| |
Bible
stories, lost cities, Lawrence of Arabia - Jordan has romantic
associations up to its eyeballs. It's a country that ought
to be awash with tourists, but the Middle East's bad reputation
has kept them away in droves. Don't be fooled: Jordan is,
on the whole, peaceful. More than that, it's one of the most
welcoming, hospitable countries in the world, and doesn't
even have that unsettlingly male-oriented feel so prevalent
elsewhere in the region. Where else could you leave your belongings
on the street for hours at a time, safe in the knowledge they'll
be there when you get back? Where else do total strangers
invite you into their homes despite the fact they don't own
a carpet shop?
Jordan
isn't just a friendly cup of tea with the locals, though.
It's also home to two of the most spectacular sights in the
Middle East. Petra, the ancient city of the Nabateans, may
be overrun with snap-happy day-trippers, but that doesn't
change the fact that it's one of the world's most atmospheric
ruins. For a slightly more contemplative experience, the startling
desert scenery of Wadi Rum enraptured Lawrence of Arabia and
has caused more than one traveller to don a kaffiyeh and gaze
defiantly into the middle distance.
Although
generally considered safe and secure, visitors to Jordan should
keep abreast of world events that might have repercussions
in Jordan, and avoid political gatherings and demonstrations
wherever possible.
Full
country name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Area: 89,206 sq km (34,800 sq mi)
Population: 4.6 million
Capital city: Amman (pop 1.7 million)
People: Arab (60% Palestinian, many refugees), Circassians,
Chechens, Armenians
Language: Arabic, English
Religion: 96% Sunni Muslim, 4% Christian
Government: Constitutional Monarchy (fledgling democracy)
Head of State: King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein (Hussein II)
Prime Minister: Ali Abu al-Ragheb
GDP:
US$15.5 billion
GDP per head: US$3500
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 4%
Major industries: Minerals, petroleum refining, tourism, agriculture
Major trading partners: India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, European
Union, United States, Iraq
Jordan
Flight from UK
|
