Welcome to JORDAN
  This 2 week trip in March, 2007 took place in unseasonably cold, wet conditions. My first day in Jordan it rained, hailed and snowed all before noon. The people however are warm, friendly and genuinely interested in showing you the best Jordan has to offer. "Welcome to Jordan", the first words that greet you on arrival are repeated by absolutely everyone along your route; from the stranger walking by you on the sidewalk to the soldier at the checkpoint who asks to see your passport.
   Using my bike or a car (taxi, rental, hitch-hiking) and starting in Madaba I visited Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Bethany, Karak, Dana Reserve, Petra and Aqaba. I cycled and / or drove along portions of the Kings Highway, the Desert Highway and all of the Dead Sea Highway.
My GUIDE BOOK & MAP
Lonely Planet;  JORDAN -  5th Ed.
Freytag&Berdt; JORDAN (1:800 000)
Map of Jordan
Standing where Moses stood when he first set eyes on the Promised Land truly felt Holy. Even with  the morning haze the Dead Sea and the Mountains of Palestine were clearly visible.
Instead or riding into this vast and beautiful valley, I took a taxi from Madaba to Karak to avoid cycling in a cold, steady drizzle.
MY DAILY COSTS
1 Jordanian Dinar = 1.70$ Canadian
Room; 5 to 25 JD
Meal: 2.5 to 6JD
Water 1.5L = 300 fils
Chicken Shwarma = 1 JD
Wadi Mujib
Mount Nebo
Route Maps
NORTH - SOUTH
COMMENTS!! 
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Leaving Karak I took a wrong turn that had me heading down onto the plains of Wadi Araba on this spectacular road. To late to turn back, I continued south along the Dead Sea Hwy until Hwy 60 where I turned back into the mountains.
An awesome sight as you approach it from below, this Crusader Castle was the setting of the legendary battles between the Crusaders and the Muslim armies of Saladin.
My error out of Karak had me climbing this extremely steep 30km road back up to the Kings Hwy late in the afternoon. Extremely fatigued and struggling along at 4km/hr I finally accepted one of  the many lifts offered by passing motorists.
Hwy50 Karak-DeadSea
Karak
Hwy60 DeadSea-Tafila
MY ONLINE RESOURCES
The Jordan Times - Online Edition
Ruth's Jordan Jubilee
Saad's Cycling Jordan
Charl at MariamHotel Madaba
Visit Jordan
SeeJordanNorthAmericaTouristBoard
Lonely Planet - The Thorntree
Jordans Ministry of Tourism &Antiquities
Theo's Diverse Horizons
Leaving for Petra early in the morning, I say goodbye to Hamze, my Bedouin host .  Click to see the village.
I decided to spend an extra day in Dana Village after the previous days strenuous climb. Clinging on a precipice overlooking a breathtaking valley this spot was a great place to spend a day relaxing. I even went for a hike on one of the many trails leading down into the valley.
Wadi Dana
Dana Village
The Treasury is the first monument you reach after emerging from the narrow gorge - As Siq. This is the Temple where Indiana Jones found the Holy Grail in the movie The Last Crusade.
The Monastary is as stunning and bigger than the Treasury. Located high up on a mountain, reaching it requires a one hour climb up a spectacular and at times steep ancient path cut out from towering rock formations.
Besides the monumental tombs of Nabataean Royalty, such as the Treasury and the Monastery, numerous smaller tombs line the canyon walls.
After buying my souvenirs I share a glass of mint tea with her mom and brother.
The local Bedouin women make a living sellling souvenirs along the path leading up to the Monastery.
PETRA
Soon after leaving Aqaba I pick up a hitch-hiker at one of the military checkpoints along this lonely road. Unable to communicate he sits silently beside me staring straight ahead - occasionally looking over with a puzzled look when I slow down or stop to take yet another photo of the beautiful desert landscapes before us.
Its balmy winter climate makes this city a favorite with Jordaninians from the north. Unlike other towns I visited this place was actually quite lively at night. Couples and families out  for strolls. Outdoor restaurants and cafes serenading their clients with music.
This sparsely populated, desolate and unforgiving landscape is awe-inspiring but scary. As I cycle along a sense of helplessness; of not knowing how to survive in this dry, shelterless place overcomes you.
Dead Sea Hwy - Hitch-hiker
Aqaba
Desert Highway
TRAVELOGUES
Phil's Globe Cyclo Aventure - 2002
Matt's Jordan Slideshow - Apr. 2006
Fotos's Jordanie - 2006
Eric&Virginia's Egypt&Jordan 2006
Sebastians JordanBikeTrip - Mar.2007
Anne's Dead2Red bike trip - Oct.2007
LaFamilleBenzianeJordanAdv - Dec.2008
iik's WinteringInMiddleEast - Jan. 2009
Not what I expected, its muddy brown waters meander from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea throught a tightly controlled military zone where independent travel is banned. Only at Bethany are you allowed to touch its waters but under the constant and suspicious gaze of heavily armed military personnel.
As I cycle along the eastern shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba, the Sinai Peninsula and Eilat, Isreal are clearly visible across the waters. The numerous beaches between Aqaba and the Saudi border are swamped on the weekends by Jordanians from the north looking to escape the cold wet weather.
Red Sea - Gulf of Aqaba
Jordan River
Most experts agree that the ancient remains found along the east bank of the Jordan River at this spot and references to it in the Bible make Bethany-Beyond-The-Jordan the propable site of where John the Baptist baptised Jesus Christ.
Heading back to Amman along the Dead Sea Hwy in my rental car I slow down to admire the stark beauty of its eastern shoreline. I eventually stop at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel and spend the rest of the day swimming or shall I say floating in the murky, salty waters of the Dead Sea.
Click on the book to read comments left by my Guests until Feb 2008!
Bethany
Dead Sea
Hope you signed the Guestbook. Any questions?? Just email me at
[email protected]
Home Sweet Home!!
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