Taking Jordan's Tourism Industry Into the DigitL Age

I'm currently attending a USAID seminar in Mastering Social Media to
Boost Tourism Bookings. The seminar is being conducted at the landmark
hotel located somewhere near the third roundabout, if you ever visited
you'll know where that is we've got eight.

The seminar goes to state Internet and social networking facts, all
about the speed by which a post can spread. They just aired a flash
mob video that took place in Beirut international airport for the
Beirut duty free. Then the seminar goes to entice sharing during
travel, since a recommendation has a higher chance going longer coming
from peers, or normal people with similar experiences.

More to come.

Amman international marathon

The event is this Friday Oct 28th, getting ready for a 10k fun run. My best time so fat is around 54 minutes. The average runner completes 10km in 45 minutes.

Aiming for 46 minutes. Ill update this post with my record time :-)

For more details check WWW.amman-marathon.com

The Inevitable

What we all fear? The simple thought of under-performing.. in general. The thought that we might at any minute get laid off, not being able to socialize properly just because one single thought has been haunting our minds for the past god knows how long; under-performing is not being able to accomplish a single task for whatever reason.

Dogs on the other hand, never think about the possibility of under-performing. Playing fetch and not getting the ball back is just as good as not even running after it in the first place.

Humans have developed brains to excel, to rule natural selection. Yet, we always seem to forget that our minds are the only biological device that will put you down.. depending of course on the ability to control that device.

Some of us have the ability to live on synthetic happiness. A technique that will fake the brain into thinking we are happy. This I assume, is a temporary solution to an inevitable depression. What we need to do is figure out a way where we can stay happy during the majority of the day, even if this means facing a downturn for the short-run. How else will we ever change.

Bobby has moved back to my parent's house, visiting him is my daily highlight.

Quick question: Any suggestions on what to sell in an online store? (please list anything that you think could be a potential good sell) - I've been laid off - AGAIN.

Star Trek in Jordan, Aqaba

A Star Trek-themed attraction is set to boldly go ahead in Jordan, as US$1.5 billion of funding has been secured for a major tourism and theme park development, mentioned on the TheNational website.

Did Jordan run out of ideas? What will happen to the resort in 2020?

With all these issues happening in the Middle East it is still infelt living in West Amman. The situation here is calm, people minding their daily business.

Jordan ha suddenly turned the positive attitude on full throttle and it feels a little different coming from the same people only months earlier had a totally different negative spirit while facing day-to-day situations.

Traffic functions in West Amman are usually dominated by the few on-road direct-sales slash begger slash fortune telling individuals. During the Dakhiliya riots that took place traffic light individuals filled the streets with Jordan's flag, a few weeks after and as days become.closer to the final game in the Spanish league the classico ! Flags were replace to those of Barca and Real Madrid.

The irony! Makes me smile.

Attending @TedDeadSea

Im writing this blog while at a Tedx held at the Dead Sea of Jordan, known to be the lowest point on earth.

The inspiring talks are random, the first first session was about Empowering of Women, which I did not relate to, the major speaker in this was Muna Abu Sulayman trying to convince the audience the extreme cases of Women inferiority, which she must have gotten it thinking ahem was still in Saudi Arabia.

We're now in ou second session, The Future of Jordan is Bright. The best speaker in this session so far is a nursing student named Hamza Abid.

Will send more in few.

Excited to attend Tedx Deadsea this Saturday

Not like im attending the actual Ted Global, but any affiliation to Ted is ok by me. Many great people will be attending this event and many of whom are leading business and humanitarian figures, check out the official website for TedxDeadSea @ www.tedxdeadsea.com or follow them on twitter (@tedxdeadsea).

Changing the subject, i have come to realize the boom in social media agencies has come to Amman, the silly thing though is that they've penetrating the market of extreme ignorance with basic services. Facebook group management, twitter account creation, ending up with buying followers or fans to seem attractive to new referrals.. Online campaigns have no creativity! The leading agencies are affiliates o radio stations.. Giving the hype even a louder reach!

Genuine creativity is lacking in Jordan. No matter which brand or advertising agency is implementing the campaign.

WHAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER US

My days have started to become unpredictable knowing what i know now. The company im currently working for has lost its representation in the north of iraq.

My days have started to become unsecure, not knowing what tomorrow holds what will the company decide on doing today.

The situation only becomes stranger as i heard the news. A VC sent me an email approving the initial draft of a web portal concept to be implemented in the middle east. Im excited and scared at the same time.

This doesn't mean my website will be launched, it just means Im getting a second chance for getting it financed. Crossing my fingers.

Woop woop

I promised a friend yesterday that I would change the way I write my blogs and become a little more positive, despite all the downhills we meet during our day.

It's raining again here in Jordan. I do not know what to expect from the weather anymore, it's been sunny and warm for a week and now it's back to freezing rainy!

Let me check if I can upload two images, a before and after for what today looks like :)

Seek to find is BS!

What has been done to the world that we ache for more of everything? What is the world about that not all have equal opportunity? What makes the world decide on who gets the cards to do something with their life?

I have been living my life seeking the perfect opportunity, but nothing has come my way. I am employed with a somewhat good post, when I never really asked for it. What I want is not to work for someone; I’d like to own my business. But life did not offer me that; it offered an equal opportunity to work for someone else!

If we seek then we find, is nothing but letters arranged in an order to reflect what we desire and to seek our dreams when in reality dreams are no where to be found unless something is done about it, something as in help, or an external factor playing a major role in someone else’s plan in order to achieve wanted goals.

500 km/s impact - Japan Tsunami replica

I woke up this morning to realize how my life has turned out. The downhill started after my graduation from high school, didn't take university seriously which ended up having to enroll for an additional semister, issues with my father, parents not attending my university graduation. Got promoted really fast during the first years of work then got stuck, heard stagnent a couple of times from my ex-boss. My life has turned into a reality Tsunami.

what happens next?

i sometimes sit and ponder unto what life has offered me so far? how my life has been brought together by the forces of nature?

in one of my work meetings today, one of the girls was telling us about her experience in relationships, and how some males have a better understanding about what they want to achieve in their lives. a five year plan is usually shared by those males during their friendly encounters with other people, bragging?

specially those with that have their plans extremely detailed.. how do they know whats going to happen 5 years from now, i can barely plan a vacation 6 months from today!

sitting with thoobi

Dubai International Marathon

we run in a few days. things cant be better. i also just bought the winning ticket for the euromillions. i have a distinct feeling towards the combination.

jordan is also playing for the asian cup in qatar. their game with japan ended with a draw, where japan scored in the 90th minute, lucky bastards.

next game in a few days with ksa, i really hope we kick arse, specially saudi arse!

bobby stays over at my parents house a little longer. i am running it dubai's marathon on the 20th, bobby tends to to limb whenever we pickup a little speed, i think he's best at walking.. getting too old i guess. i bare the thought of him growing up, feels like yesterday when we got him..

sad how time flies...

(null)

bobby spending his days with grandma!

the parents came for a visit, bobby stayed with them for the good old days.. he loves going back to the old house, where he spends most of his days on the porch and the back yard..

we are finally moving from this house! the landlord is a plain arse.. he cant get through the concept of a two way communication, hes the blast from the past, like talking to an arrogant senior ;)

excited about the new house, the building is eight months old and the house is brand new, the rent is better, the extra cash goes to our annual vacation account, which is beautiful!

test