Amman

Amman

Third of the two million people coincide, forming a 'honeycomb' urban named Amman

Capital of Jordan is apparently not just a revolution-ravaged metropolis. Travelling from west bank to Amman integral of surprises, original text by GH, executive summary by darmansjah

It has been more than an hour, me and Sam, 69-year-old woman, waiting. We wanted to cross to the Kingdom of Jordan through the Allenby bridge which is not the usual tourist track. I admit, shorter journey through Queen Alia Airport in Amman. But already in Jerusalem, I was determined to tread the conflict areas of the West Bank. Honestly, I do not expect a 'drama' when crossing the bridge in this no man's land. But reality says otherwise.

This border is actually not recognized worldwide. Passing only non-Israeli citizens. A special Palestinian citizens need permission to cross this bridge.

"Oh, the people of Palestine did not have a passport, but a travel document," said Sam. "They ride buses. The reason, the threat of suicide bombers. "Me, Sam, and a handful of European passenger bus ride is relatively quiet. Yan bus carrying Palestinians crowded with sacks, also boxes of food and electronics-like bus homecoming Eid in Java. When we were riding the bus stop, Sam commented, "There must be something wrong visa." Her eyes closed as if to shadow a bad past.

The rate of bus stalled, because lost luggage and passengers are prohibited down. International forces still control the zone that was once recognized Jordan to six day war in 1967. The wound was still made an impression in the minds of Sam, who was born in Palestine and grew up in New York.

"I was six years old when Israeli soldiers stormed our house. My parents fled at gunpoint, "Sam was unable to hide the bitterness. "I call it oppression and apartheid, plus Sam who now commute new York and Amman.

Temple of Hercules stands proudly in Philadelphia, Amman, in the Roman period

Again the bus stop. Jordan entered the Immigration Officer bus. He collected the passport and count the number of passengers. He also made sure there was no passenger who fled into the desert area of ​​no man's land.

In the immigration booths lined up so foreign words. The crowd filled the two counters. There was no insulation, no paper number. Cap entered Jordan was given on a piece of scrap cardboard. New passport returned so police black glasses shouting the name of the individual from behind the counter. Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan!

 Residents stroll under foot pillar roman ruins

Jerusalem-Amman mileage is relatively short, only 72 kilometers, but it feels so long latency. Buses from the bridge to the capital only once a day pass. Therefore, the more popular charter bus.

"Okay, five dinars per head," said John when I walked into the padded van dull and smelly vegetables. John and his five students from the U.S. are taking lecture majoring in Middle Eastern politics. They spent a semester in Amman to study Arabic. John and his friends offered me a variety of lift to Amman.

"My mother was a Persian so let's just say I was 'coming home.' Jordan land of contrast, for many places that attract travelers from the desert to the Dead Sea in the south. Here is safe, the people were friendly, "said John in English, breaking promises on professors to speak Arabic while he was in Jordan.

After the barren land, our van ride into the city. We deal with congestion typical metropolis. Then, I continued to take a trip by taxi to the city center. Thanks to a clever cab driver told me, later I know downtown is marked by circles. Initially confusing, but it turned out to be a traffic seven circle divides the city Amman.

Pleasure in Amman

Common: both Indonesia admission requires a passport. Visa on arrival can be obtained at the airport or through the embassy Amman Jordan http://www.jordanembassy.or.id/ visa_services.htm. World tourism: visitjordan.com. The best visiting time april and october. Sting desert climate during May to September. Time: Jordan GMT +2. Currency.: Jordanian Dinar

Accommodation: Cliff Hotel, Downtown Prince Mohammed Street, from JD5; Hotel New Park www.new-parkhotel.com, began JD20. Hotel Toledo www.toledohtel.jo, began JD60.

Destinations: We recommend hiring a car to visit Fort Jerash, admiring the Roman Mosaic at Madaba and Wadi Rum canyon, location filming Transformers. Petra Archaeological Complex Tour offered by the hotel and local service bureau. It may also take the bus JETT, www.jett.com.jo

Among Arab metropolis, Amman supposedly the most oriented to the West. In my eyes, Amman still loyal to his identity.

Street name here completely similar and begins with "Prince" or "King." Yes, family members they dominate the kingdom and his roadside signs, as in most countries of the monarchy.

Forget the map. I am looking for the hotel address "in front of the Restaurant Hashem" which is famous for its falafel super delicious. Not surprisingly, at 15:00 outdoor tables were full of it.

Check-in at Hotel Cliff is very informal: local Youth 20 years old Arab accented write my name and passport number in the guest book. There was no receipt book at the reception desk but the television is always lit and smoke cigars.

In Jordan, as well as the Middle East region in general, smokers are king. Granted once the smell of tobacco in enclosed spaces and public spaces. The entrance is flanked with Cliff Hotel bar 'Turkish' is filled with advanced-old man with a white mustache thick busy playing cards and downing wine.

The city center is marked alias commerce activities typical Arabian souk-market in the form of a row of stalls and kiosks are elongated in the narrow alleys. But in Amman, modern souk transformed into shiny windowed shops, ATM machines at the entrance to the bank, as well as fried chicken fast-food restaurant. Fortunately, traditional feel saved by the coffee shop on the roadside. Every 25 meters, a silver cup boiling coffee waiting for caffeine lovers. A glass of black coffee with a quarter dinar exchange. Yes, coffee and falafel can be enjoyed at any time, either as a breakfast to snacks.

The afternoon, the hectic traffic downtown. Rows of private cars only lost by yellow cabs honking which alert passengers. Yellow cab like mosquito larvae in ponds, so many countless, and could compete with taxis in New York.

late afternoon, traffic in front of the solidified Ottoman-style mosque of Al-Hussein

Here, from any angle always looks mighty green laser illuminated minaret. However, only a giant minaret King Al-Hussein mosque that dominates the center of the face. Remains of this Ottoman-style silent witness to the Arab revolt against the Sultan of Turkey who controlled this area for the past four centuries.

Despite having the ancestors who bequeathed culture Nabath grand-Temple of Petra, Jordan, for example-will be recognized as an independent nation in 1922. Surprisingly, Amman-faced Roman. Formerly known as Philadelphia, one of the 10 cities that make up the province of the Roman Empire Arabia.

"You can see up close," a pedestrian with a friendly, breaking my concentration being peeked Roman Theater. Understandably, the area is being redeveloped so boarded and zinc. Roman Theatre Amman pride still intact. Likewise, swimming baths Nymphaeum Roman heritage "adjacent" to the fruit stall. Being in the distance, the ruins of the Temple of Hercules play Citadel Hill from the top of the eye.

"King Abdullah II good," said Ali with broken English. Ali is a taxi driver who took me into Rainbow Street. In Amman, King Abdullah poster display in offices, restaurants, and shops. While Queen Rania looks more like a supermodel than a busy consort social activity. "The problem struck Egypt and Syria, but not with Jordan," Ali said before I fell. Rainbow Street is a youth hangout, like Kemang in Jakarta. Strawberry aromas flowing from the pipe sheesha cafes halogen lighted. Students coming out of the British Council looks chatting enjoys a frappe and cappuccino.

Among Arab metropolis, Amman supposedly the most oriented to the West. In my eyes, Amman still loyal to his identity. Arabic music strikes the center of town until past midnight. Great Mosque did not hesitate alongside the church.

The next few years, the seven hills that make up Amman perhaps be difficult to identify. Skyscrapers have proliferated, the mall became a middle-class choice. This is the best time to visit Jordan, before the waves eroded modernization or revolution arrives. As said Ali, a taxi driver who claimed a native of Amman, "We are happy in Jordan."

Exploring the past on Jakarta

By darmansjah

FACE Jakarta is now adorned with skyscrapers undeniably. The dominance of the entertainment center in the form of mall or café as if giving him no option for recreation. In the midst of modernity and chaotic, squalor to offer, it still holds some buildings Jakarta storage past the museum.

Among the many historic buildings storing relics of the past that still remains, Fatahilah Museum is very popular in the underclass and street vendors. However, not only the museum could be a recreation destination with hot air and scattered garbage everywhere and bustle of public transport and the shouts of rowdy public transport drivers.

Puppet Museum

 
Not far away from the Museum Fatahilah, there are other attractions to visit, the Puppet Museum. According to the historical record is not clear in its official website, the old building is the site of the old church which was founded Dutch colonization of Indonesia nation in 1640.

Little puppet museum holds a collection of only 4.000 as a collection of puppets, dolls, and gamelan. This little collection was saved from Asian countries to Europe.

Textile Museum

 
Moving on from the old town, you can trace the path Aipda KS Tubun, Central Jakarta, close to Tanah Abang market crowded by human activities from morning until late afternoon, took a moment to look at the Textile Museum has been painstakingly over the government's efforts to preserving traditional textiles which was established in 1976.

This museum shows a collection of more than 1,000. In addition, educating the public remains active in enhancing the appreciation and preservation of Indonesian textile traditions through exhibitions and seminars.

National Museum

 
In the region including the main street numbers in Jakarta, precisely at the Merdeka Selatan adjacent to the central office and administration, there is a museum that is necessary and should be visited by us, which is a national Musem much a collection of ancient historical relics and artifacts as a symbol of the unity of Indonesia .

Kite Museum

 
Most of the museums in Jakarta are owned by the government, but there is a museum run by the private and not to be missed. Invite your friends and family to play in the Kite Museum are located in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta.

Although the price of admission is relatively more expensive than most museums, attractions and activities offered are varied. Visitors are invited to undergo tour museums, learn to make a kite, umbrella painting, to batik. So, on vacation in Jakarta not only be to the mall instead?

Singapore MRT already had 25 years ago

By darmansjah

NOW go to Singapore can be done easily. Many low-cost airlines that fly directly there from Indonesia. Singapore extent no greater than Jakarta become increasingly a tourist magnet on. They offer a variety of entertainment attractive, landscaped city atmosphere and humane transportation facilities and comfortable.

Newspaper once asked ten travelers who came to Singapore, what they were interested in visiting the country this city? On average there are two answers that surfaced, the atmosphere of the city that is safe and reliable mass transportation. Specifically answer the second, the traveler refers to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Singapore in the form of rapid transit rail system. MRT is almost connects all the important locations in Singapore, from east to west, south to north.

Long ago, as the Singapore government has 'predicted' the country would be Developed Countries that require an integrated transport system to support rapid economic growth. It can be seen from the first corridor Singapore MRT has operated in 1987, linking the Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station. 

Currently if we download Singapore MRT route from the internet, there has been no more than five corridors that connect stations on offer at the center of business, entertainment, to government.

MRT operating conditions of carriage on time with a very well maintained, reasonably successful in getting most of the citizens of Singapore to take advantage of this public transport. Some MRT station is located adjacent to the city bus stop making it easier for commuters to switch modes of transportation. 

To take advantage of the MRT and bus, passengers can buy tickets canal that can be recharged or standard disposable air. If we stayed a few days in Singapore, tickets canal works like a debit card. Each wanted to ride the MRT, just stick it in the machine at the entrance to the station or at the bus door. 

Singapore design convenient public transportation since 25 years ago. How about Indonesia, especially Jakarta? Did not the authorities in this country have repeatedly even hundreds of times Singapore visit home and see for yourself how important the transportation system? Apparently, we are just going to start thinking about it now, but the hope is still there with Bismilah words, what you want at the start would be kept away from the group or individual greed and the greedy desire to satisfy the consumptive desires. Goddamn you is the corrupt world and the next!