Amman - a mix of Mideast and West
by travellingdan
Amman is a mixture between the arabic Middle East and the modern West. Coming from al Quds / Jerusalem I missed an old city but liked the relaxed security situation. Jordans in general but Ammanies in particular are very proud but always polite and friendly people! You can theoretically buy very cheap DVD copies in the downtown shopping area - but as it is illegal concerning the international copyright law nobody really does it ;-)
Tipping - Never requred but always appreciated
by cheerssweetie
Tipping is never required but always appreciated. In hotels and restaurants, 10 per cent may be added to the bill, but a small tip for waiters is appropriate.
For hotel bellmen and porters JOD 1-2, or $2 is customary. In taxis pay the nearest round fiqure to the price on the meter.
Darat-al-Funum (2)
by Djinn76
The main building is used for exhibition of contemporary Arab artists.
You can admire their different works : several modern paintings or sculptures.
It was surprising and interesting but since I'm mostly ignorant in this area, the architecture of the old house was at least as interesting to me...
Queen Alia Int. Airport: An unpleasant experience
by AMOQUE
On my way from Amsterdam to Bangkok and vice-versa, I had a stopover at this airport.
At the airport, it is not very clear where to go. There are some desks to get a visa for Jordan, but I didn't need one (transit flight).
After 20 minutes of asking the right direction (almost noone spoke or understood English) to a very unfriendly staff, a nice staff member helped me out.
He took me to the right gate, true a "staff only" passage. After a couple of hours of waiting (the airport has a nice shopping area and some nice restaurants), I'd to pass the douane. As I past the detectiongate, it beeped. They took me apart and a woman examined me with a body(metal)detector. It kept beeping all the time.I knew, I had nothing illegal on me, but still I felt very unconfortable. It turned out to be the zipper of my pants. I could go.
On my way back I had an unpleasant experience again. As soon as I arrived from Bkk, they asked me, if I was on a transit flight to Amsterdam. I answered positive. They putted me in a line and told us to wait there. A staff member took my boarding pass and gave me a voucher wich said: "transit and flightnumber" (I did not notice immediately, that I did not have my boarding pass anymore). Before I knew it they putted me trough the douane and I was standing in Jordan (I now have a Jordan stamp in my passport).
They wanted to put me in an hotel, but I wanted to stay at the airport. Fortunately there was a very nice stewardess of the company I was flying with (Royal Jordanian Airlines). She took me to the right departure terminal. It's an area without shops, food or drinks. I had to wait there for four hours.
My flightnumber appeared on the sign eventually, I could go trough the douane (ousite Jordan) again. There I had to give the voucher wich said: "transit and flightnumber" At last I got my boarding pass back. I could go to the restaurant and shopping area.
I had an unpleasant experience here, but still if it saves me money, I would fly via Amman again. I know now, how everything works here.
Shared taxi to Adu Darwish Mosque
by Sambawalk
To get to the striking Adu Darwish Mosque, take service No.25 or 25 from Italian St in downtown. It is a very long and steep climb if you decide to walk, which I do not recommend.
The share taxi costs SR130 fils. and 4 pax to go.