Middle East Travel

For the sake of the legendary ancient city of roses, Petra, and because Lonely Planet recommended Jordan as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world, I took a quick trip with my friends. . I didn’t do any planning before traveling because it was my first time to the Middle East and I was still worried about the safety of this trip. This trip changed from independent travel to group travel.

In the mysterious and conflict-ridden Middle East, Jordan is like an oasis in the desert. Even though Jordan has been attracting travelers from all over the world with its open attitude, most people still know very little about this place. .

Only after I visited Jordan did I realize that the people here are actually very warm and friendly. Entry and exit are easy and free because there is basically no heavy industry. The sky here is as clean and bright as if it has been cut by a knife. The sunset here may be the best in the world. One of the most beautiful. It has the most stunning natural and cultural landscapes in the world - including the ancient rose city Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world, the "Valley of the Moon" Wadi Rum, the most alien-like place on earth, the world-famous Dead Sea, the colorful The gorgeous Red Sea and countless magnificent canyons...

During this trip to Jordan, I saw the vast desert, the mysterious ancient city and the most special sea; I saw the modern metropolis and the most devout believers ; I felt the blending of various cultures and the most cutting-edge technology; I listened to ancient history and the most magical stories... The lack of natural resources has restricted the economic development of Jordan. Poverty is indeed the first impression of this country, but As the back garden of Europeans for hiking adventures and outdoor travels, Jordan, rich in tourism resources, brings surprises to travelers that will make you think about it for a long time. If I have enough time in the next year, I actually want to go to Jordan again, bring my best friends, prepare a strategy, and experience the mysterious Arabian world in detail, and find the lost millennium in the endless red desert. of ancient city.

Visit the ancient city of Petra

Petra is an ancient city in Jordan. It is the absolute check-in place in Jordan and the main destination of our trip. It is 250 kilometers south of Amman, the capital of Jordan, hidden in a narrow canyon connecting the Dead Sea and the Strait of Al-Aqaba. This is an ancient city almost entirely carved out of rock. The rock has a reddish hue like coral and gemstones, shining in the sunlight. The special landform gives it a beautiful color, so it is also called the "Old Rose City". Petra was the capital of the kingdom of the Arab tribe Nabataeans in the 6th century BC. It was extremely prosperous in the 1st century BC. In 106 AD, it was captured by the Roman Empire army and became a province of the Roman Empire, so it can still be seen today. Many buildings that were common in ancient Roman culture. Since the 3rd century, Petra began to decline due to the rise of Red Sea trade replacing land trade routes. When it was conquered by the Arab army in the 7th century, it was already an abandoned ghost city. It was not until 1812 that Swiss travelers rediscovered it and saw it again.

Many ancient monuments have been discovered since 1812. Most of them are carved on the rock wall of a deep valley. They are Jordan's iconic attractions, the filming locations of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Transformers 2", and also the new tourist attractions in Jordan. The filming location of the Hollywood blockbuster "Aladdin" attracts tourists from all over the world every year to explore the Nabataean civilization more than 2,000 years ago.

Wadi Rum is like an alien planet

Wadi Rum is also known as the Valley of the Moon, so named because its topography is the most moon-like place on Earth. And because of its unique Bedouin culture, it has been recognized by UNESCO as Jordan's dual natural and cultural world cultural heritage. It has been home to many Hollywood blockbusters such as "The Martian", "Lawrence of Arabia", "Red Planet", and "Aladdin". filming location.

The most attractive thing about Wadi Rum is the desert experience project. To appreciate the desert landscape here, you need to take an off-road vehicle or camel to enter. The narrow canyons, natural arches, towering cliffs, huge sand dunes and The caves make you feel like you are on an alien planet. It is not recommended to drive into Wadi Rum. It is most appropriate to book a tour in advance and let the tour guide arrange the itinerary.

This is not the endless yellow desert we often see. The vast red desert is dotted with towering rock formations, cliffs and canyons. Everything in front of me is something I have only seen in science fiction movies. Although the name here is called Moon Valley, if you ride a local off-road vehicle through it, you will definitely feel that you have arrived on Mars. The wild beauty of nature is perfectly interpreted here.

The incredible mosaic city of Madaba

Madaba is a city with a history of more than 3,000 years. In history, this city has changed hands many times and has been owned by Egyptians, Jews, Greeks, etc. During the Byzantine period, Madaba became the seat of the regional bishop. During this period, especially in the sixth century, mosaic art flourished and was used in churches, palace buildings, Traces of it can be seen in private homes.

After Madaba was destroyed by a great earthquake in 747 AD, the city slept underground for more than a thousand years.

It was not until 1880 that 2,000 Christians from Clark settled here and began to rebuild the city. It was when they were rebuilding the Orthodox Church of St. George in 1896 that they discovered the famous Byzantine map of the Middle East.

When visiting St. George's Church, I was almost banned from entering because I was wearing shorts. Fortunately, there are dedicated service staff at the door of the church who will lend robes to tourists, so that they can enter and visit if they cover their whole bodies.

Mount Nebo commemorates the prophet Moses

Mount Nebo is a holy place for Christians, Jews and Muslims. It is said that Moses looked at the "Promised Land" from here. of. The observation deck on the top of the mountain overlooks the entire Jordan Valley. It is said that if the weather is good enough, you can have an unobstructed view of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and other places.

According to verse 34 of the Bible, Moses, the founder of Judaism, spent his last days here and ascended to heaven. Moses is the most important figure in Christianity after God and Jesus, and is also one of the six ambassadors of Islam. Moses' name in Islam is "Musa".

On Mount Nebo stands a huge steel snake cross symbolizing the rod of Moses. It was erected in 1984 by Gianni Fantoni from Florence, Italy. This staff with a snake coiled around it symbolizes the miracles that the Lord showed to Moses. Moses used this staff to lead the people of Israel to escape from Egypt, used this staff to split the Red Sea, and used this staff to rescue people in the wilderness. Israel wanders and hungers.

In addition to the desert, there is also the sea in the Red Sea town of Akaba.

In addition to the desert, Jordan also has the most beautiful sea. The Red Sea in Aqaba, southern Jordan, has a moderate climate and gentle currents, providing a good living environment for corals and marine life. There are more than 1,200 species of fish, 500 species of coral, and the water temperature is suitable for diving all year round, allowing diving to a depth of 150 meters due to the abundant sunshine. Abandoned ships and tanks sunk at the bottom of the ocean also provide exciting destinations for divers.

On the Red Sea in Jordan, you can see Egypt on the opposite side and Saudi Arabia on the border. My friend wanted to send a message to Moments, but found that he could actually locate Egypt!

Experience the joy of floating at the lowest point in the world by floating in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is located between Israel and Jordan. It is 76 kilometers long and 5-16 kilometers wide. It is the lowest point on the earth's surface. About 420 meters below sea level, it is called the Dead Sea because of its high concentration of salt and no living things can survive in it. Seawater has a large specific gravity and people will not sink in it. Seawater contains a variety of minerals and is a natural spa place. Dead Sea mud is a world-famous skin care product.

Floating on the surface of the Dead Sea, letting your skin absorb the healthy nutrients in the water, or enjoying an ancient therapy - Dead Sea mud bath, are unique experiences during your trip to Jordan.

Due to time arrangement, floating in the Dead Sea is the last stop of the Jordan itinerary, and the next leg of the itinerary will be Jerusalem.

I always feel that this trip went by too fast, and I was always in a rush, without stopping to feel it. Fortunately, I have gained a lot. When I return to Jordan again, I can make the trip slower and stay longer. In addition to nature and monuments, you also need to have a deeper experience of traditional Arabic culture, exquisite Mediterranean food, and the living conditions of modern Arabs...