Like every country and every capital in the world, there are bad things and good things.
Here, some about Amman, Jordan.
THE WORST:
- The driving. This has to be number one. Cars are like weapons here. People drive very fast and don't respect nothing, just the red light and the police.
- The chaotic unorganised traffic, in Amman, and the constant buzzing of the cars.
- Trucks and vans carry load not properly secure. Often, is possible to see people and children being transported in the back of open trucks.
- Road accident is one of the main causes of death in Jordan.
- Trucks and vans carry load not properly secure. Often, is possible to see people and children being transported in the back of open trucks.
- Road accident is one of the main causes of death in Jordan.
- Rubbish on the floor everywhere. People throw garbage to the floor. By the way, where are the small bins?
- There are lots of stray cats in the streets. You find a wheeled bin and you will also find a handful of cats.
The Amman's residents are lucky to have all of these stray cats, otherwise there would be lots of rats and diseases. Cause of all the garbage people throw to the streets and the open litter bins.
The Amman's residents are lucky to have all of these stray cats, otherwise there would be lots of rats and diseases. Cause of all the garbage people throw to the streets and the open litter bins.
- Jordan, in general, looks dirty, neglected and careless. Just different in more touristic areas and upper-class neighbourhoods.
- In private or public companies of any sector, if you ask the same question to different workers, they very probably will answer different things... normally it depends on the mood of the people and if they like your face..they can make things easier for you or not..
- Difficult to find parking in Amman.
- In private or public companies of any sector, if you ask the same question to different workers, they very probably will answer different things... normally it depends on the mood of the people and if they like your face..they can make things easier for you or not..
- Difficult to find parking in Amman.
- Inequality.
- Gender discrimination.
- It's common during the night, cars with loud music.
- People are very vain, very competitive and not very civilised.
- Religion is an untouchable taboo. Nobody can question nothing.
- There must be just a few that don't want to leave Jordan for the West, but everybody has something bad to say about the western cultures.
- There's no recycling bins.
- The tap water quality.
- Amman is a very noisy city. If you want to have some silence inside your house, you better close your windows: buzzing, speeding, vans selling products, calling for prayer, screaming and loud music from people's personal celebrations, etc..
- It is required to pay a fee of 15/20 JD to go to the Public Beach of the Dead Sea. Even the locals have to pay.
But, even paying entrance in a Public Beach, the maintenance and cleaning is not done. The toilets are smelly and dirty and there's rubbish along the shore.
- Amman is a very noisy city. If you want to have some silence inside your house, you better close your windows: buzzing, speeding, vans selling products, calling for prayer, screaming and loud music from people's personal celebrations, etc..
- It is required to pay a fee of 15/20 JD to go to the Public Beach of the Dead Sea. Even the locals have to pay.
But, even paying entrance in a Public Beach, the maintenance and cleaning is not done. The toilets are smelly and dirty and there's rubbish along the shore.
- The prices of the houses, food, electricity, water, gas and everything when comparing with the national minimum salary of 220JD.
- The national salary in Jordan is 220JD, but there are many governmental employees receiving less than that, like 80JD per month.
- The national salary in Jordan is 220JD, but there are many governmental employees receiving less than that, like 80JD per month.
- There's no many crossings and sidewalks. The existent sidewalks are in bad condition, or occupied by trees and cars. You can find all kind of obstacles.
Amman was made for cars.
- People's mentality is "eyes for an eye". They seem to be very nice and polite, but just on the surface.
- The price on the menu of the restaurants is not the final price. To the price of the menu is added 16% sales taxes + 10% for service and some restaurants add an additional donation for the King Hussein Cancer foundation, without asking permission. So, we end paying more 30% or more than the price in the menu. Some restaurants have the final price in the menu, but are exceptions.
Amman was made for cars.
- People's mentality is "eyes for an eye". They seem to be very nice and polite, but just on the surface.
- The price on the menu of the restaurants is not the final price. To the price of the menu is added 16% sales taxes + 10% for service and some restaurants add an additional donation for the King Hussein Cancer foundation, without asking permission. So, we end paying more 30% or more than the price in the menu. Some restaurants have the final price in the menu, but are exceptions.
- Cars are expensive. A fifteen years old car can cost minimum 3000 euros, in poor condition. In many european cities, a car with the same age would cost 300 euros if it's in good condition.
- The continuos disappearing of the Jordan river and its pollution.
- The continuos disappearing of the Jordan river and its pollution.
- There's no free cultural events or many parks for people. And the existent parks are closed during the night, even tough they are public.
- To enjoy an afternoon in the nature, in green areas, like the forest in Aljoun or Dana nature, it is required an entrance payment (!!?!)
- There's no many public playgrounds for children. So, it is very common to see children playing in the roads next to the cars, as practically there are no sidewalks.
- To enjoy an afternoon in the nature, in green areas, like the forest in Aljoun or Dana nature, it is required an entrance payment (!!?!)
- There's no many public playgrounds for children. So, it is very common to see children playing in the roads next to the cars, as practically there are no sidewalks.
THE BEST:
- Jordan has an amazing variety of nature landscape: mountain, forest, desert, beach, waterfalls, river, dead sea.
- Unique historical and religious places to visit, like Petra, Jerash, Mount Nebo, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river and many others.
- Humanity. Jordan is the country that receives more war refugees.
- In the Middle East, Jordan is the country that more protects women. Has specific laws and centers for women and children protection.
- It's one of the most tolerant countries in the Middle east. Women can choose wearing hijab or not. An apparently pacific fusion of the traditional and the modern.
- The streets seem to be safe.
- Fuel is cheap, comparing to european prices.
- Driving licence is cheap, when comparing to european prices.
- Thera are no tolls in the roads of Jordan.
- Driving licence is cheap, when comparing to european prices.
- Thera are no tolls in the roads of Jordan.
- The Jordanian dates. The best ever! The hummus, the eggplant pickle, the smoky eggplant dip.
Considering that Jordan is a young country, 97 years old, it has been developing very fast.
In my opinion, the most urgent change is to increase the minimum salary, so families can have a better life quality.
The second must be to raise awareness and educate people for civility.
Being a conscious citizen and living responsibly in society should be a value, and not something you do cause you fear God's punishment.
The second must be to raise awareness and educate people for civility.
Being a conscious citizen and living responsibly in society should be a value, and not something you do cause you fear God's punishment.