Photo Diary: Whit in Jordan

Marhaba (مرحبا) from Jordan — my first time in the Middle East back in March, 2019. Ancient history and the marvels of modern technology exist in harmony here; Jordan boats both a deeply rooted, rich history and a diverse economy with an advanced healthcare system. Jordanians are warm, welcoming, and eager to show off the beauty of their robust culture — especially to curious travelers who embrace the experience. Almost as dynamic as the people is the landscape of Jordan; picture lush green fields, rolling hills, dramatic peaks and valleys, and vast deserts with red sand. From Amman to Irbid to Mafraq and all the way down to Petra, Jordan was breathtaking from every angle.

I was lucky to travel through Jordan with my boyfriend at the time who is Jordanian and speaks Arabic. Because most of our time was spent with family or doing non-tourist things, I won’t be providing specific itinerary recommendations, but I will leave you with some of the most frequently asked questions I get about Jordan. 

Did you wear a head covering? No; while Jordan is a majority Muslim country it is quite liberal in comparison to some of its neighbors. Women are not required to wear a hijab and furthermore western women are held to a slightly more relaxed standard. However, a head covering is required to enter a mosque. 

What did you wear? I hardly altered my typical travel clothing. I did, however, try to be respectful and a bit more modest — no tank tops or short hemlines. 

Was it safe? Short answer, overwhelmingly yes. I never felt unsafe. 

Do you need a visa? Yes, but you can get one in the airport upon landing as a US citizen.

What should I know before I go? Here are a couple random things westerners should know before they go; you’ll hear the call to prayer wherever you are five times a day (honestly, this gave me chills every time...I thought it was so beautiful), often times in restaurants there will be a section for men-only dining and a section for mixed men/women/family dining, English is widely spoken in tourist-heavy cities (like Amman) but learn a couple of Arabic phrases before you go as I found this went a long way (hello, goodbye, thank you), coffee and tea are very ingrained into the day-to-day life here so embrace the opportunity to try both (per roam magazine “most locals take their coffee strong, unfiltered, and laden with cardamom, and their tea brewed dark, heavily sweetened, and garnished with spices or fresh mint.”)

Enjoy my favorite snapshots from this unforgettable experience.