“On the road… AGAIN”

            Since my last post we’ve had a busy time of it here with the GIS, SAR & Ranger mentoring teams. Wednesday morning included final application exercises (including me, an archaeologist needing assistance) being rescued from a cliff ledge (sorry Indy). By 1230 we were headed to Wadi Rum Protected Area (& World Heritage Site) for a meeting with WRPA management and a couple of the climbing guides. Apparently, it was a1st for them to come together at the park HQ and discuss subjects of mutual interest (SAR). We brought some climbing and rescue gear, which was then donated to WRPA. Should be the beginning of collaboration in this regard, and we hope the Civil Defense (like our Fire Depts.) authorities are included too.

            We proceeded on to Aqaba so the GIS & SAR team could say they saw it (Richard Menicke [from Glacier NP] “had to” take a dip from the beach at the 5-Star Kempinski Hotel; 6 of the 7 also had an Amstel from their great harbor view lounge. It is almost worth the trip itself). Being in Aqaba we availed ourselves to some seafood at Ali Baba’s (thank you again to Fred Woehl for turning us onto this place in March 2011).

            

On Thursday we headed north to Amman. The GIS team met with reps from the Dept. of Antiquity and then we all met with our contact for USAID (Jordan). Many interests from here and all over the globe do research and accumulate information about Petra. Then they horde it; don’t share or publish usually what they do. Really unfortunate, bordering on criminal = any & all permits should have data sharing provision requirements. I’m probably one of the most zealous folks out there re: the need to protect site location information for unpublicized sites. However, that is not the issues here. Bedouins already know where the features (monuments) are. They’ve usually guided the professionals to it. The “data hogs” though are participating in a real “crime against humanity” and their parasitic practices should be terminated with malice (want to know how I really feel?).  Today (Friday) is a holy day of reflection… I can use some of that…

            On a positive note: it looks like there might be representatives from Petra, Wadi Rum and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature attending the Int’l Ranger Federation’s World Congress in Tanzania this November. Since the country is building a Ranger Academy for the region, at Ajloun Reserve, and there is no Ranger Assoc. at present this should be a good experience for ALL…

1st on-scene: Ranger Haroun (aka: The Gear Monkey)