I know that many people when they think of Jordan they think of vast expanses of desert climate that they have seen in recent movies. It is usually associated with hot days, and not much trees, but if you travel less than an hour north of Amman, the landscape changes dramatically and you can find yourself in a forest that is more reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest than what you would expect from a country in the Middle East.
The Dibeen Forest Reserve is a hidden little gem in the mountainous region of the country. It does take a couple windy roads that are not in the best condition to get to the place where you feel completely away from the city, but I was still able to drive my Mitsubishi Lancer, and it made it fine. There are enough of flat plots of land in the area that you can gather large groups of people together to enjoy a camping trip together. I went up with seven other couples and their children and I was still able to find a nice isolated place where I could feel like I was away from the crowds if I needed to be.
This is also the location where many of the goat herders hang out with their herds as well. A couple of times I ran into the huge herds, and one of the times they walked through our camp on to greener pastures. They will very respectable and it just made for a moment of fun anytime they came through. There was other wildlife out in the forest as well. We also encountered a large chameleon underneath a rock. I was surprised that we came across it, but it just added to the flavor of being out in this neighborhood camping.
I feel like I am discovering a whole new side of Jordan by heading up north instead of always going down to the more touristy sights in the southern part of the country. It just makes me realize that Jordan has a lot more to offer than just Wadi Rum and Petra. There is diversity in this country that makes it a wonderful place to visit, and I look forward to enjoying the other surprises that the country has to offer.
Until next time, find those hidden gems in your corner of the world, and please share them with the rest of us.
John Collings 