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Four remarkable lots that impressed bidders in recent auctions are featured in this month&#8217;s Look Section, including an amazing floral painting, a classy corvette, a rare buddhist sculpture and one of Jordan&#8217;s sneakers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Super Six: Jordan’s sneakers win the game</h3>


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Six of the most important pairs of basketball shoes sported during the illustrious career of Michael Jordan went for a whopping US$8 million (about HK$62.5 million) at a Sotheby’s sale in New York last month. The astonishing figure represents the global auction record for game-worn sneakers and the second- highest amount raised for items linked to the Chicago Bulls superstar.



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Jordan wore these six individual pairs of Air Jordans when he was playing some of the most important games of his career – namely, the finals of his six-career National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. Commenting on this remarkable six-piece lot – dubbed the Michael Jordan ‘Dynasty Collection’ by the auction house – Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said: “A truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history, the sale of these six championship- clinching sneakers will likely never be replicated.”



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The largest sum accumulated for an auction item from the basketball legend’s catalogue of used sportswear was US$10.1 million, which secured his No. 23 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals of his ‘Last Dance’ season.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tibetan King: Rare Buddhist sculpture wows followers</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80593" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


The last privately owned gilt copper alloy figure of Virupaksha, the Buddhist Guardian of the West, caused a stir at a recent auction held in Hong Kong by Bonhams. This early 15th-century figure from the Densatil Monastery in Tibet, measuring an impressive 73 centimetres high, eventually went for HK$37.9 million (about US$4.86 million).



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This huge price attained for a figure of Virupaksha, regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, partly reflected the fact that the other three similar sculptures are all now residing in world-class museums – the Capital Museum in Beijing, the Palace Museum in Taipei, and Paris’s Guimet Museum. It is thought the sculpture was crafted when the noble clan ruling central Tibet and officiating at Densatil were at the height of their regal powers.



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Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of Himalayan, Indian and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams said: “As the only guardian from Densatil in private hands, as well as the largest and most engaging sculpture from Densatil, this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure one of the greatest icons of Tibetan art. We are therefore thrilled, but not surprised, that it fetched the top price it deserves.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Floral Fantasy: Kusama’s bold Flower blooms at auction</h3>


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A floral painting by Yayoi Kusama, who is renowned for her deep affection for flowers as well as pumpkins and polka dots, delighted the Christie’s salesroom in Hong Kong so much that it garnered the second-highest auction price for the much-loved Japanese artist. The final sum for the 2014 work, called simply A Flower, topped HK$78 million (about US$10 million), a figure that is also greater than the HK$58.5 million attained for another floral work by the same artist at Christie’s the previous season.



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Interestingly, Kusama’s life-long fascination with flowers began following a terrifying experience in childhood. She had a sudden, disturbing vision that she was surrounded by hundreds of flowers in a garden and they appeared to be chatting among themselves as if they had taken on human personas. This early moment of distress mushroomed into an illusory fantasy based around flowers and influenced her canon of work over several decades.



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A vivid and bold piece with polka-dot motifs created when the artist was in her mid-80s, A Flower displays depth and appreciation of the subtle influence of changes of colour akin to the division and reproduction of cells in nature.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">First &amp; Last: Classy Corvette pair grabs headlines</h3>


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The very first and the very last production Corvette L88 were offered together under one lot by Mecum Auctions at its recent sale in Kissimmee, Florida, resulting in much excitement and a mightily impressive winning bid of US$2.58 million (about HK$20.18 million). Equipped with muscular engines, the two classic Chevrolet ‘dream cars’ were used to turning heads when they hit the US racetracks in the late 1960s and winning awards thereafter.



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The oldest model, a 1967 Convertible, is widely known as the very first production Corvette L88 and also has the distinction of being the only L88 Convertible to be painted Tuxedo Black. Its noteworthy racing career included being driven by Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson, and finishing second in the 1967 Daytona Beach SCCA runoffs. The accolades continued in later life, as it achieved Bloomington Gold certification, numerous NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) Top Flight wins and the NCRS Heritage award in 2013.



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The last documented model of the line was manufactured on 4 December 1969. The 1969 Coupe was finished in the famous Corvette factory colour of Fathom Green.

Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (March 2024)

He has Hollywood movie star looks, lives the perfect life of yachts, castles and horses, People and GQ line up for his interviews, looks every bit like Prince Charming, he is real and lives in Brunei. Meet Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, a trained pilot, animal lover and Instagram sensation amongst others – he is the son of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, with a net worth of US$28 billion – Mateen enjoys a luxurious life in one of the richest countries on Earth.&nbsp;
If that comes as a surprise because you were busy keeping a tab on the British royal family and all the drama surrounding Harry and Meghan, it&#8217;s time to get you up to speed with the charming, young royals, the blue blood of Asia.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-61788 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43.png" alt="" width="600" height="337" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43-200x112.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43-499x280.png 499w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43-120x67.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43-500x281.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-43-400x225.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Prince Abdul Mateen, Brunei 
2.3M Instagram followers | @tmski
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-61789 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-44-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Not much is known about Brunei – a tiny nation of 2200 square miles on the northern shore of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea – but&nbsp;one thing we do know it has a sensational 30-year-old Prince, not shy of flashing his stinking wealth or stylish lifestyle.&nbsp;His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen, the&nbsp;10th son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the longest-reigning monarch (after Queen Elizabeth II) and Prime Minister of Brunei, is quite the over-sharer on Instagram. From posting shirtless selfies to flying a chopper, riding a horse, cruising the Mediterranean, playing with leopard cubs, wearing insanely expensive watches or just being a handsome soldier in the military – the Prince has amassed a massive 2.3 million following on Instagram at par with some Hollywood celebrities.&nbsp;
With a super-rich father, the apparent estimated net worth is upwards of US$20 billion, the prince lives a pretty incredible, opulent life. A trained helicopter pilot, he earned the rank of second lieutenant after completing a gruelling 44-weeks course at UK&#8217;s&nbsp;Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, where he hiked&nbsp;seven mountains within a day during a challenge! His love for sports is well known – an ardent David Beckham fan, he excels in snorkelling, skiing, golfing, boxing, rowing, polo, badminton, amongst others. The royal even represented Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017.&nbsp;
Queen&nbsp;Jetsun Pema, Bhutan 
237k Instagram followers | <a href="http://www.instagram.com/queenjetsunpema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@queenjetsunpema</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-61790 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-45-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
In October 2011, the beautiful&nbsp;Jetsun Pema, daughter of a pilot, married the ‘Dragon King’ of Bhutan to become the youngest living queen in the world at the tender age of 21. Often called the &#8220;William and Kate of the East&#8221;, the royals recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Her husband,&nbsp;King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck indulged in PDA at the elaborate celebrations and joined the media to praise his effortlessly elegant wife, &#8220;I am very proud of her,&#8221; he said to the press. &#8220;She is a wonderful human being.&#8221;
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According to The Washington Post reported that “in one version of events, the two met at a picnic when she was seven and he was 17; she reportedly came up to him and gave him a hug.” The queen&#8217;s family ties with the royals go back several generations. Though she&#8217;s the daughter of a pilot, her paternal great-grandfather was lord of the eastern province of Tashigang, and her maternal grandfather was the half-brother of the wife of Bhutan’s second king.
Often seen in limelight without a hint of makeup, brandishing her flawlessly radiant complexion, the queen is a mother of two boys, Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel, born in February 2016 and Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck, born right at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Before stepping in the royal life, she studied international relations, psychology, and art history London&#8217;s Regent’s University whereas her husband received his education at the Oxford University. The couple share a common love for art.
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Maharaja Padmanabh Singh, India 
234k followers | <a href="http://www.instagram.com/pachojaipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@pachojaipur</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-61791 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-46-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Padmanabh Singh, the 23-year-old Maharaja from India makes headlines even without intending to. From traipsing in his magnificent palace in Jaipur (India), to hiking the terrains of Machu Picchu or having the time of his life blowing out birthday candles in an enviable Roman castle, the dashing royal knows how to make headlines even without trying.&nbsp;He shot to international intrigue and fame after walking the ramp for Dolce &amp; Gabbaba at the Milan Fashion Week in 2018 – several magazine covers and fashion collaborations later, the polo-playing royal commands the world&#8217;s attention.&nbsp;
Fondly called Pacho by friends and family, a name bestowed upon him by his&nbsp;grandmother, Maharani Padmini Devi,&nbsp;Padmanabh Singh&#8217;s title is not officially recognised by the Indian government given that the country&#8217;s federal parliamentary democratic republic. His love for polo runs in the blood. Pacho&#8217;s great-grandfather, Sawai Man Singh II, brought international recognition for India after winning the first Polo World Cup championship held in France in 1957. At just 18, when most teens are recklessly enjoying life, Pacho even after living a life of riches and opulence represented India as the youngest member of a World Cup polo team. A winner of several sporting accolades, the young royal is known to be dedicated and disciplined to a fault and has never missed a day of training in his life.&nbsp;
Queen Rania, Jordan 
&nbsp;6.3M followers|<a href="http://www.instagram.com/pachojaipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@queenrania</a>
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Influential in her fashion choices and her advocacy for public health and education, ever since her husband Abdullah II, became the King of Jordan in 1999, the stylish Jordian has been serving us incredibly tasteful looks. Breathtakingly beautiful, the 51-year-old Queen Rania is renowned the world over for her contemporary elegance, unique sartorial style, philanthropy efforts and her open support for the native tradition.&nbsp;
Fluent in Arabic and English, Queen Rania earned a degree in business administration from the American University at Cairo. Before joining the royal ranks, she worked at Citibank and even for Apple Inc in Amman, Jordan but destiny had other plans as she bumped into&nbsp;her future husband then-Prince Abdullah,&nbsp; the son of King Hussein of Jordan and&nbsp;his second wife Princess Muna at a dinner party. Six months of dating and they were engaged.&nbsp;
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratna, Thailand 
84.2k followers|<a href="http://www.instagram.com/royalworldthailand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@royalworldthailand</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-61794 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-design-48-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
The daughter of the current king of Thailand, King Vajiralongkorn, has every accomplishment on her resume – from fashion designing, professional badminton, equestrian accolades to writing love poems – the young princess lives and breathes creativity. Trained in top fashion houses like&nbsp;Armani, Ferragamo, Bulgari and Christian Dior, she&#8217;s the designer of her popular namesake label (Sirivannavari) and often regarded as one of the most creative royals in the world. Her badminton team won gold at the prestigious 2005 South Asian Games.&nbsp;
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Most famous Asian royals to follow on Instagram!

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27188" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra9.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Long before the first Muslim dynasty arrived in Jordan, ancient civilisations built majestic cities on dramatic terrain, from the Greco-Roman Decapolis in the north to Petra’s Nabatean kingdom of sandstone in the south.
Faced with the narrow, winding gorge that leads into Petra, visitors have three transport choices: go by foot, horse-drawn carriage or mule. Camels aren’t an option yet, but the chance to see them will come soon enough at Al Khazneh (The Treasury), the famous facade meant to amaze and intimidate visitors emerging from the sandstone corridor.
With its elaborate sculptures towering 40m overhead, Al Khazneh is a sight to behold. While craning your neck, try to make out the four eagles perched above, which, according to ancient local mythology, carry human souls into the afterlife.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27190" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra4.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
From there, the path suddenly opens up into a sprawling plain bisected by a colonnaded street of great stone pillars. After squeezing through the siq (shaft) for 1.2km, it’s a shock to walk into such vast grandeur.
This is what everyone has come for – to see one of the Wonders of the World in all its rose-hued glory. Many visitors pay a special trip to Jordan just to visit the Lost City of Petra, a breathtaking site left behind by the Nabataeans, a civilisation that mysteriously disappeared.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27191" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra1.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Historians have identified the lost city’s builders as a nomadic desert tribe from the Arabian Peninsula. The Nabataeans journeyed from the south and decided to settle in the valley between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). As their society grew into a kingdom, they carved a city out of the surrounding soft rock, chiselling gods and goddesses whose names have long been forgotten. After the Roman conquest, they converted to Christianity.
In its heyday a decade ago, tourism comprised 13 percent of the Jordanian economy. However, political instability caused a decline in visitors. For a country of Mediterranean clime, lunar-like desert landscapes and incomparable archaeological sites (most over 2,000 years old), Jordan is grossly underperforming&nbsp;in a sector that would otherwise be thriving.
To some travellers, however, the low volume of tourists is what makes Jordan all the more attractive. Tourists can explore the country’s extraordinary landscapes at their leisure without having to rub elbows with hundreds of people (cough, Rome).
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27192" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra6.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
If you only have a couple of days, Petra and Wadi Rum in the south should definitely be the focus of your journey. Many organised trips start with northern Jordan before heading south to cross the Israeli border in Aqaba-Eilat. For travellers who’d like to hit two countries in one trip, Gafencu’s recommended travel agency is <a href="https://abrahamtours.com/">Abraham Tours</a>.
With itineraries leaving from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Eilat, Abraham Tours is the preferred option for travellers beginning their journey in Israel. As opposed to other operators that shuttle large groups from place to place in bulky, old buses, Abraham Tours usually arranges smaller groups. A range of combinations are on offer, including everything from a one-day excursion to a full-blown 12-day package covering Israel, the West Bank (Palestine) and Jordan.
On the other hand, if you want to have your entire trip arranged from Asia, <a href="http://www.lightfoottravel.com/">Lightfoot Travel</a> is the best way to do it. The luxury tour operator specialises in designer holidays to Jordan, and their personalised services take the planning out of your hands. Their five-day Highlights of Jordan package starts at the Four Seasons in Amman, and it’s a five-star experience through and through. Lightfoot Travel has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27193" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-187x280.jpg" alt="" width="301" height="451" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-500x750.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2-400x600.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra2.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 301px) 100vw, 301px" />
Visitors will want to spend as much time in Petra as possible. At the very least, make it an overnight affair to experience the Petra Night Show – a magical walk through the ruins by the light of 1,500 candles. It only runs three times a week, from 8:30pm to 10:30pm, and tickets are available on arrival at the Petra visitor centre.
It takes at least one whole day to fully explore Petra’s main sights. You’ll want to wear walking shoes or hiking boots, especially if you plan to complete the entire route – 7km, often uphill – and hit all the must-sees.
The first stop on most tours is the imposing Nabataean amphitheatre cut into the hillside. After that you’ll see royal tombs climbing up the mountain, reached by walking up several flights of stairs.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27194" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra3.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The Great Temple comes next, a puzzling piece of architecture that archaeologists can’t agree on. Was it a senate hall, the royal court or a place of worship? If you still have energy, drop by the neighbouring Winged Lion Temple before heading up to the 5th-century Byzantine Church. With its three-aisled basilica and cross-shaped baptismal font, it stands out from the archaeological park’s older structures.
Last up is Petra’s largest monument, the Monastery, a Nabataean tomb built in the 3rd century BCE. Once visitors have seen it all, they’re tasked with trekking back the way they came or getting help from a four-legged friend. Camel owners charge about US$30 (HK$230) per camel, but the final price depends on one’s bargaining skills.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27189" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra10.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
After a long day of walking, pamper yourself with a long, hot bath at the Petra Marriott Hotel and grab dinner at its al fresco Bedouin Tent restaurant. There could be no better place to watch the sun set over the valley than from the comfort of the restaurant’s floor cushions. Regional food and drink plus live traditional music complete the experience.
After getting a taste of “one of the most beautiful cities known to mankind”, you’ll understand why it was named among the Seven New Wonders of the World in 2007 alongside Rome’s Colosseum and India’s Taj Mahal.
After Petra, the next adventure lies in the otherworldly landscapes of Wadi Rum. You almost feel like you’re riding into a scene from Star Wars as you rattle off into “The Valley of the Moon” on a 4&#215;4 (or a horse, Indiana Jones style, as you wish). Although hiking and horseback riding will immerse you in the raw surrounds of the wadi (valley), one of the most authentic experiences is to visit a Bedouin camp, where you can break bread with the locals and even stick around to stargaze. You’ll never see stars as you see them in the desert.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27195" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra8.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
From there, head to the Dead Sea to float around; it’s impossible to sink here due to the high concentration of salt in the water. You might notice the temperature get warmer as you descend to the lowest point on Earth – 400m below sea level at the surface, and 728m at its deepest point.
The Jordan River and the Red Sea are other water bodies of biblical proportions, and they’re especially convenient because you can enter Israel through them.
Up north, the extensive Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash are the main attraction with their Hippodrome and Temple of Artemis. The archaeological site (second only to Petra in Jordan) is followed by the capital Amman with its famous citadel, as well as Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the “Promised Land”. Aqaba in the south is the gateway to the Red Sea, with ferries running to Egypt.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-27196" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Petra7.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
At Aqaba, our tour guide took us to the giant flagpole at the port, which at 130m is the sixth tallest free-standing flagpole in the world. Atop, flapping in the wind, was not the flag of Jordan but the one flown during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1916.
One might wonder what caused the Jordanians to erect what was once the world’s largest unsupported flagpole (until 2008), as no official explanation was ever given. Later on, smoking shisha on Eilat’s beachfront in Israel, we could see the flag fluttering and glinting at us from across the border. Apparently, you can see that flag from at least three different countries – as far as Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
If you’re the sort of traveller who leaves home just to find another version of it elsewhere, don’t come to Jordan. But if you’re open to being transported into another time, another life and another world, then by all means, the wadi awaits.
Text: Julienne C. Raboca 
Photos: Lightfoot Travel, Julienne C. Raboca, iStock

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