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The question I get asked most often about my travels is, “Which country is your favorite?”
destination
The Middle East
I typically give the same answer – that I don’t have one – but after visiting Jordan in 2022, my response shifted to include that it’s the most surprising country I’ve ever been to.
I traveled to Jordan during Ramadan, which provided a unique and meaningful opportunity to experience the culture on a deeper level. During the day, the streets of Amman were noticeably quieter, with fewer people out and about. But once the sun set, the city came alive as families gathered to break their fasts, filling the streets with warmth, energy, and community.
Jordan is incredibly diverse, taking me from the cityscapes of Amman to the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash, from wandering the rose-colored walls of Petra to floating in the Dead Sea. Beyond its landscapes, though, it’s the people who truly bring the culture to life. Through my travels across Arab countries and the friendships I’ve formed along the way, I’ve been consistently struck by a shared sense of generosity and hospitality.
In a part of the world that many people only encounter through headlines, experiencing that generosity firsthand feels especially powerful – a refreshing contrast to how the region is so often portrayed in the media.
The Middle East has taught me one of my golden rules as a traveler – to be open-minded – and I hope my adventures here challenge you to travel beyond the headlines.
read about my adventures in
The Middle East
