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Jordan 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 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 30th 2009

More experiences with the Jordanian postal system and host family updates Middle East » Jordan » North » Amman

Yesterday was a pretty full day, although it didn't seem like it at the time. I headed out to the post office in Wast al-Balad to pick up the camera my parents had sent me. I tried reading the signs as I stepped inside and, well, I could obviously sound out the words but they were all unfamiliar to me. I asked someone behind the desk and he told me to go to the second floor. Well, there was a set of stairs as well as a mail room and it looked like the mail room had two floors too. A [View Full Entry]

By NiallandDee
October 24th 2009

Trans Jordan Middle East » Jordan

Skyline and Biggest Freestanding Flagpole in the World, Amman

If I said to you “We are going to Jordan” what would your thoughts be? Think for a second, because we had a fairly good idea of what to expect with all the other countries on our Middle East trip, but not so much with Jordan. Turkey = The country where east meets west, EU wannabe, kebabs, the Ottoman Empire Syria = Devout Muslim, conservative, spices, Damascus Lebanon = Civil war, Irish troops with the UN, Lebanese food, modern Egypt = Pyramids, Egyptian history, hectic Cairo, the Nile valley But what about Jordan? Jordan is a bit like the forgotten country [View Full Entry]

Dee's a Celebrity, Get her out of here...

Baptism Site of Jesus, Jordan River Banks

By crumblybum21
October 24th 2009

My tour of Jordan in biblical proportions Middle East » Jordan » West

The wilderness

I have pictures this time! My camera was very well-behaved. Haha! Anyways, today was my first optional CIEE-organized trip and as you probably guessed, it was to the Biblical sites in Jordan. I can't begin to say how excited I have been this whole week. I was the first person at the front gates and on the bus this morning at 7:30! Not so promptly after 8:00, we headed off to Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, the baptismal site of Jesus himself. After a quick trip to the "water closet" (I can't get over how that's what they call bathrooms here!), we walked down a [View Full Entry]

By Nathan1986
October 20th 2009

Delights to Frights from Aqaba Middle East » Jordan » South » Aqaba

Aqaba

I got a lift out of Wadi Rum camp site by the lovely German couple who were been driving around Jordan with a hire car, they where also headed to Aqaba and offered to give me a lift into town! (YES FREE RIDE!) Once in Aqaba i must admit i became a quasi backpacker, and checked into a "mid range hotel" that had the luxury of a double bed, air-conditioning, breakfast, my own toilet and wait for it... a TELEVISION! YES it even had a satellite movie channel and was picking up Israeli stations from the other side of the strait! [View Full Entry]

By Nathan1986
October 19th 2009

My night in the Desert Middle East » Jordan » South » Wadi Rum

Photo 1

I dont know whats happening to me! Im sleeping in desert camps? not showering for 2 days. No towel? Thats okay, ill use my dirty t shirts. Is this shirt dirty? Wait let me do a smell test... MMM... still good! I dont even care if i dont bursh my teeth, gum will do! This is the holiday me. I turn into some backpacker bogan... well... quasi backpacker, the real deal would have been to sleep under the stars and not in a tent, thats a bit too native for me though considering the temperature plumates in the evening. I left [View Full Entry]

By SayLittle
October 19th 2009

Jordan Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Coffee Shop in Jordan

Jordan was amazing not only for the history but also for the landscape. The first stop in Jordan was Wadi Rum, which is an old caravan route and is mostly famous for Lawrence of Arabia. We spent about four hours in the desert climbing hill, sand dunes and exploring the terrain. That night we bushed camped in the middle of the desert and passed the time by making pyramids and doing other stupid tricks, it was a very fun night. After Wadi Rum we continued onto Wadi Musa, which a small town where Petra is located. The group spent the evening [View Full Entry]

By Nathan1986
October 17th 2009

Call me Haysum Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Walking threw the Siq

I left Amman in the afternoon as i considered the day travelling to Petra a dead day. I left after lunch and just rocked up to the bus station as it now seems a task finding out what time buses leave. The taxi driver was kind enough to drive me into the station and drop me off at the exact terminal for my bus. This was a nice gesture as he could have left me at the front to walk through all the touts who hassle you into a cab. Though it didnt take long for touts to spot me. They [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 stu dowell
October 15th 2009

Petra the jewel in Jordans crown Middle East » Jordan » South » Petra

Mansour tries it for size

Journal Entry: Monday, October 12, 2009 Time: 10:01 PM Started the day with a very nice large leisurely breakfast, then went for a walk, didn't get lost but found myself at the gates of prince Hussein's residence on the Israeli border (its that close )the checkpoint phoned the gaffer and he invited me in for drinks as he likes England ! The captain was a very nice fellow and we had Arabian coffee, was almost clear and none to sure of the flavour and a glass of orange juice. Returned to the hotel via the market again, little else to do, [View Full Entry]

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