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Amman Travel Blogs

Background: For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a formal peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After a two-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections took place in the summer of 2003. The Prime Minister and government appointed in April 2005 declared they would build upon the previous government's achievements to respect political and human rights and improve living standards.

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By curly
December 7th 2009

Goodbye Syria, Hello Jordan Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Damascus

Hallootjes, Nog maar net in Syrië aangekomen en ik ben alweer weg. Ik wou eerst Jordanië bezoeken zodat ik achteraf de rest van mijn tijd in Syrië kan doorbrengen, zo hoef ik me zeker geen zorgen te maken over mijn vlucht terug naar België en zo van die dingen. Mijn vrienden hier wouden me absoluut met de taxi zien vertrekken naar Amman terwijl ik van het idee was om de bus te nemen zoals aangeduid in mijn trotter. Ik ben veilig in Amman geraakt maar de taxi mocht Amman niet binnen rijden als Syrische taxi en bracht me dus naar de [View Full Entry]

By crumblybum21
November 25th 2009

The low point of the bell curve gets a boost Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Shrine of the Prophet Joshua

Well, I think I've broken my personal record for length of time between blog posts. It's been a bit rough lately in terms of my tolerance for the annoying little things that happen every day, although it is getting better with the idea of a short break for Eid al-Adha, the feast that celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God. We actually watched a video of the Quranic story today in Media class. Muslims believe it was Isma'il that was almost sacrificed, not Isaac. At this point, thousands of years later, I guess it's all the same! lol. It's [View Full Entry]

By NicolaasRoos
November 24th 2009

Jordan and Israel in a week Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

I landed in Amman on Monday evening. During the flight I sat next to a lady from Palestine, who told me a lot about Amman and the rest of the country. Together with her friend we shared a taxi to the city, where I checked in my hotel. The hotel looked like it was built in the sixties and not maintained since then. Well, what the heck, I was tired and I couldn't care to find another hotel for the two days I will be here. The next day I woke up and had breakfast with a group of middle aged [View Full Entry]

By crumblybum21
November 8th 2009

Madaba, birthday celebrations and everyday life Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Madaba!

Whew, it's been a really long time since I've written last! I apologize for that. I don't really know what else I've been busy with other than everyday life. I guess life here is beginning to seem ordinary. Maybe that's a good thing! Anyways, last Friday was a very lazy day. I hung around the house and did basically nothing. It was so nice! Saturday, however, was a little more eventful. It was a bit sad though, because it was the day we took the kittens to the humane society. The Humane Center for Animal Welfare is pretty far from where [View Full Entry]

By crumblybum21
October 16th 2009

Taxi drivers are not helping my passive-aggressive nature Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Hm, it's been a while. I have to start out by saying that I feel a lot better now than I have over the past week. I think if I were given the option to get on a plane home, I would have seriously considered it. There are times when Amman just gets to me. Things I would take for granted, like getting home, just seem so much more difficult here. And I'm getting quite fed up with taxis. On Mondays I have choir practice at 7:30 and by then it's dark here, of course. And as the sun goes down, [View Full Entry]

By Nathan1986
October 13th 2009

Amazing Amman Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Roman Theatre

Well im glad i didn't hop in the taxi to Beirut! "Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan!" Says King Abdullah II and his Palestinian Queen Rania as you cross the border! Of course not in real life but on big massive propaganda posters! The king really is amazing! He can do anything! Everyone loves him here! There are so many photos of him and his family plastered around Amman! Its really fascinating to observe ! AND Amman is Amazing! The city itself has a much more relaxed vibe to it. Its not so bustling, once away from the main strips [View Full Entry]

By Timoteo Timotei
October 12th 2009

In the steps of Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Ostensibly I joined this expedition with a mad German to find a mysterious artefact and a lost body, the lost body of some ancient personage that he has been looking for for many years with the help of some other mad German academic. Between them they felt this body would lead them to the great holy grail of all German expeditions, but they did not want to identify to me what this holy grail was. Anyway we convened on the far side of the sea of Tiberias and then crossed the lake to journey inland from a German site. Into the [View Full Entry]

By crumblybum21
October 11th 2009

Diplomatic bazaar! Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

No pictures to show, as usual, but I definitely wish that I did! Yesterday I went to the Diplomatic Bazaar put together by Princess Basma, who is the aunt of the current king Abdullah II. She had quite a show of security with her. It was a bit irritating to dodge around the crowds that tried to take pictures of her and the security guards who held them back. But people in suits didn't stop me from enjoying myself! All the proceeds went to Mubarrat Um Al-Hussein, which is a charity that benefits rural women and children in Jordan. I think [View Full Entry]

By WillW
October 8th 2009

Jordan Post Mortem Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Now that I am back in the U.S. and having Hashem with drawl syndrome I spent a little time reflecting on my month in Jordan. After I finished my Arabic course my wife and I set out on a three day whirlwind tour of the rest of the country. We had a great driver/guide who I had met earlier and Ahmed AKA "Steve" drove us from Amman down to Petra. One of the real highlights of the trip wasn't Petra, but "Little Petra" as Steve called it which is about 10-15 minutes away from the main Petra site. Little Petra doesn't [View Full Entry]

By crumblybum21
October 7th 2009

Field trip and other updates Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

King Hussein bin Talal Mosque

Things are starting to pick up, both in and outside of class, something I'm very grateful for! All the former free time was getting me a bit homesick... But no worries! I have lots of things to keep me from sitting at home. Monday night I went along with a pack of CIEE students to test out a choir at one of the YWCA's here. I still don't really know what exactly the choir is affiliated with, but I do know they have a Christmas concert on three nights in December. Most of the songs were spirituals and carols, but there [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman