“Lets go to Jordan”, one of my friends suggested. “You must be kidding” was the response in unison. After all, why would anyone go to Jordan? Who has ever gone to Jordan? Why choose Jordan over a Dubai or Thailand, or any of the innumerable other places to visit. But, she must have convinced us well, I guess, otherwise why were we headed to the land of King Hussein, a few months later. And boy, did we love it!
8 Things that will make your Jordan trip memorable:-
1. Rent a car and set off
There are ways of experiencing a place, one size doesn’t fit all. For instance, I would choose the Eurail over self-drive in Europe, while Jordan is a country that demands a car to be rented. Once you land in Amman, pick-up a car and head off towards Aqaba, the southern-most tip of the country. The 350 odd kms ride would be one of the most serene off your life. Plug in your pen-drive or AUX, and you’re done!
TIP - There are two routes, one through the barren desert and one along the Dead Sea. I guess you know which one to pick!
2. Deep Sea diving
It’s funny how we stereotype everything, countries included! So, the prospect of Deep Sea Diving in Jordan might surprise you. An Inquisitive you might end up asking “A water related activity, in Jordan, the Middle Eastern, desert land Jordan?” Yes, would be the simple answer, and one of the best ones at that, if I enter some details. Jump into the corals of the Red Sea, for a beginners dive or for your PADI certifications, there is something for everyone.
3. Drink on the beach
Jordan might be a Muslim country and a pretty chilled out one. While the residents don’t drink alcohol (most of them), and it’s certainly not available in abundance, but it’s not frowned over. So, if you have made the smart choice of using the duty free quota, you might find yourself sitting on a beach in Aqaba, as the waters gush in, with some tonic into your throat and stars gazing at you. This could be an exhilarating experience.
4. Live like Lt. T.E. Lawrence
Ever watched Lawrence of Arabia? If yes, thoughts of being in the lieutenant’s shoes must have followed. Wadi Rum would make your dreams come true. Going for a Safari in the Wadi would take you on a trip down the memory lane - pictures of camels going through the miles of barren land would captivate your mind. Here, you get to see the house where T.E. Lawrence stayed, and some of the natural wonders in the desert. In the night, relax at your camp, lie down, and look at the millions of stars saying “Hi” to you.
5. Have some original Pita Bread
or Hummus, or Baba Ganoush. The Jordanians love their food, and would make sure you are sick of hummus by the time you are out, but later you will crave for it for a very long time!
6. Houses out of Mountains
A House has a certain meaning for us - the foundation, the design, the materials being used, etc etc. But we are the beings of the 21st century where the world is one place and materials can be brought from another. But imagine the 4th century BC, and having to make do with the resources you have, and at that being surrounded by only mountains and rocks. Now, someone comes up with the idea – ‘Let’s carve a house out of these damn rocks, and while we are at it, why not just carve out an entire city!’ How amazingly innovative!
7. Amman Pasha Hotel
We are not in business of promoting hotels but, when the hotel owner specially calls you to the cafeteria and arranges a delectable performance of Dabke - the traditional Jordanian dance, one ought to be impressed. When the same owner makes you join him and his family, you feel special. And when he requests you to teach them some Indian dance, you can’t help but be floored!
8. Float in the Dead Sea
“Death” is the word that resonated in my head when I thought of swimming! Well, that was until I reached the shores of Dead Sea - A place on earth you can’t drown in. Sure, you must have read it in some geography class but you can’t believe that till you have seen and experienced it. A few uncertain steps into the water, until the water is waist high and then letting go off your feet and EUREKA!!
There are trips you take in life that somewhere define who you are. I think Jordan was one such trip for me. A country, probably the size of Punjab- the state I hail from, yet with so much to offer. Not just the desert, or the beaches or Petra, the whole experience! It was like living a new life every day - something we all, always crave for!
Adarsh is a Delhi NCR based wannabe author, among other things. Likes to think of himself as a Virtual Traveller & a Dream Weaver. An MBA who runs away from anything MBAish. Has been working on a novel for the past 3 years and the only person who has liked it till date has been his mother, but lives in eternal hope that the list will expand someday.
Adarsh Sharma – who has written 1 posts on WAH Blog.
