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Who "killed" the Dead Sea?
The first question that arises for anyone arriving here is: Is it by chance that the sea is called the Dead Sea? The Dead Sea lies in the basin between Jordan and Israel. Millions of years ago, due to geological activity, a long rift, known as the Great Rift Valley, appeared, stretching from the Taurus Mountains in Turkey to the Zambezi Valley in southern Africa, isolating a vast lake. Or did the lake itself selfishly separate itself from the Mediterranean Sea, forming a vast salt lake 76 km long, 18 km wide at its widest point, and 400 m deep at its deepest?
This "selfishness" of the lake, coupled with geological and climatic changes over tens of thousands of years, has caused its water to become brackish, making it impossible for any plant or animal life to thrive. The sea no longer merges with the ocean; it has killed itself. Now, only the Jordan River, with its selfless flow, continues to nourish it. To save the sea from a second death, due to rapid future climate change, a grand plan has been devised to dig a canal to bring water from the Red Sea, running across Israel and into the lake to "nourish" it.
The sunsets here are unique! The sun hides somewhere behind the misty clouds, casting dazzling streaks of orange and red on the horizon. Even at 7 pm, it feels like daytime, only to quickly fade away as the sun decides to go to sleep. Crowds of people still flock here to immerse themselves in the sea. It's not just for the beauty of the sunset, but for the unique natural chemical composition of the water, found nowhere else in the world. We know that the Dead Sea, at its lowest point on Earth, is nine times saltier than regular seawater. Many tourists want to experience the feeling of floating, reading a book on the surface of the water without needing a lifebuoy or being an expert swimmer, in a body of water nearly 500 meters below sea level.
Wadi Rum, the "Valley of Moonlight," and the Sound of Silence
Once, my lover asked me, "What is the sweetest declaration of love?" I immediately replied, "Go to Wadi Rum, a corner of the crimson desert also known as the 'Moonlight Valley,' to hear the echoes of the night." Sometimes, the purest sound is silence.
You've probably heard of this strange desert landscape or seen images of it on the big screen, as it's been the setting for so many famous films. From Lawrence in Arabia, to Indiana Jones' Last Crusade, and most recently, Martian, starring your favorite actor, Matt Damon.
Wadi Rum is captivating with its distinctive reddish-brown color, a geological feature that gives anyone the feeling of being transported to Mars. This color is created by a chemical compound called iron oxide. This largest desert in Jordan is located in the southwest of the country, more than 300km from the capital Amman and just over 100km from Petra. This desert area has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site and is the second most popular destination for tourists in the Mediterranean region, after Petra.
Wadi Rum transforms during the day with its bizarre shapes and spectacular color changes of the cliffs and fossilized rock formations under the sunlight: from orange-yellow, reddish-brown to jet black. These fascinating, surreal images captivate any visitor who sets foot here and experiences the journey, whether by modern means like jeeps or primitive ones like horses or camels.
This tolerant desert has been home to many prehistoric peoples since ancient times. Evidence of this can be found at Jebel Khazali, an impressive mountain dotted with the stunning Little Siq gorge, where a natural lake in the gorge has been discovered with numerous carvings depicting scenes of ancient life. Perhaps this lake was the source of life for them millions of years ago—for the ancient Nabateans, the nomadic Bedouin, and the beautiful wild fig trees that grow around it today.
It's the starry night sky, not the desert sand, which is often considered the most abundant here. It's the eerie, captivating silence that comes when you let your soul wander under the night sky, not the noisy or sweet sounds we've become addicted to.
I didn't miss the opportunity to spend the night in the desert. I jumped out of my Bedouin-style tent with its warm blankets and comfortable mattress, and even a well-equipped bathroom with hot and cold water (thanks to the thoughtful and professional Jordanians who run the tourism business). Thanks to that, I was able to experience the sounds of the night. "The profound silence in the vast desert under the night sky is the most wonderful sound anyone could ever wish to hear, far more beautiful than a million words of love."
Finally, there is Petra's love.
When in love, who wouldn't want their love to be immortal! Proof of this is that many couples, wherever they go, engrave their names on cliffs, trees, or, more modernly, attach padlocks to love bridges (believing that as long as the padlock remains, they will still be together).
Romantic love is abundant; people live to love each other. But what is immortal needs to be tested by time. Sadly, those who engrave their names on cliffs and trees while traveling rarely return to "search" for proof of their love. And those who attach padlocks to bridges—when their love falls apart, will they have the courage to return and unlock them?
Petra is very reserved. She doesn't need to show off, yet she's still elegant and magnificent. Time has proven that Petra is immortal. Therefore, there's a place I want to take my lover to, where we'll hold hands and... fall silent. I believe no lens can capture her beauty better than the eyes and the empathy of my heart: Petra!
Petra is magnificently beautiful, like a goddess with a touch of mystery, yet also possessing a hint of challenge. Nestled within the rocky mountains created by the Nabatean people, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan is famous for its hundreds of elaborate and magnificent structures carved into the granite rock.
If in love, the nuances are moments of sulking, anger, and joy, then Petra is a prime example of those nuances that you can feel and touch. That's when this ancient city undergoes a spectacular transformation of colors, from orange-yellow, cream, red to deep brown.
Imagine Petra as a girl clad in a vibrant, rocky dress. Perhaps that's why people often call Petra by the poetic nickname "City of Red Roses," "A secret makes a woman a woman." This mysterious "woman" has more than once compelled people to understand her, and no matter how hard they try, they can't describe her with the most eloquent words. Therefore, they can only admire this wonder with their own eyes and be silent in awe of its grandeur.
Our love is like that too. And I will say to my beloved: Do you know that there is such a Jordan? Full of passion and allure. Like indescribable emotions and words that are difficult to express, when you experience days of love and days in Jordan, when we touch the very essence of ancient beauty in Petra.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
+ Visa:
- This is the biggest obstacle for those who want to travel independently on a low budget. Currently, if you apply for a Jordan visa independently, you can only submit your application through a second country (mostly Malaysia). This is quite expensive unless you combine it with a trip or have business in that second country.
However, if you contact local travel agencies and book your trip through them, you only need to send a photo of your passport 3 weeks in advance. Upon arrival at the airport in Jordan, you will be met by a representative from the agency who will handle your visa application. You will find the service extremely professional, courteous, and efficient from the moment you arrive at the immigration counter at the airport.
+ Arrivals and departures:
- You can book tours lasting from 1 to 3 days if arriving from Israel by land. If you're coming from Egypt and want to experience it by ferry, you can buy ferry tickets in Taba from the Sinai side. The ferry takes 1 hour to cross the Red Sea and reach the port of Aqaba on the Jordanian side. However, the ferry may be cancelled if there aren't enough passengers. Therefore, arriving and departing by plane is still the fastest and safest option.
Many airlines operate flights to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Choose a flight that suits your time and budget. Naturally, flights with only one layover will be much more expensive than connecting flights with multiple stops. You might consider airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and EgyptAir (with a layover in Cairo).
- Tip: A good way to "hunt" for cheap flights from these airlines is to book flights on flight booking apps departing from an airport outside Vietnam, such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, or even Doha. Then, book a separate flight from Vietnam to these airports so that you can connect to a connecting flight.
+ Time:
The best time and peak tourist season in Jordan is spring, from March to May. Summer, from June to August, is very hot, with daytime temperatures in some places reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. The remaining months, from September to March, have relatively pleasant weather, making them ideal for a trip. For tourists who enjoy scuba diving in Qatar, October to December is the best time, as the seawater is clear and the temperature remains around 26-27 degrees Celsius.
Other notes:
- Dedicate at least one full day to exploring the ancient city of Petra. Bring snacks and some drinks to eat along the way and save money.
- Camel riding and horseback riding inside the ancient citadel are very expensive, ranging from 20-40 USD per person for a one-way trip.
- It's a good idea to buy a SIM card at the airport. A SIM card costs around $20 (450,000 VND) and includes 5GB of internet and calls.
+ Accommodation:
The tents in the desert are quite well-equipped. They even have showers and hot and cold water inside.
