Wadi Rum

We left Aquaba and Jordan’s bit of the Red Sea around midday – now heading straight into the desert. We reached the Wadi Rum visitor center about an hour later.

After a quick tour through the visitor center (including a video presentation and a small museum), we jumped onto some jeeps to head out into the desert to see and experience the magnificent landscape and mountains – following the steps of Lawrence of Arabia.

Into Jordan – Aquaba

We got into Aquaba and Jordan in the evening – after a four hour wait in transit on the Egyptian side, a 1.5 hours boat ride and a further 30 minute wait for Jordan immigration and customs clearance.

The next morning was free, with the plan to leave Aquaba midday. All of us decided to get closer to the Red Sea on a glass-bottom boat, there was even an opportunity for snorkeling.

Coptic Cairo

I got into Cairo in the middle of the night. After a short night and a late breakfast, I left the hotel and did head out for the Cairo’s Coptic quarter. After a number of churches and a visit to the Coptic museum (which I had missed on my previous visit), I made my way back to the hotel to meet up with my group.

Along Highway 11 to Hualien

I left Taitung in the morning by bus. The bus followed highway 11 along Taiwan’s Pacific Coast. It took the bus around 4.5 hours to cover the 170km and it was easily one of the better and more interesting bus rides, I ever did (and trust me … I have been on many buses) … passing through fabulous landscape, small towns – along an amazing coast line.