I will talk about Jordan. So I am Jordanian and there is no camel in my background :P
The name of my country is actually: الأردن , 'al-Urdun'.
- We are a small peaceful country (89,342 km2) surrounded by bigger and troubled countries (Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Palestine) and Israel.
- Jordanians have different origins. Beside native Jordanians there are Palestinians, Syrians, Circassians, Armenians, Chechens and others
- We have a beautiful and lovely Queen, Rania Al Abdullah.
- Our capital city is Amman. In the past, Amman sat on seven hills, much as Rome and Lisbon. Amman now covers at least nineteen hills.
- Yes ! it snows in Amman :)
- One of our national sites, Petra, is rated as one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
- Jerash is a city in the north full of ancient Roman historical sites.
- Jerash festival is an annual festival which is a three week long summer program of dance, music, and theatrical performances.
- Around the Dead Sea, we have the lowest dry point on earth, (1,371 ft) below sea level!
- In the Dead sea, You can float without any support because of natural buoyancy. Just relax and Enjoy :D
- Wadi Rum, one of the most amazing valleys in the world,
- The sky at night is just breathtaking; no words can describe it.
- Hammamat Ma'In (Ma'in Hot Springs): hot freshwater mineral springs and waterfalls that lie 866 ft below sea level. Excellent place to enjoy a naturally warm bath.
- Climbing the waterfalls in Wadi Mujib is a must if you love adventure! Wadi Mujib is the lowest nature reserve in the entire world !
- Don't forget the scuba diving at Aqaba bay and explore the colorful coral reefs!
But what about religious sites ?
- The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Al-Maghtas) in Jordan is located 10 kilometres southeast of Jericho. This place was surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors who seek the blessings of a land graced by great prophets. Al-Maghtas was visited by Pope John Paul II in March 2000 and by Pope Benedict XVI in May 2009. Here are some photos:
- Mount Nebo is the place where it is believed that Moses was buried. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. The Serpentine Cross sculpture, atop Mount Nebo , was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. The sculpture is symbolic of the bronze (or brazen) serpent taken by Moses into the desert.
- Beautiful mosques in Amman
Now traditions and folks !
- Our folk dance is called Dabkeh, here it is :)
- Our traditional dish is Mansaf ( rice, yogurt and a lot of meat .. and I mean A LOT)
- Oh yeah, don't be terrified if you see us eating it with our hands ! :D
For my vegetarian friends, it’s easy to survive without eating meat in Jordan ;)
Beside Hummos and Falafel, here is a small list of dishes you can easily find in Jordanian resturants:
-Fattoush (our favorite salad !): tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and radish with toasted pitta bread croutons int, parsley, lemon, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar.
-Mutabbal: Aubergine with tahini and lemon.
-Zaatar w Zeit pastry: pastry of dried thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds mixed with olive oil.
Note that Jordanian cuisine is part of Levantine cuisine so these dishes except Mansaf are all can be found easily in Levant countries.
Hope you enjoyed my answer ;)