. On checking my booking it was the hotel!

I have copied the full text of the exchange for your enlightenment, only missing out the numerous images of my friendly host and his Majedfayedpyramidview hotel sign. [I have added a few explanatory (?) comments]

27/04/2019, 13:38 – Welcome to Majid Baramz View Hotel
[That is not my hotel!]
27/04/2019, 13:40 – +20 114 082 2217: We have an airport transfer service in Palatil if you are a college student
[Palatil? Where is that? And no, I have not been at college for a while now]
27/04/2019, 13:41 – +20 114 082 2217: Arabic price of the delegate $ 30
27/04/2019, 13:41 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
27/04/2019, 13:42 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍
27/04/2019, 14:03 – Rob Smith: Maijid Baramz View Hotel? I am booked into the Majedfayedpyramidview hotel. Regards, Robert Smith
27/04/2019, 14:16 – +20 114 082 2217: We have an airport transfer service you would like
27/04/2019, 14:17 – +20 114 082 2217: Professor Roopt, you are asking for airport transfers. You want to transfer the airport to the hotel
[Well, actually I was more inclined to leave the airport where it was, but hey ho – and who the devil is Professor Roopt?!
27/04/2019, 14:17 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
27/04/2019, 14:20 – +20 114 082 2217: We are the Majid Pyramids View Hotel
[Ah, now we are getting somewhere]
27/04/2019, 14:20 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍
27/04/2019, 14:21 – +20 114 082 2217: Would you like an airport shuttle service to the hotel
27/04/2019, 14:21 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:09 – Rob Smith: What does it cost?
28/04/2019, 19:10 – +20 114 082 2217: The cost is equal to $ 30
28/04/2019, 19:10 – +20 114 082 2217: If you are riding a taxi from the airport, it will laugh at you and ask you
28/04/2019, 19:10 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:11 – Rob Smith: …ask me what?
[Not to mention the laughing…]
28/04/2019, 19:11 – +20 114 082 2217: I am all the customers who are very satisfied with their flight from the airport
[You are?]
28/04/2019, 19:12 – +20 114 082 2217: The cost is $ 30 if you love my owl
[Now it is getting really weird. How much would it be if I didn’t love his owl?]
28/04/2019, 19:12 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:13 – +20 114 082 2217: If you have installed the airport taxi, you will receive a high sum
28/04/2019, 19:13 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:14 – +20 114 082 2217: I am satisfied with you
[I do try to give satisfaction]
28/04/2019, 19:14 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:23 – Rob Smith: Well, I am glad you are satisfied, and I have not yet met your owl (although I am sure it is very lovable), but yes I would like a transfer from the airport please. 😊
28/04/2019, 19:24 – +20 114 082 2217: Of course I am all the customers who are proud of me, they do not like me very much because I am afraid of them
[Eh, right, sorry to hear that]
28/04/2019, 19:25 – +20 114 082 2217: All the customers who are proud I have two words Beshkroa Majid Pyramid in Greece Majid Regal very respectable and friendly with them fearing them
[I was starting to lose the plot at this point]
28/04/2019, 19:25 – +20 114 082 2217: Make sure that you will be happy happy, God willing
28/04/2019, 19:26 – +20 114 082 2217: But I want to ask you request I want the number of the trip to sell how much
28/04/2019, 19:26 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:28 – +20 114 082 2217: Could you send me the flight number
28/04/2019, 19:28 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:30 – Rob Smith: MS 702 arriving 20.30 from Amman on Thursday 9th May.
28/04/2019, 19:31 – +20 114 082 2217: The representative will be waiting for you and the plaque
28/04/2019, 19:31 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:32 – Rob Smith: Great, thanks. Do I pay the driver or pay you at the hotel?
[You might think, like I foolishly did, that this would be a straightforward question…]
28/04/2019, 19:33 – +20 114 082 2217: They rushed me into the hotel
28/04/2019, 19:33 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:33 – +20 114 082 2217: Delegate Haikon mask plate on which written Majid Fayed program View
28/04/2019, 19:33 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:34 – Rob Smith: Sorry to hear that they rushed you, but who do I pay?
28/04/2019, 19:34 – +20 114 082 2217: Okay
28/04/2019, 19:35 – +20 114 082 2217: Pay Hikun in the
28/04/2019, 19:35 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:35 – Rob Smith: Do I pay you at the hotel for the transfer?
28/04/2019, 19:36 – +20 114 082 2217: Yes at the hotel
28/04/2019, 19:36 – +20 114 082 2217: 👍👍👍👍
28/04/2019, 19:37 – Rob Smith: Thanks. All is clear. I hope. 😊
28/04/2019, 19:37 – +20 114 082 2217: I wish you a happy holiday and you will be happy with the gift
[Gift? I thought I was paying $30?]
28/04/2019, 19:38 – +20 114 082 2217: 😊😊😊😊😊

This certainly promises to be an interesting hotel stay. All I have to do is get there from the airport…