Comments on: Learning to Trust Others in Jordan

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 12:51:53 +0000

Nice story! Heading off the beaten track in Jordan is really fascinating. The tourists are generally super-concentrated in Petra, Wadi Rum, and Amman and whilst it can be challenging or even ‘scary’ at times, it’s certainly an adventure!

By: joshy

joshy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:07:40 +0000

Be confident, trust your gut and keep your wits sharp. But by and large to my experience the universe will provide. Sometimes trust, even if miss placed or blind can be the only route forward. It is a form of surrender that the traveler knows keenly.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:43:44 +0000

I like the story! Not many people know about Jordan, so it’s not full of tourists, but Petra and as I see now at the pic, Dana, too r worth the visit!
And the thing with buses … it happens to me all the time people do not know anything about the timetables and the place where they depart from …

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:46:37 +0000

Yes… not everyone is out to get you but there is always one or two who are. It’s important to find a good balance between trust and distrust, so that you don’t miss out on opportunities but equally don’t get ripped off or robbed.

By: Lisa E

Lisa E — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:27:07 +0000

I was in Jordan last summer and faced some transportation challenges, too–mostly because high season had just ended. I wanted to go to Dana, but didn’t due to some of those challenges and the high price of traveling by taxi on my own. (Sometimes the buses worked out, but not always.) I really enjoyed Jordan, but found the transport to be tricky/pricey. Syria, on the other hand, was much more affordable and easier somehow.

Anyway, I’m glad you made it to Dana….from what I’ve heard, it’s a wonderful place. Hope you enjoyed it!

By: Siddhartha Joshi

Siddhartha Joshi — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:30:30 +0000

Great post, completely enjoyed reading it. Stories like these certainly help readers to be more confident to travel alone, and yet be more careful, especially if you a woman.

By: George

George — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:13:57 +0000

I think Matt is subconsciously tell us that he’s now interested in traveling to the Middle East 😉

By: Cara Lopez Lee

Cara Lopez Lee — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:42:05 +0000

As a woman who often travels alone, I’ve experienced similar situations to yours over and again, Laura – though never in Jordan, and I envy you that. A few times a didn’t believe someone when I should have; a few times I believed someone when I shouldn’t have. Once, I was riding in a bus to Besisahar in Nepal’s Himalayan foothills. It was getting dark, there were no lights on the rutted steep mountain roads, and the bus was struggling. The woman sitting next to me said, “This bus no Besisahar tonight.” She suggested I stay with her and her family. I did. Looking back, it seems likely she was looking to fleece me of a few tourist dollars, but I’m still glad I didn’t stay on that bus. I think having both your guard and your gut on alert is a good thing. Of course, if we didn’t let down our guard now and again, we wouldn’t be invited to share in some of the most amazing cultural experiences other countries have to offer – which always involves getting to know other people.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:36:12 +0000

Wow great story, I had a friend, a female friend at 90 lbs who backpacked across the middle east without a problem. While you still have to be careful where you and above all be respectful to everyone’s way of life, you can still travel safely through the middle east (even if your female) . cheers! 🙂