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General information Jordan
Jordan
(Official name: The Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan) is a Kingdom in the
Middle-East, by the Jordan River.
Jordan occupies an area of approximately
96,188 square kilometers including the Dead
Sea, making it similar in size to Austria or
Portugal. The country is bordered in the
north by Syria, in the east by Iraq, and by
Saudi Arabia in the east and south. To the
west are Israel and the occupied West Bank,
while Jordan’s only outlet to the sea, the
Gulf of Aqaba, is in the south. Only the
northern highlands and the JordanValley have
received enough rainfall to support large
populations.
Therefore, this area has always been more
settled by farmers, villagers and
townspeople. Most of the urban civilizations
of Jordan have been based in these fertile
lands. The highest point in Jordan is the
mountain Jebel Umm ad-Daami (1834 meters)
and the lowest point is the Dead Sea (408
meters below sea level).
Climate
Western Jordan has essentially a
Mediterranean climate with a hot, dry
summer, a cool, wet winter and two short
transitional seasons. In springtime, from
February to May, this area of Jordan is full
of flowers and plants; over 2000 different
species. However, about 75% of the country
can be described as having a desert climate
with less than 200 mm of rain annually. In
the highlands around Petra temperatures drop
considerably in winter and there is a good
chance of snowfall. The only exception is
Aqaba where temperatures are still around 15
degrees Celsius in winter.
People
The majority of Jordan’s 4.4 million people
are Arabs descended from the various tribes
that have migrated to the area over the
years from all directions. One of the best
known groups from Jordan’s population is the
Bedouin. It is difficult to count Bedouins,
but it is generally known that the majority
of Jordan’s population is of Bedouin origin.
Some Jordanians are of Palestinian origin,
having been forced from their homeland
during the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel.
Jordan was the only Arab state to grant all
Palestinians the right to Jordanian
citizenship and many have exercised that
option, playing an important part in the
political and economic life of Jordan.
Religion
More than 92% of Jordanians are Sunni
Muslims, and about 6% are Christians who
live mainly in Amman, Madaba, Kerak and
Salt. The majority of Christians belong to
the Greek Orthodox Church, but there are
also Greek Catholics, a small Roman Catholic
community, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox and a few Protestant
denominations found mostly in Amman. Several
small Shi’a and Druze populations can also
be found in Jordan. Holidays in Jordan are
either religious (Islamic or Christian) or
celebrations of important events in
Jordanian or Arab history. Non-Islamic
holidays are fixed, while Islamic holidays
vary according to the lunar Muslim calendar.
The most important holidays are Eid al-Fitr:
a three day celebration that marks the end
of Ramadan, the month of fasting and Eid al-Adha:
the end of the month of Hajj (pilgrimage to
Mecca).
Culture
The tradition of tolerance and appreciation
for diversity has long been a hallmark of
Hashemite Jordan and it has helped to
provide a stable social foundation on which
to build the country. It can be said that
many of the characteristics of the Jordanian
society are found in their strongest form in
Bedouin culture. For instance, Bedouins are
most famous for their hospitality, and it is
part of their creed—rooted in the harshness
of desert life—that no traveler is turned
away. The tribal structure of Arab society
is also most visible among the Bedouins,
where the clan is at the center of social
life.
Language
Arabic is the official language but many
Jordanians speak English, especially in big
cities and in touristic sites.
Passport en visa
Entrance visas are obtainable at the airport
for visitors arriving by airplane. All you
need is an international passport (6 months
valid) and 10 JD. Those arriving by land
must get visa prior to arrival as visas
cannot be obtained at Jordan's land border
crossings. If you plan to stay for more than
two weeks in Jordan, you will need to
register at the nearest police
station.
Safety
Jordan is a stable and safe country and it
makes big efforts to guarantee the safety of
tourists. Crime in Jordan is very low by
international standards. This is mainly due
to the preventative measures designed to
reduce crime and provide education and
alternative activities for teenagers.
Money
The Jordanian currency is the Dinar or JD.
It appears in paper notes of 20, 10, 5 and 1
JD. Coins come in denominations of 1 JD, 500
fils, 250 fils, 100 fils, 50 fils, 25 fils,
10 and 5 fils (1 JD = 1.000 fils).Credit
cards are accepted at most large hotels,
restaurants, car rental companies and
tourist shops. The most widely accepted
cards are American Express, Visa, Diners
Club and MasterCard. In most cities you can
also use your cards to draw cash (up to 500
JD) at any bank linked with your credit card
network. You can change foreign cash
or traveller’s cheques at any bank in
Jordan. Only traveller’s cheques will be
charged a commission. There are also
authorized moneychangers in Amman, Aqaba and
Irbid, and you will usually get a slightly
better rate of exchange at moneychangers
than at banks. Hotels of three stars or
above will also change money but at a less
favourable rate.
Tipping
Many of the better hotels and restaurants
will add 10% to your bill. However, smaller
establishments usually expect you to leave a
tip in line with the service you received.
Taxi drivers are generally not tipped, but
it is customary to pay the nearest round
figure to the price on the meter. It may be
difficult to get change for a large bill, so
carry plenty of small denominations and
coins for taxis. Porter usually get 1 JD and
guides received 5 JD tip per day.
Communication
Post – Internet
You can buy stamps and send letters or cards
from post offices or from most hotels.
Jordan has many internet cafes and most
hotels also have internet services for 1-3
JD per hour.
Food
and alcohol
Arabic cuisine delights the gourmet, and
feasting is a preoccupation of Jordan.
Dishes will even satisfy the health
conscious because many of them are made with
grain, cheese, yogurt, fresh and dried
fruits and vegetables. With the use of these
grains and vegetables, meat goes a long way
and even the simplest ingredients can
produce a surprising attractive creation.
Jordan's cuisine, although unique, is part
of a distinctive culinary heritage of the
Middle-East, which have been savored for
well over a thousand years. In most hotels
alcoholic beverages can be bought but in
most local restaurants no alcohol is served.
Health
Jordan is one of the cleanest and safest
countries in the region, but it is
nonetheless advisable to take some
precautions until your digestive system
adjusts. Hotels rated four-star and up
have their own filtering systems, and their
tap water is safe to drink. In other places,
bottled water is recommended. All fruit and
vegetables should be washed thoroughly,
and salads and cold meats which have been
sitting out for a long time should be
avoided, especially during summer months.
All Jordanian dairy products are pasteurized
and safe. Medical services are well
developed throughout Jordan, with a medical
center or clinic in every town and village.
There are hospitals in Amman, Aqaba, Ma’an,
Kerak, Madaba, Zarqa, Irbid and Ramtha. In
the larger towns and cities many of the
doctors have been trained overseas and speak
English. Antibiotics and other drugs
normally sold on prescription in the West
are often available over-the-counter in
Jordan. You should carry prescriptions of
any medicaments you may need, making sure
you have the generic name as your specific
brand may not be available. If you wear
glasses, bring a spare pair and a copy of
the prescription as well.
Clothing advice
In fall and winter evenings are cooler so a
sweater or jacket is a good idea. In summer
days are very hot so you need protection
against the sun: long sleeved shirt, hat,
sunglasses etc. Especially for women it is
advisable not to wear clothes that are too
revealing; Jordanian men have respect for
women but they often get the impression that
western women are “easy” and this can lead
to unwanted advances. You will notice that
the interaction with local people is most
pleasant if you respect their culture.
Souvenirs
Handmade souvenirs of wood, ceramics and
silver are very popular. They can be bought
on markets or in souvenir shops. Don’t
forget to bargain when you are on a souvenir
hunt! If you are buying a water pipe that
you want to use at home, insist on trying it
out in the shop to see if it works properly.
Photography
Taking photos is usually no problem but if
you want to take a picture of a Jordanian
then ask first if they are ok with it.
Especially Muslim women can’t be
photographed without asking. Military
installations or palaces and houses of the
Royal Family cannot be photographed.
Time
Jordan is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean
Time. Daylight Savings Time occurs between
April and October.
Voltage Jordan’s electricity supply is 220
volts/50 cycles AC. Sockets are generally of
the two-pronged European variety, while a
variety of other sockets and
plugs—especially the 13 amp square
three-pinned plug—are in use. To be safe,
bring a multi-purpose adapter. American
equipment requires both an adaptor and a
transformer. Most varieties of adaptors and
transformers are readily available in
electrical shops throughout Jordan.
Do not
forget
* Passport, valid 6 months.
* Travel insurance.
* Cash and credit cards.
* Specific medication.
* Camera and extra batteries.
* Sunglasses / sunscreen / cap or hat /
proper clothing.
* Bathing suit or bikini, this is no problem
in the hotels.
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