A visit to the Dead Sea

Have you seen pictures of people floating in the Dead Sea reading a book? It is an interesting experience but it is not all that intuitive. So before you take the plunge – Don’t!  "Plunge" that is. There are some things you want to take into consideration to prepare for this unusual phenomenon.Lastly, if you are staying overnight at one of the spas, make sure you take advantage of their salt water pools and spa treatments.  Indulge a little!

It is best to avoid shaving for a day or two before you head to the Dead Sea.  Shaving inevitably irritates your skin and causes small cuts or scrapes. Freshly shaved legs will definitely get the wow factor when you step into the salty water.  The same is true of any cuts or wounds you may have.  At the same time the Dead Sea is touted to have medicinal and healing properties so if you can stand the pain, it might help you heal faster.

Remove your jewelry – salt is corrosive. If your watch is waterproof it probably is not salt proof, so take it off and leave it in your bag. Along the same lines be very cautious with any electrical items you bring down to the water’s edge.  If you plan to take pictures make sure that your hands are free of salty water.  Take a few hand wipes to clean up before you grab for your i-phone or camera. If salt water does get on your items wipe them down quickly with a clean damp cloth.

Consider packing an old swimming suit for this experience. The salt water is very hard on spandex and elastic. The lifespan of your suit will be diminished considerably after this adventure. And naturally make sure to wash it thoroughly as soon as you get out.

There really is a method to bobbing around in the Dead Sea. After walking into the Dead Sea you need to just ‘lay back’. This is so counter intuitive it is really hard to do, but here is where you can learn a little bit about faith. You seriously can just gently sit down and lift up your feet.  Keep your arms out to the side and use them to maneuver your way around. 

Do obey the ‘no splash’ rule!  Remember this is the saltiest body of water in the world and you do not want to get it splashed on your face and especially not in your eyes. This is not the place to ‘swim’.  Keep your head up and out of the water.  You've probably already guessed that it’s not the place to gulp down a swig of water either.

Speaking of ‘not the place to swim’ take heed to the notices posted about venturing too far away from the shore. While you can float indefinitely individuals have been lost in the vast Sea and there have been fatalities. Remember you cannot just ‘swim’ back to shore, you can only float so make sure you are not out of range as night approaches.

When you finish up your float it won’t take you to long to dry off from evaporation. Although you may not be wet you will still have a good amount of salt caked on your skin. Take time to shower off soon after you finish up.


Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

A must have item in my bag... the Sarong.

One of the most useful items I pack when traveling is a sarong.  It is lightweight and can be used in many different ways.

The Sarong…

A large rectangular or square piece of fabric.  It is available in a variety of fabrics and colors.  My favorite is a soft cotton fabric that is not transparent and has a nice drape.

What to use it for…

Your creativity is the only thing that will limit how you can use this little bit of fabric!

Ideas for clothing...

-      A beach cover-up. Wrap it around your waist or under your arms for a more covered look. Tie the upper corners together to keep it in place.

-      A scarf or head covering.  It works equally as well to protect you on a windy or sunny day as it does to cover your head in places of worship.

-      A fashion accessory. There is nothing like a pop of color to make you feel like you haven’t been wearing the same outfit for three days straight. Tie your sarong around and around for a fun chunky scarf or belt.

-      Fold it in half and tie it around your waist for a short skirt or leave it long for more coverage.

-      A Dress with several styles

   Draped Dress:

1)    Hold two corners on the long side of your sarong and tie them behind your neck.

2)    Grab the side edges below your waist and gather up a few inches to pull behind you.

3)    Slide both edges all the way around to one of your hips and knot the edges together.

   The Toga:

1)    Hold two corners on the long side of the sarong and wrap it behind your back horizontally.

2)    Wrap one corner all the way around your body and tuck it under your arm. Pull the corner over the back of the shoulder.

3)    Keep a hold of that corner with one hand while pulling the other corner in front of your shoulder and tie the two corners into a knot at your shoulder so the fabric drapes down the front of your arm.

   Wrap Dress:

1)    Again hold the two corners on the long side of the sarong and wrap it behind your back horizontally.

2)    Bring one end across your body to the opposite shoulder.

3)    Wrap the other end underneath your bust, around your back and to the opposite shoulder.

4)    Tie both ends at the shoulder.

Multi-purpose ideas...

-      No place to sit but on the ground? Pull out your sarong for a ground cover to sit on.

-      Need some shade? Tie it to something to create a makeshift tent.

-      Layover in a chilly airport? Use it for a lightweight blanket.

-      No towel handy? Use it to dry off with the extra advantage that it dries out itself very quickly.

-      It can be used as a screen or curtain to shield you from others. If you are sharing your accommodation it can be strung between the beds for a bit of privacy.  If you find yourself at the beach with no place to change into your swimming suit have a friend hold it out in a circle to create a changing room. Or it can be used as a curtain over a window or to block the sun or a light.

-      An extra tote bag!  With a little creative tying of 

    the corners it becomes an awesome bag.

A fun choice to consider... La Leela Super Soft Sarong

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.