AdventureAqabaBorderBorder CrossingCultureCustomsEilatIsraelJordanLifestyleMiddle EastMountainsPeopleSeaTradition
Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing | Israel to Jordan!
It is my sixth day in the Middle East, and I'm no longer in Israel!
My mom and I decided to take the
more adventurous route out of Eilat,
Israel. Without
the help of any tours, we crossed on our own at the Yitzhak Rabin Border into
the country of Jordan.
It had a totally different vibe the moment we stepped into Jordanian territory.
The customs officers were smoking in the security luggage check room, the
computers dated back to the 90s, and there was a general air of
disorganisation. I also noticed immediately the different dress code for women.
In Israel,
most secular families and young people are free to dress however they like.
However, in Jordan,
most if not all women and young ladies have to wear head scarves or black
chadors – I’ve also seen some who are clad in black burqas. It is quite hard
for me to comprehend precisely how they handle the sweltering summer
temperatures that often soar to forty degrees!
In Jordan, I found that every man
appears to be an avid smoker. It appears to be part of the culture of the land.
I am not sure, but everywhere I go, I am bound to see someone light up a
cigarette!
The border crossing was no trouble
at all, thankfully. I was quite worried that it would take a long time, or that
it would be difficult to do it without a tour group. But it was a breeze!
Exiting the Israeli side was very straightforward and organised, we just had to
go from counter to counter (exit tax, passport control and customs security). Then
we had to walk a stretch of no man’s land with our luggage before entering the
Jordanian side. Compared to Israel,
Jordanian security seems totally slack – they appeared to be bored.
Anyhow, after a good wait for our
taxi, we got to Aqaba, the sea-side town of Jordan, opposite the shores of Eilat. And like
I said, I was immediately struck by the stark difference between the two
countries even though they were only beside each other. The town of Aqaba was a complete contrast to the town of Eilat. Eilat was a lot
more developed, with huge hotels, an impressive marina and beach area with
beach umbrellas, restaurants and bars. Aqaba lacked all these things, and I think
it is largely in part to the culture being intertwined with religion – which affects
the way of life, the style of clothing, and with it all its restrictions and
non-Western ways. Most women and young girls only showed their hands and face.
Also, the architecture was very plain, bare and closed-up – small square or
rectangular windows, sand-stone coloured walls, and gated buildings.
It felt very strange to have a
complete change of atmosphere. I felt quite self-consciously that I wasn’t all ‘covered
up’! But I did make sure that I wore long baggy pants and a loose top with
sleeves. It is interesting how the culture of a particular society can create a
unique kind of pressure to conform, or in better terms, to be respectful of
what every one else accepts to be the right thing to do or be. I do believe in
being respectful and conscious of the traditions and dress codes of a country
different to mine. It will help you make friends with the locals with greater
ease, as they can pick up immediately that you respect and honor their ways. I
have since seen a great many people – mostly Westerners or Europeans – who walk
around with short shorts (like seriously?) and spaghetti tank tops. It’s just
plain foolishness because it just doesn’t reflect well of a person and it draws
unnecessary attention – which can be unpleasant or even dangerous sometimes. And
it seems quite clear to me that these same people have no interest whatsoever
in getting to know the people of the land and thanking the locals for being
kind enough to accept them into their country.
There is so much more to travel than
just having your own good time. I believe there is a huge responsibility on travellers
to be respectful of the culture and to also show that they care about the
people and the country they are visiting. It doesn’t always have to be overt,
in the form of befriending locals or talking with them – but you can show it in
many different ways!
I will be heading for the Bedouin
desert territory
of Wadi Rum, about two
hours from Aqaba. Stay tuned for more stories about my adventures in Jordan!
0 thoughts