Travel Diaries: Finding peace in Jordan

Mount Nebo, an arid mountain from where Prophet Moses viewed the “Promised Land” for the Jews before he died. The Promised Land (present-day Israel and Palestine) seemed far from Mount Nebo, but a board on the site indicated that it's barely 25 km away. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The olive tree planted by Pope John Paul II when he visited Mount Nebo in the year 2000 (Source: Irena Akbar)

Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni's sculpture of Moses's bronze serpent on Mount Nebo (Source: Irena Akbar)

A sheesha shop in Madaba, Jordan (Source: Irena Akbar)

The muddy Jordan River (Source: Irena Akbar)

The site on the Jordan River where Jesus is believed to have been baptised. The water has dried up on the site, so it is artificially pumped for any Christian wishing to be baptised here. (Source: Irena Akbar)

A picture of the West Bank taken from the East Bank. The West Bank is the western bank of the Jordan river, and is held by Israel. The East Bank is the eastern bank of Jordan river and is held by Jordan. The two banks are separated by a five-minute swim across the river. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The land east of Jordan river (above) was once a site of war between Jordan and Israel. After the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1994, the area was cleared of landmines, and opened to archaelogists and tourists. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The hill from where Prophet Elijah is believed to have ascended to heaven (Source: Irena Akbar)

Mukhawir, the site of the decapitation of John the Bapstist. (John was a prophet who had baptised Jesus). Mukhawir hosts the ruins of the fortress of the Jewish king, Herod the Great. Now, only two pillars remain of the fortress, as can be seen in the picture. Mukhawir has a dramatic Biblical story to it. Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, divorced his wife to marry Herodias, his brother's wife. Prophet John objected to this act, thus angering Herodias. The latter asked her daughter Salomne to dance in front of Herod Antipas, and then demand John's head on a platter. Herodias's plan worked and John was beheaded in Mukhawir. (Source: Irena Akbar)

Traditional Jordanian dresses on sale in Downtown Amman (Source: Irena Akbar)

The view of Amman hills. The Jordanian capital has some 23 hills. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The view of Amman hills. The Jordanian capital has some 23 hills. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The view of Amman hills. The Jordanian capital has some 23 hills. (Source: Irena Akbar)

The Temple of Hercules at the Amman Citadel (Source: Irena Akbar)

The Amman Citadel, hosting the ruins of Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic empires (Source: Irena Akbar)

An eighth century mosque belonging to the Umayyad empire at the Amman citadel (Source: Irena Akbar)

The Roman theatre, old Amman (Source: Irena Akbar)

Women in Amman wear colourful headscarves over jeans, trousers, and full-length skirts (Source: Irena Akbar)