A Quick Jaunt to Jordan
In just a few hours, I'm off for a whirlwind trip through Jordan! Why whirlwind you ask? Well, I'm currently on a career break and was getting itchy feet (figuratively speaking), so I did what any traveller does. I immediately Googled travel deals and discount tours. A few really cool options popped up, but after a bit of an online poll, I settled on Highlights of Jordan with G Adventures - the tour was discounted, the flights were reasonable and the timing worked perfectly. The trip begins exactly two weeks from when I booked.
I've always wanted to sort of just show up at an airport, packed and with a passport and jump on the next available flight to somewhere cool. Because I'm pretty sure that lands you under major suspicion by security, customs and immigration, I wonder how that would work out in real life. Also, I'm far too anxious to jump into something without doing research and planning. Maybe cautious is a better word? What's a good word for "permanently suspicious and on alert so I don't get murdered"? Anyways, booking just two weeks out is as close to just hopping on a flight as I can comfortably get.
Speaking of comfort, I'm forcing myself to take another half-step out of my comfort zone. Truth be told, outside of work, a few day trips abroad and some local adventures, I have never travelled by myself. I have to admit that it frightens me as a solo female (see note above about not getting murdered). I don't want to dig too much into the topic, but there are risks and realities of being a solo female traveller you have to be aware of. Just to clarify, I have never felt anything but welcome by the locals I've met abroad, but I'd wager every female traveller has experienced unease or harassment in a situation before, as we all likely have in our own backyards too. But I'm working on not letting the fear of a very, very unlikely danger hold me back.
What's more, I'm generally pretty outgoing around others, but if left to my own devices, I fear am perfectly happy to be a completely anti-social recluse. So I believe this is again a good compromise - I'm going by myself but I'll be with a group of 12-14 other travellers. Prepare to be befriended, strangers!
The second reason for calling it a whirlwind is the itinerary itself. I'm gone for a mere 10 days and only eight sightseeing in Jordan. On the agenda includes floating in the Dead Sea, the ancient ruins in Jaresh, overnighting in the desert at a Bedouin camp, snorkelling in the Red Sea, a hot air balloon ride (hopefully), ascending Mt. Nebo, a crusader castle at Karak, the mosaics at Madaba, and of course, Petra - the "Rose City" carved into the red sandstone cliffs by the Nabateans - a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the New7Wonders of the World.
That's a lot to get done! I'd better get to the airport...
I've always wanted to sort of just show up at an airport, packed and with a passport and jump on the next available flight to somewhere cool. Because I'm pretty sure that lands you under major suspicion by security, customs and immigration, I wonder how that would work out in real life. Also, I'm far too anxious to jump into something without doing research and planning. Maybe cautious is a better word? What's a good word for "permanently suspicious and on alert so I don't get murdered"? Anyways, booking just two weeks out is as close to just hopping on a flight as I can comfortably get.
Speaking of comfort, I'm forcing myself to take another half-step out of my comfort zone. Truth be told, outside of work, a few day trips abroad and some local adventures, I have never travelled by myself. I have to admit that it frightens me as a solo female (see note above about not getting murdered). I don't want to dig too much into the topic, but there are risks and realities of being a solo female traveller you have to be aware of. Just to clarify, I have never felt anything but welcome by the locals I've met abroad, but I'd wager every female traveller has experienced unease or harassment in a situation before, as we all likely have in our own backyards too. But I'm working on not letting the fear of a very, very unlikely danger hold me back.
What's more, I'm generally pretty outgoing around others, but if left to my own devices, I fear am perfectly happy to be a completely anti-social recluse. So I believe this is again a good compromise - I'm going by myself but I'll be with a group of 12-14 other travellers. Prepare to be befriended, strangers!
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| I have photos of snuggly kitties! And candy!! |
The second reason for calling it a whirlwind is the itinerary itself. I'm gone for a mere 10 days and only eight sightseeing in Jordan. On the agenda includes floating in the Dead Sea, the ancient ruins in Jaresh, overnighting in the desert at a Bedouin camp, snorkelling in the Red Sea, a hot air balloon ride (hopefully), ascending Mt. Nebo, a crusader castle at Karak, the mosaics at Madaba, and of course, Petra - the "Rose City" carved into the red sandstone cliffs by the Nabateans - a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the New7Wonders of the World.
That's a lot to get done! I'd better get to the airport...
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