10 days in Quirky Kiev

Kiev is Quirky. It's a random mix of Soviet culture, Western European culture and..... Raunch culture. We saw quite a few naked people. I wanted to take their photos but Dave wouldn't let me. He got nervous at the last minute that he would have to fight a naked man. Or several naked men. Probably a valid concern.

So instead, I photographed other quirky elements as well as some traditional aspects, such as the many golden domed churches.

However, the most exciting thing to happen in Kiev...perhaps ever....was that Charlie took her first steps there! The day before the big event, she stood up, unassisted, 10 times in a row, so we knew something was up as she did her power standing and looked mightily pleased with herself. So before you get to see our Quirky Kiev photos, please witness the Charlie standing series:

 

The next day, Charlie walked 3 steps solo! And although we were not ready with camera to capture this tremendous moment, we certainly did capture her Daddy's jubilation moments after:

And her mummy encouraging her to "do it again", "do it again"!!! (She did do it again, moments later, and has continued each day to get better. Her current PB is 10 steps in a row :D

Ok folks, as advertised, it's Quirky Kiev time:

The thing that I loved about these guys, but failed to capture in the photo, is that neither of them even bothered to zip up the butts of their suits, they were just hanging open.

Russian war memorabilia

Dave has been dreaming about this eye wear for months. He even tried to make some. Then when he found it, he crumbled and didn't purchase. He couldn't handle the dream becoming a reality.

This was the inside of a door in a toilet cubicle at a restaurant!

My first Fernicular

Fernicular love

Gotta love a city where old men gather to play chess in the park

Beaches along the river (where said nudity and some aspects of "raunch culture" occurrs)

Zebra skin, Gramophone or Paintings anyone?

There was so much pork belly for sale at the markets, so much!! And caviar.... And berries....!

Obligatory golden dome church shot. Couldn't take a photo of the quirky aspect which was fascinating practice of people kissing the glass coffins of mummified monks in the catacombs below this church (called the Larva).

Random tropical religious iconography

Charlie and her Babushkas



The Golden Gate constructed by Yaroslav the Wise in 1037. It didn't keep the Mongols out.



Pancake shack!



 

Kiev locals who BYO tequila, lemon, salt and silver goblets to airport insisted we had 3 shots each with them for our future health and happiness. Dave insisted it would be rude to say no. They followed their shots with an espresso chaser.  Kiev, you sure are quirky.



Petra: a Rose-Red City Half as Old as Time

Petra is certainly one of the most amazing places I've seen.

On the right is a picture of the town of Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses) which is next to Petra, and the location that Christians believe Moses struck a rock from which water flowed. It is from this spring that the Nabataens built channels into the city of Petra. Petra (which is Greek for rock) was established in the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans for two key reasons. Firstly, they could control the water in the area through a complex system of dams and conduits, creating an artificial oasis. Secondly, they could also control the trade routes (including the silk road and incense and spice routes) that linked China, India and Southern Arabia to North Africa, Greece and Rome, and collect lucrative taxes.

To enter Petra, one must walk for about 2 kilometers, firstly through an open area, where you can witness cubical tombs carved out of rock, called "djinn houses" as the Bedouin thought they must be homes to spirits, as well as various residences carved into rocks. Apparently, these tombs and residences were for the poorest classes, and with the amount of work that went into the poorer abodes and tombs, one realises that Petra itself must be phenomenal.

Djinn Houses

Poorer abodes on the outskirts of Petra

Next, one reaches a 1.2km passage called the "Siq", which is a dry gorge, flanked by soaring 80m high cliff faces. The gorge dried up due to the Nabataens installing dams, and they also carved conduits into each side of the passage, with one side to carry drinking water, and the other to carry water for irrigation. At one point, you can even see a piece of clay pipe in the irrigation side, and it's amazing to think its about 2600 years old. Back in the day, the siq was the East entrance to Petra, and the North and South entrances were more popular, but these days only the Siq is used, due to its proximity to Wadi Musa, where most people stay when they visit Petra.



The Siq



Drinking water conduit on the left, carved out for the entire distance of the siq

Clay pipe remains

Along the way, there are also various intricately carved niches which used to display the busts of Arab Gods and Goddesses from pre-Islamic times, and also of their Kings. The main God they workshipped was Dushara with his trinity of Goddess wives. Sacrifices were regularly made to Dushara, and one can see holes in the rock around the niches where the Nabataens would insert the blood of the sacrifices which would slowly drip out, so that it looked like the rock was weeping blood. I imagine Dushara would have been impressed with the spectacle - I was with the concept.

The remains of a carving of a king wearing Chinese shoes

A niche that housed Dushara

A cheesy family shot in the Siq, where divorcees would stand when remarrying. I'm not sure if this equated to us renewing our vows or brought us one step closer to divorce.

Head already swimming with tales of religious rituals, ancient politics and power plays, the sights of rock carvings of Nabataen kings that wore Chinese shoes and camels, dams and irrigation, and beautifully coloured rocks of every shade of red and pink, orange and yellow, smells of horses clopping up and dwen the siq carrying tourists .... one marvels at the Nabataen civilisation....And then....as you reach the end of the Siq....you see this:

Enter, Petra!




The mind boggles!

























This building was named The Treasury, but is in fact an ancient tomb to a Nabataen king and queen.




For my lawyer friends, you can see in the picture below an ancient court of justice complete with holding cells below:

In the second century AD, Petra became part of the Roman empire, and the Roman influence on the city is also very evident with an amphitheatre and roman columns. There is also the remains of a christian church.

In the fourth century AD, Petra was rocked by a series of earthquakes that detroyed many of the buildings. The earthquakes were that devastating that the city was abandoned. Over the many centuries that have since passed, the city was vulnerable to thieves, and all the treasures have been  stolen. There were further eathquakes and more parts collapsed. So Petra now is very much a shadow of its former self, and still absolutely majestic and a true wonder of the world.

Charlie hangs out reflecting on Petra's sites and how to talk her parents into a camel ride

Charlie reaches a compromise and rides a donkey with a friendly Bedouin boy