The first glimpse came at the end of the Siq — that narrow sandstone gorge twisting through the Jordanian desert. We’d been walking for what felt like miles, the rock walls glowing red-gold in the setting sun, the air still and hushed.
And then, there it was.
The Treasury — Al-Khazneh — bathed in amber lantern light, cut from the rock face like something out of myth. I stood there, a Welshman thousands of miles from home, heart thumping in my chest, trying to take it all in.
The Rose-Red City, Half as Old as Time
Petra had long been on our travel wish list. We’d already floated in the salty stillness of the Dead Sea, and visited the baptism site on the River Jordan — said to be where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. Both were powerful experiences in their own right, but Petra… Petra was different.
There’s a grandeur to it, but also a stillness. The kind of place that reminds you how small we really are. Carved over 2000 years ago by the Nabataeans, Petra was once a thriving trade hub, linking Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean.
Now, it’s a haunting maze of tombs, temples, and stone stairways that climb to nowhere.
But visit at dusk — as we did — and you’ll witness Petra’s most enchanting transformation.
Hundreds of lanterns flicker along the dusty path, lighting the route like something out of a dream. There’s no electricity, no glare — just firelight and shadow. The ancient walls seem to shift in colour as the light fades from coral pink to deep rust to black.
Why It Lingers
I’ve visited many places — from the Great Barrier Reef to the Blue Mountains of Australia, from the pyramids of Egypt to the cathedrals of Italy — but Petra remains uniquely vivid in my memory.
Maybe it was the silence. Or the way the stone seemed to breathe. Or the sheer impossibility of it all — a city carved not into a mountain, but from it.
It was one of those rare moments where time bends slightly — and you’re not sure whether you’re the visitor or the one being observed.
From Ancient Wonders to Modern Success
Now, you might be wondering what Petra has to do with building an online business.
Strange as it sounds, quite a lot.
You see, Petra didn’t happen by accident. It was planned, carved, traded, refined. The Nabataeans didn’t build it overnight. They created it stone by stone, layer by layer, over years.
That’s exactly how online success works, too.
No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just structure, tools, persistence — and a clear blueprint to follow.
Build Your Online Business the Right Way
If you’re tired of wandering the desert of shiny objects and broken promises, let me suggest something grounded — Online Success Coaching.
🔗 Click here to get started with Online Success Coaching
It’s a comprehensive course designed to help you:
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Create your own digital products step by step
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Build authority and trust with your audience
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Set up a proper online foundation — not just another funnel
Whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to fix what’s not working, this programme focuses on clarity and genuine value — not flash and fakery.
Final Thought: Travel Deeply, Build Wisely
Petra wasn’t built for tourists. It was built to last.
In your online business, think the same way. Build something of substance. Something you’re proud of. Something that leaves a mark — even after the lights go out.
And if you ever get the chance to stand beneath the rose-red rock after sunset, I recommend you take it.
You won’t forget it. I never have
