All things Peace in the Middle East

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Jordan thanks to meeting a new friend in Brazil (read about that adventure here), who happens to be stationed there as a US Diplomat. I never would have considered exploring this area, but I believe we meet people for specific reasons. When the offer was extended to visit, I said… WHY NOT?! Thank goodness I did. This has now become one of my top destinations for many reasons. Read on to see why…

Let’s start with the number one question I received…. “IS IT SAFE?!” I travel quite a bit and was never asked this question more times than when I mentioned Jordan. I understand. It’s not a highly explored area by many and it’s in the Middle East. To be honest, I felt safer traveling here than anywhere I’ve been- including part of the U.S. Everyone was extremely friendly, helpful, and warm. They take pride in preserving their history and culture and are happy to have visitors exploring and appreciating it as well. They’re helpful to tourists not because they want something in return. It is genuinely them. Getting around was also extremely easy and safe.Everything is in both Arabic and English and Uber drivers are readily available all around.

Now that that’s out of the way :), let’s get to the highlights of the trip….

 

Amman

If you travel to Jordan, I would highly suggest flying into Amman and staying overnight for at least a few nights. The airport was nice with fast service and good WIFI. It is the capital of Jordan and is the country’s business and cultural center. You will notice a very modern feel to the city with very cute, quaint boutiques and restaurants. I felt no different than being at home. The cars and road conditions were the same, as well as the traffic and crazy driving (lol). This area is clearly where the prosperous live. I did not notice many poor areas, although with most cities, I’m sure they were there. I unfortunately was unable to do touristy activities in Amman due to time constraints, but my friends did and their pictures are great! This is also a nice area to sit back and relax before exploring all that Jordan has to offer.

Jerash

Jerash is a beautiful area of Jordan known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa and Arabs. It’s located about a 45 minutes – an hour outside of Amman and is a quick and easy ride away. The city was once widely populated before it was devastated by an earthquake. It later experienced continued devastation by natural disasters and man in the many years that followed. There appears to have been re-habitation at some point, but in very small quantities. What is left of the area has been very well preserved. We were lucky enough to have a tour guide who walked us through the area and told us the stories of what once was. As I listened, I could literally picture exactly what he was describing. It is a beautiful area with great history in its walls. On your way back to Amman or to your next location, I suggest stopping at Um Khalil, a Lebanese restaurant nearby. It is beyond delicious and was the perfect way to end our exploration of an old town.

 

The Dead Sea

Did you know the Dead Sea is at Earth’s lowest elevation point? You can tuck that knowledge in your back pocket!

Although some float in the Dead Sea, we chose not to experience it this way. It was cold and rainy and would have not made for the best time for us. Instead, we pulled off at a viewing point and had the opportunity to touch the water. Up close, you cannot tell how salty it is (I assume I could have tasted it, but opted out…). If you view it this way, I would suggest pulling off where there are hotels. The hotel locations were clean and had many people floating in the water. It was secluded where we were with lots and lots of litter. This did not take away from the experience, but it would’ve been easier to walk if there wasn’t trash littering the sand and walkways. It was also so secluded that a man on a camel snuck right behind me to offer me a ride. To be clear, it was not in a scary way. It was just quiet!

After touching the water, we drove to the Panorama Viewpoint, which had a STUNNING view. The water was so clear and blue- even on a cloudy day (or appeared to be from up top…). From here, it was so peaceful! There is also a nice restaurant with great architecture on the outside that you can dine in before continuing on your journey. Be careful though… To get to the panorama view and restaurant, it’s a curvy, mountainous way up and a curvy, mountainous way down!

Mt Nebo

Whether you are spiritual or not, Mt Nebo is a must see. From a biblical standpoint, it is where Moses viewed the Promised land and where his place of burial is. From the mount, on a clear day, you have a panorama view of Jericho, Jerusalem, the River Jordan, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and more. You can also go inside one of the oldest churches. This experience was a very special moment for me. I literally felt the presence of God as soon as I sat down and took a moment for myself. It was as if I were put back in time, watching Moses on his journey. For me, there was nothing more beautiful than this.

Petra

I can now say I’ve visited one of the 7 wonders of the world…. PETRA!!! Petra was established in the 4^th century BC and is everything you’d imagine it to be. Similar to Jerash, it has a deep history of habitations, natural disasters, and more. It once was a popular location used for trading before it was overtaken by Romans. Through the years, the habitation continued to decline until it was forgotten. Thankfully, Petra was rediscovered because it is such a lovely place to visit!

Warning… we were told it was going to be a lot of walking, but I personally did not know it was going to be over 10 miles of it! Be sure to wear your comfy shoes, stay hydrated- but not too hydrated because there are no bathrooms until you get to the really touristy stops throughout, and do some stretching. If you get tired, you can always catch a ride on a donkey (literally), a camel, or a horse and buggy. Whatever you do, just keep going because once you get to the Monastery, you will be blown away! The skills of man before our time is incredible. I am thankful to have been able to experience what they worked so hard to build.

Secret tip: You can get dropped off at Little Petra, which will give you a view of the mountains like none other throughout your entire trek. It shortens your walking distance by a bit as well.

Hotel tip: If you are staying overnight, I suggest the Petra Guest House Hotel. The rooms are nice and clean and there is a Cave Bar where you can have a snack and a cocktail while listening to live music.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum was one of my favorite experiences of the trip. We drove directly from Petra for an overnight stay. But not just your ordinary overnight stay. We stayed at a Bedouin camp in tents! This was soooo cool! When we arrived, we settled into our tents and met everyone else in a common area (a very large tent!) for dinner and tea. They made us a FEAST! At the end of our meal, they danced and played music for us as well. This was another moment where they were clearly proud to show off their culture. I loved every minute of it!

In the morning, they made us breakfast prior to us setting out on a Jeep tour through the desert. If you choose to do this, bring warm clothes and maybe even a blanket. The temperature was about 55/60 degrees Fahrenheit that day, but it felt like 30 when we were sitting in the back of the jeep FLYING through the desert. The tour included climbing up sand and rock, being perfumed with frankincense, and sipping tea. What more could I ask for??

The Food… The Food… The FOOD!

Now you all know I can’t write a blog post without dedicating a bit to the food. I was pleasantly surprised by the incredible flavor at every location– thanks to my friend Anela (@feedthemalik) who has explored all of the best places to visit. I am blown away by the amount of spices, herbs, and earthy ingredients they use. Everything was simple yet intricate at the same time.

On the first night in Amman, I experienced firsthand the amount of love and care they put into their cooking. We had the pleasure of attending a cooking class at Beit Sitti that was awesome! I can truly say I miss the food there, which I was actually nervous about before going.The prices were also amazing. We went buffet style, ordering 6+ items at each restaurant and the bill typically came to $35-50 USD TOTAL!

 

If my words do not already make it clear, I will say I very much enjoyed my time in Jordan. I felt like I was surrounded by peace and love the entire time. It is a highly underrated country that I am blessed to have experienced. If I get the opportunity to go again in the future, I will gladly say yes! If you have reservations in going, throw them out the window. I promise, you’ll love it! <3

Until the next adventure…