Jordanië 2024
Jordan
A 7-day trip to the Middle East
By Alan & Lien | November 2024
© Alan Cuypers | Wadi Rum
10 November 2024
Jordan
Sunday
Our first holiday together to Jordan, a destination chosen by Lien quite a while ago finally becomes a reality for her as for me. We are both into travelling and adventure, so we would love to see this place and explore the old history this country beholds.
11:00 – Brunch
Our suitcases are packed and we are ready for brunch. The flight from brussels to Jordan is only at 15:15, so we have time for a hike to the Antwerpen Centraal and take the train to Brussels Airport.
12:45 – Train
A 15-minute delay doesn’t stop us from being a bit stressed out to miss our flight, nevertheless we get an extra sandwich for our time on the tracks.
15:15 – Flight
Finally time to board our plane to Jordan.
22:00 – Arrival
After a flight of four hours we land at Amman Airport in Jordan.
Jordan
Why should you visit?
A rich blend of ancient history, stunning natural landscapes, and warm culturerich blend of ancient history, stunning natural landscapes, and warm culture
Before departure
It was not too hard to find out how we could possibly visit Jordan, we do wanted it to be safe and a bit organised as well as a comfortable stay here and there. The internet led us to Travelbase and we chose the Jordan Nomads road trip option.
Our choise was perfect for us as, in the matter of fact, my girlfriend Lien was already 4 months pregnant.
Schedule
Airpot – Amman
Amman – Dana
Dana – Petra
Petra – Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum – Aqaba
Aqaba – Dana
Dana – Madaba
Madaba – Airport
40 km – 50 minutes
250 km – 4 hours 20 minutes
100 km – 2 hours
115 km – 2 hours
Full day in the dessert
350 km – 5 hours
180 km – 2 hours 20 minutes
20 km – 30 minutes
November Data
- Sunrise @ 07:00
- Sunset @ 17:40
- Dry Season
- High temperature @ 20 °C
- Lowest temperature @ 10 °C
Amman
CitadelThe Dead Sea
Industrialization brouth people to the cities where work was and where people could earn enough to support their hungry families in the countryside. Today isn’t any different. We have our cities and farmlands and for some it is a beautiful sanctuary somewhere in a hot place where they work an online job and can relax at the same time. Today and in the future we’re growing towards a digital online world, but for most of our products we still need agricultural and industrial factories. Aren’t we right?
Meanwhile underground everything was empty and excavated by many men. Rock formations were split open by either dynamite, immense machinery or hand-crafted tools and these tunnels formed huge underground galleries which eventually could still be used as a second purpose.
And so these quarries were also considered practical for growing mushrooms. Rows of mushroom beds were made with the help of horse poo or compost as a fertiliser and in the picture below this practice can still be found today.
© Alan Cuypers | 23/12/2016 @ 16:42 | Canon EOS 5D Mark III | f/8 | 25 sec. | Mushroom beds at the Van Damme Quarry, Ciply Belgium
The Dead Sea
SaltyRediscovering Possibilities
What are we going to rediscover?
Managed quarries
To my surprise there was still active water pumping going on in some visited quarries, of course, otherwise the quarry would have been completely flooded by rainwater. If it were flooded the mine wouldn’t be still accessible to us.
Although these mines are actually forbidden to enter, I was guided by an expert who explored many mines before. Deep underground and open-pit ones alike.
We knew what we were doing and we did it carefully.
So, what did we rediscover?
The Rediscovery
Equipment was in some of them still there and ready to use at any given moment. Fresh truck tracks leading in the angled mine were a sign of recent life inside this rocky cave where water was being pumped out.
These scenes gave us beautiful pictures as a result.
Small lakes can be seen here and we remind you to not dare to take a swim in it as it can be very cold water and it isn’t the best water to swim in.
Small volcanoes under the water can be seen, which was a very cool sight, I admit.
The crystal clear water was perfect to photograph and the ground beneath it could be seen from afar.
Be sure to bring enough light in case you want to enter this exquisite underground maze of tunnels!
A Greener
FutureGO GREEN or GO HOME
How are we helping?
One of us, that’s Alan, loves to read about all things with better environmental impact which could only benefit us in the right way possible.
Yes, friends, there are solutions to our global threats out there. We only need to go big on this one and we will succeed! 💪
The answer to this is BAMBOO.
We understand and know it grows like crazy, we have tested this ourselves and have proof. There is an extensive blog about this in the making!
Benefits of bamboo
One can manage without eating flesh; but one cannot manage without the bamboo.
