Levant Lure Journey. Day 1: Kuala Lumpur - Amman, Jordan

I travelled on a solo journey to Jordan to reunite with my wife, who had been there two weeks earlier for a mobility program with APCO. Unfortunately, Nu'man couldn't accompany us on this adventure, as he is pursuing his studies at Kolej MARA Kulim. We were actually set to explore Europe, just as we promised him for his SPM achievement. Despite everything, we’re holding onto our plans for the near future.

Let's get back to our story.  At 3am, the Qatar Airways flight departed punctually, paving the way for an exciting journey ahead.  I dozed off shortly after enjoying my first meal. After more than 7 hours of travel, we touched down at Hamad International Airport, where I had a 4-hour layover before continuing my journey to Amman.  My wife's ticket back to Kuala Lumpur featured an exciting 4-night stopover in Doha.  So I decided to save the airport exploration for later with my wife.

The connecting flight landed smoothly at Queen Alia International Airport after a duration of 2 and a half hours in the air. Once I passed through the checkpoint and retrieved my luggage, I made my way to the Sixt counter to collect my rental car. The Sixt guy couldn't find my booking on RentalCars.com's list! Excuse me, what?! Despite numerous search attempts, they were unable to locate my booking. There aren't even any cars available for rent at all. Fortunately, I had a Nissan Kicks rented from Thrifty.


A 6.8 million Lamp Bear

Leaving Hamad Airport for Amman



The trip wasn't my first experience navigating the roads in right-hand mode. During my time in the UAE, I spent nearly a week exploring the roads of Dubai, Sharjah, and Al-Ain. However, it took me a few days to acclimate to the unique driving style in Jordan. It was about 40 km to the heart of the city from the airport. At around 2.30pm, I settled in at the Kaya Hotel. As if I were unaware that my wife would be arriving in a few minutes, the bellboy surprised me by carrying my bags to my room, accompanied by my wife. For his benefit, I adopted my most enthusiastic expression when my wife unveiled her face... :P

Later in that evening we went to Rainbow Street, a well-known cultural and entertainment street in the historic Jabal Amman area of Amman, Jordan, officially named Abu Bakr al Siddiq Street. It is famous for its lively atmosphere, drawing visitors for its cafes, restaurants, shops, and cultural events, and is situated near the center of downtown Amman. One of my wife's APCO colleagues told her that we can purchase pre-loved luxury-branded bags on the street. However, we couldn't find any of those shops that sell pre-loved luxury-branded bags. 



Alas perut dengan samosa arab

In search of the popular kunafa, Habiba Sweet, we went to the city center street. The line was not very long, but we had to locate a place to sit. They did not provide tables and people just sat while enjoying kunafa. We found a place and mingled with the locals while enjoying the delicious kunafa.

Near Habiba Sweet, we walked to Duke's Diwan. We were not lucky because the attraction was closed that day. So we wandered around the area. We bought nuts, dates, and saffron at the nearby market. While I was waiting for my wife to go to the nearby toilet, I saw a long line waiting to receive the food parcels that were donated. We joined the line and Alhamdulillah, we already had something packed for dinner. Before returning to the hotel, we stopped for a while at the King Abdullah I Mosque.

Tutup le pulak



Memang sedap kunafa ni

Hilangkan dahaga kejap






Location: Amman, Jordan

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