Destination: Jordan – religious journey or just a trip?

I am really behind in doing this post but I think it is a better time to do it now since The Kingdom of Jordan is now in the limelight and I want some readers to know how generous this Country to help millions of refugees from Syria.  The other way to show appreciation and to help their countrymen is for more tourists to come and enjoy what this desert Kingdom has to offer.

Some of my dearest readers already have seen my post about the HOTEL in Amman that I reviewed but for some who don’t… please feel free to click this LINK.

Now for activities that we crammed up in one day, as my husband has a meeting the next day so we haven’t seen enough and hoping we come back again and finally see PETRA.

Here are our activities that we planned according to location and nearest to each site starting just after breakfast and finishing up just in time for dinner at the hotel.

MADABA TOWN – (Wikitravel.org) A small town in Centra Jordan, located South of the capital Amman.  It is best known for “Madaba map” a 6th-century mosaic depiction of Jerusalem and parts of the Holy Land.

St. George Church – A 19th Century Greek Orthodox church.

Jesus on the cross, vinneve

inside the church, vinneve

St.George Church, vinneve

Madaba map, vinneve

vinneve photo

chandeliers, vinneve

vinneve photo

vinneve photo

Info Madaba, vinneve

MOUNT NEBO – This is where prophet Moses died. I feel lucky that I never thought I can come here in my lifetime but here we experienced it and feel the sacredness of it.  It is an important place for Christian pilgrimage.

Mt.Nebo as seen from the East photo credit: Wikipedia

In the Bible

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land…. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendents.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day on one knows where his grave is. –Deuteronomy 34:1-6     (words quotes credit to : sacred-destinations.com)

The Stones and the surroundings on top of the mountain.

Then last we headed for DEAD SEA (It is the lowest point in the World at 1,269ft. below sea level) as you can see the landscape changes as we drive further.  

At last! seeing the sea itself is no different to any other beach visually as it is stunning especially in the weather like this but the fact that you will FLOAT even if you don’t know how to swim is amazing!  Some people put some mud all over their face and body before going to the sea, as they say, it is much better to put it on because of the high content of the salt in it. They said the sea has also the ability to cure several diseases especially skin diseases.

The hyper salinated waters of the Dead Sea make it easy to float and almost impossible to sink, according to Wikitravel.  Photo credit to Wikitravel.org

Then finally, we bid farewell to the place and hope to come next time!  On the way we turned back to go to the hotel, we found this lone young camel happily munching its dinner.

I hope I inspired you to come and visit the Kingdom of Jordan.  Thanks for reading!  🙂

vinneve photo, most photos are mine unless it stated and credited

 

 

The Hotel: Marriott in Amman, JORDAN

“There is no hospitality like understanding..”  by Vanna Bonta

Marriott, Amman
Vinneve photos

Just like any Marriott hotels in another place whether it is old or new it has an air of elegance.  It is sitting on top of the hill.  Amman is full of hills to my surprise as the last time I was in a hilly City was in my hometown in NZ.

When you enter the hotel their staff do the usual greetings and leading you to their own X-ray machine just like in the airport.  I do not mind as it is for added safety of the guest.  Although I can say that the City of Amman is a safe place to tour around as well as the people are very approachable and they try their best to help and they speak English (some of them).

Now the room… as we travel with family on business so we always choose an Executive room with an access to the Lounge.  Some of you will know that having an access to the “Club” or Lounge can save you money as the breakfast, snacks, cocktails were included and it is all day long up to a certain time at night that the foods are available to you.  Unfortunately this time my son is not allowed in the Lounge (except one time for breakfast when we arrived that they gave us an exception as we are the only one in the room).  It is not showing on their website and the reception didn’t tell us either. We have stayed in Marriott in other Countries and there was no problem admitting my son in the Lounge except for cocktails of course which are understandable.  So please be aware now though for breakfast we can eat at their restaurants downstairs in buffet style which was better than the Lounge for the ambiance and food choices! For snacking – there is always a way to do this… either my husband or I took out some foods on a plate so we can all enjoy including my son.  Good thing nobody was in the elevator when we raid the lounge haha! … there you go!

The room has a very narrow entrance but to our surprise when we finally get in it was spacious indeed that can fit a family of four.  Just ask for a roll away bed which we did.  Furniture’s was a bit dated or traditional but acceptable and well-maintained.  The bathroom is small, but it will do.

Lounge – disappointed as there are not a lot of food choices though I like their coffee very much!

View from the room overlooking the newest building (heard it was Rotana) as you can see it is different from the rest and towering the older and usual type of building blocks in the vicinity. There is a pool outside, also an indoor pool, but we don’t have the time to try it.

I can recommend this hotel as there are some restaurants inside both American bar and Italian restaurants just across each other and another one I forgot the name, sorry. Their staffs make’s the difference too as the usual Marriott standard of good service. I hope this review can help you when you go and visit Jordan.  We were fortunate when we arrived as it was a beautiful weather not too hot and not too cold.  In the morning, it was 20-degree celsius and in the afternoon it can get to 27 degrees when we went to Dead Sea.  This week Amman was in an unfortunate situation there is flooding everywhere (perhaps been affected with the terrible hurricane in Yemen, a rare one! this is only my view) and we feel sorry to see it on the news!  I hope they will be back to normal soon.  Lots of tourists when we were there a week ago.  Will post some touristy spots in another time.

Thanks for your time reading this.

 

NOTE:

I am putting all my Middle Eastern life’s blog to this site  “Life & Wonders”