In the past, when I visited Rome, I was enamored with the Colosseum that I knew from textbooks. However, after exploring it, my attention would drift to the nearby shops, leaving me with a fragmented impression of the "town." It was during my visit to Jordan that I discovered Jerash, often referred to as the "Pompeii of the Middle East," which is even more "Roman" than Rome itself. This experience completed my perception of a Roman ancient city.
Situated in Amman, the Jordan Museum, established in 2014, is home to some of the country's most significant archaeological discoveries. Its two main permanent exhibitions are the Dead Sea Scroll number 175 (4Q175) and the 'Ain Ghazal statues, which boast a history of 9,000 years, representing some of the earliest known human figurines.
The first stop upon arriving in Jordan is Amman, known as the "City of Seven Hills." In the 11th century BCE, the worshippers of the Egyptian sun god Amun established their capital on Citadel Hill. Back then, the capital was called "Ammon," which gradually evolved into "Amman." Amman is often called the "City of Seven Hills" because the entire city is built upon seven hills.
The Pyramid of Djoser, located approximately 30 kilometers south of Cairo in the Saqqara area, is Egypt's first pyramid.
According to historical records, Pharaoh Menes, who united Upper and Lower Egypt and initiated the ancient Egyptian dynasties, selected Memphis as his capital. Memphis was situated approximately 20 kilometers southwest of the present-day downtown area of Cairo.
In Egypt, a country renowned for its bountiful agriculture and thriving livestock industry, in addition to the rich variety of fruits and grilled meats, these five foods are personal favorites that I never tire of!
During my trip in Egypt, I once asked five Egyptians about their top vacation destination, and they all recommended Hurghada along the Red Sea coast! Hurghada gave me a feeling very much like "Taichung," with its attention to architecture and greenery, which set it apart from other cities.
Luxor, also known as the ancient Thebes, was dedicated to the worship of the Sun God Amun and functioned as the capital of ancient Egypt's New Kingdom. Temple ruins stretch across Luxor and Karnak.
Aswan, considered the birthplace of Egyptian civilization, is unlike the bustling and crowded Cairo. It has a unique sense of leisure and tranquility. Unlike other cities, feluccas and cruise ships crisscross on the Nile River, creating a distinctive landscape in Aswan.
In Luxor, Egypt, one of the world's top three favorite hot air balloon spots, I can't promise it's the absolute most stunning high-altitude view on Earth, but it's undeniably a one-of-a-kind flying adventure. Luckily, we caught a rare eastward wind that carried us right over the Nile River, whisking us from the Valley of the Kings to the Karnak Temple!