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Undisturbed waters

Photo: AFP

Rejuvenating Oh! for a dip in the Dead Sea

When travelling to an unfamiliar territory, there is always a little nervousness behind the excitement. I had never been to the Middle East, and an Arab wedding was a first as well.

With absolute no expectations I embarked on this journey. My destination was Jordan, a country that will always hold a special place in my heart for many reasons — the two main being the wedding of one of my best friends, and the visit to the Dead Sea.

The wedding festivities commenced on the fifth day of my seven-day trip. Beyond the point of exhaustion, I could not think of anything beyond my bed. As I was beginning to wonder how I would muster up the energy for my last two days, the topic of the Dead Sea crept up. I was in two minds about making the trek down, given the lack of sleep. My friend however insisted that I pay a visit. If not, you would be doing injustice to one of Jordan’s wonders, she said.

The Dead Sea is a salt lake that is located between Israel and Jordan. It is 1,378 feet below sea level, making its shores the lowest point on earth. True to its name, the salinity of the water makes it impossible for it to sustain any organisms. Neither can any boats sail on the waters.

So, why has the Dead Sea attracted so many thousands of visitors? Here are a few reasons. It is one of the world’s first health resorts, known for its legendary reserves of salts and natural minerals ten times more concentrated than any other ocean or sea. People believe bathing in the water is therapeutic for the body and the mind

I experienced a sensation on my skin, like no other, and 10 minutes later, I had never felt better. The water embodies such rich and precious minerals that the salt of the Dead Sea is dried, packaged and sold across the world.

Another fascinating phenomenon is that no matter how hard you try, you cannot swim. I just sat still and floated. The potency of the salt does not allow the body to sink or swim. It is serene and while I was floating, there was not a sound around me. Across was the view of Israel.

Despite the Dead Sea being very popular among tourists, the place itself is very serene. It is recommended that you stay in the water for not more than 15 minutes. Sure enough, after a little while, you can almost feel your skin crusting up.

Once out of the water, I applied a mud mask that is stored in buckets across the shore. The mask counters the effect of the salt. While the salt exfoliated my skin, the mask provided it an instant glow. All my exhaustion from the previous nights, and lack of sleep instantly vanished. Just the rejuvenation my body needed.

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