When Ridley Scott was directing the blockbuster film The Martian, he knew he needed a landscape that closely resembled Mars in order to keep the film as realistic as possible. He settled on filming in the Wadi Rum desert region of Jordan. I have not seen that movie but when I got to Wadi Rum … Continue reading Is Wadi Rum worth it?
adventure
Petra, from the Siq and beyond
If you hear the word, "Petra", the above photo comes to mind. In fact, until I went there early this month, I thought this iconic building was all there is to Petra. The Treasury is one of the most elaborate temples in the ancient Arab Nabatean Kingdom city of Petra. The great facade of the Treasury … Continue reading Petra, from the Siq and beyond
Guide to visiting Petra for first timers
This guide to visiting Petra is meant to make this glorious site just a bit easier to get to. Depending on when you stumble upon this blog post, the data and information (especially the entrance fee) may not be accurate anymore, so do check from Jordan Tourism Board's official website. ***** Ah Petra, how do … Continue reading Guide to visiting Petra for first timers
To hire a tour guide in Jordan or not
One of the factors that made our Jordan trip very satisfying and memorable was our local guide from Amani Tours. Wafa is a very experienced tourist guide and goes out of her way to tell us stories of the place complete with history and humor. She speaks Arabic, very diplomatic and can ward off aggressive peddlers … Continue reading To hire a tour guide in Jordan or not
Do’s and don’ts when at the Dead Sea
Or rather, HOW TO MAKE YOUR DEAD SEA EXPERIENCE MEMORABLE (AND PAINLESS!) 1. Take a day pass in one of the hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea If you don't have much time, your best bet is to take a day pass at any of the hotels in the Dead Sea area. Since you would … Continue reading Do’s and don’ts when at the Dead Sea
Day trip to the Dead Sea
First up on our Jordan itinerary was the Dead Sea. It was cold when we arrived in Amman (6 degrees celsius in the second week of December at 9 am) and I was thinking how cold the waters of the Dead Sea can get but heck, I was determined to do it anyway. I did … Continue reading Day trip to the Dead Sea
Finding Backroads 