The Aqaba Blog covers everything that is hot in town - besides the weather! What's new on Your-Guide-To-Aqaba-Jordan.com? News from Aqaba and Jordan
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The Amman International Marathon will be held on the 22nd of October 2010. AIM is accredited by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF)as an international
Up-to-date Fuel Prices in Jordan | Gasoline Prices in Jordan | Gas Prices in Jordan | Prices of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas in Jordan | Fuel Stations in Jordan | Petrol Stations in Jordan | Gas Stations in Jordan
Fuel prices in Jordan are updated each month. See the latest prices of 90-octane and 95-octane gasoline and of diesel and kerosene in Jordan. Cooking gas prices in Jordan.
The holy month of Ramadan is starting today in Jordan.
Islam orders the Muslims to stop refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from the early morning Fajr prayer till the Maghrib prayer at sunset. This is for the Muslims to feel how poor people feel as well as it is good for health. Also it is a kind of training to be kind and polite towards each other.
The month of Ramadan is 29 or 30 days long, depending on the Moon, and followed by 3 days of Eid Al Fitr holiday.
In the evenings, after Maghrib prayer, life gest back to normal: people can eat, drink, smoke and etc.
So, in this month when you talk to Muslims just be aware of this as some of them may be nervous specially the smokers in the first days. But in general, everybody should be smiley, quiet, kind and well mannered.
Rocket Explosion Near Aqaba InterContinental Hotel and in Eilat
I'm not in Jordan right now so I only learned about the rocket hitting two cars near the InterContinental from the news.
To those of you guys who are there right now: I hope this incident will not have a negative impact on your holiday in Aqaba and Jordan. I expect a higher level of security alert all over the country.
New Direct Bus from Aqaba to Petra, Wadi Rum and between Petra and Wadi Rum
Nyazi Tours in cooperation with JETT is now offering a long awaited regular bus service between Aqaba and Petra starting from 1 August 2010.
Aqaba–Petra–Aqaba Starting at 8.00h from Aqaba Departure at 17.00h from Petra Price for 2 ways ticket: 15 JD Price for 1 way ticket: 8 JD
Aqaba–Wadi Rum–Aqaba Starting at 8.00h from Aqaba Departure at 18.00h from Wadi Rum Price for 2 ways ticket: 10 JD Price for 1 way ticket: 7 JD
Wadi Rum–Petra Starting at 11:00h from Wadi Rum Price for 1 way ticket: 5 JD
Petra–Wadi Rum Starting at 10:30h from Petra Price for 1 way ticket: 5 JD
Tickets for these tours can be booked and purchased from Nyazi tours’ office in Aqaba, beside Jett office in the same building; in front of Kempinski hotel, during working hours from 9:00h till 20.30h. For reservation please call Miss Isra’a at 079 5926999 or the office phone number 03 2022801.
For booking tickets from Wadi Rum or Petra:
In Wadi Rum: Wadi Rum Visitors Center, phone nr: 079 7676074.
In Petra: Petra Palace hotel, which is 300 meters far from the Visitors Center. Phone nr: 03 2156723 or 079 7676075.
Source: ASEZA
Two major tomb discoveries at the ancient city of Petra
Archaeologists have discovered a rock-cut tomb that contained the skeletal remains of 61 individuals, along with a wealth of wooden artefacts, animal bones and ceramics.
The second discovery was made at a place called tomb 676. While excavating it archaeologists found a gold medallion with an Islamic inscription on it.
IMPORTANT UPDATE from the organizers: It is with regret that we inform you that due to challenging reasons beyond our control Distant Heat 2010 will be
I've been to Aqaba several times and one of our trips happened to fall on Ramadan. We were walking in the downtown in the afternoon and as the sun went
Great Travel Destinations | Travel Information | Insider Travel Tips | Travel Guides | Recommended Vacation Destinations
Candid travel guides to top travel destinations around the world. Local travel experts give you insider travel tips and information. North America, Central America, South America, The Caribbeans, Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Australia, Antartica, Around the World.
Should I travel during Ramadan? What to expect when travelling during Ramadan to Jordan or other Middle Eastern countries in the islamic holy month. Ramadan Islamic Calendar.
"The Sandwich Swap" - bestselling children's book by Queen Rania of Jordan
Last week I saw Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan on Oprah's Show promoting her new children's book "The Sandwich Swap".
The story of the book is based on her nursery-school experiences that taught her to be “open to what seems foreign or strange.”Lily and Salma are best friends. They play together and stick together through thick and thin. But who would have ever thought that ordinary peanut butter or plain old hummus could come between them? Lily and Salma don’t quite understand each other’s tastes, but does that mean they can't be friends? They understand far better than a lot of gown ups that these things hardly matter and that friendship is the most important thing of all.
"The Sandwich Swap" was co-authored with Kelly DiPucchio and is available worldwide via Amazon.com.
All the profits from the book will go to Madrasati Jordan, an education initiative launched by Queen Rania to renovate and improve the learning environment in 500 public schools.
Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival 2010
The Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival brings every year comedians from all around the Middle East, as well as the US, Australia and Canada to Jordan, for
Verdi's AIDA in a spectacular show performed by the Cairo Opera House and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra at the Roman Theater in Amman, Jordan on 25th June
"This is just to warn people hoping to fly out from Amman any time soon that conditions in hotels in Amman are chaotic. There is not a hotel room to be had within a hundred kilometers of the city, and if you are at present at Petra, Wadi Rum or even Aqaba, hold on to whatever accommodation you have until current conditions improve.
Even if you have a booking in a hotel, it is most unlikely that it will be honoured; people are flatly refusing to vacate any room they do have in favour of prior bookings! I understand that yesterday more than a thousand people spent the night in hotel foyers - and this in spite of all the efforts of the hotels to force them to leave.
It has just been announced that European air space will not be reopened until Monday morning at the earliest."
Chen Lo and the Liberation Family Concert in Aqaba
The Cultural Section of the American Embassy is pleased to present the American Hip Hop Group Chen Lo and the Liberation Family in a live concert in Aqaba
The Marketing and Tourism Directorate at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority cordially invites you to join the Tourist Friends Club activities which
The monumental hippodrome at the ancient city of Jerash in Jordan is hosting a spectacular event – authentic replica Roman chariots racing in the Roman
Jordan will switch to summertime (daylight saving time) at midnight on Thursday 25th March, by moving the clock forward 60 minutes. This will place Jordan three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Amman International Theater Festival (AITF) 2010
The 16th Amman International Theater Festival will be held between 27 March and 10 April 2010 at the Royal Cultural Center, the Al-Hussein Culture Center
Skype's latest product, Skype Access will enable free WiFi access in over 100,000 hotspots worldwide this coming weekend, 20-21 March 2010.
Skype Access lets anyone pay for WiFi access per minute using Skype Credit, so that they can surf the web, email and make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls in a massive network of WiFi hotspots including cafés, hotels and airports worldwide.
From 00.00 GMT on Saturday 20 March to 23.59 GMT on Sunday 21 March, Skype Access will be completely free to use from anywhere in the world.
All that’s needed is a connection to a Skype Access Hotspot and the latest version of Skype (Windows 4.2 or Mac 2.8) which can be downloaded from www.skype.com/go/download
In a special promotion for travellers around the world impacted by the industrial action by British Airways cabin crew, the offer will be extended in the UK to 23.59 Monday 22 March 2010. Anyone stuck in a UK airport will be able to stay online free to work, adjust holiday bookings or better still, make a free video call home to the family with Skype.
Skype Access is provided by WiFi hotspot operators around the world. For a complete list of compatible WiFi networks click here
The Aqaba House | First Sustainable House in Aqaba | First Ecological Guesthouse, Bed & Breakfast in Aqaba | Art Gallery in Aqaba
The Aqaba House is the first ecological building in the city, now open as a guesthouse/bed & breakfast and art gallery.
Jabal Amman Photo Contest 2010 | Photo Competition by Jabal Amman Residents Association (JARA)
Jabal Amman Photo Contest: Jordanians and foreigners alike have been invited to take part in a photo competition featuring one of Amman's historic neighbourhoods.
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon - 9th April 2010 - from Amman to the Dead Sea
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon 2010 information: check 2009 results, registration, fees and prizes for upcoming events. Training advises. Dead Sea Hotels at the best prices. Jordan travel information.
We welcome you in our desert tourist camp in Wadi Rum protected area. Atallah's camp is situated in the middle of the desert, 12 km south Wadi Rum village.
Wadi Rum From Above - new photo exposition by The Aqaba House
The Aqaba House proudly presents its second exposition. Tareq Dajani made some fantastic pictures, while sitting in the open door of a plane that took off from Aqaba Airport and flew him over Wadi Rum. The result will be on display from the 16th of March onwards in The Aqaba House.
Opening ceremony: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 from 18:00h - 20:00h.
The Aqaba House is located in the 9th district of Aqaba.
The D2R (Dead-To-Red) Relay Race is arriving to Aqaba on Friday, 5 March 2010
Runners and cyclists on the Dead-2-Red relay race are supposed to arrive to Aqaba Friday afternoon from Wadi Araba direction.
The race will finish at the Radisson BLU hotel in Tala Bay at 16.00h pm.
To see the route of the race and other information please visit the organizer's Amman Road Runners website.
New Currency Declaration Rules upon arrival to Jordan
As of March 1st 2010, Jordanian citizens and foreigners arriving to Jordan must fill out a currency declaration form.
Arrivals carrying more than 15,000 JD in cash, financial papers, jewellery or other valuables will have to declare their possessions.
Read more in The Jordan Times
JW Marriott Hotel Aqaba*****
JW Marriott Hotel Aqaba is scheduled to open in 2013. The new 264-room 5-star hotel will be built on the northern beach of the Gulf of Aqaba immediately