tranters travels: BAPTISM OF PLASTIC EN ROUTE VIA LONG DEAD SEA AND ON TO PETRA

A RATHER DODGY GPS UNIT COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT A LOT OF ROADS ARE NEW OR BEING UPGRADED LED ME TO SOME UNPLANNED DESTINATIONS.I WAS TRYING TO GET TO SALT -WHERE SULTANAS ORIGINATED FROM DRYING A LOCAL VARIETY OF GRAPE.I DID GET THERE GOT STUCK OF ON A STEEP INTERSECTION AND HAD TO REVERSE DOWN A EQUALLY STEEP ROAD BEFORE HIGH-TAILING OUT OF IT!!THESE PHOTS WERE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK AND SOON DISCOVERED POPPY LADEN FIELDS AND THE STEEP LIMESTONE COUNTRY THAT DOMINATES THE ARABLE LAND OF JORDAN.

EVIDENCE OF PEOPLES FROM LONG AGO ARE EVIDENT EVERYWHERE.

ROADSIDE STALL WITH FLARE.

IF JC NEVER RODE A DONKEY INTO JERUSALEM -HISTORY WOULD HAVE TURNED A DIFFERENT CORNER. STILL A COMMONFORM OF TRANSPORT AND CAARYING.

FORTRESSES DOT THE LANDSCAPE-A CONTANT REMINDER OF THE CENTURIES OF CONFLICT OVER ALL TYPES OF BIGOTRY IN THE CRADLE OF CIVILISATION???!!

JORDAN VALLEY.

THIS WAY TO ISRAEL-ANOTHER TIME-WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED BACK INTO SAUDI WITH EVEN A JEWISH FINGERPRINT ON MY PASSPORT!!

THE GPS SENT UP ALL THESE UNPASSABLE LANES IN NO-MANS LAND BETWEEN JORDAN AND ISRAEL-EN ROUTE TO WHERE JB BAPTISED JC IN (SORT OF) THE JORDAN.IT IS VERY FERTILE MARKET GARDENING COUNTRY -MASS IRRIGATION MAKES THE DIRT ROADS IMPASSABLE!!

CHURCHES-MUST BE GETTING CLOSE.AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF RESTRAINT THE COMPETITION AMONG CHRITIAN SECTS SEEMS TO BE ON TO BUILD THE FLASHEST CHURCH NEAR THE BAPTISM SITE.NUMBERS GAME I SUPPOSE ROLL 'EM IN KEEP THOSE CASH REGISTERS TICKING OVER .

YOU TAKE A CONVOLUTED WALKING TRAIL TO THE BAPTISM SITE TO GIVE THE ILLUSION YOU ARE GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY!!

THE BAPTISM SITE IS ACTUALLY ON A CREEK THAT ARISES FROM YES YOU NEW IT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S SPRING THAT FEEDS THE CREEK THAT FILLS THE POOL-WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED WHICH DRAINS INTO THE GREY,GREASY JORDAN.NO THAT WAS THE LIMPOPO-THE JORDAN IS ACTUALLY BROWN AND A FORMER SHADOW OF ITS FORMER 1KM WIDTH AT THIS SITE.

BAPTISM POOL.AN ARCH OVER THE SITE AND 16 SMALL CHAPELS THAT HAVE VISIBLE FOUNDATIONS HAVE FALLEN TO EARTHQUAKE AND OTHER NATURAL PHENOMENA-THERE IS AN IRONY IN THAT I AM SURE!!

FORMER CHURCH FOUNDATIONS.

JUST IN CASE YOU THOUGHT YOU BOOKED THE AMAZON TOUR!!

THATS IT.LOOKING ACROSS TO THE ISRAEL SIDE!!NO PULLING FACES!!WE HAVE THE BAPTISM SITE ON OUR SIDE NAAA NA NANAAAAAAAA! AND YOU CAN'T SEE IT -SO THERE!!!

THEY ONLY LOOK AFTER A 50 METRE PHOTOGENIC ALLEY.

YES I DIDN'T GET SHOTS OFF U-TUBE.

FIRST ALMOST LOOK OF THE DEAD SEA.

WISHED I STAYED BACK THE KNEE DEEP RING OF PLASTIC BOTTLES INDICATES THE SHORELINE ONLY 15 YEARS AGO.DAMMING THE JORDAN AND IRRIGATION HAS SERIOUSLY DEPLETED THE INFLOW OF WATER INTO THE DEAD SEA.I THINK IT MUST BE DEADER!!!

SOON THERE WILL BE WALL TO WALL 5 STAR HOTELS LINING A PLASTIC BEACH.THE PUNTERS WILL BE IN THE INDOOR POOLS ENJOYNG NATURE.

I COULD HAVE WALKED DOWN AND PADDLED FOR 15DINAR ($22 nz) LOCALS WENT DOWN FREE.I TOLD A VERY DOGMATIC OFFICIAL WHAT I THOUGHT AS I TOOK THIS PHOTO AMIDST YELLS OF PROTEST.HE IS PROBABLY IN LINE FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM
.

SALTS EVAPORATE ALONG THE EDGES AND WATER HAS AN OILY FEEL.

INTENSIVE HORTICULTURE IN POCKETS ALONG THE DEAD SEA.IRRIGATION EXTENSIVE AND A BIG MOVE TO TUNNEL HOUSES EASIER TO CONTROL WATER USE I GUESS.

FASCINATED BY BEDOUIN CAMPS -MANY HAVE SOLAR POWER.SORRY YOU WILL SEE A FEW PHOTOS LIKE THIS.

KARAK CASTLE -AMAZING STRATEGIC LOCATION.COMMANDEERED ABD ADDED TO BY AT LEAST FOUR CRUSADING EUROPEAN LEADERS ON A MISSION.WHEN THE CRUSADES RAN OUT OF PUFF THE MAMALUKES GREATLY MODIFIED IT IN 16 CENTURY. NEXT SHOT.