Canyoning in Jordan

I am just an ordinary guy who like simple sporting activities like jogging, badminton, table tennis and simple body workout. After two consecutive injuries at my calf which happened somewhere May-July 2012, I stopped almost all the activities except for the simple body workout. When my Jordanian brother Waleed invited me for a canyoning adventure in Jordan, I became so excited but I wasn't sure whether I will be able to do it or not. This was because I could not afford to bear another serious injuries and I am no longer young like those of 20s. But this could probably one of the adventures of a lifetime, so why to blow an open opportunity when you are given one? Just give 'a damn' try. Sometimes we just have to step outside our own circle in order to succeed. It's okay to fail rather than not trying at all.

May 20th, 2013 - the D-day of my first time canyoning activities which took place at Wadi al-Manshia (not far from Dead Sea). Joining me was Mr Wael from Albania, both of us were the international guests for the Jordanian canyoning activities (under Black Iris Adventures), and both of us were first timers.

We were briefed by Basheer Abdeen, Waleed's brother on the safety and canyoning gears. Basheer is a qualified canyoning instructor who will guide canyoneers at the same time motivates them. He is really a nice person and I really like him. We walked about 4 km from the main road to the canyon, under the hot sun, around 37 degrees Celsius (it's not humid like the equatorial countries, so I didn't feel that hot) - the weather was just great. English was the medium of communication here, so international canyoneers should not worry about the language barrier. The air was so breeze down the valley and canyon makes you feel like relaxing under natural air-conditioned Bali villa.

Here are some pictures of the activities. It was really an amazing adventure. I myself as a first timer couldn't believe that I have made it to the end. As the wise people always say - You won't know what you are capable of until you give it a try - It's so true.

Believe that you can do it

Congratulations! You've made it. Wael is one good example of a good adventurer, a great brother and friend

Faces of relief (after the last great challenge) : Me, Wael and Abdullah Awad (Instructor)

Mr Basheer - Black-Iris Professional

Jordan is a great place for canyoneers. The landscape is remarkable, just like the people. I definitely recommend this kind of activities if you are planning to visit Jordan in the future. I also recommend Black Iris Adventure for your canyoning experience. They are young but professional. Perfectly safe for beginners and first timers. So go go Iris!

All pictures are courtesy of Black Iris Adventures (Jordan Canyoning Team), Jordan.
[FB] Black.Iris.Adventures
Website: www.blackirisadventures.com
Contact: Basheer Abdeen / Waleed Abdeen

My Jordan Visit 2013

Jordan is a peace of land that experienced a series of clashes of ancient civilations, which left many ancient ruins across trans-Jordan on top of its class for modern people to see. I am glad that I made the trip there although I have no such great expectation at the beginning. Visiting Jordan is something I have planned for many years. My friendship to the Arabs is not new especially with the Levantines (Jordanian, Palestinian and Syrian). My house in Taiping is not strange to them. I have built up trust with them since 2004 and still in contact until now. It's too expensive to let go, for that reason I made that click on May 18th this year, fly solo to Jordan.

There I visited Waleed Abdeen, my old friend of USM's 2004/2005 batch. Then I visited my new Arab friend Mostafa Barmawi, followed by other old friends like Khalid Jaber, Anas Hussein, Tareq Zeyad and Tariq Sabbah's parents. It took a total of 11 days to cover the whole visit including the historical sites and city centre.

Face of relief - resting under a tree after stopping to a nearby toilet on the way to Petra. This was my fourth time to the toilet.. broken pipe.. haha

Breathtaking view of Amman from Jabal Hussein

With Jordanian Flag on top of my head..

With Khalid Jaber (right) and Eyad Jaber (left)

Inside King Hussein Automobile Museum

Khalid's brother Eyad is so sweet and funny, I can't stop laughing

Inside the Ancient City of Petra

In front of the main entrance of the Ancient City of Petra

My best friend Anas and Osama, my travelling partners to Petra

 

Sunset at Umm Qais

Me... during the sunset

Village mosque behind Mostafa's farmhouse in Jerash under the blue sky. I noticed that Jordan sky is so clear and blue.. Beautiful mashaAllah!

Ancient Roman ruins of Gerasa (Jerash)

Nice and sporting Jordanian police

With Mostafa Barmawi inside Ajloun Castle

Inside the Ajloun Castle ( قلعة عجلون )

We made Arab barbecue at the farm house. Actually Mostafa did it all and me.. I just prepare the salad.. hehe

This is Mostafa's farm house where I stayed in Jerash. It situated on top of the hill with breathtaking view of the village. Simply amazing!

The Arabs are probably harsher relatively to the Malays but I have no problem with that. It is a fact that their hospitality is simply the best in the world, trust me! I never feel lonely or isolated rather I felt so much at home. This journey is to be remembered forever. Thanks Waleed Abdeen, Yusaira Sakkijha, Anas Hussein, Maram al-Kinj, Khalid Jaber, Mostafa Barmawi, Tareq Ziyad, Eiad Jaber, Mohammad Jaber, Qais Jaber, Obaida Hussein, Osama, Basheer Abdeen and the families and friends that are too many to mention, my utmost gratitude to everyone who made my visit enjoyable.

Hayat FM

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The portal of The Official Hayat FM Website

I couldn't remember the first time I listened to this radio station, perhaps, somewhere early 2007. Hayat FM (FM حياة) is an Arabic Radio Station from Jordan, broadcast in FM band at 104.7 MHz. Since Hayat FM is also transmitted via internet, it can be heard outside Jordan, including my country Malaysia.

Why I like to listen to Hayat FM?

1. Hayat FM offers a non-stop Arabic environment for free.
- I'm not an Arab but I love Arabic language and I believe many other Malaysians like it too. It's such a shame that we don't have such Arabic Radio station in Malaysia. What I learned, in order to master such language, we need to have an environment that constantly airs the native style of communication.

2. Hayat FM offers a variety of programs that confined to my Islamic cultures and suit my ears.
- It has Quran, nasheed, Islamic Preaching, daily life discussion, etc. (by the way, their selection of nasheeds is way better than our very own Radio IKIM), which makes Hayat FM one of the best Arabic Radio stations on earth.

3. Hayat FM offers listeners both standard Arabic and Jordanian Arabic
- I used to learn and practice basic Jordanian/Palestinian Arabic when I was doing my post-graduate studies in USM Penang (majority of my Arab friends are Jordanian/Palestinian). I don't want to lose both accents just like that. As a working guy, I don't have time to go to Arabic classes as well. Listening to Hayat FM helps me to at least recall some of the vocabularies.

*I'm aware that some Islamic preaches are delivered in Egyptian accent (because the preachers are Egyptians). Well, it's okay to me.


How to listen to Hayat FM via internet?
(Guidelines for non-Arabic speakers)

Click the link below to go to Hayat FM Website:
http://www.hayat.fm/

Then click the smiley icon with headphone that renders 'Launch Player Application' to pop up on your screen.
mms://wms.joinstream.net/hayat

Click the smiley icon to initiate Hayat FM radio

Launch Application will pop up on your screen

Choose your player and click OK. It will play in your player, as simple as that. Unless you are using proxy, you may have limited access.

I do encourage Arabic learners to listen to Hayat FM. You'll enjoy, inshaAllah.

HAPPY LISTENING TO HAYAT FM

*By the way, I would like to thank my Jordanian brother Khalid Jaber for introducing Hayat FM to me.
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Yes... Petra is a New World Wonder

P E T R A
THE NEW WORLD WONDER

The result has been announced last night. These are the new SEVEN Wonders of the World:

Chichén Itzá, Mexico*
Christ Redeemer, Brazil
The Great Wall, China*
Machu Picchu, Peru
Petra, Jordan*
The Roman Colloseum, Italy
The Taj Mahal, India*

*Monuments which I voted

To all my Malaysian friends who voted for Petra, thank you very much. I have no more words to say. I'm just too happy.

To the people of Jordan... C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! !

I voted for Petra..

PETRA OH PETRA

The ancient city of Petra is located between the Dead Sea and Aqaba in Jordan, lies about 250 km from the capital, Amman. I was informed that to reach the ancient city, visitors need to travel either on foot or by horse-back or camel-back (I think camel-back will be more interesting) through a 1.5 km narrow winding valley called Siq. I've seen many pictures of Petra. MashaAllah, it's really amazing. I should go there one day. According to the Travel-Library.com, Petra is open to public from 6 am to 6 pm and costs about 15 to 20 Jordanian Dinar per tour per person (for non-Jordanian). Hey that is about RM75-100, well that's too cheap for Bill Gates but pretty expensive for me. But this will not stop me from coming to this place. Petra.. here I come..! But before that let's cast our votes...

Why I choose PETRA...

I'm not Jordanian. But being a Malaysian doesn't mean that I'm not aware of such magnificent monuments constructed outside my country, particularly those historical and ancient ones. One thing about Petra is the history. Some archeologists believed that Petra has been inhabited from prehistoric times and became the capital of Nabatean Arabs, who carved tombs, temples and buildings out of solid rock. Petra, perhaps can be considered as a sister ancient city to Meda'in Saleh, which is located in the North part of Saudi Arabia (check this out - http://nabataea.net/medain.html). Very very historical too. As a Muslim I learned that the stonework of Petra could probably the sign of the people of Thamud, who inhabited the mountainous region between Hejaz and Palestine thousands of years ago during the era of Prophet Saleh. From here I learned also, no matter how smart the society is, if they don't obey Allah, they'll be destroyed.

My Four Wonders

If I were asked to name the world wonders, Petra will be one of them as well as Meda'in Saleh. So far these are my best four, i.e.

[1] The Great Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)

[2] Petra (Jordan)

[3] Meda'in Saleh (Saudi Arabia)

[4] The Great Wall (China)

Note: Meda'in Saleh is currently not in the list. I can understand that Saudi Government is always very strict about things especially with regards to Islamic rules and social codes. So keeping Meda'in Saleh a low profile perhaps better for them for social reasons.

Remember the New Seven Wonders of The World will be announced during the official declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007. I'm so excited and can't wait any longer! I hope Petra will be one of them. If you still don't cast your vote, please do so at www.new7wonders.com.