A JORDANIAN JOURNEY

I LIVE ON THE NORTHERN OUTSKIRTS RIYADH-BUT ONLY 20 MINS TO DOWNTOWN AND 30 MINS TO THE AIRPORT.THE WHOLE CITY IS A HUGE CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH ENTIRE COMMERCIAL BLOCKS AND SUBURBAN BLOCKS UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION AT ONCE.BUSINESS PARKS,UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS ARE POPPING UP IN THE DESERT THAT TYPICALLY LOOKS LIKE THIS.SANDSTORMS -JUST GENTLE ZEPHYRS CARRY FINE DUST THAT PENETRATES WINDOWS AND FANS LEAVING A GRITTY VENEER. MOSQUITOES HAVE BECOME A PROBLEM .I THINK I HAVE A MUTE STRAIN -CAN'T HEAR THEM.I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO THE CLAPPING METHOD OF DISPATCH AS THE WHITE MATT WALLS OF THE APPARTMENT WERE BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A CRIME SEEN WITH BLOOD STREAKS FROM MY STRIKES .MY BLOOD SPLATTERED EVERYWHERE.AS I HAVE DONE THIS BLOG I HAVE HAD A SENSE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT INTERSPERSED WITH THE THRILL OF THE KILL.QUITE SAD REALLY!!!

TRIED TO SHOW THE STEEP VALLEY WALLS THAT AMMAN IS BUILT ON.FOR A SUPPOSEDLY HOMOPHOBIC SOCIETY SCENES LIKE THIS ARE THE NORM AMONG MEN AND BOY FRIENDS.

KEPT GOING BACK TO THIS PARTICULAR SHOP BOUGHT A NUMBER OF ITEMS -GOOD PRICES TO WHART I HAD SEEN AROUND.

THO OLD GOLD MARKET.GOLD STILL HIGHLY SORT AFTER DESPITE PRICE-COMPARATIVELY CHEAP HERE.STIL IMPORTANT CULTURALLY AS PART OF DOWRIES.

TYPICAL HOUSING ESTATE.ON FRIDAYS EVERY BLADE OF GRASS IS COVERED WITH FAMILIES OUT PICNICING IN THEIR FRIDAY BEST.

WALLS AND RIDGES ALL BUILT ON.

NATIONAL PRIDE RUNS HIGH.

THE ROMAN THEATRE FROM RIDGE WHERE THE ROMAN CITADEL IS LOCATED.

PALACE RUINS OLD AMMONITE 2-3 CENTURY BC.

THIS SHOT WAS A WARNING IF THE POLLUTION TO COME.

6TH CENTURY BYZANTINECHAPEL ST GEORGES WITH AN OTTOMAN 19TH
MANSION BUILT ON TOP.JUST UP THE ROAD FROM WHERE I STAYED.IT WAS BRITISH HQ DURING ARAB REVOLT 1916-17.

TE LAWRENCE WRORE SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM HERE. FOR DECADES IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN EXAGGERATION AND LARGELY FLIGHT OF FANTASY BUT STUFF BEING RELEASED BT THE SECRET SERVICE IS STARTING TO PAINT HIM IN A BETTER LIGHT. A LOT OF MY JOURNEY WILL BWE TRACING HIS FOOTSTEPS.

AN INTRICATE ARRAY OF STEOPS START HIGH UP AMONG HOUSE IN THE RIDGES AND ULTIMATELY END UP IN MAIN STS VIA SHOPPING MALLS,MARKETS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS.

ROW OF TAXIS ON STEEP ONE WAY ST.TOP CAR IS ACTUALLY LAST TO FILL.LAST IN RANK COMES UP HILL AND REVERSE TO FRONT OF QUEUE.AS BOTTOM CAR ACTUALLY FIRST IN RANK LEAVES THE REST REVERSE DOWN ONE SPACE!!!