Well, finally we have moved to our new apartment! We have been here for four nights now. It feels really, really great in many ways and it feels quite incomplete in many ways.
What feels great....waking up in the morning and it's my routine with the kids. I make them breakfast, feed them lunch and get dinner (well try to) get dinner ready before Yanal gets home from work. I have my own space. I can make a mess of it if I want or I can keep it clean if I want, and I don't have to feel strange about doing either....not that anyone made me feel strange, but this is my own space to do whatever with! The kids have their own toys, books and movies! They have their own spaces to play together and they sleep alone. During the day, we play with their toys, read books, play hide and seek, peek-a-boo, go for walks, take naps together and jump around and dance to Aisha's favorite tunes. It's been a lot of fun to hang out with them. Although we wish Daddy was here with us...we miss Daddy when he's at work.
What feels incomplete....We are still waiting for someone to come finish doing whatever to the washer and dryer. Clothes are starting to pile up and someone is supposedly coming tonight to hook these up. However, this is like the 4th 'guy' who came over to hook it up....so I'm not holding my breath. In addition to the washer and dryer, the stove top was working before we moved in, but the 'guy(s)' couldn't figure out how to convert the oven to Jordanian electricity (or whatever). A 'guy' (the 3rd 'guy') came over to do the oven part a few days ago and now the stove top isn't working as well as it was before...grrr. The last thing that feels incomplete is needs to get a new bedroom set. As mentioned in a previous blog, they do not have closets here, so we have all these clothes and no where to hang them. We are on a mission to find a new bedroom set with the huge amiour (about 3x the size of the normal ones in the US-they have shelves, drawers and rods for hanging clothes). This way we can give our current set to Omar, and Aisha can have her complete set...everyone wins! Once we have the new bedroom set, then I can finish unpacking and hopfully things will start to feel normal!
We were very thankful to the 'guy' that came over yesterday to hook up the internet. He was the first 'guy' that came over and actually knew how to start and finish what he came over to do! It feels great to be connected to the world with the internet. Our phone line is up and running again also...for those of you who call us, it is the same phone number as you used before. Talk to you soon!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
PICTURES!
Here are the first of many pictures to come! I still cannot get my pictures uploaded. These are a few pictures from Rasha's camera today! ENJOY!
Don't forget to read my other posting from today, He's Calling Me "MaMa"!
Yanal and Bethany
Aisha
Daddy's Little Girl!
3 out of 4 (Beth, Yanal and Aisha)
Yaser and Lina
Dafi and Rasha
My Little Lady, Aisha!
Her cousin, Salem (Dafi and Rasha's son)
Best of Friends!
Tae-Tae (Grandma) Almanasir
.....and here's my little man Omar!
He's Calling Me "MaMa"!
Okay, I didn't believe it at first either. I mean common on, my little lady didn't say Momma until she was over a year old! He's only 7 1/2 months old...really...MaMa???!
I know at this age they are babbling and discoverying what he can do with his voice. He's doing that, BaBaBaBa, DaDaDaDa, MaMaMaMa and other babbles that he finds amusing. However, he is definately calling me MaMa!
He calls for me in the morning when he wakes up, "MaMa MaMaaaa!". He calls for me after he wakes from his naps, when he wants to be fed, and when he wants me to hold him, "MaMA"! He looks right in to my eyes and calls my name!
I can't say any more about it, other than he is amazing to watch. This little guy is so more active, aggressive and sure of himself than his sister was at this age. I just wonder what his future holds. I sometimes hold my breath wondering what our future holds when he is 2 years old...Omar is not passive like Aisha was as his age and she is now a busy, sometimes naughty, little 2 year old! I wonder what he will be like?!
I still can't believe it, MAMA! Simply adorable!
I know at this age they are babbling and discoverying what he can do with his voice. He's doing that, BaBaBaBa, DaDaDaDa, MaMaMaMa and other babbles that he finds amusing. However, he is definately calling me MaMa!
He calls for me in the morning when he wakes up, "MaMa MaMaaaa!". He calls for me after he wakes from his naps, when he wants to be fed, and when he wants me to hold him, "MaMA"! He looks right in to my eyes and calls my name!
I can't say any more about it, other than he is amazing to watch. This little guy is so more active, aggressive and sure of himself than his sister was at this age. I just wonder what his future holds. I sometimes hold my breath wondering what our future holds when he is 2 years old...Omar is not passive like Aisha was as his age and she is now a busy, sometimes naughty, little 2 year old! I wonder what he will be like?!
I still can't believe it, MAMA! Simply adorable!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Eid Al-Fitr in Jordan
What is Eid Al Fitr?!
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in pious activities such as charitable giving and peace-making. It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr ("the Festival of Fast-Breaking").
Eid al-Fitr is a time to give charity to those in need and to celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.
Before the day of Eid, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Muslim family gives a determined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is actual food (or money can be given to the Mosque to buy food and distribute) to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the celebration. This donation is known as "charity of fast-breaking".
On the day of Eid, Muslims gather early in the morning in mosques or other arranged place to perform the Eid prayer. The Eid prayer consists of a sermon followed by a short congregational prayer.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually scatter to visit various family and friends, give gifts (especially to children), and make phone calls to distant relatives to give well-wishes for the holiday. These activities traditionally continue for three days. In most Muslim countries, the entire 3-day period is an official government/school holiday.
Eid Al-Fitr in Jordan
As described above, Eid Al-Fitr is a 3 day holiday and we are just finishing day three. We have been busy over the past 3 days visiting family and they have been visiting us. The visits can be long or short. Most visits last around a half hour. This length of time gives us time to visit Yanal's entire family...his Mom has 6 siblings, his Dad has 12 siblings and many of these siblings have grown families of their own to visit as well (Mashallah, God Bless Them)!
During these visits we wish everyone a Happy Eid, eat sweets, drink tea or coffee and talk for a little while before going to the next home. The kids have fun eating candy, playing together and sometimes someone will put a little money in the kids' pocket. It is common that everyone is wearing new clothes to these visits. These clothes can be formal or just something nice to wear through out the next year.
The kids are also given a gift or two from their parents and maybe their grandparents or other relatives during the Eid. --- We bought Aisha a small keyboard with microphone that plays back her beautiful singing voice! My little lady LOVES to sing and dance, so she LOVED the new toy. She also recieved her very own swing (for now, until Omar grows up and wants to swing--LOL) from Grandma Almanasir. My little lady also LOVES to swing. Bring her to the playground and that's all she wants to do is swing, swing, swing; so, she's having fun with her own swing. Lastly, she was given a new dress from Auntie Rasha and some money from other relatives. Omar recieved some money which we will use to get him something special. ---
Because about 95% of the country is Muslim and they are all celebrating Eid, the malls and stores were busy, busy, busy the week before the holiday! It was like Christmas in the US. The streets were jammed packed with cars and people walking everywhere looking for new outfits to wear and gifts to give! The highway by the mall, near our apartment, was backed up over a mile every day from all the people trying to get to the mall.
My mother-in-law owns a chocolate store. In addition to chocolate, during the holidays she also sells homemade cookies called Maamoul(-sp?!). It is a small, labor intensive cookie that is filled with dates or nuts. Her workers and the household have been working hard on making literally thousands of these cookies for weeks before the Eid! Mashallah, her store was so busy the night before the Eid that she was open until 200am! She ran out of cookies and the workers were up all night making more and they have continued making cookies until yesterday!
The salons are also just as busy! Everyone waits until the last days before the Eid to get their hair cut, colored and blow dryed. Many of the women here have curly hair and they get their hair dryed at the salon to straighten their hair and make it beautiful! Even though many of them cover their hair with the Hijab (headscarf), they still women and have the need to be beautiful! It is also common to get pedicure, manicures and sugaring (similar to waxing) prior to the Eid. Everone wants to look their best. It has been rumored that many salons were open all night, the night before Eid. I guess many women waited and waited to get fixed and they were unable to fix everyone, so people waited all night for nothing! --Reminder, appointments here are uncommon. You just show up and wait your turn...note to self, not a good idea the night before Eid!
Some people here decorate the outside of their homes with lights. It is becoming more common, but it is no where near the decor of Christmas in the US!! Maybe 1 out of every 6 homes have a string of lights, a cresent moon with a star or a lantern.
It has been a fun and tiring experience, Eid Al-Fitr in Jordan. It's neat to see the traditions of other people. I have experienced Eid Al-Fitr in Milwaukee, but it's different from here because there are soooo many people visiting back and forth.
Yanal has 1 more day off (total of 6 days in a row, with last weekend) until he heads back to work for a day and then it's the weekend off again! Gotta love the paid holiday time-off they get too! It's fun to have him around so much...Aisha can't get enough of him!! (Omar thinks he's fun too!)
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in pious activities such as charitable giving and peace-making. It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr ("the Festival of Fast-Breaking").
Eid al-Fitr is a time to give charity to those in need and to celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.
Before the day of Eid, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Muslim family gives a determined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is actual food (or money can be given to the Mosque to buy food and distribute) to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the celebration. This donation is known as "charity of fast-breaking".
On the day of Eid, Muslims gather early in the morning in mosques or other arranged place to perform the Eid prayer. The Eid prayer consists of a sermon followed by a short congregational prayer.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually scatter to visit various family and friends, give gifts (especially to children), and make phone calls to distant relatives to give well-wishes for the holiday. These activities traditionally continue for three days. In most Muslim countries, the entire 3-day period is an official government/school holiday.
Eid Al-Fitr in Jordan
As described above, Eid Al-Fitr is a 3 day holiday and we are just finishing day three. We have been busy over the past 3 days visiting family and they have been visiting us. The visits can be long or short. Most visits last around a half hour. This length of time gives us time to visit Yanal's entire family...his Mom has 6 siblings, his Dad has 12 siblings and many of these siblings have grown families of their own to visit as well (Mashallah, God Bless Them)!
During these visits we wish everyone a Happy Eid, eat sweets, drink tea or coffee and talk for a little while before going to the next home. The kids have fun eating candy, playing together and sometimes someone will put a little money in the kids' pocket. It is common that everyone is wearing new clothes to these visits. These clothes can be formal or just something nice to wear through out the next year.
The kids are also given a gift or two from their parents and maybe their grandparents or other relatives during the Eid. --- We bought Aisha a small keyboard with microphone that plays back her beautiful singing voice! My little lady LOVES to sing and dance, so she LOVED the new toy. She also recieved her very own swing (for now, until Omar grows up and wants to swing--LOL) from Grandma Almanasir. My little lady also LOVES to swing. Bring her to the playground and that's all she wants to do is swing, swing, swing; so, she's having fun with her own swing. Lastly, she was given a new dress from Auntie Rasha and some money from other relatives. Omar recieved some money which we will use to get him something special. ---
Because about 95% of the country is Muslim and they are all celebrating Eid, the malls and stores were busy, busy, busy the week before the holiday! It was like Christmas in the US. The streets were jammed packed with cars and people walking everywhere looking for new outfits to wear and gifts to give! The highway by the mall, near our apartment, was backed up over a mile every day from all the people trying to get to the mall.
My mother-in-law owns a chocolate store. In addition to chocolate, during the holidays she also sells homemade cookies called Maamoul(-sp?!). It is a small, labor intensive cookie that is filled with dates or nuts. Her workers and the household have been working hard on making literally thousands of these cookies for weeks before the Eid! Mashallah, her store was so busy the night before the Eid that she was open until 200am! She ran out of cookies and the workers were up all night making more and they have continued making cookies until yesterday!
The salons are also just as busy! Everyone waits until the last days before the Eid to get their hair cut, colored and blow dryed. Many of the women here have curly hair and they get their hair dryed at the salon to straighten their hair and make it beautiful! Even though many of them cover their hair with the Hijab (headscarf), they still women and have the need to be beautiful! It is also common to get pedicure, manicures and sugaring (similar to waxing) prior to the Eid. Everone wants to look their best. It has been rumored that many salons were open all night, the night before Eid. I guess many women waited and waited to get fixed and they were unable to fix everyone, so people waited all night for nothing! --Reminder, appointments here are uncommon. You just show up and wait your turn...note to self, not a good idea the night before Eid!
Some people here decorate the outside of their homes with lights. It is becoming more common, but it is no where near the decor of Christmas in the US!! Maybe 1 out of every 6 homes have a string of lights, a cresent moon with a star or a lantern.
It has been a fun and tiring experience, Eid Al-Fitr in Jordan. It's neat to see the traditions of other people. I have experienced Eid Al-Fitr in Milwaukee, but it's different from here because there are soooo many people visiting back and forth.
Yanal has 1 more day off (total of 6 days in a row, with last weekend) until he heads back to work for a day and then it's the weekend off again! Gotta love the paid holiday time-off they get too! It's fun to have him around so much...Aisha can't get enough of him!! (Omar thinks he's fun too!)
Friday, September 18, 2009
We Found a Pediatrician!
Hello! I just wanted to announce that we found a new Pediatrician! She was recommended to us and I really, really liked her a lot! Thanks to Yassar and Teresa for following up with the recommendation!
Both of my kiddos are sick and to my great surprise....I did not go home with a single script for antibiotics!! Aisha got scripts for her on going constipation and for the cough that causes her to gag and throw up every night. Omar got scripts for prn fever due to his vaccinations and a decongestant for his runny nose.
This MD was like the USA MDs, she worked with me. She had to mesh the vaccination schedules of Jordan and the USA, which vary slightly. She asked many good questions, had good answers to my questions, played with both kids to make them comfortable with her, and she had a thorough examinations! I am soooo happy and take back some of my previous comments about the MDs here in Jordan.
The only thing that sucked was the vaccines were not covered my the health insurance, so we had to fork over 125 JD, about $170.00 for 4 vaccines! As mentioned earlier, Jordan MDs and hospitals require that you pay at the time of service...bummer, when we were expecting everything, especially vaccines, to be covered...but what are you gonna do when he already received the vaccinations?! Otherwise, the insurance covered the exams at 100% and we only had to pay $1.00 for the 4 prescriptions! $1.00, awesome!
Well, I hope these meds help my poor, little, sick ones!! I'll let you know!
Otherwise....Happy Eid to all my Muslim friends and family! I will write more about Eid Al Fitr, once I experience the 3 days Islamic holiday here in Jordan!
Both of my kiddos are sick and to my great surprise....I did not go home with a single script for antibiotics!! Aisha got scripts for her on going constipation and for the cough that causes her to gag and throw up every night. Omar got scripts for prn fever due to his vaccinations and a decongestant for his runny nose.
This MD was like the USA MDs, she worked with me. She had to mesh the vaccination schedules of Jordan and the USA, which vary slightly. She asked many good questions, had good answers to my questions, played with both kids to make them comfortable with her, and she had a thorough examinations! I am soooo happy and take back some of my previous comments about the MDs here in Jordan.
The only thing that sucked was the vaccines were not covered my the health insurance, so we had to fork over 125 JD, about $170.00 for 4 vaccines! As mentioned earlier, Jordan MDs and hospitals require that you pay at the time of service...bummer, when we were expecting everything, especially vaccines, to be covered...but what are you gonna do when he already received the vaccinations?! Otherwise, the insurance covered the exams at 100% and we only had to pay $1.00 for the 4 prescriptions! $1.00, awesome!
Well, I hope these meds help my poor, little, sick ones!! I'll let you know!
Otherwise....Happy Eid to all my Muslim friends and family! I will write more about Eid Al Fitr, once I experience the 3 days Islamic holiday here in Jordan!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sick of Being Sick!
Okay, they are sick...again! My kids have spent a total of 3 months here in Jordan and they are now starting their 3rd round of sickness. I am sick of them being sick! I don't remember Aisha getting sick this often in our old home. However, she wasn't exposed to this many people. She didn't play with many kids either. It's also that time of year when the kiddos head back to school, so I'm certain her cousins have brought some sick bugs home to my kids. Whatever the reason, I'm sick of it!
In addition to runny noses, coughs, aches and pains, throwing up and constant crying my little lady is also constipated! Grrrr......sick of constipation too! Same old story, she starts with not going for about 4 days and then she's backed up and scared to go over the next 2 weeks or so. TMI (Too much information) you might say, but I'm so tired of it. No matter what I do or say, she is 2 and stubborn and it hurts so she refuses.
ahhhh, I'm so tired.
On the flip side, Yanal's brother and his wife are coming to visit for the Islamic holiday, Eid AlFitr. They moved to Bahrain about a year ago from the USA. We are looking forward to spending time with them!! They will be staying about 4 days with us.
Other great news, Yanal's is off work for the next 6 days! Eid will be on Sunday or Monday. He has the weekend off (Friday and Saturday) and then he gets 4 days off for the holiday!! It will be really nice to spend some quality time with him. For those of you who don't know our previous arrangements, we were fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time together before now. I use to work 2 days, 12 hour shifts, and he was a graduate student. He only had class a few days a week, so we would spend nearly every day together. It is an adjustment for us not to see each and even more of an adjustment for he not to spend so much time with our kids. We will love this time off!
We are all set to move into our home. Just waiting for the TV and washing machine to be delivery and installed tomorrow. However, because his brother is coming to visit we have decided to stay with his family until after Eid. I was going to stay there tonight with the kids, boy I am sure glad I decided not to....Aisha threw up ALL over the bed and it was GREAT to ask Mary, the worker, to come take care of the bed for me, so I could take care of Aisha. I will sure miss having Mary around!
Well, that's about it for now! Hope you all have a great night and pray that my kids will get better soon!
In addition to runny noses, coughs, aches and pains, throwing up and constant crying my little lady is also constipated! Grrrr......sick of constipation too! Same old story, she starts with not going for about 4 days and then she's backed up and scared to go over the next 2 weeks or so. TMI (Too much information) you might say, but I'm so tired of it. No matter what I do or say, she is 2 and stubborn and it hurts so she refuses.
ahhhh, I'm so tired.
On the flip side, Yanal's brother and his wife are coming to visit for the Islamic holiday, Eid AlFitr. They moved to Bahrain about a year ago from the USA. We are looking forward to spending time with them!! They will be staying about 4 days with us.
Other great news, Yanal's is off work for the next 6 days! Eid will be on Sunday or Monday. He has the weekend off (Friday and Saturday) and then he gets 4 days off for the holiday!! It will be really nice to spend some quality time with him. For those of you who don't know our previous arrangements, we were fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time together before now. I use to work 2 days, 12 hour shifts, and he was a graduate student. He only had class a few days a week, so we would spend nearly every day together. It is an adjustment for us not to see each and even more of an adjustment for he not to spend so much time with our kids. We will love this time off!
We are all set to move into our home. Just waiting for the TV and washing machine to be delivery and installed tomorrow. However, because his brother is coming to visit we have decided to stay with his family until after Eid. I was going to stay there tonight with the kids, boy I am sure glad I decided not to....Aisha threw up ALL over the bed and it was GREAT to ask Mary, the worker, to come take care of the bed for me, so I could take care of Aisha. I will sure miss having Mary around!
Well, that's about it for now! Hope you all have a great night and pray that my kids will get better soon!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Places to Visit in Jordan
This post is specifically for my parents who are planning a trip to Jordan sometime this winter. However, it is also for anyone who are just interested or would like to come visit us or visit Jordan sometime!
Amman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amman
Amman is the capital and largest city in Jordan. In 2008, it was estimated that there are 2,525,000 inhabitants.
It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The first civilization on record is during the Neolithic period, around 8500 BC.
It sits atop seven hills, which are represented by the seven pronged star depicted on the Jordanian flag. As it is situated on seven hills, it was a favorite place for Roman soldiers and officials. In downtown Amman there is a large Roman theatre, which seats 6,000 spectators. The theatre was built between 138 and 161 AD by the Romans and it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sports displays and cultural events.
Shopping is continually becoming more popular in Jordanian culture. Check out their malls: Mecca Mall, Abdoun Mall, Amman Mall, City Mall, Plaza Mall and AlBaraka Mall. Downtown Amman is always an exciting place to shop: many people for people watching, busy streets filled with cars and vendors, bazar's and small shop's to spend the day shopping and looking around at unusual and beautiful handmade crafts.
Petra (3 hours South of Amman)
http://www.visitjordan.com/Default.aspx?Tabid=63
http://www.petrapark.com/
Petra is one of the new 7 wonders of the world. It is Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the mountains by the Nabataeans, more than 2000 years ago. It was important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometre in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 metres high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury). A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.
Fun fact: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed here.
Wadi Rum (near Petra, about 3 hours South of Amman)
http://www.wadirum.jo/
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/WadiRum/tabid/66/Default.aspx
Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.
There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including jeep, camel and hiking tours. You can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and gaze at the amazing panoply of stars.
Fun Fact: Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here.
Red Sea/Aqaba (4 hours south of Amman)
http://www.aqaba.jo/english/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqaba
Aqaba is well known for its beach resorts and luxury hotels, which service those who come for fun in the sand as well as watersports like windsurfing and Scuba diving. The Rea Sea is one of the most beautiful places in the world to Scuba Dive. Another very popular venue is the Turkish Bath built in 306AD, in which locals and visitors alike come to relax after a hot day.
Jerash (1.5 hours from Amman)
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/jerash.html
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/Jerash/tabid/65/Default.aspx
Jerash, located 48 km north of Amman and nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, is the grandeur of Imperial Rome being one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the World outside Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition.
Dead Sea (1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/TheDeadSea/tabid/67/Default.aspx
Without doubt, the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400 metres (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products
Mount Nebo (near Dead Sea about 1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/jordan/mount-nebo.htm
Mount Nebo is a 1,000m (3,300ft) high mountain in Jordan, opposite the northern end of the Dead Sea. This is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he died.
Because of its connection to Moses, Mt. Nebo has long been an important place of Christian pilgrimage. Excavations led by the Franciscans, who own the site, have uncovered significant remains of the early church and its magnificent Byzantine mosaics. A simple modern shelter dedicated to Moses has been built over them.
Bethany (near Dead Sea about 1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.bibleplaces.com/bethanybeyondjordan.htm
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/bethany.html
Less than 2 kms east of the Jordan River is an important place associated with the lives of Jesus and John the Baptist (pbut). The settlement of Bethany, where John lived and baptized. John 1:28 refer to it as "Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing". In John 10:40 it is mentioned as the place to which Jesus (pbuh) fled for safety after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem: "Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days".
There are many, many more sites and places to visit in this small but amazing country. This small country has so much to offer for those interested in culture, history, the holyland, arts and crafts, adventure, shopping, and it's also filled with natural beauty! Come visit us!!
Amman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amman
Amman is the capital and largest city in Jordan. In 2008, it was estimated that there are 2,525,000 inhabitants.
It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The first civilization on record is during the Neolithic period, around 8500 BC.
It sits atop seven hills, which are represented by the seven pronged star depicted on the Jordanian flag. As it is situated on seven hills, it was a favorite place for Roman soldiers and officials. In downtown Amman there is a large Roman theatre, which seats 6,000 spectators. The theatre was built between 138 and 161 AD by the Romans and it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sports displays and cultural events.
Shopping is continually becoming more popular in Jordanian culture. Check out their malls: Mecca Mall, Abdoun Mall, Amman Mall, City Mall, Plaza Mall and AlBaraka Mall. Downtown Amman is always an exciting place to shop: many people for people watching, busy streets filled with cars and vendors, bazar's and small shop's to spend the day shopping and looking around at unusual and beautiful handmade crafts.
Petra (3 hours South of Amman)
http://www.visitjordan.com/Default.aspx?Tabid=63
http://www.petrapark.com/
Petra is one of the new 7 wonders of the world. It is Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the mountains by the Nabataeans, more than 2000 years ago. It was important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometre in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 metres high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury). A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.
Fun fact: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed here.
Wadi Rum (near Petra, about 3 hours South of Amman)
http://www.wadirum.jo/
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/WadiRum/tabid/66/Default.aspx
Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.
There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including jeep, camel and hiking tours. You can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and gaze at the amazing panoply of stars.
Fun Fact: Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here.
Red Sea/Aqaba (4 hours south of Amman)
http://www.aqaba.jo/english/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqaba
Aqaba is well known for its beach resorts and luxury hotels, which service those who come for fun in the sand as well as watersports like windsurfing and Scuba diving. The Rea Sea is one of the most beautiful places in the world to Scuba Dive. Another very popular venue is the Turkish Bath built in 306AD, in which locals and visitors alike come to relax after a hot day.
Jerash (1.5 hours from Amman)
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/jerash.html
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/Jerash/tabid/65/Default.aspx
Jerash, located 48 km north of Amman and nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, is the grandeur of Imperial Rome being one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the World outside Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition.
Dead Sea (1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/TheDeadSea/tabid/67/Default.aspx
Without doubt, the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400 metres (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products
Mount Nebo (near Dead Sea about 1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/jordan/mount-nebo.htm
Mount Nebo is a 1,000m (3,300ft) high mountain in Jordan, opposite the northern end of the Dead Sea. This is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he died.
Because of its connection to Moses, Mt. Nebo has long been an important place of Christian pilgrimage. Excavations led by the Franciscans, who own the site, have uncovered significant remains of the early church and its magnificent Byzantine mosaics. A simple modern shelter dedicated to Moses has been built over them.
Bethany (near Dead Sea about 1/2 hour from Amman)
http://www.bibleplaces.com/bethanybeyondjordan.htm
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/bethany.html
Less than 2 kms east of the Jordan River is an important place associated with the lives of Jesus and John the Baptist (pbut). The settlement of Bethany, where John lived and baptized. John 1:28 refer to it as "Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing". In John 10:40 it is mentioned as the place to which Jesus (pbuh) fled for safety after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem: "Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days".
There are many, many more sites and places to visit in this small but amazing country. This small country has so much to offer for those interested in culture, history, the holyland, arts and crafts, adventure, shopping, and it's also filled with natural beauty! Come visit us!!
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