Souk Stalls, Salt Scrubs & Sunsets

After days of adventure, ancient wonder, desert sands and sun-kissed memories, Aqaba welcomed me with open arms—and a salty sea breeze that whispered, “Come rest here awhile.”
This greeting welcomed a gentle exhale, just like a coastal lullaby at the edge of the Red Sea.

There was a softness to the air here—salt-laced, golden, and alive with possibility. Our stay at the Intercontinental Aqaba felt like a gentle landing, an invitation to pause, breathe deeply and remember the sweetness of slowing down.

Soaked in serenity, it offered the perfect space to soften and settle into this next rhythm of the journey.

Before our first official swim of the trip, it was time to wander through the Souk—where colours danced in the sun, textiles rippled in the wind, and the energy of the marketplace pulsed with life. Spices filled the air and laughter drifted like incense through the stalls.

The hum of it all was both grounding and energising.

My senses came alive in the best way: the colours, the textures, the sparkle of joy in the eyes of the shopkeepers. It was the kind of place that invites you to slow down, to meander, to savour the sights and scents—with no set destination, only curiosity as your compass.

It wasn’t long until the Gulf of Aqaba, with its warm, crystalline Red Sea waters became a salty playground for the soul.
My first dip of this trip was extremely refreshing. My body was at one with the Ocean. The sea wrapped around me like a blessing—each stroke a gentle cleansing, a return to self through the rhythm of the waves and the pulse of the earth below.

Floating there, sun melting into my skin, I felt time loosen its grip.

Grounded and free.

A memory etched into skin and spirit.

That evening, we dined at The Lebanese Restaurant nestled within the Intercontinental—a warm, elegant space where every bite told a story. It was more than a meal—it was a celebration. Platters of chargrilled meats arrived sizzling, surrounded by bowls of creamy hummus, glistening tabbouleh, zesty dips and freshly baked bread still warm from the oven.

The flavours danced across the table and our tastebuds like the waves we had swum in earlier—alive, textured and full of life.

There was something deeply connective in the way we passed plates, shared stories and savoured each mouthful. Every bite reminded me how food can be a bridge—linking us to culture, to place, to each other and to something timeless and nourishing within ourselves. As I was so tired, I ended up finishing dinner in the room. The restaurant kindly arranged for it to be delivered, and it arrived at the room just as I did—still warm, still delicious.
I sat by the window, fork in hand, watching the stars fill the sky, grateful for the quiet comfort of great food, gentle stillness and the magic of the moment.

The next morning, we journeyed on—winding our way north from Aqaba through the rugged and rocky landscapes of Karak and into the raw, untamed beauty of Wadi Mujib. The scenery shifted with every turn, each view more breathtaking than the last.

My first close-up glimpse of the legendary Dead Sea.
I froze for a moment.

I had read about the Dead Sea, seen it on documentaries, dreamed of it more times than I can count—but nothing matches the quiet power of standing there in real time.

A vision in stillness and light.

Vast. Silent. Sacred.

I had seen it in books, documentaries and even postcards but witnessing it with my own eyes was something else entirely. It was as if time paused—inviting me to simply stand, take it in and feel the awe.

It was time to check-in to the Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea, and I didn’t even unpack.

The first thing I did was slide open the balcony doors, standing barefoot on the grass and looking out over the Dead Sea.

Even though I was standing at the lowest point on Earth—430 meters below sea level—I felt absolutely high on life, euphoric.

There’s something paradoxical about this place. A place where the earth sinks and the spirit soars.

Standing there, taking in the vast, still water and the surrounding landscape I felt a profound sense of connection—both grounded and elevated at once.

That evening, just as the sky began to fill with a glorious sunset, I stepped into the Dead Sea for the very first time. As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in shades of apricot and rose, I leaned back and floated. It felt like magic—effortless, weightless, ancient.

The water held me, cradling me with a loving embrace.

There’s something wildly poetic about watching the sun set while floating in a sea steeped in history and healing. I let go of all tension, surrendering completely.

My heart whispered, this is what surrender feels like.

To be still and supported.

To let go and be held.

This moment wasn’t loud or dramatic—it was soft, spacious and deeply safe. A moment where there was no need for me to strive, perform or plan.
Just breathe and be.

To surrender is not to give up, but to give in—to trust the rhythm of life, to exhale the weight I have been carrying, and to remember that rest is sacred too.

In this stillness, I found a different kind of strength—one rooted in softness, presence and the quiet knowing that I am enough, even when I am doing nothing at all.

This morning started with a much-needed sleep-in, followed by a gym session to anchor the day with strength. I love anchoring my travels in movement—it reminds me I can feel strong and grounded no matter where I am in the world.

After a vibrant international buffet breakfast that left no space for lunch, I returned to the water of the Dead Sea with Mindset by Carol Dweck in hand. I literally floated and read a few pages—a surreal yet utterly delightful combo.

As the sun kissed my skin, of course I reached down and rubbed sea salt straight from the water onto my arms and legs. Nature’s exfoliant. Then came the rich, dark, mineral-dense mud that I spread it across my skin like a sacred ritual. A wild womans spa day, direct from the earth herself.

Later in the afternoon, I embraced stillness again—this time in the serenity of D’Sante Spa. A salt scrub sloughed away the layers of travel and tension, followed by a dreamy couples Swedish massage beside my love.

To be held in that space, while our bodies soaked in nourishment—it was slow wellness at its finest. The kind of treatment where time stands still, and the body remembers what it means to deeply rest. We emerged softened, nourished and glowing, our spirits revived by the care and connection.

Tonight, an early dinner awaits before an even earlier morning.

The alarm is set for 4:00 AM as we prepare to head back to Amman and board our flight to Cairo. Tomorrow, a new chapter of this epic adventure unfurls—the land of pyramids, the Nile and ancient mysteries is calling me home. With every fibre of my being.

I am so ready to answer—to leap heart-first into the unknown, to walk where legends once lived, to lose and find myself in the magic of it all.
A wilder rhythm is awakening within me, and I am ready to dance to it.