Posted in Experience the Journey on Oct 1st, 2008
Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr, or simply Eid for short, is the annual Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan – the Islamic holy month of fasting; Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa, for my Malaysian friends.
Posted in Day 4 - Petra, Experience the Journey on Sep 28th, 2008
In the film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” Harrison Ford finds the Holy Grail. In real life, there are many tourists whom find a similar treasure in the magnificent structures that make up the ancient Nebatean city of Petra. Below are some excerpts from some recently visiting this “New World Wonder” – sharing their life-experiences there in photos, video, and prose:
Posted in Experience the Journey on Sep 25th, 2008
Known as “The City of Mosaics,” Madaba has in the past provided this former alter boy with a very special treat – the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Blessed with many wonderful icons, but greater historical value – a vivid sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other sites in the Holy Land. So it was with much joy that I read in yesterday’s Jordan Times that …
Posted in Experience the Journey on Sep 23rd, 2008
Note to ancient history and/or religious tourism buffs, don’t forget to visit Umm el-Jimal while in Jordan – a historic site of rich in Byzantine and early Islamic whose black basalt construction presents a photo-ready demonstration of “Haurinte architecture.”
Posted in Ecotourism on Sep 21st, 2008
Work to re-invent the Jordans’s Shaumari wildlife reserve as a premiere eco-tourism destination for camping and safari, as well as a breeding center endangered species such as the Arabian Oryx, is set to start after Eid Al Fitr (the Muslim celebration marking the end of Ramadan).
Posted in Experience the Journey on Sep 20th, 2008
It seems to me that Ramadan is a time when many Muslims in Jordan become especially devout and adhere more closely to certain Islamic doctrines, almost in the same way some protestant Christians become more devout during Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
Posted in Ecotourism, Experience the Journey on Sep 17th, 2008
Wadi Rum speaks a beauty that is universally understood – as demonstrated in this at SobreTurismo, a Spanish language travel blog whose title in English simply reads “Jordan: The desert of Wadi Rum.” Berenice Lomont, the author of the article, expresses the universality of Wadi Rum’s “vast and echoing and god-like” magic in a sentiment [...]
Posted in Day 4 - Petra, Experience the Journey on Sep 14th, 2008
“You want a horse? You wont make it five feet” – This was the advice of a young man who is part of the “horse mafia” that operates here in Petra. If you go into Petra as a group you have to pay an additional 7 JD on top of the large sum of cash you already dished out. This money goes directly to the horse mafia in order to keep them off your tail and to allow you to ride a horse if you wish.
Posted in Experience the Journey on Sep 13th, 2008
Schlotzsky’s Inc. has opened a restaurant located in Amman, Jordan, minus “The Original® Sandwich” from the menu of course – ham not being an item for consumption in country whose population is 92% Sunni Muslim. The new Amman location is co-branding with another Focus Brands franchise Carvel ice cream.
Posted in Experience the Journey on Sep 12th, 2008
Ramadan is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, marked by fasting (sawm) from dawn until sunset, during which time adherents refrain from all food and drink. While an excellent lesson in patience, sacrifice and humility, this practice may create some dietary difficulties for those touring, working, and/or studying in Jordan – as described in the following snippet from the Jordan Times …
Jordan Travel News Jordan Times Christian Travel & Tourism AME Info | Petra Tours Jordan Travel & Tourism News Arab Herald.com Yahoo! News
