My Life's Journey in Jordan

          Jordan is one of the most smallest countries I've known in Asia and not even half of my native country, the Philippines. But like many, it's rich in culture, history and religion. The Middle East kingdom of Jordan is bordered on the west by Israel and the Dead Sea, on the north by Syria, on the east by Iraq, and on the south by Saudi Arabia. It is comparable in size to Indiana. Arid hills and mountains make up most of the country. The southern section of the Jordan River flows through the country.

At NAIA International Airport, Manila

        Last February 2010, I flew to Jordan to practice my profession as a nurse, leaving my family and friends to have a greener pasture and personal growth as well. 

New found friends in the airport.. =)

          It was never easy for me to leave my home land, for which I'm living for the past 22 years of my life. There's so many "FIRSTs" : first time to board the plane, first time in the immigration, first time to be away with my family for more than a year and first time to go out of my comfort zone. For 22 years, I live with the same routine, with the same people and with the same environment. It's a big leap as I opened a new chapter in my life in a different place wherein I don't know anyone, I don't know about anything, language, culture, even one word of Arabic, I'm totally confused and agitated at that time. Mixed emotions of excitement and cowardness enveloped me through out the whole 16 hours journey. Thanks for this new people whom I considered as my new friends, my new "ates" who helped me passed through it.

Picture picture in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1: lobby area.

          I'm like a little kid, staring at everything in the plane, observing what other people do and should I do. =) I'm like in pantomime, copying everything from them. 

Inside the airplane, Oh, I'm so nervous. This is it!

        Aboard the airplane, the food was great although taste was kinda different from the traditional Filipino cuisine that I used to. There was a television attached to every chair and a lofty pillow and a blanket to provide comfort when you sleep. These were some of my observations when I first rode the plane. I'm happy that time, really.

Yummy food.. =)

Arriving at Dubai International Airport

          Soon enough, we arrived in Dubai International Airport, our transit airport. As you saw above, the land was all desert.  Houses are like matches or those parts on Lego toys or small as houses in the Monopoly. It made me really cry. Am I ready for this? Can I live in Jordan for 2 years? If Dubai, which considered as an open and progressive country looked so deserted for me, how much Jordan would be? Things started to sink in, I'm no longer in the Philippines, I'm miles and miles away from them.

At Dubai International Airport

          
          We stayed in Dubai for around 3 hours before our next flight to Amman, Jordan. While waiting, we grabbed the opportunity to capture some photos.

So sleepy while in Dubai

Picture Picture

Two more hours to go for our next flight.. =)

        Those doubt and fear that cast upon me, started to vanish because of the support and encouragement from my fellow nurses who just started their journey with me. Although, it would be tough and lots of trials will come our way, we stayed strong for we know that through this, we will aim our goals. 

Innocent and strong girls making new journey in life 

          At last, Jordan here we come!!

A traffic aid in Queen Alia International Airport. This shot was taken in the screen monitor found in passsengers' seats. The man signalling the direction for the airplane to take so it's park accordingly.

      We were greeted by a Jordanian, whom we think a manager or head department of the hospital which we're suppose to work with. His name is Hamzeh, whom we later found out to be the head of the human resource department. =) We were also briefed before that it will be winter time in Jordan when we will arrive there but because I haven't experienced winter yet, I failed to bring a heavier coat with me. I freezing to death when we came out the Queen Alia Airport. 

My first site of AMC and those raindrops were actually fleet (snow flakes)... =) 

        We went to the hospital to have an early lunch, and to have a short tour. The food is grilled chicken. Yehey! Looks so familiar. But oops the rice is yellow??? Yellow??? Hmmm, first taste of arabic food. The hospital was big compared to my previous employment. 

On our way to the hospital

After 2 hours in the hospital, we finally went to our hostel. On our way, you can noticed that most of their streets have this circle or loop. 

Seouk Sultan ("seouk" is an arabic word for market)
Look at the snow, it's getting heavier.. =)

             Snow continuously pouring on our way home, like welcoming us and saying "Hey, don't you love snow!" hahaha.. Some of my co-nurses, went down here in Seouk Sultan to buy their coats but me, still embracing the cold day.

Vacant lot near our hostel.. with snow. =)

    
          Just few more blocks and we finally settled in our hostel. We now lived in T'la Al Ali (pronounced as Tlal Ali). Houses were all the same made of stones, like boxes, no paints, same color, no roof nor wood outside. The place was so quiet not like the busy streets of Manila or my place Antipolo. You can't see anyone walking outside, no pollution, no "tambays". I miss my place already, I miss Philippines. I got home sick right there and then, tears fell down my face. For some, it might be happy when your relatives are working abroad, but for us outside the country it's the other way around. We sacrifice more and it frightens us.

Outside our Hostel

          This was my new home, my new place where my journey truly begins and memories that will be cherish in the future. This is my Jordan Life.

The top view outside our hostel

Winter moments =)

          The following days was our orientation where we were taught of policies, procedures and other matters pertaining to our work.

At the Auditorium

While waiting for the bus to come

         We were also given a chance to have our own uniforms in 2 days and do the necessary adjustments if needed. We were oriented about the different areas or departments in the hospital. 

fitting our new uniforms.. oh I love the blue green =)

        It was also our free time to adjust to this new place and to roam around nearby places such as Carrefour grocery, Sheraton Hotel and Catholic churches. We attend our first mass in Jabbal Hussein, to which I never came back until my last day in Jordan. I really can't memorize the place or the direction. I just overwhelmed with what I see, like ancient times, wide space, old infrastructures and the different aura the place has. Sad to say, I don't have camera that time nor cellphone to capture those moment.

Our first mass in Jabbal Hussein. Look, I'm like a lost child here. hahaha.. =)

My new Ates (okti) Elaine (left) and Trina (right)

City Mall Carrefour

grocery time

         We also found new shopping mall: Carrefour, our favorite place for doing our grocery with lots of sale and freebies.. =)

Sheraton Hotel, just across our hospital

          And this was how my life in Jordan started and the rest was history. There were lots of memories to share and cherish and lots of lessons learned. I'm thankful for the great opportunity I have there and the people I've met was truly be sculptured in my heart forever.

My AMC family

       This is how it all started. The following are the places I've been through or visited in Jordan with my new found friends. Check them out and see the beauty behind JORDAN. =) Click each one for specific post. 

J E R A S H

A J L U N   C A S T L E

M T.   M A I N

D E A D   S E A

M A D A B A

M O U N T  N E B O

J O R D A N   R I V E R

A Q A B A

P E T R A

W A D I   R U M

W A D I   M U J I B

C I T A D E L

Z A Y   A L - S A L T

P.S. Enjoy touring the Ancient Jordan. 

Tam-Awan Village

Tam-awan Village is one of Baguio City's "newer" attractions, having been created only in 1998 by the Chanum Foundation. Located at the outskirts of the city, it is an artists colony set amid a charming collection of Ifugao and Kalinga huts. 

Tam-awan Village at the entrance

Since it's just 5 minutes away from our transient house, we decided that it would be our last destination. We prepared early because we planned to go to PMA first before Tam-Awan Village, unfortunately due to some strict policies there, we weren't able to go inside. 

Garden City in the Sky

The entrance fee for this garden in the sky is just 50php and you can stroll and hike within your own time and pace. The place is so quiet and many floras and faunas can be found also.

Red Leaves =)

To go around the garden, you need to climb few steps or sometimes muddy pathway. There are certain arrows and signs to guide its tourists.

The stairs

Left or right???

The steep that almost taken my life away.. =( It was kinda wet and my slippers was not rubbery, I slipped twice.. Thank God for those bamboos that I gripped. 

Tam-Awan village also features different native huts and other areas are used for workshops and exhibits. It is the best place to purchase a painting or drawing by one of the many well-known artists who have their artwork on display.

One of those nipa houses

Those nipa houses can be rented as your transient house for a day or for weeks. Some houses caters prestige paintings by well known Baguio artists.

Some artists can make you a sketch drawing of yourself for only 100php within 15 minutes. How cute is that? Hmmm.. due to time constraints, I wasn't able to do this. Next time, i'll probably do this. =) Lastly, they also have a restaurant that offers traditional Cordilleran food.

A cozy place plus free wifi... =)

The view in Tam-Awan Village

 To more about events and history of Tam-Awan village, please visit their official website  http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/

And that's our one day journey throughout Baguio. Hope you like it guys! Until next time. 

Mines View Park, Lourdes Grotto, Burnham Park and Baguio Cathedral

After we visited the Mansion, we rode the taxi and headed to the famous Mines View Park. As I remembered before, it is not as crowded unlike today. Commercialism was evidently seen as more restaurants and stores continuously sprouting like mushrooms.

Mountain Ranges welcoming us upon reaching the view deck

MINES VIEW PARK is one of the most frequented tourist spots in Baguio City which has a view deck where one can have an unobstructed view of Balatok, Antamok and Atok mines and a spectacular view of the Cordillera mountain range. These mines used to be rich in gold and copper. 

Tourists also have the chance to wear native Igorot costumes for minimal fee or have their photos taken with the wonder dog. 

Because it is Sunday, more families were gathering here and it was literally overcrowded. Since our purpose was just for picture taking, we just stayed here for about 20-30 minutes and headed to Good Shepherd for our pasalubongs. On our way out, we also checked out some wooden souvenirs and magnets.

Right after Mines View, we just walked few minutes and went straight to Good Shepherd Convent to buy more delicacies such as their famous Ube Jam and Strawberry Jam. At first I was hesitant to buy because of tight budget, but when I've tasted their Ube Jam, hmmmmmmmm,,, it was really worth it. It was so creamy, freshly made and still hot when they gave it to me. I can't stop myself from muching it. =D hehehe... And to know that the profit they earned from it will send native Cordillera children to school, it pinch my heart.

Ube Jam for 130php,,so Y-U-M-M-Y!

After that, we went to Plaza to eat in Cafe by the Ruins, but unfortunately none of them knew were it was located.. huhuhu.. We ended up eating in Chowking in the Plaza. I ordered halo-halo even it was cold outside. I love it and I love their big serving.. =) By the way, it's already around 1:30 pm when we had our lunch. After that, we took a short nap in our transient house and started to take another tour.

Lourdes Grotto

We started our tour in Lourdes Grotto, just 5 minutes away from our transient house. The LOURDES GROTTO is another Catholic shrine and place of meditation in Baguio. It is located on a high hill in the western part of the city where you will find the image of the Lady of Lourdes.

The centerpiece attraction at the foot of Lourdes Grotto

It was a challenge again for me because we have to climb around 250+ steps and because I'm afraid of heights, my knees are usually shaking. grrrr..

This is it guys, conquer my fear.. I can do this, 250+ stairs here I come =)

We climbed it with all our might and with the help of those railings..hehehe.. The place is quiet and very solemn. Most catholic devotees go here to pray with the miraculous Our Lady of Lourdes.

In the middle of the staircase, catching our breaths and enjoying the scenic spot.

I made it!! Yehey!

Our Lady of Lourdes is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary invoked by Roman Catholics in honor of the Marian apparitions which are said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France.

The Our Lady of Lourdes in Baguio is the same replica of those in Lourdes, France. Many devotees come here especially on Holy Week to offer their prayers and intentions. Candles can also be lighted at the mount of the grotto.

The Ten Commandments

Another way to go up here is to walk on the zigzag road where car can also pass through. Along the zigzag road, you can see this gigantic image of the Lord like preaching us. 

Walking down, you'll see the mountains of Cordillera and most part of Baguio. It started getting dark in the afternoon, we thought it would rain but thank God, it didn't.

We headed to plaza and tried some activities in the Burnham Park.

 It was named after the American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham who laid the plans for the city. The park features a man-made lake situated at the center where tourists can enjoy boating with rented boats. 

We were both excited with this part because none of us know how to row a boat. The cost of the boat is 150php for maximum of 6 persons for 1 hour. For tight budget like us, 150 is big already so what we do, we waited for some passengers who are willing to go with us. Luckily, we found 3 men, yes men in military having their vacations as well. They're so generous and kind hearted. They also row the boat for us! Yehey..

So relaxed while those 3 men were suffering in rowing our boat...hehehe.. =)

Burnham Park is also known for biking, skating and other fun activities. You can stroll around the place or go to Rose garden near the area. We also saw groups of young people practicing their dances. After that, we walked around Session Road and go to Baguio Church for the Sunday Mass, 6pm-7pm.

Baguio Cathedral

According to Wikipedia, Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, better known as Baguio Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at Cathedral Loop, adjacent to Session Road in Baguio City, the Philippines. The building is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the Marian title of Our Lady of Atonement. It is distinct for its rose-colored exterior, twin spires and traditional stained glass windows and is one of the most photographed iconic buildings in Baguio City. It served as an evacuation center during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

My First Visit to Baguio Cathedral when I was 12.

 Across the cathedral is now one of the famous tourist spots, the SM City Baguio. You can have a vast panorama of the city of Baguio, greener surroundings during the day and bright lights on the evening.

Bright lights in the big city.. (Singing the song in Billy Crawford's tune)

We ate in Mini Shabu Shabu and it was so delicious. According to Wikipedia, Shabu-shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ , also spelled syabu-syabu) is a Japanese dish. The term is an onomatopœia, derived from the sound emitted when the ingredients are stirred in the cooking pot. The dish is related to sukiyaki in style: Both consist of thinly sliced meat and vegetables and served with dipping sauces. However, Shabu-shabu is considered to be more savory and less sweet than sukiyaki.

Health Advisory! =)

Kristina and I were so excited with this.. not my first time though =) We really love to eat and this is the highest paid food with this trip.

Our Master Chef: Sir Leony! Cooking our first batch =)

I'm on sweat already because of the steam.. =)

Eating time.. We almost spend 2 hours here.. =) After that we walked from SM Baguio to the plaza and saw some merchandise being sold in the street such as clothes, shoes and bags. Ukay-ukay style.. Sadly, we don't have money left in our wallets. =( We ended this day with sound sleep.

Up Next: Tam-Awan Village