Good Karma
Trip Start
Mar 07, 2006
1
17
21
Trip End
Jun 07, 2006
Amman,
Jordan
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Wadi Dana is the highlight of this Nature Reserve and the ancient village constructed in the 15th century clings to the side of the steep valley overlooking it's entire length. This is a place predominantly for hiking but unfortunately Tramp has been having some problems with a sore knee/leg so we were unable to do any walking here except a stroll through the terraced spring fed gardens owned and tended by the villagers.
Our luck continued though and we managed to get a lift to Amman with a German couple who work there and were in Dana for their weekend. They returned to Amman along the remainder of the King's Highway which has awesome scenery. I never expected Jordan to be so mountainous but the vastness of Wadi Mujib changed this perception. It is a gorge which pretty much slashes the country in half and is 1km deep and 4km wide. It takes 30 minutes to drive through it from one side to the other. The scenery is very spectacular. We were so lucky to get a ride as it is more difficult to get public transport on this road than the other two main highways.
Arriving in Amman, Andy and Francesca dropped us off in Jebel Amman a modern suburb of Western Amman and we found a western style cafe/bar to sit and have a meal and some real coffee until we were to meet the Sydney couple we'd met in Wadi Rum a few days earlier.
Jill and Peter had very kindly given us their phone number together with an offer to come and stay with them when we reached Amman and we jumped at the chance of being in a real house with a proper bed.
Colannaded Street, Jerash
They fed and looked after us so well for 2 days, our clothes haven't been this clean for 2 months and we are eternally grateful!!!We didn't see an awful lot in Amman as we weren't here for very long but we did visit the Roman City of Jerash 50kms to the North. An impressive site dating from the 3rd century, partly preserved, partly in ruins with a wonderful 80m long oval shaped Plaza lined with columns and two acoustically perfect theatres, one seating 5000 and the other 1600 patrons. These two theatres are utilised every year in the Jerash Festival showcasing international acts that come here to perform amongst the ruins.
On our final day in Jordan, Jill was kind enough to drive us to Mt Nebo and down to the Dead Sea.
Mount Nebo is the place where Moses is said to have looked out over the Promised Land after the pilgrimmage through the Desert from Egypt. After his death he was buried in this area but the exact site remains unknown. The exisitng church was built in the 6th century and it's floors and walls are covered with beautifully preserved mosaics. It is a tranquil place with a lookout point affording views across the Dead Sea Valley all the way to Jerusalem, on a clear day which we weren't lucky enough to get.
Back in the car and on to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. At 400m below sea level and with Jordan's rivers being predominantly dammed and used for irrigation purposes the Dead Sea is literally dying. It's water level drops significantly every year, by approximately 1m. Access to the water is via man made "beaches" which are attached to holiday resorts. And swimming in it ... well even Tramp who simply can't float normally was bobbing around like a cork. The water feels oily on your skin due to the exceptionally high mineral content and you must rinse off with fresh water immediately.
Voted by Tramp as our most bizarre experience of the trip so far.
Comments
Bizzaro
You two are amazing! Renae your travel log is making me sooooo jealous. I want to be there too! Your entries are like those out of Lonely Planet but better cos I know its you! Love you, be safe. Fiona