Experiencing Mars on our very own land!

Just to give you a background, the red sand and barren rock landscape of Wadi Rum is very similar to Mars Land, huge red sand desert with tall barren deshaped rocks with almost zero vegetation creating a extraordinary Space like experience. Many Hollywood movies showcasing Mars has been shot here..

Red Sand Dune @ Wadi Rum

It was so confusing to make the bookings for Wadi Rum, I wanted it to be safe as I was supposed to stay in the middle of vast desert. Luckily one of my colleague from client site referred me to a camp owner and it turned out to be a clean and safe campsite.

Entry to Desert

As soon as you enter the Wadi the vastness and the abstract desert hits you, challenging you to go further deep inside it. Wide red sand fields having huge sandstone and granite mountain offers great opportunities for hiking. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over Milena.

Nabatean Encryption
& the hike through canyon and rocks, below..

I took an option for half day desert (3 hrs) safari which included visit to Nabatean Temple, Lawrence Spring, Sand Dunes, Little Bridge, Um Fourth Rock Bridge, Lawrence House & Khazali Canyon. The most of part of Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here.  There are options for camel ride and longer desert safari also, covering few more desert attractions/ rock formations lasting upto 6 hours. And if you want then hot air balloon ride @ 180 per head is also available to enjoy the skyline of the desert.

Um Forth Rock Bridge

The day ended while sipping Bedouin tea on top of a hillock while the sun was slowly setting behind the vast red sand dunes and tinting every inch of sky in deep “Amber”. There was no sound apart from the blowing wind after some time that also resembles silence. That’s when the calm desert evening hits your soul and the red hot day converts into a chilly winter evening.  

Sunset veiw - Though I didnt capture it nicely

Khalid, our tour organiser, took us to the camp (basic Bedouin Camp) in his rugged Arabic decorated SUV, where I got served with special vegetarian dinner whereas others enjoyed some non-vegetarian version. After that I sat beside the Bonfire for long time gazing at the star studded night, enjoying small talks with fellow travellers and listening a local artist playing OUD and singing local Jordanian/English/Hindi songs.

Tea Time Inside the camp

Next day it was time for the city of Aqaba, to take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea. Booked a glass bottom boat ride along with snorkeling through the sea. Tried my hands at snorkeling in the middle of the sea without even knowing swimming. BTW this was my 3rd death defying act in Jordan trip, the first & second were at Wadi Mujib. One being when I slipped from the rock while climbing against the water falls, the only saving grace was the rope which I was holding with my only two hands. The other when some-one accidentally pushed into the rocky/high current water stream, and I panicked, this time I would have definitely died  if it was not for my guide who pulled me out of the stream like and put me on a nearby rock like a vegetable!

View from Glass Bottom Boat

10 mins into the sea and Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan all were almost at an equal distant, I was excited like a kid after seeing so many international borders at once.

Floating in the Dead Sea.. One more check on my bucket list!

Dead Sea, Wadi Mujib & Bethany beyond Jordan:

Not Clicked or Witnessed by me, just googled by me.. ;-)

My plan was to visit Dead Sea and Wadi Mujib so we left early from our hotel in Amman. As both these places would have required 3-4 hours each.

To my dismay, right near the dead sea, my taxi driver told that Wadi Mujib is closed due to the heavy rains in the preceding week. Had to change my plan, and decided to visit Bethany beyond Jordan, the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. The only option is to take a guided one hour tour (@ 12.00 JD). The last point of the tour is the 10-15 feet wide river stream dividing Israel and Jordan. On the other side of the river (i.e Israel) lot of people were taking bath in the holy water. 

Me @ Jordan River, in Jordan and people behind me are in Israel. International Waters you see.. ;-)

After this one hour walk in scorching heat it was time to have an experience that was on my bucket list since long, weightless floating in the Dead Sea. 

Fact1: The mud of dead sea has medicinal healing powers and is used in all kind of body products from mud packs/soaps to moisturizers. 

The huge salt water lake having Jordan and Israel on either side of the shore. If you walk 3 feet inside the water the upthrust of water will pull your legs and make your body float with no efforts, one can actually read a book while floating. 

Fact 3: The lake is having a water salinity of 34.2% making it impossible for any living creature or plants to survive in its water and that is also the reason for huge water up-thrust forcing your body to float instead of sinking. 

Fact 2: Did I tell you that the surface and shores of the Dead Sea are 423 metres below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land. 

The Private Beach of  Hotel @ The Dead Sea, Land till this board was covered under water until some years back!

At dead sea either you can go to Amman beach with an entry fees of 15 JD which is a public beach changing room and bathrooms are also available here. Or you can book a day entry to the private beaches of the 4-5 star resorts (costing around 45-55 JD which includes pool access, bathroom/changing room access, and some food options), I took the later at Dead Sea Spa resort. Spent my time floating on the dead sea while covering myself in the mud.

Guessed it right, that's me covered in mud, effortlessly floating in the Dead Sea

If you drive further ahead you can trek down to one of the cleanest shores, having beautiful salt crystal formations. If you want to save money and experience the cleanest waters you can float there also. It is small but little tedious trek down to the lake.

Salt Formations at the Dead Sea, Oh yes 100% witnessed by me for long time.  but no camera taken while trekking down so PC: Google

Fact 3: The Dead Sea is drying up at an alarming rate, if we don't take Global Warming issue seriously this little natural wonder will be vanished in few years. 

While returning my driver took me to one of the many souvenir shops on this route. The options in these shops are pretty good (especially mosaics) but high on cost side but you should definitely pay a visit so that you can figure out what you should look for, in Down Town Amman ;-).

Wadi Mujib: Some clicks by unknown but good photographers, and trust me its much more fun then it looks!

I had to go again on next weekend to have once in a lifetime experience at Wadi Mujib, this time I checked in advance whether its open or not. The entrance fees to Wadi mujib is 15 JD per head, and it is suggested to take a guide along with you which might cost another 40 JD. Few places in the trek are really tricky and having guide along side is really advantageous. Wear shoes which has good grip and survive in water. It is 2-3 hrs trail depending on your fitness level 100% in water. It is a must do if you love adventure, trek against the flow of a cliff is an experience to remember.