Dancing with Salt Crystals, Floating on the Surface of the Dead Sea in Jordan
Jordan's Dead Sea: Floating at the Navel of the World
At six in the morning, I climbed over the 4-meter high iron gate of the Kempinski Hotel and ran toward the Dead Sea, stepping on coarse salt crystals. The water surface in the morning mist had a blue-gray hue. The moment my bare feet entered, salt particles stung my soles like shattered diamonds, but transformed into a gentle lifting force as water flowed over my ankles. In the instant I lay back, my body felt lifted by invisible hands. All I could hear was my own breathing and the subtle sound of salt crystals rubbing together. In the distance, the mountains of Israel awakened in the daylight, as if I were floating on an alien planet suspended between heaven and earth.
The lake water, with its salt concentration as high as 30%, is extremely deceptive. When I accidentally splashed water, my left eye instantly felt as if licked by flames. As I stumbled ashore to rinse with fresh water, a Syrian traveler handed me a damp silk scarf. After the pain dissipated in the coolness, we looked at each other and laughed heartily—perhaps this was the Dead Sea's greeting, using pain to remind us of nature's majesty. In the afternoon, when trying the mud SPA, warm black mud covered my entire body. The sulfur scent penetrated my nostrils, yet my skin felt as refreshed as if it had drunk from a mountain spring. A local Bedouin told me these mineral muds need to air-dry for twenty minutes. During this time, lying on the salt flats watching the clouds drift by, time seemed to slow down threefold, buoyed by the Dead Sea's floating power.
As dusk approached, I followed Qyer.com's guide to find a wild beach in the south. After climbing down steep cliffs, white coral reefs gleamed with a pearly luster in the twilight, feeling much gentler under bare feet than the pebbles in the hotel area. The setting sun dyed the lake water into molten gold. I imitated an elderly French couple, smearing black mud into abstract totems until the evening breeze brought coolness. The night here is full of healing energy. Lying by the pool at the Marriott Resort, my skin still retained the slight itch of salt particles. In my daze, I couldn't tell if the stars were falling from the sky or scattered in my still unwashed hair.
Practical Tips:
Floating secrets: Wear old dark-colored swimwear (salt stains are hard to wash out) and remove metal accessories before entering the water to prevent corrosion. When floating on your back, keep your arms naturally spread and avoid making large movements.
Best photography times: 1 hour after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset, when the light gives salt crystals a diamond-like luster. For wild beaches, navigate to "Point de vue," and wear non-slip shoes for climbing the cliffs.
Surrounding routes: Morning float + afternoon mud bath + visit to Mount Nebo before dusk (30-minute drive), where you can stand at the spot where Moses viewed the Promised Land and see the Dead Sea like blue amber embedded in the desert.
Special warnings: Prepare a 500ml bottle of water specifically for rinsing your eyes, as the burning sensation from salt water is far worse than regular seawater. When air-drying the black mud, wrap your hair with a scarf, otherwise salt crystals will make your hair as hard as wire.
As the last twilight sank into Israel on the opposite shore, I suddenly understood why ancient Romans called this place "the navel of the world." In this secret realm 430 meters below sea level, every cell is reborn in salt, and every breeze carries the sighs of thousand-year-old civilizations. Perhaps, just like the expanding salt-induced cracks along the lakeshore, such extreme beauty should be remembered with a sting.