Train Passengers

Taiwan is a small island with a huge population,  more than 23 million. No matter where I visit, the places are often crowded with people, and many of them are smartphone addicts or phubbing. This phenomenon, phubbing in everywhere, pervades in most Asian cities. 

Back to Taiwan

After more than twenty years being away from Taiwan, I decided to return to the island, where I was born and grew up. I love the life and the weather in the Middle East, but it's time to go home and to explore the beauty of the Asia.

Karak-the Crusader Castle

This Crusader Castle in Karak is one of the largest castles built in this Middle East. It's a place  of the battles between the Crusaders and Muslim leader, Salah ad-Din, during the 12th century.

The castle is also famous for its underground tunnels and prison cells. There is a small museum built beside the castle, offering the information and history about the Karak region and the castle. The entrance fee is free for the Jordanians and persons with the residency, and one dinar for foreign visitors.

Karak-the city

Karak is a small city, located on the King's Highway and the south of Amman. Before heading to its famous crusader castle, we had a lot of fun walking on the streets and visiting the local market. We also had a very nice lunch at a small restaurant which serves delicious Arabic food. Good weather, good forks and good food made the trip very enjoyable and delightful.

Salt-the People

In general, people in Salt seem much friendlier than in Amman. Walking on the streets of the old town area, we were often greeted by the locals, adults and kids. They are very generous on giving directions or just having some conversations. Some even invited us to have some tea with them. It made me feel like being back to Damascus.

Salt-the City

Salt (السلط) is an ancient city on the northwest outside Amman, and was once a regional capital during the Ottoman Empire. A lot of buildings were built in this period and survive until now.

There are a lot of big and small buses running between Salt and Amman. It takes half an hour to reach this lovely ancient city. We walked around in the old town area, visiting Haman Street, mosques, churches, the Ottoman-period mansion Beit Abu Jaber and a local coffee house. 

Iraq Al-Amir at Wadi Al-Seer

Wadi Al-Seer is located at the southeast of Amman. From the Al-Muhajireen bus stop of the Downtown, it takes half a hour to reach there. Then we took another small bus to Iraq Al-Amir, which is 15 km southwest of the town of Wadi Al-Seer, for visiting caves in the hills (date back to the Copper Age) and the ruins of Qasr Al-Abad (Palace of the Servant), built in the 3rd century BC. On the way to the ruins, we enjoyed the nice views of the valleys filled with the greens and orchards.