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The Magic of Jordan
#travel #inspiration #experience #challenge #jordan
We live in a digital world, but we’re fairly analog creatures.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand my obsession with the dessert. But one thing is for sure – I will forever keep yearning the endless freedom that it brings!
One morning, my phone rang. It’s a call from a really close friend. I pick up. The voice on the other end of the line asks me if I want to go to Jordan… Yes! Now, I’ve noticed lately that Jordan has become one of the most popular off-the-beaten-path destinations. In all honesty, I went to visit before I discovered this. In fact, around this time last year, I may have heard about this country once, maybe twice in my life (remember my bad geography classes?) – but I kept on talking about it ever since! Not only that, but I’ve recommended it to every friend who’s asked me for travel advice.
What is so magical about this Middle East country? It has a rich history – just like any other country in this region. It’s the home to some of the best lamb, and generally great food – again, like a lot of countries in the region. It’s got the dessert and the sea – familiar? The people are not only welcoming and hospitable, but they are this way to an unimaginable extent! You know how everyone says that the people of China are the friendliest and the most guest-loving? Yes, I agree, they are absolutely wonderful. But if we could make a scale, they would easily lose the top spot to the Jordanians.
But there is something more, probably the synergy of all these perks, some kind of strange energy flow in the air, turning each moment of the way to one of the pleasantest experiences ever lived and felt. This was a rare occasion for me to visit a country I had known nothing about, where I would feel evenly as at home (if not better). Plus, another reason why I recommend visiting this one, or any other destination out of the radar – it opens the eyes and the mind, and makes us live in a more special and more connected reality.
I would not even know where to begin. This time, let me start from the back, from a city I have not yet visited – Aqaba. With limited time to spare, we had to decide on crossing one destination out. Unfortunately, this Red Sea maritime town was the collateral. But there is something very unique about it. Namely, when coming into Jordan, you need a visa – probably based on the country the passport of which you will be using. However, there is an alternative – Jordan Pass. This is one of the most worth-the-money items anyone can buy. Although it is debatably not cheap, it provides benefits, such as the Jordanian visa, as well as entries to various historical localities around the country. For those of you who only wish to see Petra (and I will explain later why seeing only Petra is one of the biggest lifetime mistakes), Jordan Pass pays out. The fun thing about Acaba is you need neither the visa, nor the Pass to enter. Thinking about a summer holiday off-the-beaten-path destination? You’re welcome.
Right off the airport, we were picked up by our host – only to have an excursion trip to the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea. The beach we came to belongs to a resort. Although it was only the end of May, there were people in bathing suits everywhere. The dessert-like heat and the salty fumes from the sea made the atmosphere brim with heat and summer sensations. The endless combination of the yellow sand and the blue water, and the white salty vapor that rises in the distance, forming an illusion of clouds… Priceless!
Now, I know a number of people who have been to the Dead Sea before me. Sadly, none of them actually managed to explain what this salty water really feels. Everyone tried by telling me to imagine going into water and not being able to sink. It all sounds lovely, but in all honesty, it could not be further from the truth – and I will never understand the people who go to a very unique and specific area, or feel a completely idiosyncratic experience, and do not even try to describe it as what it is. Going into the Dead See feels 0% as going into water. Full stop, no argument to add. Imagine walking into a pond of jelly. You cannot dive, because the mass is too thick. You cannot swim, because the jelly is more solid than water, so it will not allow you to move too far. If you try swinging one of your arms to swim, the water will make you turn upside down. And no, unlike popular beliefs you can positively not drown by trying to swim – if anyone managed to do it, they should be awarded a Nobel prize.
Upon leaving the Sea, you will have a shiny and slimy coat of salt on your skin. Don’t forget that the environment is so salty, no living organisms exist within the Dead Sea. So, when you are told to stay in for up to 20 minutes, do respect that. Yes, you can read the newspapers in the water. Or if you forget to bring it, a phone will suffice. You can copy what I did, I will not mind, as long as you send pictures and tell me something of your own experience. Also, please don’t ask how I know, but do not try to taste the Dead Sea – you will not be able to wash the salts off and rehydrate your mouth for at least an hour. In fact, the moment I stepped into it, I stepped on a sharp rock (apparently, I have a special talent for seeking out sharp objects), which made a small incision on my foot. By when it was time to go out, there was no trace of the cut, whatsoever.
The resort we were in for that day included open swimming pools, even infinity pools, looking across the Dead Sea, to the other side. The vast space fills out with sandy heat, salty vapors and endless blue skies. You will notice the air here is quite clear, and the skies are blue and welcoming – this was a wonderful detachment from Europe and its standard. All of the buildings are made of the yellow dessert stone, ornamented with blue mosaic crystals. The yellow does resemble the limestone in Malta, but the blue kills the monotony and helps rest the eyes in the long run.
But the beauty does not end in the visual sense. In fact, the environment is so sensual, you really need to experience it with your eyes, ears, nose, fingers, and I don’t want to say tongue, but where applicable… Like, for example, at the dining table! The cuisine is so various and exquisite in its own right. The Jordanian cuisine consists a lot of hummus, which is probably the main side-dish in all meals – like ketchup is, in most of Western civilizations. The vegetables are mostly pickled or made into salads. Don’t forget to try a local salad or dish, such as Baba Ghanoush. There is an abundance of different sorts of meat and fish (excluding pork, of course). Whether you’re a fan or not, and for a fact, I know countless people who are disgusted by the bear thought of it – when in Jordan, do try the local lamb at least once. There is a plethora of ways of preparing it, and all of them are really good! I’ll tell you about one of my favorite lamb dishes in one of the following posts, so stay tuned.
The sun of our first day in this magical land was not even setting, and we were preparing to leave the beauty of the Dead Sea, and visit a city that dates back to Ancient Rome – Jerash. As mentioned earlier, Jordan pass was helpful at this point, and we did not have to pay to enter. I will be letting you know more about this adventure in the next post, as my story through the magical Kingdom of Jordan unveils…
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[…] Before I continue with my story, have you ever googled “quotes by Jordanian authors”? (Anyone who said “yes”, please post it in the comments – I’d like to know if anyone has done it.) Whether you have, or not, please do. You will not believe how mindful and eye-opening they are. I make sure to incorporate important messages into my posts, and I like good words to be heard far and wide. Normally, I don’t know all of these quotes by heart, I look some of them up (and verify the ones I already know, not to butcher anyone’s mental dialog). But what I keep finding are some of the most amazing and beautifully combined pieces of verbiage that really have me thinking deeply about their meaning. Just a token of appreciation for all the inspiring people out there, this time especially for the Jordanian authors! […]
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