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Jordan through their eyes

Jordan through their eyes

Every place that we visit leaves a mark on us and the experience lingers on for a long time. Maybe some incidents, food, monuments or people, there are plethora of reasons why that place is stuck in our memories and that leads to the question…. What factors lift a moment from the banal to the “unforgettable” status? What makes some moments stand out over others?
In Jordan we travelled in a group and each one’s expectations and experiences were like different colors of an artist’s palette. It is only when the artist combines these colors in his own way do we get to see the magnificent picture. Some of them have penned down about their favourite places to complete the picture of Jordan.

Ekta of Shadows Galore

jerash
One of the most special experience for me in Jordan was the visit to the ancient city of Jerash. It is one of the best preserved historical sites in the world which has seen the rise and fall of kingdoms for more than 6500 years. Known as Gerasa during the Roman occupation, Jerash displays the coexistence of two powerful cultures – The Graeco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the traditions of the Arab Orient.

Jerash also known as Pompeii of the Middle East, is a fine example of the grand urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East. The notable architecture comprising of majestic doorway arches, oval plaza, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres and spacious public squares and long corridors transports you into the past to imagine what it would be living in this grand city. Most special part was the music played by Arab performers at the Roman theatre!

Shilpa of Chasing Sunsets

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Floating in the Dead Sea was a major bucket list item for me; probably because I never really believed my science text books when they said we could float here without having to know how to swim! Sounded insane back then, especially for a person like me, who cannot even float in a 4 meter deep pool!

As soon as I checked in to the hotel room, I changed and ran to the sea, not waiting for anyone else as I had to test it myself! All I had to do was lift my feet off the ground, and the saline water did the rest. This experience was simply exhilarating when I saw I was floating with no help whatsoever!

I, also, absolutely hate getting tanned. So when I learnt that this area happens to have the most weakened ultraviolet rays in the world, I enjoyed the waters fully while watching the sky change colors at dusk. Yes, my mouth and eyes did sting quite a bit during the swim but it was definitely worth it!

I could go to Jordan again and again just to float in the water and watch the sun set.

Revati Victor of Different Doors

Petra-Treasury3
Petra had been built up by all I had heard about it before, and I had a sinking feeling that it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But that moment I spotted the iconic view of the treasury through the sliver between the siq, it lived up to every single cliché. This larger than life monument, half as old as time itself standing before me, peeking out rather modestly from between the rose-coloured rocks had me riveted and moved me all at once. Time stood still and I could have been a trader awed by this oasis in the desert, or a western explorer exhilarated on finding the lost city. The sheer scale and grandeur of this site, cements its spot among the seven wonders of the world, every traveller’s bucket list and in my memory forever.

Deepti of DA Travelography

deepti
I was absolutely thrilled to see desert dwellers, also known as ‘bediuons’ in Petra and across Jordan. Bediuons are semi-nomadic group, descended from nomads who have historically inhabited the Arabian and Syrian Deserts. Their Jack Sparrow look and free ways of life can make you feel that they are from a Hollywood movie, living in the grand set of Petra and Wadi-rum.

I talked to Mohammad who is a Bedouin staying in Petra as it was difficult for him to leave the mountains and settle in the city life. Now he runs a souvenir shop at the King’s tomb at Petra. It was a soulful conversation to know about him, his family and his childhood days.

Anuradha of Inditales

amman-citadel
Amman the capita city of Jordan is home to half the Jordanians, not just today it had been a city for centuries. To get a glimpse of its continued inhabitation, all you have to do is go to Amman Citadel and see the remains right from the time of Bronze age while you also see the current day city from a vantage point. Caves, Temples, Baths, Rest Houses and a museum take you through a visual history and tell you that you are standing on a ground that has seen many ages. Amman citadel holds the history of Amman and to an extent Jordan in a nutshell.

Madhu of The Urge to Wander

Madhu
Without some warning, and with all the (unwarranted) fears of safety in the region, the sight of armed Arabs racing towards us on horseback would have spooked every single passenger on the vintage train: part of the Ottoman Hejaz railroad that was built to facilitate Haj pilgrimage from the middle East, and that once connected Damascus to Medina.

As it was, the reenactment of the Arab revolt of 1917, turned out to be the highlight of the trip for me and I enjoyed every choreographed moment, right up to the animated negotiations in a Bedouin tent for the release of two beautiful hostages!

16 thoughts on “Jordan through their eyes”

  1. Every person has different experiences from the same place. Sometime the same person may have different experiences at the same place at different times.

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