Dead Sea Mud Bath in Jordan

The Dead Sea borders Jordan and Israel. From the Jordan side, where I visited, it was quite easy to see across the water to Israel.

It's a bit sad that the good access to the sea is owned by large hotel chains. This denies access to much of the locals who are forced to pay the hotels for the privilege. Hotel patrons receive complimentary access, but that still precludes the majority of the poorer population living here.

A view across the Dead Sea to Israel.

The place was quite beautiful with scenic areas as this. From this height you can see where the sea once was. But the level has seriously declined over the years due to overuse and climate changes.

The purpose of this post is to relay my experience with the Dead Sea. As all do who visit, I ensconced myself with the famous mud from the region and floated in the high salinity waters.

From the hotel I walked to the shore where I found hotel staff eager to smear the mud on me from the vats placed near the water. Although you could use the mud you scooo from the waters, this mud has been cleaned (I know, sounds weird) so that it can be applied smoothly.

I told a staff member I preferred to mud myself but I required his help in picture and video taking. I didn't tell him I had a severe aversion to being touched all over by other men.

I applied the mud all over my fat body.

The mud is filled with minerals that greatly enhance the skin. It is famous throughout the world for detoxifying the skin. For me, a person with very oily skin, it draws out the oil leaving me with a drier face. Since I suffer from rosacea, this is an excellent treatment and prevention for the large postules that present themselves during periods of inflammation.

After application you can feel how smooth and soft your skin and hair feels. Only wash off with water, no soap, as you want to maintain the minerals on your skin.

It's important to only keep the mud on you for no more than 20 minutes. I left it on one spot unknowingly for longer and broke out with a rash.

After application I went into the water for washing off the mud and floating.

The sea has the highest salt content in the world at 33.7% salinity. This makes sinking in these waters impossible. Everyone floats!

Sounds like a great place to learn to swim right? I don't think so. The high salt content makes this an incredible irritant to not only the eyes, but any small cuts you may have on your body. If you don't know you have a cut prior to entry, you'll soon become aware. Don't shave before you go in!

The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. It's located over 1300 feet (414 meters) below sea level. But there is nothing noticeably different at that level, unlike the noticeable thin air at high elevations.

I left the place with mixed feelings. I knew I was among the privileged of the world who can access these beautiful places. But, I felt badly for the locals who are mostly denied access to the prime areas of the water due to their inability to pay for the privilege. I am not one of those who feel guilty for having these privileges as I did nothing to harm anyone. I just felt the local government should make the prime water access more available to their people

I'll leave you with a video of my experience:

The Elephant Ride I wish I could Forget

Elephants are known have having long memories. Based on stories I have heard about them from locals, I believe it. My memory is obviously not as good as an elephant's but unfortunately, it's good enough to remember this ride.

This the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. On my first trip to this country (my first trip to Asia) I ventured to this place to have a personal ride on one of these magnificent beasts. But I was quite ignorant to the whole thing at the time.

Now, the scenery is great and you will get an authentic ride on a pachyderm, but the overall experience leaves a hollow feeling inside. First of all, this is as tourist traps as you can get. This is nothing locals participate in and is catered to those from out of the country.

This may be a sanctuary, but I’m not sure the sanctuary is better than the jungle from which they belong.

The ride itself was cheap enough. For about $15USD you get a one plus hour ride on the back. They put you in a wooden saddle fabricated on the back of the elephant as the Thai driver is sat on the neck of the beast.

It’s a bit odd riding like royalty on top of the animal and one I was not comfortable with. I’m not sure how much weight these beasts can bear on their backs despite their huge size.

My driver was very accommodating to me. Stopping to take pictures of me from time to time. Of course, there is an expectation of a tip at the end so he is as cordial as possible.

But not so kind to the elephant. At times the animal just wanted to stop and pause a minute, but the driver would have nothing to do with it. He would strike him with his rod to get him going again. I really did not appreciate that and told him so. He did stop the practice at my insistence, but it did cause me to wonder just how much abuse these animals endure at the hands of these handlers.

I know I’m here smiling in these pictures, These were just simple cameras smiles that I felt obliged at the time to perform. I really wasn’t all that happy with the ride. But being a first time in this country, I wanted to at least appear that I was having a good time at this event.

I was glad when the whole experience was over. But I left with the sense of sadness, knowing I was leaving these elephants behind to who knows what type of abuse. I’ve seen other areas in Thailand, where they would keep elephants chained up with no room to move for what seems like the whole day just to be on display. It is sickening to watch.

At the end of this trip, after having experience several like things, I actually wrote a poem about it. Maybe I’ll share it with you at the end of these Thailand posts.

I really cannot recommend taking these elephant tours or rides. Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, it is one that will leave you (or at least me) with regret.

My Last Breath

I watched my brother, Frank, as he took his last breath. It was the only time I witnessed death. I was at his bedside when the event occurried. He was a fighter and lasted much longer than most thought he would. Even in his last moments, in a coma, he struggled to breathe despite encouragement from me and his wife to let go. Cancer is a terrible thing, and the death I fear most.

Fortunately., I don't dwell on the subject. But I probably should give it more thought than I do. What if it happens when I'm traveling alone in a foreign, remote land? My odds of an accidental death or death by violence is higher than average. What if my last breath occurs on a remote experience?

In retrospect, I thought of that when recalling, on my yet to post Amazon experience, staying with a tribe in the Amazon jungle. No one even knew I was there. That's not the only time either. What would happen logistically if I passed away on a remote adventure? I suppose the US Embassy would be involved.

I don't buy travel insurance. It may be stupid on my part but it's served me well so far. Travel insurance allows for the transportation of the remains back home in addition to medical help on a trip. Body transportation would not matter to me, as I see no significance in a dead body myself, but it might be important to others to get my body back home. Or at least my ashes.

But really the sad part for me about taking a last breath on a remote adventure is to die alone. That's one thing I would not care to do. Of course, if it were a quick end it wouldn't really matter, but to die among strangers would not be my preferred method. I think my brother was fortunate (maybe a poor choice of words), to take his last breath in his home around those who that loved him.

I know I have put myself at a higher risk traveling to unfamiliar places. It's usually in unfamiliar territory where injuries can occur. But, at the time of the event in all my travels, I never thought about the dangers (too much). I was too caught up in the moment to take proper concern.

I can only recall a single time being apprehensive. It was my first trip to remote India when I knew I was in a terrorist province. I didn't sleep well that first night. Each time I heard a vehicle approach and stop nearby, my mind went to a paranoid place. A place where I was convinced they heard of the strange American visitor who likely had some money on him. It took several nights to shake that feeling.

I count myself fortunate to have had no close brushes with death or serious injury. But, of course it remains a possibility on any adventure. Wherever it is I take my last breath I'll not regret the time I've invested in adventure travel.