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Home » nature

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ExploreTraveler Presents: Exploring Jordan Via Photo Tour and Guide

February 27, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Photo of the Day ~ The Ancient Nabataean City Of Petra

From time to we like to group allot of articles on a single subject, and present them as a small guide. The title under the picture is a link to another post with additional information. Most of the photo’s within this guide are from an area centered around Petra, and the deserts that surround this site. We hope you enjoy this small tour from our own eyes, and just maybe we inspire you to go there for yourself.

In Southwest Jordan you will find an amazing desert, colorful, extremely hot, with rugged mountains and deep canyons. Amid all this natural beauty you will find the city of Petra, built during the time of the Nabataean Kingdom between 100 B.C. to 106 A.D. For years Petra was a major trading center and capital city of the empire of the Nabataean people. Then for centuries it lay in ruin, empty, and forgotten. The city was lost for centuries. Now this beautiful hidden city is a UNESCO World Heritage Center.

Photo of the Day ~ The Bedouin culture of Petra

The Nabataeans occupied Petra till the close of the Roman Empire. The Al B’doul tribe  is said to be among those descended from the Nabataeans, who built the city of Petra.  This Bedouin tribe, the Al B’doul, lived in Petra for more than 170 years. They built their lives among the tombs and caves, feeling a close attachment to the city. Some of the members of the tribe were relocated to a city built just for them near-by. Others in this tribe still lives in the ancient valley, clinging to traditional Bedouin life.

Photo of the Day ~ Crossing the Red Sea in Aqaba, Jordan

To visit the Red Sea at Aqaba, Jordan is a compelling inner drive. Many pass Aqaba by, but here you will find water that is calm and crystal clear. It seems like you can see forever. The Red Sea is a thriving sea with a large variety of amazing marine life. This is a world class snorkeling site. If you enjoy marine life, spend a few hours snorkeling at the Red Sea,  Jordan’s only beach.

Photo of the Day ~ Exploring the desert valley of Wadi Rum

Embark on the adventure of a life time exploring the Valley Of The Moon. At times you can rightfully ask if you are still on planet earth. As you wander through this brutal but astonishing desert, you will see desert colors in the deep oranges. It looks like a freshly painted canvas, painted as only a master artist can do. Put on your sun hat, wrap your head  in a scarf, grab plenty of water,  and let’s explore this amazing and dramatic desert.

Photo of the Day ~ Timeless Splendor in the desert of Wadi Rum

These camels are valuable members of the Royal Desert Forces. The  Bedouins saddle up their camels on a regular basis to reach those areas of the desert that are too remote for trucks and 4 X 4’s to patrol. The camels are also often paraded around for tourists to enjoy. Anyone in the area that has a female camel that needs to be bred, may bring them by the Patrol Headquarters. This is a free service provided by the Royal Desert Forces for residents.

Photo of the Day ~ The Amazing Ruins Of The Greco-Roman City Of Gerasa

At Jerash the first thing you note is the condition of the ruins. What a marvelous site. The city of Gerasa was also called Antioch and is found in the North of Jordan.  This magnificent site shows the quality of the city. It is indeed the best of the Roman ruins we have seen outside of Italy.  You will find the ancient city among green hills and valleys filled with olive, plum, fig, and other fruit trees.

Wadi Rum….Timeless Splendor

Wadi Rum Desert landscapes, where the deep red rocks seem to protrude seamlessly into the dark blue sky. It is a land of fascinating landscapes and timeless treasures. Known as the Valley of the Moon, this amazing valley is cut into the beautiful red sandstone and granite. Timeless splendor, level headed people, and amazing shades of Autumn greet you on your desert exploration.

Photo of the Day ~ Beautiful Jordanian Sunset

Photo of the Day ~ The Lost City Of Petra In Jordan

Deep in the rugged pink sandstone hills, surrounding one of the harshest deserts in the world, you will find one of the Jewels of the ancient world. Welcome to Jordan and the unique city of Petra.

Photo of the Day ~ Adventuring Into The Wadi Rum Desert Of Jordan

This astonishing Red Desert is surrounded by amazing red sandstone mountains and made complete with amazing canyons. Walking through the desert you will see nothing until you come upon a tent of friendly Bedouins inviting you to join them for tea.

Deserts Comes To Life With Tea

The Deserts springs to life, as tea is served. Have you ever considered exploring some of the hottest deserts in the world? How about taking a break and having tea under a goat haired tent in the desert? Have you ever thought that it would be refreshing and make you cooler?

The Secret Mysteries Of The Ancient City Of Petra ~ Part One

This is the magnificent entrance into the city of Petra, where history, ancient stories, folklore, and archaeology all come together in an ancient city, clothed in mystery. The entrance, designed by nature, is narrow and provided security and safety for an ancient people. You have just traveled through the awe-inspiring Valley Of Moses, looking at the amazing mountains of rose, red, and white sandstone, beholding the shadows of the mountains across the desert and then you come to the gateway of this mysterious city, the narrow and magnificent siq. If you look at the photo above, you will see just how enormously tall this entrance is, as both humans and animals appear to be quite small at it’s base.

The Secret Mysteries Of The Ancient City Of Petra ~ Part 2

The sandstone hills hold mysteries over 2000 years old. Mysteries of the fortress built by the Nabatacans.  It seemed like nothing could ever touch it. The shadows of the towering ziq envelope you as you make your way through this mile long winding path and into the city. The first thing you see is the facade of the Treasury. The Treasury was most likely a temple built to the many gods of this enormous civilization. But if you let your eyes feast to either side of this first building, with all it’s grandeur, you will see the many carved quarters and caves that are intricately carved into these amazing sandstone cliffs.

The Secret Mysteries Of The Ancient City Of Petra ~ Part 3

The spectacular amphitheater in Petra is amazing in it size, seating between 6,000-8,000 people. Can you imagine the excitement of the crowd as they watched events in this massive amphitheater? The amphitheater was built previous to the time of the Roman occupation of Petra. This very unique theater was carved into the sandstone rocks.

The Secret Mysteries Of The Ancient City Of Petra ~ Part 4

Magnificent Boulders and cliffs of tinted sandstone greet you as you come near to the city. If you take time to look at the layers of reds, browns, oranges, and yellows of the rocks, cliffs,columns and the tombs themselves, you will be amazed. Because of the uniqueness of the sandstone cliffs that they are carved from, there are no two tombs or facades exactly the same.

The Secret Mysteries Of The Ancient City Of Petra ~ Conclusion

As our five part Petra adventure comes to a close, we take time to look at the upper levels of the Al-Khazneh or The Treasury. Here the mysteries of the lost city grow as we wonder just what this magnificent building carved out of the sandstone cliffs was used for. Most seem to favor that it was some type of a temple for the many gods of Petra after the many invaders of Rome took control, but there is also the theory that in the beginning it was an elaborate tomb.

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 “Helping bring the world together one friend at a time. So travel and discover that the world is full of wonderful people.” – ExploreTraveler @exploretraveler

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Happy Travels,

ExploreTraveler Team

© 2018 ExploreTraveler. All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: Asia, enviroment, Jordan, travel channel, Travel Hacks, travel the world, Travel Tips, World Travel Tagged With: blog, life, nature, photography, travel

Beautiful Birds From Around The World

February 19, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Do you have any fish? Hungry Pelicans in Oceanside, California USA 

Found in many warmer areas, the Pelican has very few predators. Due to their massive size, there are few animals or birds that are willing to mess with them.  Their fishing skills are exquisite.  These elegant fisherman are amazing to watch in action. If there is fish to be found, they will find them. This fellow was tightening up his belt, due to a fish shortage in California.

 Brandt’s Cormorants nesting on the steep ocean cliffs of Florence, Oregon USA 

Each summer many seabirds come to the Central Oregon Coast to nest.  The beautiful Brandt’s Cormorant are one of the visitors that comes to breed in the massive cliffs and on the many off shore islands. The presence of so many Sea Lions signals that there is plenty of fish in the sea.

 The Majestic Great Blue Heron Of North and Central America

The Great Blue Heron lives In the wetlands throughout North and Central America. You will see them cruising the ocean shores with majestic wing movements. Their style of flight is slow, deliberate, and majestic. When looking around for dinner, this heron stands completely still, absolutely motionless.

 

  The brightly colored world of  The Australian  Lorikeets Is Fascinating

These spectacular are small to medium size parrots with a tongue that feels like a scrub brush. They feed entirely on the nectar of beautiful flowers found in the coastal and wooded rainforests of Australia.  Like all parrots, they have a beautiful voice as they call out to each other.

 Yuen Po Bird Garden keeps with the traditional culture of songbird keeping in Hong Kong 

These  beautiful small to medium song birds are not wild, like the others shown here. However they are found in the tropical forests of Hong Kong. Keeping song birds is a big part of Chinese culture, especially among the older generation. This bird garden is beautiful and the birds are taken in their cages  out daily for a walk, much like we would take a dog for a daily walk.

Beautiful Peacock Found In The Balboa Park In  San Diego, California USA

Only the the males are really called peacocks. They are striking with deep colors and a long tail. The females are referred  to as hens and lack the amazing color tones.

 “It’s A Gull’s Life For Me!” Relaxing Herring Gull In Eastern Maine

Throughout the coastal areas of much of the world, the sea side is full of gulls. This fella has made himself king of the Sea.

Throughout your travels you are almost certain to see beautiful and unique birds to where you are. Just another way to enjoy nature wherever you are.

 

 

 

ExploreTraveler.com

 Twitter Page, ExploreTraveler

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“Helping bring the world together one friend at a time. So travel

and discover that the world is full of wonderful people.” – ExploreTraveler

 @exploretraveler

We have a travel tip audio book that you can purchase at Audible –> Here

Happy Travels,

 ExploreTraveler.com

   © 2018 ExploreTraveler. All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: enviroment, travel channel, Travel Hacks, travel the world, Travel Tips, World Travel Tagged With: blog, life, nature, photography, travel

Animal Photo Tour From Around The World

February 14, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

 Komodo Dragon On Remote Tiomon Island Malaysia

Some of the most exciting things that the Exploretraveler Team does as we travel the world allows us to connect with nature.  We take jungle treks, mountain hikes, river tours, climb trails, and scale ruins. In the midst of everything, we often see unique shots of the animal kingdom.

Did you ever think about real dragons living on earth?  This Malaysian dragon can weigh up to 200 pounds. They are carnivores and are also considered cannibals. As much as a tenth of their diet can be the eating of other Komodo Dragon’s eggs. They eat wild pigs, deer, and other wild animals of the jungle. They are even able to take down an adult Water Buffalo.

 Hungry Monkeys In Singapore

This big guy looks like he is so very hungry in Singapore. Hang on to your lunch or you may make an unwilling donation.

 Formosan Rock Monkey Also Known As The Taiwanese Macaque  

Meet the Taiwanese Formosan Rock Monkey, who are also known as the Formosan Rock Macaque and Taiwanese Macaque. These cute fellas live in the jungles in the western mountain regions of Taiwan. They are the only living monkey native to Taiwan and are usually found between 300 and 12,000 feet. They prefer the jungle forest with it’s mixed hardwoods, mixed grasslands, and bamboo.  This enables them to eat to their heart content.

 Taiwan’s Formosan Rock Macaque Are The Only Monkey Native To Taiwan  

 Hang In There Baby! Formosan Rock Monkey Macaque In Taiwan  

These guys were so fun to watch, but hang on to your camera. The bigger the camera, the bigger the fascination, so if you want to keep it, hang on to it tight.

 This big guy is enjoy his banana!

 The Philippine Sailfin Crested Lizard living Only In The Philippines 

Another one of the interesting animals of the jungle. This one is found only in the Philippines. The Sailfin Crested Lizard is an excellent swimmer. He is so cute when he uses his flat toes to run across the water. Just another amazing wonder in the jungles of Asia.

 Alaskan Red Fox Wants To Play In Cantwell Alaska “Do I Get Out Of The Car?” 

This is the most common fox in Alaska and the largest of the fox family. They like to eat small animals, but also eat fruits and other vegetation. They like to live in family groups, where only one mated pair breeds at a time, with the rest of the clan helping with the babysitting.

 Watch Your Step, The Philippine Sail-fin Dragon Lizard Could Be Above Your Head!

 The Splendor Of Wild Elk Grazing In The Backroads Of Washington USA 

The Moose Struggling  To Find Food During Winter In Alaska

The moose plow through the snow and ice looking for twigs and small tender branches. By the last half of winter this can be hard to find and by spring they are quite hungry and waiting for those first tender shoots.

 Petite Kirk’s dik-dik Antelope  in Eastern South Africa   

The Dik-Dik is the common name for four different species of Antelope and six sub-species in Eastern South Africa. They only weigh from 6 to 13 pounds and are 12 to 15 inches tall. They have a life span in the wild of about 10 years.  You can not miss those eyes, as they stare straight at you. So adorable, but yet they are so wild.

Where are you going next? Everywhere has their own adorable animals that live in the mountains, the jungle, the Savannah, the plains, and they are just waiting for you to take their picture.

 

 

  ExploreTraveler.com

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“Helping bring the world together one friend at a time. So travel

and discover that the world is full of wonderful people.” – ExploreTraveler

@exploretraveler

We have a travel tip audio book that you can purchase at Audible –> Here

Happy Travels,

 ExploreTraveler.com

 © 2018 ExploreTraveler. All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: travel channel, Travel Hacks, travel the world, Travel Tips, World Travel Tagged With: blog, life, nature, photography, travel

San Diego California And Her Treasures Of The Sea

February 13, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Beautiful Sea Urchins From Grey Tones To Pink

San Diego is the southern most city before crossing the border into Mexico. She and the most northern towns on the Mexican side of the border, are blessed with one of the greatest “Treasures of the Sea,” the Sea Urchin.  This small window of the Pacific, is one of the few places in the world, where you can see the Pink or the Purple Sea Urchin.

The Pink Sea Urchin Is One Of The Most Majestic In The World

The showy pink Sea Urchin is totally magnificent. From the world over, adventurers come just to see the longest living creature on planet Earth. The Pink Sea Urchin can live to be over 200 years old. Then there are those who come to taste it’s spectacular row.

Getting Ready To Take That First Taste

While in many countries this is a delicacy that is well loved, there are many who come to get that first taste. Every year adventures come to San Diego just to taste and see. Will you too, be one who comes? This young man waited in line just to get his first taste of this amazing creature of the deep.

A Vendor Displaying This Beautiful Treasure Of The Sea. 

The vendor is scrapping the inside, which is custard like, so that you can see the actual inside of this magnificent creature.

Creamy On The Inside And Tasty Like Custard

This is a creature so fine, with a taste like nothing else. The closet description would be like custard. Yet, there no words for this amazing opportunity to taste and see.

Will You Come To See This Magnificent Creature Of The Deep? 

Home Of The Freshest Fish And The Spectacular Pink Sea Urchin

The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market is the best fish market in San Diego. Here you will see the freshest fish, and many unique treasures of the deep. It is open every Saturday morning at 8:30 am, however, the line begins to form by 7:30 am.  For up to date information consult their website at:http://thdocksidemarket.com/new/

If you are an adventurer in seek of an adventure, consider a visit to see the longest living creature on earth, and while you are at the market, taste and see how delicious it is.

 

 

 

 ExploreTraveler.com

 Twitter Page, ExploreTraveler

Facebook Page, ExploreTraveler

“Helping bring the world together one friend at a time. So travel

and discover that the world is full of wonderful people.” – ExploreTraveler

 @exploretravelerWe have a travel tip audio book that you can purchase at Audible –> Here

Happy Travels,

 ExploreTraveler.com

 © 2018 ExploreTraveler. All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: California, Food Travel, North America, San Diego, travel channel, Travel Hacks, travel the world, Travel Tips, USA, World Travel Tagged With: blog, life, nature, photography, travel

Exciting Photo Journeys In The Northern Cascades Of Washington State USA

January 10, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Mount Rainier Is The Highest Mountain Of The Cascade Range In The Pacific Northwest

Mount Rainier is a heavy glaciated mountain peak and is the tallest mountain in Washington State. It is also the tallest mountain in the Northern Cascade Mountain Range. The peak is always covered in snow and she is photogenic year around with her snow covered peak.

Leavenworth Is A charming Bavarian Village  In The Heart Of The Northern Cascades

Discover the magic of this quaint little village.  Plan a day tour or stay in one of the many classic cabins or hotels. Every season has something special to offer.

Spire Mountain In The Northern Cascades

Spire Mountain is just outside of an old mining town, called Galena. In this National Park you will find hiking, climbing and advanced mountaineering. Whatever your interest or ability, there are lots of adventures waiting at Spire Mountain.

 Rugged Glory Of Kangaroo Ridge In The Northern Cascade Mountains

The Kangaroo Ridge provides a large variety of hiking trails, climbing opportunities, and for the advanced climbers there is serious mountaineering.

The Northern Cascades Is A Mountain Biking Oasis

Washington is filled with many back roads that take you into different areas of the Cascade Mountain Range.

Rainy Pass In The North Cascade Mountains 

Not only does Rainy Pass have the normal hiking, climbing, and biking opportunities, but camping is plentiful on Rainy Pass. This is the perfect place for a few days of family fun.

Driving Across Diablo Dam At Diablo Lake In The Northern Cascades

At Diablo Lake you will find amazing and scenic hiking trails for all levels, camping sites and cabins, fishing, boating, and stunning waterfalls within an easy hiking distance.

 Mount St. Helens Is An Active And Recharging Volcano In The Washington Cascades

Exploring The Northern Cascade Mountain On Washington Back Roads

Every season is the perfect season to explore the Northern Cascade Mountain Range. There are lots of opportunities for tent camping and for the colder part of the year, there are cabins available. If you enjoy nature, like to roam the Old Growth Forests, climb and hike, camp, and do winter or summer sports, you will find the Washington Cascade Mountains your Oasis for adventure.

 

 

  ExploreTraveler.com

 Twitter Page, ExploreTraveler

Facebook Page, ExploreTraveler

“Helping bring the world together one friend at a time. So travel

and discover that the world is full of wonderful people.” – ExploreTraveler

 @exploretraveler

We have a travel tip audio book that you can purchase at Audible –> Here

 Happy Travels,

ExploreTraveler.com

 © 2017 ExploreTraveler. All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: travel channel, Travel Hacks, travel the world, Travel Tips, USA, World Travel Tagged With: blog, life, nature, photography, travel

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