Jordan
Wikipedia - Jordan is an Arab kingdom in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country leader is Abdullah II. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing control of the Dead Sea with the latter. Jordan's only port is at its south-western tip, at the Gulf of Aqaba, which is shared with Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Over half of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO DISCOVER SOME OF THE BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN JORDAN
Float Weightlessly in the Dead Sea
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Cross a Natural Bridge in Wadi Rum
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Ride a Mule up a Mountain to the Monestary in Petra
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Get Baptised at the Same Site as Jesus at Bethany Beyond the Jordan
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Hide in a Secret Grotto Behind a Warm Waterfall at Ma'in Hot Spa
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View the Holy Land on Mount Nebo
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Teresa the Traveler's Travel Tips for JordanBring a Phrase Book - While many of the people in the tourist industry do speak English, I still recommend bringing an Arabic phrase book to communicate with locals who may not speak English. Many of the budget restaurants catering to locals do not have English menus and a phrase book can ensure the sandwich you thought you ordered isn’t a pig’s ear or a lamb’s head. Locals are always more receptive when you make an effort to speak their language. Learning how to greet them in their native tongue is a great way to connect and enrich your experience in their country.
Hire an English Speaking Cab Driver - While you can rent a car and drive from Madaba to the Dead Sea on your own, finding your way around the city is not easy and the signage is not always the best. You may have to stop countless times to ask for directions, so unless you are prepared to ask for directions in Arabic, I suggest to hire an English Speaking driver for the day, it won't cost much more than the car rental and will save you some the hassle of getting lost. Public transportation is not great in this area and not worth the hassel when it is so cheap to hire a cab. Pick up you Free Tourist Information Booklets - Jordan Toursim has created a fantastic series of free guide booklets in an assortment of different languages to help tourists best enjoy their time in Jordan. They can be found in many of the hotels and tourist information offices. Point at the Food - When eating in a non-English speaking restaurant, find one where the food is on display so you can point to what you want, or bring the waiter to a table that is eating what you want and show him. It takes a bit more effort to eat at these places but the prices are lower and you get a taste of the local cuisine. For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE |
Jordan Facts
1. Only men were allowed to file for divorce in Jordan until 2002 when the first woman filed for divorce thanks to the formation of a human rights
commission by King Abdullah who vowed to improve the status of women in Jordan.
2. Tourism is a big industry in Jordan contributing between 10-12 percent of the country’s Gross National Product.
3. Petra has a sister city in Saudi Arabia called Al-Hijr.
4. Muwakir was the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great and was where his son Herod Antipas ordered the beheading of John the Baptist.
5. T.E Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) used Azraq Castle as his military base during the Arab revolt against the Turks during World War I.
6. In 1965, Jordan did a land exchange with Saudi Arabia. Jordan gave up a relatively large area of inland desert in return for a small piece of sea-shore
near Aqaba.
7. In 1994, King Hussein signed a peace treaty with Israel and to honor him, his picture later appeared on an Israeli postage stamp.
commission by King Abdullah who vowed to improve the status of women in Jordan.
2. Tourism is a big industry in Jordan contributing between 10-12 percent of the country’s Gross National Product.
3. Petra has a sister city in Saudi Arabia called Al-Hijr.
4. Muwakir was the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great and was where his son Herod Antipas ordered the beheading of John the Baptist.
5. T.E Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) used Azraq Castle as his military base during the Arab revolt against the Turks during World War I.
6. In 1965, Jordan did a land exchange with Saudi Arabia. Jordan gave up a relatively large area of inland desert in return for a small piece of sea-shore
near Aqaba.
7. In 1994, King Hussein signed a peace treaty with Israel and to honor him, his picture later appeared on an Israeli postage stamp.
