5 days in Jordan--Amman

09, March, 2009 Amman

By Wing

Today is our last day in Amman. We want to see the city as much as possible. Last night we were so full that even this morning we don't feel hungry. What I eat for breakfast is only half of yesterday. So does Judita. What a pity.

There are so many things need to see in Amman, which all open and close at different time. It's not easy to make a perfect schedule. We went to Rome Theatre first because everyone says it's the place you have to see in Amman. Actually, it's just another ruins of ancient Rome. Compared to Jerash, this theatre is not that amazing. However, for me, theatres are always attractive. It's a different feeling when people are standing on a stage facing 7000 stone seats, I think, you feel the power of creative art. I do like them.

There are 2 small but very interesting museums at both wings of the stage. They are not like the fancy top-end British museums, but 3 or 4 rooms display Bedouin customs, tools and jewelry, which are very nice and elegant.

After theater, we looked for the citadel nearby. It's not far away but at the top of hill. We climbed up steep stairs in garbage yard, which should be the special way built by Jordan government for tourists. It is a ruins of Byzantine. It's fine, but the archaeology museum sucks. The funny thing was we escaped tickets by accident, so we saved 2 JD without realizing it. Judita said we should go to a nice restaurant and have some nice chilly chicken for dinner. I totally agreed with her. Anyway, the citadel doesn't worth 2JD.

It seems we got better know about Amman. We managed our way to walk to King-Abdullah Mosque, instead of taking taxi. This Mosque with a blue dome is huge and cost a lot to build. In the small museum at the entrance, there is a short introduction of the King's family. Every time the King's name mentioned, it will begin with "his Majesty", and followed by "may Allah bless him health" or something like that. I couldn't help laughing, but the security guy was very close to us and watched us all the time with a stone-like face. I looked at Judita, I thought she was doing her best to pretend a stone-like face, so, I did my best to do the same thing, too.

Before entering the Mosque, they put me and Judita in a long, totally black gown, with a hood to cover our guilty hair. Joe didn't have to because he is lucky enough to be a man. I think the gown looks like a nice pajama, but absolutely too long for me. I stepped on it several times when I climbed the stairs, almost fell down--that would be funny and Allah would for sure be mad on me.

The huge hall is delicate with bright diamond lights hung from the domed ceiling. We were on our knees quietly while some Muslims were praying. I felt totally different when I wearing this black pajama. I didn't dare to speak normally (only whisper), nor did I dare to look at people's eyes(always looked at my feet instead)--I felt the world changed only because this black pajama.

It took us a long time to find the National Gallery. However, it was closed because today is the birthday of some prophets. Actually it is a very tinny gallery located in the richest neighbourhood near a park, more like a rich man's private collection than a "national" gallery. It seems the King(may Allah bless his health) is more mercy on Mosque than Fine Arts. I don't know whether there are common people coming here. Compared to the dirty crowded downtown, this neighbourhood is a different world--private house, clean street, quiet park, no horns, no smoking men on the street, small shops have all kinds of western drinks and snacks, even bus stations have signs with name and number.

It was 3pm when we realized that we were starving. We broke into an Indian restaurant and decided to eat loads of spicy food. During our journey, we never spent money on lunch(breakfast was included in hostel fee), so we can save enough money for a good dinner everyday. I think it's a brilliant idea. The food was very nice and I ate my chicken like a wolf. I'm lucky with Judita and Joe, with whom I feel so relax that never have to pretend a "lady".

We caught a cab back to King Hussein Mosque Souq. Both I and Judita were candy fans. We bought bags of chocolate and sweets. Those sweets with fruits, flowers and nuts were so fancy. I ran out all my money on them. Oh no!