A Jaunt of Jordan

Nov 13-15, 2006

Arriving at the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan at 0900 hours, we were not in the best of moods to answer the questions of the extra inquisitive passport control officers. After a brief interrogation and ‘Please contact your nearest police station’ stamp they let go.

It took us three quarters of an hour to drive from Amman to the Marriott hotel at the Dead Sea Area – the venue for the Regional Sales Strategy Meet. And here we formed our first perceptions of the city. It had such a strong Middle East flavour which was a sharp contrast to the modernity and hype of Dubai. It was almost like the entire country was interred in a different civilization altogether. The whole of Jordan is built on hills including the capital – Amman. So it was a ride full of ups and downs.

We arrived with an ear popping sensation to the Dead Sea – which is 392 metres below sea level. It is the lowest point on earth. A very pretty place indeed to have the yearly annual budget and target drilling exercise. Coming to a low-pressure area after the high-pressure at work was a pleasant change. Upon looking into the horizon beyond the sea, we were informed that the landmasses were Israel and the contentious west bank of Gaza. The hotel looked very inviting but the security checks and baggage screening dampened our spirits to a certain extent.

Setting up base camp at the hotel, there were some initial jerks enough to keep awake despite of lack of the night's sleep. The event manager had arranged for the meeting the day after in spite of clear written communication of the dates. After some pushing he promised to make alternative arrangements.

We then took a ride through vast expanses of sand to the down town area of Amman. The weather also played perfect host. The city is balanced on a hill and some ‘cliff hanger’ houses gave me the edgy feeling. We reached Amman and saw the Roman amphitheatre, still the largest one and home to cultural events housing 6000 spectators. There was a fort which dated back to the Roman and Byzantine era.

We then walked into a ‘balad’ or a traditional souk, an open-air Arab market. It comes alive in the evenings with a fountain where families come to spend time. The clock tower gives it some character. Little shops displayed some traditional Jordanian artwork and souvenirs.

Then we were taken to a viewpoint and caught a glimpse of the country almost incarcerated by Israel and Palestine but still very peace loving. It is a lower middle-income economy and this was very evident in the unkempt monuments that were suitably littered. The citizens however still pay a heavy price for their quarrelsome neighbours by dealing with heavy security checks everywhere. All cars have to go through the ordeal of physical screening including land mine detectors at checkpoints. Some tourist spots cannot be visited later than 1500 hours.

The place also has enormous Biblical significance. Christ was baptized at the Jordan River. The river separates Jordan from Israel and finally meanders into the Dead Sea. There is Mount Nebo where the Hebrew prophet Moses is supposed to be buried by God Himself. Petra, the ancient city carved in a mountain is one of the nominations for the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Next 2 days were spent at the Convention Centre. It is a commodious and aesthetic building suitably filled up with the posters of King Hussein, the former ruler. It came of little surprise to note that this was one of the venues for the prestigious ‘World Economic Forum’. All thanks to the gaffe of the event manager who had to provide an alternative to avoid a ‘no show’. A blessing in disguise. The 2 days were replete with presentations. And some cooled off in the Dead Sea after the heated discussions during the day. It also leaves you with a lighthearted feeling due to the high buoyancy of the water.

Soon it was time to go back and before we knew it we were driving back to Queen Alia International Airport. As I stuffed my bag I also put some short but sweet memories of a city once the cradle of civilization now trying to cope with increasing trade and commerce on one hand and international crises on the other. I did not want to think of Jordan as jaded. The archaeological sites showed off her history, the women in scarves – tradition, the port of Aqaba – business, the wide roads – planning, the majestic Marriott –modernity, the citadel – prosperity, Queen Rania – charisma and the Dead Sea – raw beauty of nature.

Extracting Wisdom

Dec 02, 2006

Extracting a wisdom tooth has left me wizened. When I visited the dentist with a hurting tooth, which was just about showing up, he vociferously convinced me that it was a wise decision to pull it out. Thinking defiance would be a vice; likewise I prepared to go through the ordeal. It was an impacted tooth. And letting it grow in unruly directions would be an unwise decision. So the wizard like surgeon began his job.

In a whiz the monstrous equipments were readied – a mini electric saw to cut the bones and teeth; anesthetic injections so the pain is felt everywhere else; needles and threads to patch it up and some other miscellaneous hideous things.

Then came the first painful prick. The syringe looked so much like a miniature missile about to be launched. The left side of my mouth was suitably sedated and I could not feel it anymore. Then the surgeon sharpened his axe or maybe electric saw and I could not bear to keep my eyes open any longer. I reckon the tooth cutter would have looked like a canon and the needle to sew like swords albeit miniscule.


The chloroform had nicely seeped in to my cheek and jaw. The surgeon decided to make use of his carpentry skills. So he cut the top part of the tooth that was showing up just a bit. And then he sawed the bone to enable him to tow out the remaining part, most of which was underground. He sawed and sawed. For a moment I thought my skull was one of those alphabet cubes in the boggle game that is put in a box and nicely jostled. Then the side that is anesthetized is almost asleep. So the pain is felt everywhere else in my skull. Once I even thought he was cutting the upper tooth by mistake. I actually signaled to the surgeon to find out if he had heard me right when I said left lower tooth. But I slumped back in resignation determined to sue him a few millions if he had extracted wrong wisdom out of me.

After a cool 40 minutes of drilling the surgeon pulled out the tooth ala an obstinate screw being pulled out of a wall. Then he put his tailoring skill set into use. Out came the needle and thread and the rudimentary remains of my left jaw were sutured.

And as a coup de grace the thoughtful surgeon asked me – Any doubt? And I was obviously dumb founded. First my speech is incapacitated with the entire cutting, extracting and stitching. Then I found I could not even use my dumb charading skills because I had received a shot on my arm and had a piece of cotton stuck on my elbow. And then am not even ambidextrous to write it down with my left hand.By far one question I did not have answers or questions rather. I wondered dolefully if donning multiple roles could make surgeons oblivious to present inabilities. So I helplessly shook my head in negation and walked out of the torture chamber.

At home I sat nursing the now chubbier side of my face with an ice pack. And even chocolate ice cream cannot make you smile enough to endure the anesthesia wearing off. The next one-week was spent in abeyance. No spicy food / no hot food / no hard food. I wanted to trash the saccharine feeling in my mouth that the juices and milk shakes were giving. So I promised myself a fire spitting Andhra meal after the one week was over with. However there were some petty perks like being a bit pampered and excused of errands.

Confinement has its strange ways of thought provocation. Great books and theories were written in prison. When I was under House Arrest I had nothing to do but think and blink. Why are we as a generation losing wisdom left and right? It has become a standard medical expense to be claimed at office. After whipping my little grey cells to work I realized it had to be – Evolution. And instantly knew it was not my fault. Our fathers and forefathers did not use their wisdom to the extent they should have. So as per the Use and Disuse theory of Lamarck – that which is not used will degenerate it self or evolve itself into non-existence. Nature is curtailing something that we don’t have much use for. So if we are getting dumber as a generation we instinctively know whom to blame.