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Incredible Places to Visit in Jordan
Jordan is a safe haven in a region of conflict and one of the most accessible countries in the Middle East. Bordered by Syria, Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Hashimite Kingdom delights visitors with its World Heritage Sites, while dodging the turmoil that has engulfed its neighbors in all directions. Jordan has always been a welcoming country. The tolerant nation entices tourists with its ancient marvels, hosts a diverse array of religions and cultures within its borders, and shelters refugees with open arms. Throughout history, those who passed through…
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The Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan
The eastern desert of Jordan is flat, desolate and barren. In this large swath of land near the Iraqi border, towns and villages are few and far between, trees are nonexistent and distinguishing features are difficult to come by. Yet, scattered throughout the endless fields of dust and rocks are impressive ancient structures that have been collectively deemed as the Desert Castles of Jordan. In reality, the castles are primarily a collection of caravan inns and fortified palaces that were constructed during the Umayyad Dynasty and still remain relatively intact…
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The Purple T-Shirt
Jacqueline Novogratz is one of my biggest inspirations and her book “The Blue Sweater” remains one of my favorites. Novogratz is the co-founder of Acumen Fund–a nonprofit that invests in entrepreneurs and fledgling companies worldwide. As a young girl, Novogratz had dreams of “saving the world from poverty” and ended up with a fulfilling life that no doubt improved the conditions of thousands worldwide. After college, she landed a high-paying job with Chase Manhattan Bank, but realized that what she was doing had little impact on the lives of the…
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First Impressions of Amman
I arrived in Jordan in the middle of the Arab Spring, during a time filled with uncertainty for the future of the region. All the reports I was reading on the news were predicting that Jordan would be next after Tunisia to erupt in chaos and, while I didn’t think too much of the headlines before leaving, I couldn’t quite shake the unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach during my flight from the United States. As soon as I arrived in Amman, however, I started to feel differently. The people…
