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ESKADENIA Software holds a special session for schools

Marwan Asmar — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:27:12 +0000

AMMAN (Jordan)—ESKADENIA Software held a special half-day session for schools ” ESKA® Academia Event” to learn more about the latest smart and integrated software modules in the educational field on Wednesday 15 June 2011, in Grand Hyatt Amman.

ESKADENIA Software, Amman, Jordan, June 2011

The session was attended by many of the ESKADENIA clients including managers and administrators of schools and specialists in the programming field and information technology. Discussion also centered on best solutions and presentations made on educational programming portfolios.

ESKADENIA Software honoured a number of schools that use its solution modules including the Modern Montessori School, Ahliyyah School for Girls, Amman Bishop School, Amman Baptist School, Al Bayan School, Amman Academy School, The International Academy School, and ASAMIAH International School.

ESKADENIA Executive Partner Mrs. Doha Abdelkhaleq said: “This event is in appreciation of our current clients, schools and managers for their cooperation with the company over many years and support for local programmers, emphasizing ESKADENIA will strive to present the best services and programming solutions appropriate to the needs of the local community.”

Afterwards there were presentations for each of the attendees on ESKA® Academia, latest integrated software modules presented by ESKADENIA in a demo session lasting six hours with intermission and a continuation on the explanation of services with a dinner reception for all the attendees.

AbdelKhaleq continued that ESKA® Academia system was created after a long re-search by a group of young educated Jordanians who realized the needs of the Jordanian market and developed this system for a school management that would provide leadership and be in the forefront of technological progress.

About ESKADENIA Software
ESKADENIA® Software is active in the design, development and deployment of a range of software products in the Telecommunications, Insurance, Enterprise, Education, and Internet application areas. The company is based in Jordan and has sales activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; more than 85% of its sales are exported to the global market. ESKADENIA Software is a product and market-oriented organisation that assists enterprises and promotes businesses by use of highly effective IT strategies, solutions and tools. ESKADENIA Software strongly believes that a company’s achievement is based on the success of its Human Resources and the commitment to quality and excellence that each one holds strong to. ESKADENIA endeavours as a team to maintain quality and customer respect, build up perseverance, and foster innovation.
For more information, please contact us at m.amro@eskadenia.com , or visit our site, www.eskadenia.com

ESKADENIA Software Company signs agreement to design and develop Arab Egyptian Land Bank website

Marwan Asmar — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:40:38 +0000

ESKADENIA Software Company, signed a contract to develop and improve the website of the Arab Egyptian Land Bank, one of the leading banks in the Jordanian banking sector.

ESKADENIA Software Company, Amman, Jordan, June 2011

The Arab Egyptian Land Bank is considered the first in the Arab World in terms of its deep-rootedness, and establishment. Amongst its continuous plans for development, the Arab Egyptian Land Bank has chosen ESKADENIA Software Company to build and develop its electronic website on the internet.

A study for developing the website has been carefully made in harmony with the bank’s marketing strategy and to target the appropriate audiences inside and outside Jordan. This current project emanates from the bank’s care to serve clients around the clock, and wherever they maybe. The new website allows clients to know about the services provided by the bank and monitor their accounts. The new system allows for greater flexibility and simplicity to give the most appropriate services required by the client.

Mr. Hazem Yousef, Regional Manager of the Arab Egyptian Land Bank says: “One of our major steps in keeping up with the modernization of the bank presently is to develop the website, make it more active and facilitate communication with clients. That is why we chose ESKADENIA because it is one of the leading and specialized companies in the field of website development”.

ESKADENIA Software Company Executive Partner Mrs. Duha Abdul Khaliq says: “We are designing the Bank’s new website according to the ESKADENIA System, which allows for the control of its content and can be updated according to latest developments. The ESKADENIA System enables the site manager and copy editors to benefit from wide advantages and editing tools without resorting to technical help or programming languages, making it easier and more effective to develop”.

Arab Egyptian Land Bank

The bank was established in 1880, set up as a shareholding company named the Egyptian Land Bank and launched one of its major objectives to develop the Egyptian agricultural sector. It loaned owners of agricultural lands to improve their productivity and push the wheels of the Egyptian economy forward. It sought to improve communication with all segments of the local community and allow them to be more productive and resourceful and modernize the construction process and national development.

And because the Arab Egyptian Land Bank was established to enhance the Arab economy, it had an effective role in supporting the Palestinian people in their ordeal. In March 1946 the Arab Land Company was established and registered in Jordan in 1951, and began offering its banking services to all economic sectors in the region. Today the bank offers its services through 50 branches spread in the Egyptian Arab Republic, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Palestine and has corresponding network all over the world.

ESKADENIA Software Company

ESKADENIA Software Company works in designing and developing software and information technology in the fields of telecommunications, insurance, company management, education and internet. It’s headquarters is Jordan and has offices in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

The company concentrates its efforts in providing products and advanced solutions to the market, with aim of helping its clients to use strategies, instruments and effective technical solutions. For more information about ESKADENIA Software Company please contact us at m.amro@eskadenia.com, or visit our website www.eskadenia.com

ESKADENIA Software holds special ‘ESKA ACADEMIA’ for schools

Marwan Asmar — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:44:28 +0000

(Amman-Jordan) –ESKADENIA Software holds a special “ESKA ACADEMIA Event” for schools to make them aware of the latest integrated software modules and the Smart Software Packages. This session will be in Grand Hayatt on Wednesday 15 June 2011 starting 9 am till 3 pm.
The event is attended by many ESKADENIA clients and experts in programming and information systems. Discussion will center on best programming solutions and show the latest program portfolio related to schools and their participations in workshops and the honoring of schools taking part in such programs.
Executive Partner at ESKADENIA Mrs Doha Abdelkhaleq q says: “This event is in appreciation of the current clients, schools and their managers for their cooperation with the company that has been going on for many years, and we emphasize ESKADENIA will introduce best services and solutions appropriate to local demands.”
To be noted ESKADENIA Solutions for systems in schools and universities, include a portfolio of pioneering schools like the Modern Montessori School, Amman Bishop School, Amman Baccalaureate School, Ahliyyah School For Girls, Amman Baptist School, International Academy Amman, King’s Acadamy, Amman Academy, Asamaiah International School.

Amman Citadel first of the old charmers

Marwan Asmar — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:46:12 +0000

It was a wonderful day at the Amman Citadel, occupying a whole mountain of an enclosure, yet a backdrop to the downtown. Below is the bustle, bustle of urban life. The Roman amphitheater were once gladiators fought, looks back to you, crammed yet beloated at its sides.
At the Citadel, which purportedly existed for the last 7000 years, and inhabited throughout millennia, the atmosphere was tranquil yet vibrant. Light brushes of breeze stroked your face gently.
The Amman Citadel passes from the mid-Bronze Age, Iron Age, Hellenistic period, Romans to the Islamic Ummayad Dynasty.
Noticeable was the decorum, tidiness of the place, light asphalted roads, leading to the ruins of the Temple of Hercules amidst thick columns, and rocks and stones and huddling conurbations and residential areas beyond and younder of a knitted social fabric.
This area was indeed part of what is now called the Roman Precinct. Surrounding us were French and Dutch tourists making their way to the small Archaeology Museum established in 1951 of ancient pieces.
Dressed casually, almost barefooted they were deeply ensconced standing akimbo in the business of tourism, reading about every artifact, cistern and water well.
There was the remains of a church leading to a long corridor upwards to the Palace built during the Ummayed period in the 9th Century, underlining a splendid architecture, a spacious courtyard and the remains of rooms and dwellings of government courtiers that must have formed the machinery of a once-busy government.
It led to another short colonnaded street, and another view of Amman and depicting an area of Roman relics and heritage the best of which is in Jeresh, 40 minutes north-west of Amman and one of the best preserved cities of the Decapolis, the 10 urban conurbations of Roman glory east of the Mediterranean.
More tourists and locals passing each other, rubbing shoulders. Brits, and Americans gently wedged in between local tourists, as as one chic Dutch lady in a short skirt with flip-flops looked on meditatively. It was a great afternoon. More on this story at www.hubpages.com, and www.petraevents.com

Petra Tours Attends ATM Dubai, Seeks to Move Tourism Dynamics Forward

Marwan Asmar — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:43:51 +0000

As part of its contributions to maintain the momentum of the tourism traffic between Jordan, MENA region and the world, Petra Tours will be attending the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center between 2 and 5 May, 2011.
General Manager Awni Kawar together with managing partner Wael kawar will be attending the 4-day event which is the leading travel exhibition in the Middle East to network with other tour providers who come from the region and all over the world and to rub shoulders with other attendees and participants in a show that has continued since the early 1990s.
While Petra Tours specializes in the inbound trade of seeking to bring tourists to Jordan since 1965 and visit such plush surroundings as Petra, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Baptism Site, also it owns and operates four-star hotel properties in Jordan located at Dead Sea, Petra and Aqaba.

“This is a great event which we have regularly attended throughout the years, to bring a sense of dynamism to the tourist trade, and no doubt this year will be another auspicious business occasion,” adds Awni Kawar. We are looking forward to another great ATM 2011.

Jordan Rally Proves More Festive as a Racing Show

Marwan Asmar — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:53:57 +0000

It was an nice, exciting, thrilling, exhilarting rally filled with trapidation as drivers from the worldover manouvered through Jordan’s tracks and stages around Jeresh right down to the Dead Sea. It was a family gathering atmosphere on Friday 15th April at the Dead Sea and the Jordan Rally Service Park opposite the hotels area.
International teams, hundreds of them with large conveys ascended on the Dead Sea from all over Europe and the Middle East to attend and compete in the traditional Jordan Rally which is part of the FIA World Chamionship Rally that took place in Jordan between 14-16 April, 2011 and which resulted in the victory of French driver Sebastian Oger, and his co-driver Sebastian Loeb and entries from such countries as Finland, Portugal and Mexico.
Petra Events, part of the Petra Travel and Tourism Company, was responsible for some of transport and reservation logistics of the rally teams who stayed in the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, Holiday Inn, Kempinski and Movenpick. It had a full team at the Dead Sea ready to deal with possible quarries of guests staying at the hotel.
It was a great car racing event in Jordan that have become a tradition in the Kingdom first started in the early 1980s when the present monarch HM King Abdullah, himself used to participate in the annual racing activity as part of Jordan’s racing teams. This is not to say anything about the late HM King Hussein, who himself was a car racing enthusiast, and actively encouraged the sporting tradition in the Kingdom.
International visitors came from everywhere including Sweden, Portugal, Spain and France, not to say anything about Arab visitors especially from Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, who have a great feeling for this international sport.
The Jordan Rally was symmatrically held with the Middle East Rally Championship that also proved a great force with great drivers including Khaled Al Qassimi from the United Arab Emirates.
Chairman of the Jordan Motor Sport HM Prince Faisal later said he was proud because the rally was being held in Jordan for the second time consequetively and the third since 2008, and thanked everyone for making the staging race a great success.
Observors say the WRC race is particularly exciting because it is held in turrains and condititions that require stamina, concentration, power and determination in roads that require great attention.
In the “Service Park”, the atmosphere was festive. There were 10 tables, including those selling handicrafts, tatooing, and the well-known brand java u selling light drinks, coffee and sweets. Things moved and tettered to the blast of music organized by a DJ especially brought in for the event.
It was a sight to remember with much mingling between the car support teams and tourists who flocked from all over the country and beyond. It was not only a great racing event but a touristic one as well.

Christian media from North America Mix ‘Voluntourism’ in Jordan with 3 Holy Sites and Modern Adventure

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:53:41 +0000

At the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in historic Salt, Jordan, a handful of Christian media from North America ‘Voluntoured’ to join students at the school to make traditional handicrafts such as mosaics, rugs and belts. The center offers a wide range of vocational training courses, including ceramics, metallurgy, weaving, cooking and computer skills, to ensure the boys and girls have employable skills once they leave. Volunteers who visit the school can join in the activities to encourage and interact with the students.

Christian Voluntourism in Jordan

AQABA, Jordan and McLEAN, Va. (March, 2011) – A group of Christian media from North America, including Brandon Crouch, JCTV co-founder, and the producers of “Travel with Spirit,” are mixing ‘volun-tourism’ along with ancient holy sites and modern adventures in a Lenten-timed press tour of Jordan hosted by the Jordan Tourism Board. The group reached Aqaba today on the seventh of nine days in this biblical “Land of Refuge.”

A highlight of the trip was a March 14 “volun-tourism” experience at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in historic Salt. Several of the journalists joined students at the school to make traditional handicrafts such as mosaics, rugs and belts. The center offers a wide range of vocational training courses, including ceramics, metallurgy, weaving, cooking and computer skills, to ensure the boys and girls have employable skills once they leave. Volunteers who visit the school can join in the activities to encourage and interact with the students.

Chuck Chalfant, web producer of CBN.com, blogged about the experience saying:

“I had no idea what to expect, but was excited to serve and meet the kids. What I learned about love and servanthood and my own shortcomings was priceless, … Brother Andrew A.L. de Carpentier is the executive director and a very wise yet humble man. One of the things he said that stuck out was that the deaf communicate not with their mouths, but their hands. To say something, they have to do something. That pretty much sums up the whole place – show your love and communication through action.”

Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board North America adds:

“We have worked hand in hand with our suppliers and religious travel planners about how to build volun-tourism into some of their Holy Land travel programs, … Now we are giving Christian media a glimpse of how volun-tourism, unlike longer one-week or two-week mission trips, can be built into any type of trip to Jordan.”

Asfour views faith-based travel as one of the primary niches for Jordan tourism. She has been working since 1997 to promote the destination of Jordan to the North American travel market, and decided early on that Jordan needed a re-branding in the religious sector in order to educate and re-introduce the kingdom’s biblical sites and experiences to prospective travelers. A passionate advocate for volun-tourism, Asfour sees it as a natural element of any faith-based tour to Jordan.

The Jordan Tourism Board North America, in cooperation with “Travel with Spirit,” is producing promotional videos and public service announcements (PSA’s) about volun-tourism. “Travel with Spirit” is a half-hour television program that features destinations that appeal to Christian travelers seeking spiritual enrichment as a part of their travel experience. The show airs on several networks, including FamilyNet, Sky Angel and NRB Network.

The crew filmed one PSA segment featuring Brandon Crouch at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf.

Crouch, a Christian evangelist, inspirational speaker, television broadcaster, and co-founder of JCTV (Jesus Christ Television), summed up his support for volunteering on vacation in this way:

“Volunteering for as little as one hour can turn a vacation into a life-changing experience. Jordan has opened up my eyes to the rest of the biblical sites that I had always wondered about from the other side, … Aaron’s tomb, Mount Nebo, the Red Sea and so much more are combined with a rich culture, loving people and delicious food. You can’t go wrong with Jordan!”

Biblical Background of Jordan:

Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan – where the Bible says Jesus came to be baptized by his cousin John – is part of the wilderness area associated with John the Baptist and also contains the traditional spot where the Bible says Elijah the prophet ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. Today, the holy site is a rustic, eco-protected park that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

While Jordan is home to hundreds of biblical locations, some of the most pivotal biblical events occurred at these sites:

Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the land he would never enter and, according to the Bible, is buried nearby in an unknown location;
Mukawir, a mountaintop fortress not far from the Dead Sea where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded;
Tel Mar Elias, the birthplace of the prophet Elijah (also known as Elijah the Tishbite), located among the ancient Hills of Gilead;
Umm Qais, a Roman Decapolis town overlooking the Sea of Galilee where the miracle of the Gadarene swine took place;
Jabbok River, where Jacob wrested with “the Angel,” and his name was changed to Israel, meaning “He who wrestles with God.”

For more information, please visit the Jordan Tourism Board North America website and the Blog Jordan Wiki.

Don’t forget our Wiki, our Photo Album & Google Map

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:27:31 +0000

I’ve enjoyed receiving some email from students lately writing reports on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Three other resources related to Jordan that may help you studies include:

blogJordan Photo Album
blogJordan Wiki
blogJordan interactive Bible Reference Google Map

Meanwhile, please feel free to enjoy some of the more tourist centric posts here.

I’ll be making bigger changes in the near future as more time becomes available.

Shukran and enjoy!

Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to perform at Petra – 12Oct08

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:20:12 +0000

The Times Online is reporting that Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras will take to the stage next weekend in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra for a £5,000 ($8745 USD) a head charity concert celebrating Pavarotti’s life on behalf of both United Nations relief programs in Afghanistan and local Jordanian charities.

As a follow up to my September 8 post ‘Pavarotti to be remembered at Petra by Elton John, Bono, Celine Dion, Joe Cocker and Sting‘ – and as a once aspiring opera singer myself – it is thrilling to see that the two surviving members of the musical trio simply known as “the Three Tenors” celebrating the late maestro’s ambition to perform at one of the World’s Seven New Wonders.

As this event continues to gain in excitement and momentum, the list of singers now also includes opera stars Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu and Andrea Bocelli, all conducted by Maestro Eugene Kohn according to the Epoch Times.

The Hashemite Kingdom of late, becoming a popular backdrop to the “big singing” as just this past summer, Placido Domingo, Julia Migenes, and jazz singer Diana Krall were the highlight acts at this year’s Jordan Festival.

A number of noted non-singing celebrities will also be among the exclusive guest list of 500, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the billionaire ruler of Dubai who is married to Princess Haya – daughter of the late Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan (may his name be blessed).

As Reuters reports:

The tribute is the brainchild of Nicoletta Mantovani, Pavarotti’s widow and HRH Princess Haya, a fellow UN Messenger of Peace and daughter of Jordan’s late King Hussein. “A concert in Petra was a dream once shared by the late King Hussein of Jordan and Luciano,” said Mantovani. “I am so grateful to Her Royal Highness Princess Haya, for making it possible to turn this dream into a reality.”

The proceeds of the concert will support joint projects in Afghanistan by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). A local charity supporting disabled children in Petra will also benefit from the concert. More information about the UNHCR-WFP Pavarotti Tribute Project can be found on their ReliefWeb page that includes contacts information.

Also, as reported on blogJordan last month, websites providing tour packages can also be found at:

Below is a list of some other blogs writing about this exciting event.

Finally, here’s a few articles enumerating my own experiences in the ‘Rose Red City:’

Oh what this bass-baritone wouldn’t give to be there (again)!

A cornucopia of 9 Jordan tourist blogs – 22May08

admin — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:00:03 +0000

Just about everyone visiting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan these days blogs about it. My job is to bring to you the best and brightest of the “Journeys to Jordan” blogosphere. So grab a cup of coffee, lean back in that boring office chair and share with me in yet another exciting installment of “Experiencing the Journey” … starting with:

Diana Scimone, a member of the group I toured Jordan with this past November writes to link us up to her article about the “Other Holy Land” that is the Hashemite Kingdom in Charisma magazine and her photo album; while expressing a sentiment many of us hold:

My journey to Jordan was great and I look forward to a return visit; it’s time for more yummy mezzas and another death-defying, donkey-dodging climb in spectacular Petra. Hope you enjoy the article and the photos!

Thanks for sharing Diana – and yeah, I agree – I my dream is to go back and do even more video blogging of all the fantastic places and foods to see, hear, and yes … taste … but I digress, as Diana’s post reminds a certain Jordan blogger he has about 5,000 photos and 5 hours of video he needs to annotate and get up online (lazy slug!-).

Speaking of work, engaged in some scientific research the Jordan Soils Gang visits Madaba, writing about the effect the current drought in Jordan is having on the agrarian culture and economy that surrounds this city of ceramics.

For Kathy over at Beginnings: Mountains and Sea found that Ma’in Hot Springs were her favorite tourist spot — even if as she put it, “… the bathrooms sent Tamara and I running out screaming …”

Speaking of screaming, Kelly learns the hard way a few more Small Change[s]: via More Travels… this time to the briny Dead Sea:

We failed to heed our friends’ warning and brought Will into the water, and he quickly erupted in tears as the salt stung what we think must have been a very, very minor case of diaper rash. A fresh water shower failed to relieve his pain and/or emotional distress, and he managed to calmed down only after consuming a few of his all-time favorite fruit snacks, of which I wisely packed about 20 little pouches for our week-long trip.

Heck, I’d cry too if I only had 20 pouches of my favorite snacks for a week long trip! Though it looks like all were happy once they got back to the incredible array of fresh water swimming pools and fountains at the the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa.

While recovering from surgery Dori’s recalls dictations she made during her 1995 journey to Jordan. Yes folks, Wadi Rum is that memorable a place.

Speaking of memorable recollections, Luk blesses us with 6 hand-drawn samples worth at least 6,000 words from his sketchblog: back from jordan …

Taking a break from studying Arabic in Syria Isoblue visits the gem of حياتي في دمشق: Jordan taking a page out of my own book when touring Petra:

Only one objective for this first 2 days (29th and 30th of April 08) trip to Jordan: PETRA. This is a wonderful place but you have to get to the site at the opening time (6 a.m.) if you want to enjoy the real Petra, I mean without all the stupid tourists (the worst type I saw in my life: they did not have any respect for the beauty of the place, they don’t care about the country – I don’t understand when people walk half naked in the middle of a desert? Are we in a Mediterranean club? – and there are extremely noisy for a natural place like Petra).

The only downside to said approach is if the individual running the ticket booth is late. Fortunately when I visited Petra last November, the attendant arrived early – and let us in at about 5:45 AM.

Meanwhile, Maggie over at Kenya Dig It? describes some of the free entertainment and amusements that await a traveler when translations mishaps happen:

Translation mishaps are fabulous when traveling. For instance, Jessica and I rented a car for our trip through Jordan and when we thanked the car rental guy for his assistance he replied “You are mostly welcome”. Later on at one of our hostels a sign read “Not responsible for any lost”. This was right after swim at your own risk and no children under 15 allowed without parents.

Maggie also provides four fun video montages of such madness … well work the blog-hop.

Finally, over at Pathan Tiktiki’s blog … it looks like Jibonjatri is getting a little less dinner with his U.S. dollar bought Jordanian dinar writing:

I just discovered that Jordanian dinar is actually stronger than US dollar. 1 Jordanian dinar is approximately equal to $1.41 USD. I guess it is slightly arrogant of me to have expected the other way around. It really came to me as a shocker. Planning the trip to Jordan *might* be slightly more expensive than anticipated. But I guess it’s all worth it!

You got that right Pathan, after all, what is that aphorism I’m after? Oh yeah, ‘even a bad day vacationing in Jordan is still better than a good day at work!‘

How about you? Got an Jordanian journey experience you’ve blogged about? Let me know as I’m about to equip this blog with a cool tool that’ll letcha post your own content here with only the bare minimum of adult supervision.