The Dead Sea!!
the lowest point on Earth, at 422 m below sea level, i've never felt a
weight on my shoulders like this. as i attempt to actually keep my
legs in the water whilst "swimming", the raucous laughter gradually
subsides into a permanent giggle. this is radtastic, no other way
around it. nothing is more ridiculous than trying to swim in the Dead
Sea. it's all legs up. just don't get it in your eyes. yes, i am
the guy who tries to test out the warning signs, just to make sure
they're for real. take it from me, this tip goes alongside the "wash
your hands thoroughly after handling chilli before touching any
sensitive parts" advice.
in keeping true to my wending ways thus far through Jordan, of course
i decide to hitch a ride the 40 km back to my hotel. after wobbling
convoy of miniature trucks laden with bursting tomatoes passes by, a
blinding grin slows his saunter down to proffer "where you going?" as
Ahmed and i become instant friends, it emerges that he is also part of
the wobbling tomato gang, albeit in a smaller, but no less laden
tomato-truck. in between fits and giggles we pass what appears to have
been a wobble too much for one of Ahmed's fellow tomato-truckers.
good thing they didn't stop for me after all, i ponder.
so Ahmed gets me to a junction, where i must depart and search for
further transport to complete my patchworked journey. another grin,
and another instant friend, Fadi convinces me, rather easily, to
accompany him home for gahawa. the conversation attempts to fill the
curiosities that surround the coffee table, the last of which leaves
me a little nervous at first: the usual question of which hotel i am
utilising is followed by "which room number?". hmmmm. well, this was
simply so Fadi could call and request (or as it turns out, order) the
hotel to give me VIP service. the giggles and oddities continue.....
just a few highlights from the Low Point. it's all up from here. i
hope i can contain myself.
hugs and love from Jordan
J
