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10 Reasons Why I don’t go to Souq Jara

June 15th, 2011

THIS POST REFLECTS MY PERSONAL OPINION, IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT. YOU DON’T HAVE TO

1- Friday is supposed to be a day to relax

It is on Friday, my day off. The only day us who work can probably sleep at, When we work all week, waking-up early on Friday is probably the worst thing to do to yourself. Give yourself a break.

2- Kids Fiesta! as if Sa7aseel is not enough

Children have the ability to ruin weekends and hangouts, I’d rather go anywhere child-free.

3- Overpriced handmade stuff & so-not original recycled ideas

Most of the items sold at the souq are over-priced and aren’t of good quality either, plus many other people had the chance to rip-off some great creations like the one & only Jordanian Juicebangbang and sell there under another name with the most tasteless iced tea ever, ruining the identities, taste and feel of those brands.

4- Location

Rainbow street being a pedestrian area is one of the few public spaces in this country, and is already crowded on Fridays without Souk Jara… with it now, hell is even better to visit on Fridays, my cousin’s car got locked for 6 hours.

5- Traffic, lack of enough parking space, crappy valet service that isn’t even worth it
Check #4 for more info

6- Charging for local artists open-air music performances

Honestly speaking I’d rather sneak in a friend’s backyard around the souk, or walk around Wild Jordan or even better enjoy the outdoors of Wild Jordan, pay for proper food rather than paying a fee for a musical performance that I won’t even enjoy because of kids, families and entrance policy, to support local artists I can but their CDs instead (Jo Bedu store has them)

7- Harassment

With the tight walk space, I heard of many people who got harassed, had their bodies touched by those who looked respectable. After all, this is all a mess. Nope, I wouldn’t like you touching my ass.

8- Repetition

I don’t think this year or any other year anything would be added and interesting in this event/bazaar/souq.

9- Time consumed reaching & leaving the souq

Passing by Jabal Amman on Fridays is committing suicide, parkings are full, takes forever to reach, people in the streets look at you as if you’re an alien, fights and hafartal all over… not really a “relaxing” kind of things.

10- The real kick-ass ideas are already found out of this place

If you want some crazy kick-ass designed T-shirts, there’s always the Jo Bedu store in Weibdeh, open even during Jara and probably less crowded and has a small great cafe, the Camel’s back located right next to it. If you want bubble tea, there’s the kick-ass Juicebangbang located in the heart of Sweifieh at Sweifieh Avenue Mall’s ground floor by parking entrance. What else?

My ideas of perfect Fridays this summer are: Wake-up around 1pm, have a quick shower, make your own Mojito at home, sit on the balcony and enjoy some down-tempo music with your friends, take a weekend off to Beirut and go to Edde Sands where proper beach partying takes place, Book a night at a hotel in Dead Sea, Aqaba, Petra or camp at Wadi Rum, Invite friends over for a BBQ with a couple of chilled beers at your farm, garden or roof, take your girlfriend/boyfriend to a movie at late or SLEEP!

All of the above is better than hitting Jara. Besides this, great job iJordan for being able to handle a mess like Jara.