Long distance information, get me Memphis, Tennessee - 20 April 2009

We spent most of today in Aqaba, basking in the joys of civilization. We took our time getting ready and managed to miss the hotel-provided breakfast - DARN, no hummus to start my day!

We found our way to an internet cafe for Jennifer to take care of more of her fellowship related paperwork, which has turned into a real hassle along the way. Let's just say there will be significant unreimbursed work expenses on the taxes next year.

I'm not officially saying that we've mailed it in, but lunch was at McDonald's and then we found a gelato place for milkshakes.

We tried to visit the bookstore recommended by the Lonely Planet, but it was open from 7:30 - 12:00 and from 4:00 - 10:00. We got there at 12:30 and our bus left at 4:00. There was a special stop, though, at the liquor store since that's such a novelty.

A stifling bus ride later and we're in Wadi Rum:

Here are our luxurious sleeping arrangements. You'll hear more about them tomorrow:

There was a decent buffet and even some music and dancing:

While we were hanging out a guy came up and asked if he could interview me. It was a graduate student named Tony from Memphis, TN. He was working with an NGO in the region and basically gathering information about tourists in Wadi Rum.

What I found interesting is that while the camp we're staying in is owned by Jordanians, it's actually mainly staffed with Egyptians. Evidently the Egyptians are willing to work for less.

I like Chinese - 19 April 2009

Today we move on from Egypt to Jordan.

After the pleasant evening (did I mention how much food can affect my mood?) we woke up the next morning to find out that all of the water was turned off in the room. It eventually got fixed, only to find out that they must be pumping the water directly from the ocean, since it's salt water.

We were supposed to leave at 10:30 am, but it kept getting bumped. We ended up sitting at the ferry terminal until 3 pm. Basically 5 hours of waiting for a 1 hour ferry ride.

The ride was uneventful, but it was another time where we felt very conspicuous. As you'd expect in a Muslim country, the men and women are segregated and we're definitely getting some attention.

When we boarded the ferry we put our baggage along the wall in the cargo hold of the ship. I was confused - they had baggage carts and I thought it made more sense to put our stuff there. As we're disembarking (de-ferrying?), though, I see these carts being unloaded. Your average WWE match is less violent. Seriously, it's like the guys unloading the carts get bonus pay for how far they can throw people's luggage. I'm pretty sure that one of them threw a CRT computer monitor onto a box full of kittens.

Aqaba turns out to be a pleasant surprise. Very cosmopolitan. We spot a Chinese restaurant during the bus ride to the hotel, and decide that we'll go there for dinner. None of our fellow travelers join us, though, so it's just the two of us, having a delicious Chinese meal, in Aqaba. (The place is named Red Chopsticks in case you find yourself in need of good Chinese in Aqaba, BTW.)

Our hotel is not comfortable, and features an air conditioner that sounds like an outboard motor. Somehow we manage to turn this off:

The lock on the room's door is busted, and we have to jiggle it to get in and out. For a brief time we're actually locked inside the room.