Amman and Aqaba in Jordan have high-rise buildings and people wear the ubiquitous jeans. Mercedes, BMW, and Ford motorcars fill the streets with traffic. Boeings and Airbus airplanes fly in the skies above and land at the International airports. We travellers use these planes and taxis to get around, but without a doubt we like to see people dressed differently and taste different food. We often travel to see differences in culture. So what makes Jordan different from lets say New Zealand or Australia or the UK.
Jordan in my mind is less politically correct and of course it is a country with a majority Muslim population. Visitors, family and friends, have said that Jordan was a delightful travel experience for them. What are some of the major differences?
One is the call to prayer, which I consider very melodious, as this can be heard five times a day, it is very much part of the Jordan traveller's experience. So of course is the mosque with its minarets.
Two is the cafe culture; men and women practise smoking shisha (unlike most Middle Eastern countries where only men smoke). Within that cafe culture is the differences to be found in coffee. I really liked the taste of the coffee in Jordan. Also the music is loud and different.
Fairouz and Uum Kulthum are as popular today as they were a few decades ago.
Three, weddings are ever so different. As you walk about in your neighbourhood you find a street blocked to traffic by a marquee erected across the road, ah ha, a wedding. Sure enough at night there will be a celebratory party with fireworks and gunfire. There are pistols and machine guns in many homes. The celebration is accompanied with food, music and dancing. Only men celebrate in the marquee and women celebrate in the house. The next day, after the celebration or at night a convoy of cars and buses, all honking horns, travel to the bride's home to collect her. Then an even bigger, horn honking, convoy travels back to groom's house. In smaller towns guns are fired from the cars as this procession takes place. I felt honoured by a family who asked me to video the wedding of their eldest son. This wedding took place in Qadsiyya, a small town so I witnessed and videoed all that I have described.
Four, the meals and the way meals are served are different. Jordanian and Palestinian meals include mansaf and muqluba. Mansaf is always served, as a matter of custom, to guests. My preference is for muqluba. When meals are to be served, a plastic sheet is laid on the floor and salad bowls distributed. The main meal is served on a large tray. Everyone sits on the floor, generally crossed legged, and breaking bread take the food from the tray in the bread held by their fingers. Now day's spoons may be provided for guests.
Five, clothes. Most women wear a hijab or scarf over their heads. Some also wear an abaya which covers to the ankles or other longer garment. Men basically wear western clothes but you often see older men wear the Jordanian traditional head wear called a keffiyeh. I got really quite excited to see an old Mercedes Benz being driven by an old man wearing a keffiyeh.
There are many minor differences such as gas bombalas (bottles) distributed by a truck playing a distinctive tune. There are no mail deliveries so no junk mail and the few bills (electricity and water bills left on he meters, and internet invoices delivered by a text message). From time to time you might see the man selling drink. Also many men are employed as police and in the military and as in many countries they are armed.
As in any country the scenery is different so Jordan is worth visiting just to see the sights if that is all you are interested in. Our time here has been a most enjoyable experience and we shall miss the people we have met and made friends with.
This photograph was taken by a friend Sue Lewis.
