The Dead Sea, Jordan – The Salt Flats

There is a certain kind of beauty in Jordan that I did not expect. Once I finally got out of the city and started to explore what the country had to offer, I was shocked to find this vast expanse of desolate isolation that many would consider stark, but it holds something to it that I don’t think you can find anywhere else on earth. I do believe that this is the reason why so many movies make this the location for their filming because it makes the setting a character all its own, and Jordan’s landscape is definitely a character.

The Dead Sea adds so much to this character, and the more I learn about it, the more interesting it becomes. It has been basically retreating over the last century, and it is not near the same levels that it once was at. Much of this is due to the fact that water is taken out of the Jordan River to cultivate agriculture in both Jordan and Israel, and because of this, there is not as much water left for this huge body of water situated so far below sea level. If you look closely, you can see the scars in the rocks that has been left behind because of this retreat which present a new sense of history that I have never considered before.

But on the shore of this location there is another sight that is even more impressive than the scars in the rocks, the collection of the salt on the shores of the sea. The simplest of spices clings to anything that it can find and creates a bizarre grouping of waves that never will move, even if the water laps up against it.

It will take the forgotten branches of trees and turn them into a piece of art that only nature could create. There is a beach on the Dead Sea that is covered with sights like this one, and it makes for one of the most interesting day trips I have ever taken. It was only a fifteen minute drive from the collection of resorts that most people stay at when they come down here, and just a little south past the entrance to Wadi Mujib.

We went down on a Sunday when everybody was back at work, and there were only a couple of other cars there, and only one other couple that we came across while we were exploring the flats. It is easy to miss too, but it was free to go explore, and I am so glad that we did.

Every turn we made gave s a new view of spectacular natural structures that made we want to spend the whole day exploring the beach. I would recommend going down early in the morning because it can get hot during the day, and it does bring out the flies, but it is still fun to explore in this kind of heat.

It just made me fall even more in love with Jordan, and made me realize that this might be one of those hidden gems that not many people know about. I am glad that I have gotten to explore it, and can’t wait to see what other amazing sights I will come across while I am living out here.

The Dead Sea, Jordan

For my first trip to explore my new home country, Jordan, I decided on a must do, the Dead Sea. It was not high on my list, and I will be honest with you, I was a little scared about getting in the water. There are numerous stories about people who have dunked their heads under the salty water, or have it squirm its way into somebody’s forgotten cut, and then having to deal with that discomfort for the rest of the day. I have had several mosquito bites that have been healing, and I didn’t not want to literally pour salt into that wound.

But the salty shores are one of those things you have to experience while you are out here, and considering I won a free night at one of the hotels by the Dead Sea through a raffle at my new school, I figured this would be the perfect time to go and check it out.

First, it is quite the descent from the high elevation of Amman. The whole trip down was literally down the mountain from 1000 meters all the way to 400 meters below sea level. My ancient Mitsubishi Lancer did a great job going down, but I am worried if the two cylinder car will be able to make it back up that hill when it is time to go back home. It is something that I can’t worry about right now. Instead, I had to make the most of my time at the lowest point of land on the Earth.

The water has a very high buoyancy level. I have heard about how it is impossible to sink in it because of the level of salt that is found in the water, and there is a lot of truth to that claim. All I had to do was raise my feet off of the floor, and they floated to the top of the water on their own, and I was able to relax as if I was on one of those six feet floaties that people put into pools so they can stay dry and still read their books.

The water wasn’t that bad either. It was really warm, and though my cuts did ache a little bit, it wasn’t the excruciating pain that I thought I would have experienced. There is a little bit of a routine that you are supposed to participate in to make the most out of the experience. First, I hopped into the water to become accustomed to it. When I got out, I quickly rinsed off, and then lathered up with mud that they kept in huge stone vessels on the beach. It is supposed to be good for your skin. Some people covered themselves from head to toe, but I went for a more sparse amount, only covering my limbs and my chest. I then sat down to let the mud dry before getting back in the water and feeling the exfoliating experience that comes with the combination. Though the mud was a little slimy to put on, it was worth the experience because it felt really good when I got back into the water.

It made for a fun day that I won’t soon forget. It is not everyday that you can get slathered up in mud and float in an ocean without any assistance, and feel great out afterwards. I can easily see why it is one of the places that people make sure they visit when they come out to Jordan, and it has gotten me more excited about what adventures I am going be able to encounter.

The River

Freedom can be found along the river.
I just need to follow the water north.
Across a certain line, they deliver
All who may be seeking who have come forth.
I know that my man will search for me there,
But it is my only form of guidance,
And it is within its rushing flow where
I can find a road map that gives a chance
To a diff’rent life than the one I live.
It is a life where I can have a voice,
And where all of the options that they give,
Allows me the right to make my own choice.
It is a journey that may take me years,
But it is worth facing all of those fears.

State of the Union

We stand at the edge of our precipice,
Shouting our concerns over the canyon.
We sit and wait for our message to kiss
Ears of those who stand on the other one,
But I do not think they are listening
Because they are over there making noise
About what they believe they are missing,
Claiming our ideology destroys.
If I could only get my voice louder
Maybe they would listen to sound reason,
But it looks to make their discourse prouder,
Speaking of what can only be treason.
I wish they would quit with all their yelling,
So they could hear what it is I’m telling.

The Work Pile

These are the things I cannot ignore,
And even though it is not every day,
There comes a time I have to close the door,
And battle against the on-coming fray.
It will allow me to, one day, emerge,
And give you all me remaining time.
It is not you I am trying to purge,
But rather this piling mountain I climb.
Some day, it will also happen to you,
And I will try not to create a fuss.
It is just something we all have to do.
Even though, we hope it may escape us.
Welcome to this modern society
Where valuable time is what we pay.

A Sheeple’s Rebuttal

Who is telling you that I am a sheep?
Do you listen to what he has to say?
Does his ideology start to seep
Into your “original” thought ev’ryday?
Can you tell me that your thoughts are your own
When you pick them up from memes on Facebook?
Or is your anger just an overblown
Reaction to catchy sounding hook?
Is it me or his short leash that you fear?
How often are the words of your master
The repeated ones I actually hear,
Claiming I’m the one that is the bastard?
You are far from the enlightened people,
Just because you repeat the word, sheeple.

Truth

How can you look at what is happening,
And then run to your alternative facts?
You need to wake up from your fake napping,
And look at the ways your argument cracks.
The heat is not going to disappear
Based on what you perceive, wish and hope.
There is a right group of people to hear,
You left behind to listen to a dope.
You may want to crawl out of that pocket,
And grow up to be the size of a man;
You will see the future and protect it;
Instead of grabbing what money you can.
Will you continue to live with your greed
While watching the land of the nation bleed?

Collecting Vinyl

Why do we no longer want to collect
When we can find it at our fingertips?
Does it allow a level of respect
When all we do is scroll through YouTube clips?
I prefer to listen to scratchy sound
As the needle slips into the small groove,
And the motor spins the record around,
Providing the room a moment to move.
Each song was designed to play to the next,
Building up this great epic event.
We follow along with liner note text
Until the forty-five minutes are spent.
This digital age is a bitter pill
For us who treasure our stack of vinyl.

Your Gordian Knot

I tried to untie your Gordian knot
That you have called your organization.
I found this activity I have sought
Was one of a futile desperation.
I have decided to leave it alone,
And move on to a new destination,
But you do not like the progress I’ve shown,
Wishing for its old manifestation.
So I am returning to you the mess
Knowing you comfort in its creation,
But as I leave, I would like to confess
It’s built from a lack of motivation.
Whenever you jump on the latest trends,
You will never tie up all the loose ends.

Understanding by Design

I will introduce you to the question,
But I don’t know if you’ll get the answer.
I’ve been searching over all creation,
And my quest will continue to endure
Until I understand the inquiry,
And generate an insightful response.
With frustration filled with too much fury,
My exploration does not hold a chance.
I just need to listen more to my heart
By looking for what I’m trying to find,
And I fins the best way for me to start,
Turning out the noise playing in my mind.
The method I present is what is best
As it’s not about teaching to the test.