My Bonus for Visiting Jordan (J10/10)

 

This trip of my to Jordan not a birding trip, thus I have no proper watching gear with me. Not even a bino but just a compact camera. I am lucky enough to be able to still see and photograph some of them at the tourist attraction area.

Black Redstart  (Phoenicurus ochruros) near my entry spot to the Dead Sea.

Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura) not to be confused with Black Redstart. This was shot in Wadi Rum

Hooded wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) my first time seeing a wheatear.

Pale rockfinch or Pale rock sparrow (Carpospiza brachydactyla)

Tristram's starling (Onychognathus tristramii)

White-spectacled bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)

White-crowned wheatear aka White-crowned black wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga) looks very similar to Hooded wheatear. Both are shot at Petra.

Short Visit to Dead Sea at Jordan (J9/10)

 

Hearing so much about how salty the Dead Sea are... sounds just not right. Aren't sea water at else where not salty?😂 

Located along the Jordan Rift Valley and bordering Israel (seen at the background of the photo). There are many resorts setting up along both sides of the sea. You may choose to access the beach by resort (need to pay) or find a public spot (free but no access to changing room or shower facilities). You may use public beach if you have your own vehicle to act as changing room and brough alone some fresh water to wash up.

Salt formation on the beach. The salt/minerals here are much higher compare to other sea that make this place so special and beneficial.

Since salt are heavier than water, that make us more buoyant and able to float on water easily.

No, don't expect a white sandy beach. Instead rock or salt formation is what you will see here.

Do you know that this is also the lowest point on earth? My mobile phone show me that I am -427.5m below sea level. Another sense of achievement for been to the lowest point on earth😊

Mosaic City Hotel of Madaba (J8/10)

 

On my way back to Amman, decided to pay Madaba a visit. A city better known as Mosaic City.

Saw this wind turbine while on my way north to Madaba . Over 90% of Jordan's energy are imported. This made having sustainable energy production locally even more crucial. 

Founded 4,500 years ago, Madaba flourished during the Byzantine era as a regional center of religious life.

Huge mosaic wall greeting visitors to Madaba, City of Mosaic.

Some mosaics as old as 1400 year-old. 

There are a number of churches and private museum to cater for different interests group. You choose what interests you the most and all are in short walking distance.

One of the many private museum in Madaba.

Inside the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist.

Display of Tent of Ruth

Bell tower of the church.

Panoramic view on top of the bell tower of the church.

Underground structure that open to visitors.