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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 Its a Wonderful World with you
January 8th 2008

Beautiful Petra

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Petra
The Treasury

We left Cairo late Friday afternoon and our taxi driver took once last chance to rip us off! He wanted us to pay EL 50 for the parking ticket at the airport. He wasn’t even there for more than 5 mintues. Anyway, we got away with a EL20 compromise and a few bits of luggage we needed to get rid off. Arriving in Amman, again, there were problems letting us in. We had to wait aside from the rest of the passengers while officials and security was consulted. Finally they let us through. Jordan is an extremely wealthy country and is [View Full Entry]

By kevinsonic
December 7th 2007

Hummus and Indiana Jones

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Flag
There were flags everywhere. Jordanians are very proud of their country and their king.

Yemen to Jordan was a quick trip. I think we were only at sea for a day and when I awoke and stepped up onto the top deck I was greeted by a huge Jordanian flag flowing in the breeze over the port city of Aqabah. It was hot, sunny and dry and I was just about to board an air conditioned tour bus that would take me around the very beautiful and complex country that is Jordan. The reasons that I decided to take the tour option in Jordan were A.- We were given a stipend which covered the cost [View Full Entry]

By Al Sarih
November 11th 2007

In Search of the Holy Grail: Petra

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Overlook
View from the end of the first hike

Marhaba kulukum! I hope that everyone is doing well and that your lives are fulfilling whatever you are doing. Mine is certainly feeling that way of late, a feeling which has definitely grown after I visited Petra this Thursday. Without further ado let me tell you about it. Petra was recently named one of the 7 wonders of the world on a new list that has been put out recently and before I came to Jordan it was the one place that I truly wanted to see. This was probably from my love of the movie "The Last Crusade" where one [View Full Entry]

By TeamTurner
November 9th 2007

Floating In Salt After A Day Of Petrafication

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

The Treasury
Petra, Jordan

Floating In Salt After A Day Of Petrafication After spending a couple of days seeing Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, and Biblical lands you’d think we’d be tired of the old stuff. In most cases I would agree with you. I have a longer shelf life when it comes to ruins than Kel does, but even I have my limits. After a couple of days of solid ruins rumination, it’s usually time for a break for this traveler. But (there it is, the big but you knew was coming) Petra is a place that overcomes tourist fatigue. Petra is a place [View Full Entry]

By Pennie
October 17th 2007

Petra

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

First view of Al- Khazneh

Match me such a marvel save in eastern clime / a rose red city half as old as time. Petra is astonishing. What more, indeed, can be said? I found a car and driver to take me there and arrived at about 8:30 this morning. Al- Siq, the entrance, a 1.2 km walk through a fissure in sandstone rock; up to 200 metres high in places and only a few across; streaked with shades of pink and red and yellow and brown is a sight to behold in itself, but the anticipation of glimpsing the treasury, as you approach it; mounts, [View Full Entry]

By Danielle
October 15th 2007

10 Glorious Days in Jordan

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Okay, soo lots to catch you all up on! My last week in Alex was an emotional one - saying goodbye to these people was beyond difficult as they were my best friends, my family, my support for 3 months - it's crazy to think how close you can get with people when put into situations such as this. But then I went and spent 5 days at the Red Sea - Sharm el Sheikh with two of my British friends and my friend Ellen, from Miami - it was a blast though it wasn't "egypt". It's on the Sinai which [View Full Entry]

By adinam
October 8th 2007

End of Orientation

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Hello All, I just finished a long day in Petra, Jordan which was so beautiful. We saw some temples and canyons and also successfully survived our first international adventure. We rode horses down and hiked back up which was really tiring but also fun. We are staying at really interesting kibutz now where the houses are made of straw and mud and there is hardly any waste. It is very ecological and also more socialist than most kibbutzim have become. Everyone is anxious to arrive and settle in a city and Jerusalem so that will be rewarding after a busy and [View Full Entry]

By oftat
October 8th 2007

Petra - Mish & Milla...

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Petra asses
Sure footed sturdy animals

Petra 7-8 Oct When we arrived at Petra, Ian decided that as he had already seen the sights there, he would not stay but instead go direct to Aqaba and get his foot sorted out at a hospital. Gail and Jeremy decided that as they, too, had seen Petra before and Jeremy was not feeling too fit, they would go on to Aqaba as well. That left Milla and me on our own with the agreement that we would rejoin the others in two days’ time and so we made suitable meeting arrangements. At the Al Antab hotel we found that [View Full Entry]

By oftat
October 6th 2007

Jordan - Exploring - Day 23

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Beautiful Jordan
The unbelievable landscape of Jordan

The next stop was Dana Village, a very pretty little stone village. We planned to stop there to visit the Nature Reserve but were told of a campsite 5 miles away which sounded nice so booked in there. At first sight it looked lovely - little cabins set on the edge of a cliff overlooking a ravine - quite beautiful. However, the reality was not quite so good - the plumbing did not work at all, there were no sheets for the beds (we did manage to get the plastic covers taken off the mattresses!) and no lights. Ian and Chris [View Full Entry]

By DestinationAlgeria
September 24th 2007

showering with the family goat

Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Wadi Rum

Jordan, ah the hilly, rough, hot, rocky, desolate country which is kind of stuck amongst Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. Poor old place has plenty to deal with along its borders. Jordan has many goats, deserts and some ruins. I spent the first night in Aqaba, in the Gulf of Aqaba, but got out of there ASAP as it's all a bit too westernised for my liking. The motorway scenery out of there was all a hilly, rough, hot, rocky not to mention desolate road with plenty of trucks heading to Amman from the port. Every third truck or [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra