About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
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Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
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Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
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So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
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As Seen In:
Jordan Archive
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Five Surprisingly Romantic Cities
Posted on February 5, 2012 | 20 CommentsSome cities you expect to be romantic; Paris has made billions of dollars on that premise alone. Other cities surprise you though with their ability to charm and to help create those special romantic moments between you and your loved one. Here are some of... -
Five Reasons to Visit Jordan
Posted on January 24, 2012 | 14 Comments1. Safe and stable so far - The reverberations of the 2011 Arab Spring have been felt throughout the Middle East, and they’re not over yet. The instability in Egypt especially has had a lasting impact on tourism not only in that country, but surrounding... -
Reflections on a Petra Dog
Posted on January 22, 2012 | No CommentsI took this photo in Petra, Jordan, while on a 10-hour exploration of the ancient site. It was hot, scorching really, and every living thing was seeking shade of some sort, including this little guy. Dogs traditionally are not well cared for in certain... -
The Last Post of 2011 Travel Bests and Worsts I Will Ever Write
Posted on January 2, 2012 | 8 CommentsI know what you’re thinking, yet another “Best of 2011″ post? I realize that I did a whole series on the topic as did every mainstream paper, magazine, TV show and of course blogger. That being said, I was tagged by a fellow travel blogger... -
2011 Favorite Travel Experience of the Year
Posted on December 28, 2011 | 3 CommentsTravel has many faces and there are many factors which, when combined, create the perfect trip. Ultimately though it’s all about the experiences, what you see, do and enjoy while on your trip that is most important. I’ve been very fortunate this year to have... -
42 Things I Love About Jordan
Posted on December 1, 2011 | 19 CommentsIf you’re a frequent visitor to LandLopers, then you know that I didn’t just enjoy my trip to Jordan earlier this year, I loved it. I’ve been looking through photos of the trip and reflecting on key moments, so I thought I would assemble a... -
Exploring the Roots of Christianity in Jordan
Posted on November 17, 2011 | 1 CommentWhen most people think of Jordan, they probably don’t consider its importance in the formation of the Christian religion. Jordan’s location in the Middle East though has put in the crossroads of several civilizations and religions for millennia, especially Christianity. I’m not a religious person,... -
Jordan – Final Impressions
Posted on November 8, 2011 | 13 CommentsEarlier this year I visited Jordan at the kind invitation of the Jordan Tourism Board. Since then I’ve written a lot about my experiences there, and I still have more to write. But I thought it was an appropriate time to reflect on my trip... -
Hidden Treasure of Petra – The Monastery Trail
Posted on October 12, 2011 | 5 CommentsOne of the nice things about having someone else plan a travel itinerary for you is that a lot of the stress goes away. One of the downsides I learned though is that I personally don’t do as much trip prep as I should, especially... -
Looking for Aqaba
Posted on October 4, 2011 | No CommentsI didn’t know anything about Aqaba before we pulled into the resort town a little before noon. I’d heard of it before, but probably could not have placed it on a map and definitely couldn’t have told you that it was in Jordan. Yet there... -
One of the Greatest Roman Cities You’ve Probably Never Heard Of – Jerash
Posted on September 12, 2011 | 4 CommentsMy trip to Jordan lasted only eight days, but by the 5th or 6th day I had overdosed on ancient ruins. I love antiquity, don’t get me wrong. The thought of exploring long forgotten civilizations is exciting and usually gets my travels juices flowing. But,... -
Learning to Love the Spa – A Global Journey Through Thermal Springs and Pools
Posted on August 25, 2011 | 1 CommentBeing American as I am, I always thought the term ‘spa’ referred to a place where people go to receive massage treatments, facials and pedicures. Once in a while I would notice people calling their Jacuzzi a ‘spa’ but I quickly dismissed it. It wasn’t... -
When Good Ideas Go Bad – Petra by Night Experience
Posted on August 22, 2011 | 15 CommentsWe meandered on the way to Petra, stopping at Karak castle and the Dana Biosphere Reserve before finally reaching Petra in the late afternoon. I knew that the following day would be spent exploring the great wonder of the world, but I was excited for... -
Exploring the Mosaic Map of Madaba
Posted on August 11, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe Madaba Map in Jordan It was hard leaving the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba, one of Jordan’s great cities, but I knew we had to keep moving. I was on a whirlwind trip of the country and eager to head back north... -
Travel Racism in the Middle East
Posted on August 7, 2011 | 24 CommentsTravel to the Middle East had been growing steadily for several years and was expected to peak this year. The events of the Arab Spring put all that growth into a tailspin, but not everywhere in the region and not equally. While many of the... -
World’s Best Entrance – Exploring the Siq at Petra
Posted on July 19, 2011 | 5 CommentsThe most visited site in Jordan is Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and perhaps best known for its cameo in Indiana Jones. I wrote briefly about the city and how, even though I expected it to amazing, it far surpassed... -
Travel Spotlight – Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan
Posted on July 10, 2011 | No CommentsOn the drive from the Crusader castle at Karak to the Nabatean city of Petra, we stopped by one of Jordan’s greatest natural wonders, the Dana Biosphere Reserve. My first introduction to Dana was at a scenic overlook along the highway, home to a Jordanian... -
Fumbling with Shisha in Amman Jordan
Posted on July 4, 2011 | 10 CommentsI lumbered off the plane after twelve-not-so-short hours in the air into the bustling city of Amman, Jordan jet lagged, but hungry. I knew that it was one of the few evenings I had completely to myself before starting my Jordan experience hosted by the... -
Snorkeling in the Red Sea with Video
Posted on June 26, 2011 | 1 CommentI’ve written many times about my love of the water, and activities in, on or around it are some of my favorite. When I had the chance to visit Jordan, as the guest of the Jordan Tourism Board, I knew I had to visit the... -
Five Favorite Moments in Jordan
Posted on June 20, 2011 | 5 CommentsMy trip to Jordan was at the kind invitation of the Jordan Tourism Board, and they made sure I had plenty of time to do everything on my wish list. The experience was an amazing one and fostered an instant and intense love for this... -
Getting Lost in the Thermal Pools and Waterfalls of Hammamat Ma’in, Jordan
Posted on June 14, 2011 | 5 CommentsWhile Jordan enjoys lush areas in certain parts of the country, and even large nature reserves, the fact is that large swaths of this Middle Eastern nation is desert. That doesn’t mean to say that it’s not beautiful, it’s stunning, and I discovered an inherent... -
Ancient Ruins Overload and How Petra Saved Me
Posted on June 7, 2011 | 5 CommentsWhen I first saw my schedule from the Jordan Tourism Board, I got very excited. They were kind enough to invite me to explore their country, and I couldn’t wait. I love history and I knew that Jordan’s influence in the region and in world... -
Travel Spotlight: Desert Castles of Jordan – Qasr al-Amra
Posted on June 6, 2011 | 2 CommentsLocated in the desert east of Amman are a serious of curious structures, dotting the landscape almost randomly. These are the famous Desert Castles of Jordan, a remnant of the once dominant Umayyad empire. Built more than 1,200 years ago, these so-called castles didn’t have... -
Video Experience – Floating in the Dead Sea
Posted on June 5, 2011 | 3 CommentsA must-do experience for anyone visiting Jordan is a swim in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is unique because it is eight times saltier than the ocean, thanks to the unique geography of the area. This high salt content means that life is absent... -
Cute Overload – Baby Camels of Jordan
Posted on June 2, 2011 | 13 CommentsI love animals, a lot. Throw in baby animals and my heart melts and I lose all control. While in Jordan, I was lucky enough to spend some time in the desert where, to my great joy, there had been a camel baby boom. Here... -
Ultimate Street Food Experience – Best Summertime Snack in Jordan
Posted on June 1, 2011 | 10 CommentsOn the first day of touring Jordan, we drove past a roadside stand selling bright green watermelons when the driver, Mahmoud, made a comment that marked the beginning of an epic food quest. He said that one of his favorite things to do is to... -
Wadi Rum Desert Camp – The Facts and the Experience
Posted on May 31, 2011 | 6 CommentsIt had been a long day, but then again I was getting used to it during my trip to Jordan. There was a lot to do and see in the country, and the itinerary I requested from the Jordan Tourism Board had been ambitious. That... -
Jordan Tourism’s Petra Paradox
Posted on May 30, 2011 | 2 CommentsJordan is lucky when it comes to tourism, after all it is home to Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. That alone is worth millions, if not more over time, in tourist revenue. But with this accolade has come a problem,... -
Trekking Through Jordan – The Itinerary
Posted on May 12, 2011 | 8 CommentsA couple of months ago I received an unexpected email from the fine people at the Jordan Tourism Board. They asked several travel bloggers to visit Jordan at various times to experience the country and share it with the world. Lucky for me they... -
Tumult in the Middle East and What it Means for Travelers
Posted on March 23, 2011 | 5 CommentsThe world has been a tumultuous place recently. Uprisings, protests, earthquakes and nuclear meltdowns have all made the headlines lately. Then, just yesterday, a bomb exploded near the Central Bus Station in downtown Jerusalem; the first such bombing in more than seven years. It’s not...
