Easter at the village!

I am back from a long vacation I spent outside of Athens for Easter. So first of all “Christos Anesti, Alithos Anesti”. As the Greeks say “Christmas in Athens and Easter at the village!”, and Easter at the village I did.

For my trip, It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. Some Greek friends of mine took me to town called Karpenisi, capital of the prefecture of Evrytania. I have never seen so much green mountains filled with pine trees and other type of plants. They even have a university where they study plants and trees!!

Of course we visited most of the surrounding villages of Karpenisi. Tasting homemade food and Tsipouro (Raki like drink). The nature is sublime! Great walking paths and scenery. The area is a must see if you have a car. With a car you’ll be able to move around and see waterfalls, rivers and some animals while walking pine trees path. There is also the Karpenisi Ski center for winter!

Along with the Magiritsa, Kokoretsi and the tasty food of Easter we had, I also tried the Pithakia (pork or meet chops). Easily found in Athens, but tasting it in a small village tavern is different and cheaper. It is much tastier and homemade like!! A tasty mezze is Katiki (a cheese like yoghurt tasty thing). As you may have noticed, Easter is more of a food eating and relaxing treat, and here are some photos of the eye relaxing treats of Karpenisi and Evrytania.

http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp.jpg
http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp2.jpg
http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp3.jpg
http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp4.jpg
http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp5.jpg
http://abahou.googlepages.com/karp6.jpg

Jordanian photographers are culture ambassadors!

ShoSayer magazine in Jordan, is holding a Photography competition. I was very glad to know about this competition, first of all because it enriches the culture and arts segment in Jordan. Secondly, I was very impressed of the number of the young talented Jordanians who have passion for photography and the places they went to in order to get the perfect shot. Finally and most importantly, my cousin is one of these talented photographers. Here is her photo, it was taken in Japan!

And since this is a contest, I encourage you can vote for my cousin RAWAN QUBROSI on the magazine vote link http://shosayer.com/PhotoCompetition/Voting.cfm

Thanks!

The Greek and Jordanian anthems

I came across high quality anthems for Jordan (download mp3) and Greece (download mp3).

And also, here are the translated lyrics in English for both anthems:

Jordan
Long live the King! Long live the King!
His position is sublime,
His banners waving in glory supreme.


Greece
We knew thee of old,
Oh, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes
And the light of thy Sword
From the graves of our slain
Shall thy valor prevail
As we greet thee again-
Hail, Liberty! Hail!
(repeat previous two lines three times)


Mp3s are courtesy of www.national-anthems.net
Lyrics are courtesy of http://www.lyricsondemand.com

Many Greek strikes…to 1 shy Jordanian strike!

I have witnessed many strikes since my first day in Greece. The Greeks are known for their intolerance to the low performance of the Greek government. Also the Greeks will go really mad when their demands are not fulfilled. In Jordan, it was never this way. People were always quite when it came to strikes and are accepting to most governments.

But, today I have received a Facebook invitation to join a group called “Strike in JORDAN”. The person who called for this strike is Anonymous. The creator of the group is asking the people of Jordan to stay at home on the 4^th of May until 11:00am (means skip 2-3 hours of work, I am curious to know the cost the government will bare for this strike). The group is in Arabic, so I translated the list of demands to English:

Demands:

1. Demand the government to put as much effort as possible to stop the increase in prices.
2. Fix prices for Gas and Electricity.
3. Stop selling the belongings (I think he meant “ real estate”) of the country.
4. Provide justice to private sector employees and oblige private sector companies to raise salaries.

How to STRIKE:

“It is requested from all of us not to go to work. Let us stay at home till 11:00am. We are not calling for public strikes in the streets, but we are calling for a simple, peaceful and modern form of strikes to express our misery and sadness that 4 million Jordanian people are living today as per the official statistics……….etc…”.

In disregard for strikes being bad or good, from my observation, I find Greeks to be “strikes oriented” in their culture and for Jordanians they are not.

What do you think?? Do you think that strikes have anything to do with people culture? Or is it more of a political issue?

Jordanian and Greek flags

Both countries have wonderfully colored flags. Furthermore, the meaning behind the flag colors is even more interesting. Of course for both flag people tend to interpret the colors and shapes and link them to different cultural and historic facts. I did some research about the two flags and following are the more common interpretations for the colors and shapes. So here it is:

Greek flag:
Top left cross on the flag represents the Greek Orthodox religion. The nine blue stripes symbolize the nine syllables of the motto of the Greek Independence fight "Freedom or Death". The white and blue in the flag is the symbol for the deep blue sea and clear white sky of Greece.

Jordanian flag:
The three major colored stripes in the flag represent the Abbasid dynasty (black color), Umayyad dynasty (White color) and Fatimid dynasty (Green color). The crimson red rectangle joining the stripes is the color of blood symbolizing the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman empire. Finally the seven point star symbolizes the seven hills Amman was built upon and also can symbolize the first seven verses of the Koran in the opening sura.

Easter food in Greece!

One thing that I have noticed this weekend is Greeks getting ready for Easter, which is 1 week from today! People here started buying Easter chocolates, candles, food preparation and of course buying clothes! It is a very joyful thing to watch and reminds of Easter back in Jordan and how I will celebrate it away from my family this year.

Every Greek is getting ready to eat “ARNI” next Sunday. Arni is simply a barbecued lamb that the Greek families enjoy on Easter day. In Jordan we also barbecue a lamb or sometimes we make the traditional MANSAF or any food with meat.

Tsoureki, is simply a sweet tasting bread with almonds on top. Made at home, and easily found in super markets. I bought a good quality one at Carrefour for around 4euro. Tasty!! We have this type of bread in Jordan but for us it is not linked with Easter.

Easter Eggs! Worldwide famous symbol for Easter! The strange thing I found out is that the traditional Greek Easter eggs are colored in RED, which is not common in Jordan.

Magiritsa, very common Easter soup that Greeks have on Easter eve! The soup is made out of the insides of the lamb including lamb liver, heart and intestines! I don't know if we have it in Jordan thought eating stuffed intestines is common for Jordanians.

Kokoretsi, simply intestines and lamb guts put on rod or stick and barbequed. I’ve been told that this is the best!!! Still have to try though. I never saw it in Jordan and I don’t know if people do it this way.

This is what I found out so far about the Greek Easter food and I can’t wait to taste it next week!

Tour in the North of Jordan (Episode 01)

Jordan has too many interesting places to visit starting from the capital Amman located in the center of Jordan where it’s the starting point of any visitor (Places in Amman will be covered in later posts). Tourists’ needs local guides once they are in Jordan in regard of transportations, from Amman they can take buses to go where ever they wish to go plus renting a car is the most convenient transportation medium.

Heading North from Amman to Jerash which is 30 miles drive between the Jordanian beautiful mountains, visitors can enjoy the 1 hour and half drive to reach the Ancient city of Jerash which is considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East. It was a city of the Decapolis.

A tourist can make a quick tour in that beautiful city where he can go back to his hotel in Amman since there are no major hotels in that city but there are a lot of motels or apartments that can be rent from the generous Jerash habitants.
This was quick brief info about one of the Jordanian cities in the North, I will be covering another must visit cities North of Jordan in the coming posts.

Three different destinations in Greece….Thessaloniki, Ioannina and Nafplio

Recommended cities I have been to in Greece. Thessaloniki and Nafplio (Sear side) and Ioannina (no sea, but they have a great lake) were a memorable destinations that I will never forget. For me I will share with you some of the photos I took:

How I went there:

Nafplio: Go to OMONIA Metro station (GREEN LINE), once you get of the metro station ask where you can take the A51 busm bus ticket is 0.50cent. (Or go from Agiou Konstantinou street then find intersecting street Koumoundourou, you’ll find the bus station there). Stay in the bus until it reaches its final destination to Keffissias Terminal A for travel buses. Buy ticket from the Nafplio bus booth, ticket is around 12 euro one way.

Thessaloniki: Go to Larissa metro station (RED LINE), go out from the metro station and enter the suburban railway station. The one way ticket I paid for was 11 euro. Remember night fair is always cheaper.

Ioannina: Go to OMONIA Metro station (GREEN LINE), once you get of the metro station ask where you can take the A51 busm bus ticket is 0.50cent. (Or go from Agiou Konstantinou street then find intersecting street Koumoundourou, you’ll find the bus station there). Stay in the bus until it reaches its final destination to Keffissias Terminal A for travel buses. Buy ticket from the Ioannina bus booth, ticket is around 33 euro one way.

Hotels:

The three cities have all ranges of hotels from 1 to 5 stars. Recommended hotels are the ones with Double room prices ranging from 40 to 60 euro. You’ll get a decent room with shower and towels. Breakfast not included.

Tips:

• Always travel in groups.
• Try not to spend a lot money if you are a student. Souvlaki, Goddies and McDonalds are your food choices.
  
• Enjoy it to the max, you’ll be there probably once in your life (Although I’ve been to Nafplio twice now…a recommended romantic city! :D)

My Photos:
Nafplio
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Thessaloniki
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Ioannina
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Dead Sea

Shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth on dry land. The Dead Sea is 330 m deep, the deepest in the world. It is also the world's second saltiest body of water.
it is a salty lake between Jordan and Palestine...

Dead Sea salt is considered as a treatment for skin disorder,deep inside u can find Mud which as well very useful for your skin beauty;you can see in the pic guys are taking a MUD BATH which u can keep for 15-30 mins to get the benefit of mud in ur skin.

Dead sea is very attractive place for tourists from around the world,we have there 4 luxury hotel chains Marriott ,kempinski,Moven-pick and Dead Sea Spa,all of them are a kind of resorts on the Dead sea shores,you can enjoy buoyancy.these hotels are always crowded so it is better to reserve before going there to get a better room. reaching dead sea is not difficult from the capital amman,it is about 30mins from the 7th circle.
taxi ,buses ,rent cars are also available to go there.


any of you have more questions abt the benefits of Dead Sea products for our skin please do ask or send us your comment and i am glad to answer and provide more helpful info.


Mouner Nijmeh

MBIT'08

Ebusiness course

Queen Rania’s YouTube Response On Arab Women

Here is her Majesty's Queen Rania speech about women,please watch and leave your comment.

Mouner Nijmeh

MBIT '08
ebusiness course

Spring in Jordan

Hello again,now it is spring time in Jordan,it is one of the best time i do prefer to enjoy there,especially during these holy days before Easter,and when we enjoy the Palm day going to church and having these wonderful round holding the Palm with our beloved kids praying and walking in crowds,i love this when spring flowers are surrounding us with a blow of light wind hit my head (the bald one :P) ...

some of the places you can for in our beloved Jordan is to visit Madaba,with the black iris of jordan is here and there,Jordan valley ( Ghor) which is one of the most beautiful place to go for now near the dead-sea the lowest point in the entire world.

and ofcourse i will not forget to tell abt wadi el seer and its adorable places to sit and watch birds while enjoying some barbecue.

Mouner Nijmeh
MBIT '08

e-business course

Greek Islands

Greece is one of the countries that has over 1300 islands,yes more than 1k,when i first knew this i can't believe it until i was surfed the net and made sure of this,and here are some useful info abt them.
227 are inhabited ( just 169 as quoted by the Greek Ministry of Press in a 1999 survey quoted in 'About Greece'). Only 78 islands have more than 100 inhabitants.

The cyclades :comprise around 220 islands,including the famous two islands Mykonos and santorini.

Crete:the biggest Greek island with 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean .

saronic islands: includes 33 islands,Ageina is the closet one to Athens at 30km distance,with a population 7,410 census in 2004,and it is in the prefecture of Piraeus.

Thank You

Mouner Nijmeh
MBIT '08

E-Business course

Finally E-Business homework #2 is done !

Here are the findings I found about Wikipedia as part of E-Business assignment “List the technology components mapped to the business need”.

Click here for to view my finidings in pdf format.

Guardian.co.uk homework findings

I am posting my second homework findings about The Guardian online service & newspaper.
It consists of the useful technological components that the guardian.co.uk includes and their business needs and imporatnce.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

i hope that you will find my findings useful as the technological components are as well.
Download findings

Please be patient and tell me what do you think by answering the following :

Couchsurfing....homework 2 findings

As part of the eBusiness course, following are my findings and deliverable for the second homework.

Please take a moment to asses findings



and participate in the following poll

Ouzaki night with mezza!!

I had one of the greatest nights the other day. I went to a Taverna with a Greek friend. I was confused of what to order since I don't know if it is going to taste good or not. Anyway to make a long story short she ordered for us and I was glad she did!!! So in my turn, I recommend that you order the same if you're planning to go to a Taverna. Here you go:

Click image to enlarge

Of course all of the above mezza is to be eaten slowly with Ouzaki (the cute name for Ouzo a Greek traditional drink, we have the same actually in Jordan, but not as sweet as Ouzo and we call it ARAK).

Again nothing beats an Ouzaki night!! Enjoy! :)