Aqaba

Jordanian Sweet Bread In Aqaba

November 24, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Jordanian Sweet Bread Made Fresh Daily

Jordanian Sweet Bread is some of the best in the world. It all begins in their tiny bakeries. You see them in all the open markets. Here they sell their amazing sweet breads to the Jordanian women who come to buy each morning. Fresh sweet bread is a must with their morning coffee or tea. Everything about this bread is fresh. And it all begins with the dough.

What makes the Jordanian Sweet Bread different? The traditional dough is made with precision. It is a thin dough that is tossed in the air. Watching a few Jordanian bakers, this process could make a lot of pizza chefs jealous. The dough is kneaded effortlessly and then tossed in the air to perfection. It is not too thick nor is it too thin. After it is cooked, the exact pastry is then finished with toppings and icing. It seemed like they had a pastry for every occasion.

Like most of the Middle East, a key element of the day is fresh bread and sweet bread. Whatever you desire for the day, you buy fresh each morning. Add some fresh cheeses and local fruits picked fresh off the tree, and you have the perfect Jordanian Breakfast. Jordanian sweet bread is a must with your morning coffee. It is also served with tea during the day. How can you have morning tea without sweet bread? Jordanian sweet bread is a must with that special roast of coffee!

The tourist that is traveling through Jordan learns quickly that there is something special about this dough. Jordanian sweet bread seems to melt in your mouth. Some of the sweet breads have frosting and special spices, and then there are those balls on a stick. Those little balls on a stick are not too sweet, nor are they too mellow. They have been made with precision. They are perfect for those who don’t want more than a hint of sweetness. They are also fantastic dipped in a little honey. However you choose to serve them, they will not disappoint. These rich small balls on a stick come in many forms. Whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed.

Another Jordanian sweet bread that seemed to stand out above the others were those tall twists of bread with cinnamon and sugar. They were also filled with some local spices that are hard to identify with accuracy. These were rolled out and filled with cinnamon, sugar, and spices. Then they were baked. While hot out of the oven, they were rolled in something sweet. What a delicious treat to have with morning tea, while over-looking the Red Sea. It seemed like the choices of Jordanian sweet breads were endless.

Since no meal is complete in Jordan without something sweet and a little sticky, you will find these delicious sweet breads on every alley. They are throughout the city streets, and on every coroner. Pastry shops send their customers spilling into the streets, holding tight to their brown bags. The bags were filled with Jordanian sweet breads of every kind. On your next trip to Jordan, make sure you try all the many different sweet breads. They are the best of the Middle East.

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Glass Bottom Boats On The Red Sea

November 23, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Glass Bottom Boats On The Red Sea

Glass bottom boats opens up a whole new world of discovery. Now you can see what the divers see. It is a living world under the sea. It is a world of color like no other. Discover the amazing world under the waters of the Red Sea at Aqaba!

The coral gardens are teeming with fish. You will see fish of every color and size. Check out the Lion fish of the Red Sea! They are beautiful, elegant, vibrant, graceful and unique. While we should not be seeing them in the Atlantic, they are amazing in their home waters. They have unique markings and vibrate colors. This is a fish to remember!

While looking for beautiful fish, don’t overlook the beautiful Parrot Fish. They are beautiful and almost seem to glow. They seem to have all the blue and purple tones of the rainbow. You will see many different species while on the glass bottom boat tour. Often they are overlooked, while people look for a bigger fish. The Parrot may not be huge in size, but it is huge in color.

The great Barracuda is more to be feared than the shark. They may have gotten that reputation from the times they have been seen following divers. They seldom, however bother humans. They have been seen up to 85 pounds and 8 feet long. These unique fish are intriguing to watch from a safe distance or from the protection of a glass bottom boat. The Great Barracuda is the King of the Sea.

The last of my favorites is the Blow Fish. I love the way the Blow Fish inflates. They are fun to watch but dangerous.This is one of the many poisonous fish found in the Red Sea. Out of more than 2,100 fish, these four are the Kings and Queens of the Red Sea.

There is nothing like a glass bottom boat tour. The Red Sea has wrecks, corals, fish, and spectacular flora. There are several glass bottom boat tour companies in the Red Sea. Two of the largest are the Neptune Glass Bottom Boat Tours and Sindbad Group (Glass Bottom Boat Tours). Both of these have an excellent reputation for good service and an excellent tours. They also have an excellent safety record. Either would make an excellent choice for the tour of a lifetime.

Neptune Submarine Vision
Local number 962(0)779430969

Sindbad Group Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Sindbad Discovery 667 Glass Bottom Yacht
Address: Aqaba 77110, Jordan
Local phone: 962-3-2050077

Jordan is a delightful country to visit and Aqaba is the gateway to a Jordanian Adventure. Why not make this the year to fulfill your dream? Any Jordan Adventure begins and ends in Aqaba. From here you will be able to take amazing tours on the Red Sea, and excursions to places like Petra and Wadi Rum. These are only three of many outstanding places to see. It is time to book your trip today. Back your bag and grab your passport! We will see you on the shores of the Red Sea.

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Aqaba On The Red Sea In Jordan

November 19, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

Aqaba On The Red Sea In Jordan

Aqaba, Jordan is the only coastal city in Jordan. Sitting on the banks of the Red Sea, it has a population of 140,000 people. It is a beautiful, clean, modern city with the feel of a small town. With the back drop of bare desert mountains on one side and the Red Sea on the other, you feel like you just stepped out of the world of Star Wars. Aqaba has all the amenities that the sophisticated traveler is accustomed to. The city has several 5 Star hotels and resorts. There are many restaurants and a very interesting shopping area. Aqaba is beautiful! The architecture is magnificent. It is well designed small city!

Within Aqaba are the ruins of churches, castles, and mosques. Ayla, is the remains of the oldest known custom built church in the world. Archaeologists have discovered the foundation of this late Third or early Fourth Century church. This ancient building of mud and brick has been well preserved by the layers of sand that has accumulated over the centuries. Archaeologists have discovered walls that are way over Six feet tall. The church was probably in use for about a century before it was destroyed by an earthquake in the mid to late Fourth Century. If you are interested in the history and ruins of the area, you will not want to miss exploring Ayla.

Just north of the city is Tell Maqus. This is an ancient site dating back to the Chalcolithic period of time in the Fourth Millennium BC. There are signs that this site might have been used for the mining of cooper. It is another one of the historic sites in this amazing Jordanian city. It is a perfect place to take a hike! Explore the site! Immerse yourself in this ancient time.

Another local site to see in Aqaba, is the Mamluk Castle. This castle is from the early 16th Century. There are round stone columns on each side of the entrance of the Castle. The Coat of Arms from the Hashemite family is above the entrance. There are two wooden doors which still function and can be shut to close off the castle. The Mamluk Castle Courtyard is in fantastic condition for a courtyard dating back to the Byzantine period. At this time Aqaba was known as Ayla. This Byzantine city is beautiful. It has been well preserved. Ayla surrendered to the Muslims in the year 630. This is a well kept site and those interested in the History of Aqaba will not want to miss it.

Archaeologists have also discovered the remains of a small city complete with a Mosque. This site has quite a bit of detail to it and many artifacts have been found from the mosque. It dates back to the years of 650-1100 AD. Excavations to date have revealed a mosque, the governors palace, and houses. It is extremely interesting. It is perfect for exploration.

Aqaba Fort is another site built between 1510 and 1517. This fort was used as a travelers inn for those making pilgrimage to Mecca. Aqaba Museum is part of the Fort complex. It is a very nice museum with lots of local history and artifacts. It was originally the home of the great great grandfather of the present King of Jordan, King Abdullah II. Between the resorts and the Marina is the ancient site of historic Ayla and the ancient Port of Aqaba. This is a very fun area to wander and explore. There are many ancient shops, cobblestone streets and fun places in historic Ayla.

Aqaba is the entrance into to Jordan. It is the jumping off point for day trips into the Wadi Rum, Petra, and Little Petra. This is a fascinating region. The people are extremely friendly. The historical ruins in the country are astounding. If you have never experienced a Jordanian Adventure, make this the year you journey to Jordan. If you have gone before, it is a good year to go back. There is too much to see for just one trip!

Gather your passport, pack your bags and book your Jordanian Adventure today. We will meet you in the ancient city of Ayla, on the banks of the Red Sea.

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Middle East Adventure Week Two

July 24, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com 1 Comment

Middle East Adventure Week Two

Middle East Adventure continues as we now embark on week two. Our guide, Elinoar Nitzani, arrives and we are off to see the hot and amazing Judean Desert. We pass the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin Shepherd. Fragments from over 2oo books were found in these caves. The caves are beautiful and many can be seen from the highway. It is yet another example of natural beauty in the Middle East.

Reaching Masada our team experiences the most amazing beauty dating back to Roman times. Masada is a beautiful fortress built on an isolated rock cliff at the western end of the Judean Desert. This amazing Middle East fortress overlooks the Dead Sea. Josephus Flavius dramatically recounts the sad story of Masada, told to him by the only two survivors in his book, The Jewish War.

Arriving at the Dead Sea we experience the pleasures of the world’s lowest and saltest Sea. The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is bordered by Israel, Jordan, and The West Bank. The shore of the Dead Sea is 1,388 feet below sea level. It is the world’s lowest point on earth! At 1,237 feet deep, it is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. The saline levels of this lake surpass those found in the ocean by 8.6 %. The salinity of the Dead Sea is 33.7%, making it the saltest body of water in the world. The unusually high levels of salt concentrations makes it possible for people to easily float on the lake. This amazing body of water is too salty for any animal or fish to live in its waters. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea and is its only tributary. Biblically, the Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David and has always been a place dedicated to health and beauty. What a fantastic place of natural beauty! This is another jewel in the Middle East.

From the Dead Sea we make a seamless transfer at the Taba Border Station. We say good bye to our Israeli guide, Elinoar Nitzani, and with the help of several drivers make the transfer into Jordan where we meet our new guide, Ahmad Hussein. After entering Jordan, we travel to Aqaba where we spend the night at the Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel. This quality 5 star resort hotel has all the amenities that one would expect in a quality resort. The service was excellent, and they serve a fantastic breakfast and dinner buffet. From our room, we have a treasured view of the Red Sea and the resorts own private beach. The Red Sea has dazzling and spectacular coral beds and is a major destination for divers and snorkelers.

Intercontinental Aqaba Hotel
AQABA RESORT ON JORDAN’S RED SEA
http://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/aqaba/aqjha/hoteldetail

Our first day in Jordan and we are able to relax and enjoy the Red Sea. Can you imagine all the stories it could tell around the campfire? In the afternoon we take a Jeep ride out into this Middle East desert. Just think, Lawrence of Arabia came this same way! Would you like to join us for tea in the desert? The Bedouins make an excellent pot of tea! What an enjoyable way to end the day! Our second night in Jordan we are spending in the modern city of Petra at the Movenpick Nabatean Castle Hotel. This 5 star hotel is amazing! Service is excellent and the food is marvelous.
http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/en/middle-east/jordan/petra/hotel-petra-nabatean-castle/overview/

Today we get an early start, as we are spending the day at Petra, an ancient city carved into the sandstone of the desert. Petra is surrounded by tall and lofty mountains, filled with passage ways and gorges, riddled with mysterious caves and secret places. Petra has been inhabited since prehistoric times! This is a Nabataean caravan-city, hidden in the rocks between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. This amazing rock-cut city was the capital city of the Nabateans. Can you imagine the secrets it could tell? Latter during Hellenistic and Roman periods, it became a major caravan center in the Middle East. As a caravan center, it helped Arabia with it’s incense trade, provided a way for China silks to become known world wide, and the spices of India became a household name. The mysterious Petra is a city lost among the rock. What amazing Middle East architecture!

There are several ways to get to the top of Petra, and most of the team elects to walk. The first leg of this amazing journey can be done with a cart and a donkey. Guests of a Bedouin driver, you can elect to take a cart for the first half of the journey. The Bedouins are active in providing different types of transportation for a reasonable fee. Once you get to the hidden city, you can walk to the top or choose to take a camel to the top. The camels are awesome and provide a safe trip to the top. Personally, I am delighted and enjoying my camel and donkey transportation! What an amazing way to travel in the Middle East!

This is the day that we prepare to see Madaba. Madaba is home to some of the most amazing mosaics on earth. We watch as skilled artisans demonstrate the art of mosaics. What a fascinating art!

From Madaba we prepare to climb to the top of Mount Nebo, like Moses did so many years before us. The view from this mountain seems like we can see whole Middle East. In the words of Moses, see the description of this amazing view of the Holy Land and beyond.
Deuteronomy 34: 1-3 (JPS Tanakh 1917)
“1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, even Gilead as far as Dan; 2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the hinder sea; 3 and the South, and the Plain, even the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, as far as Zoar.”

Our last stop before we leave Jordan is Jerash. Jerash is another ancient Middle East city built by the Romans. The ruins at Jerash are marvelous. We are amazed as we climb and walk this ancient city. This city has been continuously occupied for the last 6,500 years and many consider it a favorite destination in Jordan. Here in Jeresh, we meet antiquity in all it’s splendor. Ahmad Hussein is our excellent guide for this day. Our guide leaves us at the border crossing. We cross the border at Beit Shean and our driver returns us to The Market House in Tel Aviv.

Today we are up and ready early to visit the West Bank and the towns of Ramallah and Nablus. Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank. While in Ramallah we are having a very traditional Palestinian lunch. The food is fantastic. All of the food we have had in the Middle East has been terrific! We are enjoying our day in the West Bank very much. We are so privileged to have Mr. Yossef Barakat and Mrs Silvia Barakat as our guides today. They are excellent guides and we enjoy our time under their guidance. The day is quickly ending and we return to The Market House in Tel Aviv.

This part of our journey is totally awesome. The Exploretraveler Team are thankful for all our guides and drivers and for Noah Tours and their countless hours of planning in our behalf. We look forward to our next adventure in the Middle East.

Guy/ Sales Department
Noah Tours Ltd.
Communication Centre Neve Ilan,
Harey Yehuda 90850, Israel

Office: +972-2-6339956
USA: +1 646 8639666
Fax: +972-2-6339959
Mobile:+972-54-5304562

guy@noahtours.com

http:www.noahtours.com

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