The Holy Journey (09): Dead Sea, Jordan

The interesting story of this place is that the Dead Sea was once a city where Prophet Lot SAW was sent to guide the people known for their perverse sexual preference. It is said that the word “sodomy” comes from the name of the city, Sodom (in Bible). By divine intervention, the whole city was rained with fire and sulphur and turned upside down.

Note, reference:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_sea
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy

Dead Sea indeed... It was freaking hot and humid there... as expected when you visit a salt - water area on a freaking hot day.

It's not exactly a sea, more like a lake with too high salt content.

It was so hot that there were very few visitors. Some men from our group still jumped in though.


Later we were ushered into the souvenir shops where every price when multiplied by 5 deterred me from buying.

Pictures are free, so here goes, some of my favourite items.

Daggers, made of silver and special hard wood. Super expensive.

Pendants. Aren't they just lovely?

That ends my Jordan tour.

And our journey home was - thank God - peaceful and without any flight delay.

My only grudge is that we have to pay for other people's overload charges since they put it as "we travel as a group, so we will share all luggage cost." Bull, mine did not go over the limit, but minority lose. No more Andalusia for me, next time it's Tabung Haji (for the record, such thing has never occurred with Tabung Haji. Everyone pays their own overload charges).

The Holy Journey (08): Jordan re-route; Cave of 7-Sleepers (Al-Kahf)

One of the popular attractions in Amman, Jordan is the Cave of 7-Sleepers, a religious site uniquely mentioned in both Quran (18. Surah Al - Kahfi) and Christianity ('The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus').

Note reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers

While our blundering tour guide told it off as something like fairy tale (he’s a Jordanian, for God sake), I wandered around snapping pics. No point re – telling, might as well you all read the reference I put up there.

When discovered and excavated later, it was found that a church has been built over the area, along with burial sites. Some artifacts are preserved and displayed at the site itself; such an authentic and rustic touch, much to my delight.


A view from within...

A mosque erected nearby the site.

Gorgeous roses found within the garden surrounding the area.

Too bad I did not take too many good shots.

The Holy Journey (03): Jordan trinkets

Golden Tulip got its own travel agent offices and souvenir shops. My advice is, get your souvenirs here as they sold them in Saudi Riyal (SR 1 = 90 something cents Malaysia ) currency instead of Jordan Dinar (JD 1 = RM5).










Fridge magnets.

I wonder why the ladies are not looking too happy. Where are the gents? Maybe that's why...

Camels for your fridge.

Pictures of Petra.

But they don't necessarily sell stuffs made in Jordan. This long robe is Egyptian-made; the hand - stitched pattern made the price very expensive.

The Holy Journey (02): Jordan transit and surprises

We transit in Jordan for one day after landing at Queen Alia airport. It was quite a pleasant flight, the food was good but I was too groggy to remember to snap a picture while sleep – eating.

I was anticipating fresh cool breeze as I made my way out from the plane as the last time I checked on the net, the temperature in Amman is 21 degree C. Instead, I was hit by a blast of heat. Maybe that weather site forgot to add that that particular temperature only applies to NIGHT time only.



And so, after our visas were issued (USD 40 per person), we headed to the Queen Alia airport hotel, Golden Tulip where there was not a tulip in sight.


There were roses though.





Lunch was served buffet style. I started with a plate of colourful vege and assorted salads. I’ve to warn you though, to those not accustomed to Middle East and Arabic food, the taste is of natural flavors combined by olive oil, salt and herbs, which most people find rather bland or unappetizing.



The main courses were more palatable since the flavors resemble that of Indian and Pakistani food. Beryani, bread and accompanying meat and vegetable dishes were served as main course. Desserts were so sickly sweet that I thought all my teeth would fall out; luckily we shared it, a strawberry jam mousse look – alike.




An interesting item we found in the hotel lawn, a smoking thing but I don't exactly know what or how they use it.