My first visit in Israel was last summer. I came to Tel aviv and slept in the Sky hostel. It was simple, clean , friendly and cheap and I was left with enough money to go out drinking and party with all the people I met in the hostel. I met great friends in the hostel , some of them are the workers from the reception. If you want to enjoy a family atmosphere in this busy city , in my opinion this is the place to stay. I hope to come back to Israel next summer.

The room where I stayed were not properly maintained. Broken shower holder, worn out/foul odor of bathroom towel, bedside lampshade (dimmer switch) not working and lamp near the shower not working.

The staff of this place are some of the strangest people I have ever met, but it's all part of the atmosphere of staying cheaply near Petra.

We left the hotel early to go to Petra. When you buy a ticket it is right after you enter through the first gates and before all the small souvenir shops, I have no idea how much a ticket costs, because technically we were working for the Jordanian Department of Antiquities and therefore got in for free, but I heard it's expensive. There's also a post office here if you need it (it took about four weeks to get a postcard from there to Denmark, but I've been told that it is faster if you put the postcard in an envelope).

When you first enter it looks relatively boring but after just under a mile it starts to look like the things you see in guidebooks and movies. It is a long walk through a crack in the rocks (the siq), before you get to the Treasury, as seen in Indiana Jones (III). From the outside it is very impressive, but to be honest when you look inside it's just a square room, though it is impressive how the cut it out in the rock, but still, it's a square room.

when you walk on you should watch out for some steps cut out in the rocks on the left side of the road (just after the toilets), these stairs will lead you to the High Place of Sacrifice, at the top a mountain, not many people chose this road and you will mostly be alone up there. Though the road is hard and will make the road to the Monastery seem like piece of cake, it is worth it as the view is beautiful. On the top an elderly lady played the flute for us and showed us how to sacrifice (no one died), she was also surprisingly strong as she practically pulled us up, a meter or so, over some rocks. It is possible to take another road down, if you're up for it, we were told that it is rather difficult. You can also do the same as us and take the same road down.

If you get hungry I suggest that you wait until you reach the museum where there is a large restaurant with an buffet (of course).

The museum is free, but also very small. When you get out of the museum, turn right where the young men hang out with their donkeys, then you should be on your way to the Monastery. There is not much to say about the road to the Monastery, but no matter what people say when you are going up and they are going down don't believe what they tell you about how long it is, they are all wrong. When you reach the top, there is a huge open space; the Monastery is on the right, but you should definitely go to the viewpoints, it is just breathtaking (but that might be because I'm scarred of heights ;) ).

General tips (Petra):
* apply sunscreen all the time; it is so incredibly hot, and you sweat even more because of all the walking (I ended up with 2nd degree burns, just a warning).
* do NOT hire a donkey or any other animal to take you to the Monastery or the High Place of Sacrifice; it is cruel, if you can't do it don't force an animal.
* if you wanna relax, hire a horse or a camel to take you from the entrance to the Treasury or from the Treasury to the Museum (it is two straight stretches).


After walking around in Petra for about seven or eight hours we returned to the hotel, had a quick shower and then we got picked up by beduins, who took us out for dinner in the desert. Fried (burned) chicken with fried vegetables; it was better than anything I ever burned, so I was happy :).

... y tarde-noche en Petra.

¡Qué ciudad más apasionante con sus zocos, sus callejuelas estrechas y mezquitas... en todo Damasco hay más de 700!. Tiene un ambiente muy particular y lleno de misterio que me encantó.

This hotel is a real gem, situated in the heart of the old city. It has a really quirky charm, furnished with antiques and local handicrafts. In fact, it is so representative of the buildings in Sana'a that, by staying here, guests really experience the real essence of the city. All members of staff were excellent and the food was simply amazing. Cardamon tea at breakfast time and cups of hot ginger in the afternoon were real treats. The hotel had a wonderful driver too, for trips outside. This is what hotels should be about - convenient, friendly, clean and with an abundence of local character - I recommend this hotel very highly indeed!

A week in the Persia, this country is bewilderingly different than its neighbouring Islamic nations. Central Iran is one of my highlight so far. Leaving Persia to Nepal, I'm transiting in sharjah UAE. Before I boarded Airarabia flight to Sharjah, Alejandro and I went to money changer to change our last foreign currency left on our last hours in Shiraz. It’s better to change money under 1 person to avoid unnecessary commission, Alejandro handed me his USD 20 and I wanted to change only €10 from my €20 bill. Not only touts pestering in the bus station or taxi stand, outside money changer booth there’s line up of this money changer tout’s looking to rip our money.

It was raining in Shiraz and Alejandro was heading to Persepolis which I went yesterday on a bright, sunny blue sky. Thanks to the weather, made my picture turned out gorgeous yesterday. If he was with me yesterday, we could have alot  of goofy pictures with ancient rocks and columns.

I handed Alejandro his 200000 Riyal (20USD) and we parted ways soon later. On the bright side he knows how to get to Persepolis the cheap way cause I did and briefed him in detail how to. No chance for touts taxi. His next destination is also Sharjah UAE but by different mode of transportation. By ferry from Bandar Abbas to Sharjah UAE he’s schedule to leave the day after. I am only laying-over in Sharjah and he’s planning to spend a week or so in the Emirate.

Airarabia airline - Middle East premier low cost airline is similar to any other lowcost airline I flew. I had a bit funny moment when my row seat was seated by 3 old Middle Eastern women. When the flight attendant asked them who occupied seat A,B,C  to move they refused to budge. This is airplane not bus haha. And later a Chinese flight attendant beside me kept word of warning to the passenger who was not stopping talking over his mobile phone on the take-off plane. I even heard continuous Nokia’s ringing or texting tone while the plane ascending.

My checked-in backpack is already on its way to Kathmandu but I needed to get a new boarding flight for the departure the next morning. Arriving Sharjah airport, the joy of able to withdraw money, I saw ATM with MEPS/VISA sign at the concourse. The joy of not needing to be over vigilant about spending money from now on. I went to internet cafe then to Transfer desk then to the restaurant having a proper meal in a long time, I felt like I’m in the Philippines! Kingdom of Emirates but it seems like no local or Middle Eastern people working or albeit less. I also feel UAE is the modern epicentre of Asia where people from light to dark skin colour Indian to chinese looking and black are transiting. I had the tasty briyani chicken, something that I will venture over and over in India.

12 hour time to kill so I update my blog and editing pictures to go with it. Right now I’m sitting in front of a group of Indian waiting for their flight and one of them was so curious about what am I doing with my laptop. He stood up and went behind me to look at my screen sneakily hahaha. Very funnyyy! Oh boy, I have to be prepare for a lot more of this in India next 2 weeks.

Kathmandu in 16 hours from now, I don’t have any printed guide only the one that I purchased online stored in this laptop. While I was in Yerevan, Armenia, I stayed in the same dorm with one Nepalese guy, Simon Thing, he quickly offered an assistant if my trip includes any trekking. I haven’t decided yet as in winter trekking route is closed. For now I planned to spend 4 days in Kathmandu and around and to Pokhara another couple of days before entering Varanasi India. Gotta be exciting!

My last day in Yazd I had a short chatted with this Dutch girl staying in Silk Road Hotel that happened to leave and heading to Shiraz the same day. We took a separate taxi to the bus terminal leaving at 2pm. Yazd to shiraz took 7 hours and we arrived at 9pm dark and starving. Shiraz temperature was less cold than the north. Arriving Shiraz bus terminal we wanted to walk in finding the hotel. This is Conservative Islamic Nation whenever the local sees blue eyes Caucasian women, people tend to give 2^nd or 3^rd look so Jashenka(spelling) walked together-avoiding harassment towards foreign woman.

Jashenka looks alluring in her black scarf she wore all the time in Esfahan. She loves Iran and had been here for 3 weeks. She is applying visa extension in Shiraz and staying with Iranian friend she met. And she was our savior that night because she’s fluent in Farsi, something that hard to find, asked local the right direction to Mehmunsara Hotel. Been walking for half an hour, we planned to put our backpack we found it and later walk Jashenka to her rendezvous Hotel. The location of the hotel indicated was deep inside and with the help of Jashenka’s Farsi; we found it , just off the main road! It was pretty late and her friend was worried about her whereabouts so Jashenka took a taxi beneath our hotel to her hotel instead. She’s lucky in knowing Farsi, she gets reasonable fare.

Knackered and my shoulder was sore of the 4 backpacks band, I lay down on the bed of twin bedroom in front of horrifically noisy road.The Mehmunsara Hotel twin room for 100000Riyal (10USD) I could detect the bedbug was waiting to having a feast ,dodgy hotel and dodgy bed for the price we paid; I slept fully cloth and had my long jumper. Didn’t trust the pillow either so I put the scarf on it, the bug would be feasting my face otherwise.

Awaken by horrendous noise from the main road I freshened up at 7.30am. I was going to Persepolis early morning. Alejandro had 2 days in Shiraz, had a lot to catch up on his blog so he decided not to come along but going the next day. It wasn’t difficult at all to get to Persepolis independently. Most travellers are taking a tour arranged by the hotel they stayed, my hotel manager didn’t even understand what I was asking, but that’s worked out well, I was trying to avoid any. Taking public transport to places with local is a lot exciting and enriching. By local minibus for 30 minutes ride to Marvdasht then another 12 km by shuttle taxi to the Ruin.

I’ve seen too many ruin since summer, from Ephesus in Turkey to Palmyra in Syria, this ruin was just another picture of rocks and columns. The only sculpture that I was astonished by was the 2 birds’ head statue.

Returning back to Shiraz I took the same Minibus but a little frightening experience. I was sitting by the window and it was 10cm distant the lorry beside me to slide during the fast overtaking. Couple minutes later I heard glass breaking from the front that I terrified to know the lorry had hit the bus side mirror. This kind of accident seems nothing to the local by their reactions. So the bus continued with 1 side mirror.

The next half day was spent wandered around Shiraz. There is more ‘colour’ than just black in the town. The Iranian women wearing a colourful dress and there also option for ‘westernized’ food such as pizzas and KFC although it was ‘B’ FC. I don’t know what that’s ‘B’ stands for but I saw colonel’s Sandler’s trademark. Had a falafel sandwich I strolled down and stopped by an Iranian boy. He followed me and conversing English, the way to improve his English but he was oddly speaking in American accent. It was laughable; I asked him why are you trying to imitate an accent that not belongs to yours? It became bothersome when he was trying too hard to sound American that I couldn’t understand a word. He says he watches American program from the satellite.

Final night in Iran we walked along Lotfali Khan Street, livelier in the evening with the pedestrian and local shops selling from Iran’s and international cds, carpet to clothes. On the way back an Iranian man stopped us and suggest to go to ‘only Saturday’ Palace but with 5 USD entrance fee, I let it go. I have only 10 USD for the hostel and another 2 USD to the airport. I’m glad I needed not to sell my digicam over short cash I have had and for 60 USD dollar I managed to survive in 6 days, accommodation, transportation to food from Esfahan to Yazd to Shiraz. Pretty a big achievement in backpacking.

Finally I left the Persian Country. Before I boarded Airarabia flight to Sharjah, Alejandro and I went to money changer to change our last foreign currency left on our last hours in Shiraz. It’s better to change money under 1 person to avoid unnecessary commission, Alejandro handed me his USD 20 and I wanted to change only €10 from my €20 bill. Not only touts pestering in the bus station or taxi stand, outside money changer booth there’s line up of this money changer tout’s looking to rip our money. It was raining and unlucky for Alejandro as he was heading to Persepolis which I went yesterday on a bright, sunny blue sky. Thanks to the weather, my made my picture turned out gorgeous.

I gave Alejandro his 200000 Riyal (20USD) and we parted ways soon later. On the bright side he knows how to get to Persepolis the cheap way cause I did and briefed him in detail how to. His next destination is also Sharjah UAE but by different mode of transportation. By ferry from Bandar Abbas to Sharjah UAE he’s schedule to leave the day after. I am only laying-over in Sharjah and he’s planning to spend a week or so in the Emirate.

I have to say that I enjoyed the food in Jerusalem the most throughout my stay in Israel.
I enjoyed trying way different dishes far from what I know.
I mean I never thought of filling my chicken with rice and raisins.
It wasn't fantastic but the idea was grandios that it exists.
And I loved the petite restaurant I had those dishes in.
It was a small street with little boutiques, art shops, Israel jewelleries and small restaurants...
I think it was the russian corner.
However that places' food tasted homecooked just like at your foreign friends'
moms' place...

I loved how Jerusalem would turn alive on the night of Shabbat and everyone was out on the streets
till early morning. Some restaurants were open 24 hours. The kosher places were divided into two parts,
with one side offering dairy products and the other one non dairy food.

I expected boring middle eastern food but was surprised with influences from all over the world.
Like traditional polish chicken soup and liver Kreplach or Gulash or Rouladen.
Sure I had the Kebaps too along with millions of different sauces and dips and salads.
I thought asia was nuts for that...
I also had Shawarma, meat and salads rolled in pita bread. It was so much meat I was gonna explode.

The best food I had though was at Yotvatars, a vegetarian restaurant, with great fresh ingredients
and the best! best fresh apple juice I have ever had in my whole life.
It actually tastes like biting into an apple... YUM!

I also had some seafood which was not so kosher anymore since shellfish is not kosher.
Had the greatest Frutti Di Mare Pasta ever! Also some delicious shrimps, mussels and crabs!

nothing flash but certainly clean and adequate - and best of all just across from the entrance to Petra. The guy behind the reception desk was quite interesting after he opened up. Turned out he was a highly experienced archaeologist! But there is no work so he just sits around smoking cigarettes and watching bad soap dramas on tv all day - just minutes away from the ancient city... some irony.