Ramadan is right around the corner, and those of us fasting know that it’s the little luxuries in life that we miss and are the hardest to fast through. You know what we’re talking about… the things you can do when the sun is out, when the rays are shining down, when the temperature is rising and you aren’t distracted by the pangs of thirst and hunger. So make the most of the few days left of pre-Ramadan flexibility with our ultimate to-do list!

Eat Your Breakfast! 

Ok, this one is the most obvious. But you’re seriously going to miss grabbing breakfast in the a.m. when the countdown begins. So why not organize the girls, call up the boys and feast on some epic meals pre-dusk? And hey, if you’re going to do breakfast, do it right. Head over to Pancake & Waffle House, The Bake House or Al Osra Restaurant for traditional Eastern and Western style morning munching.

Go for a Morning Bike Ride or Hike

In honor of the “Global Bike to Work Day”, Boost, Radio Mazaj and Cycling Jordan are setting up a morning coffee and morning ride this Thursday, May 11th. Meet up will be at Cycling Jordan at 6:30 a.m. and end at Radio Mazaj at 8:30 a.m. with live radio coverage! This 20Km ride is a breeze for cyclers of all levels, and is something you definitely want to do with a cup of joe. Plus, in the spirit of the upcoming fast, while the ride itself is free, coffee providers Seven Pennies donate money to those in need with every cup you buy. So really, you’re preparing for the holy month of good deeds too!

If hiking is more your speed, then you better get on the bandwagon…a.k.a The Jordan Trail. There’s a few days left on the epic hike and the finish line is getting closer and closer. The good news is the trail ends at the Red Sea so really, you can hike the rest of it to Aqaba and make a weekend on the beach out of it! The trail is the perfect thing if your looking to get some healthy recreation in, learn about the country, enjoy its beauty and diversity and meet some interesting people. Check out their page for details!

Swim and Get Your Tan On 

Fasting is hard. Not having the tan you want in the summer, is also hard. So to make the holy month a little more bearable, get your “bronzage” in now, at least you’ll be fasting in style. There’s the Dead Sea and Aqaba of course, but if you’re looking for a city spot to swim, you’re in luck. You’ve got a few options; Four Seasons, Sheraton Hotel, Grand Hyatt Amman, Kempinski Hotel Amman, Marriott Hotel and if you want a non-hotel option, The Orthodox Club has a great pool to swim in.

Explore Amman’s Best Farmers Markets 

It’s hard enough fasting, let alone buying food when you’re fasting. So it’s a good thing that this Farmer’s Market is being held in the beauty of this sunny Friday, May 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Orthodox Club is boasting the best Farmers Market in Amman for fresh harvest, organic produce and handcrafted items made in Jordan. Plus, this free event will have a trampoline for kids (I’m sure you can get a bounce in) as well as a food corner to chill and relax. Meet farmers, artisans and explore foods from 30 different farms and vendors!

If you’re checking something else off the list this Friday, worry not. Nour Al Barakah is hosting the Saturday Farmer’s Market every Saturday from here till the winter season! And this market selling handicrafts, organic compost and compost tea, as well as organic produce, is one with a cause. Providing adults with intellectual disabilities with a safe space to mix with peers doing activities that will help them develop work experience and social skills, it’s all about building positivity- both for the earth, and for the people on it.

You knew food was going to be on this list right? I mean yes, we know you lunch every day. But you’re going to be devouring crazy home-cooked feasts in Ramadan. So why not take the opportunity now, to load up on international cuisine before the family and friend invites come out? We recommend you do a little world-tour. Head over to Pizzeria Con Franco’s for Italian food, Sushi Studio for Sushi, Brazilian Street Food for Brazilian, Ren Chai for Chinese, Thai Room for Thai, Fatty Dabs for American Burgers and Lezzet Istanbul for a little Turkish delight.

Sweet Laze

What says summer more than a picnic and ice cream? There really is something special about lazing around under the sun on grass and listening to good music and grabbing a cold sweet ice cream cone to melt your worries away. So here’s our 2 cents; this Friday head over to What the Hills?! and enjoy the picnic conundrum like Jordan has never seen. The event is an all-day extravaganza of games, a food corner, live music performances and a beautiful picnic area you won’t want to miss.

And if you’re looking for quick sweet relief, Four Winters has come up with genius you’ll want to taste in the form of their recently re-released and much demanded Matcha Ice Cream! Or try the Italian style Gelato and Sorbet at Little Italy (think, Strawberry with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction), and of course… there’s the city’s local go-to ice cream parlor, Gerard (with their irresistible Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream).

Enjoy a Live Outdoor Performance!

Celebrate Europe Day in Amman with Autostrad and World Beat Wahad this Saturday, May 13th at the King Hussein Business Park! The event is back for an encore of their sold out performance last year. This EU-JO cultural bridge is growing and celebrating the EU in Jordan with an open air, free spring concert featuring the musical wonders of Autostrad and the six-piece collective from France, World Beat Wahad. It’s outdoors, it’s free and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. This is one you wont want to miss!

Workout Outdoors

There’s something to be said for working out in the open air. But that would become considerably harder to do under the blazing sun while being unable to enjoy in a refreshing cool drink. So, we suggest you get in some outdoor workouts and get a little extra sweaty at Trax’s outdoor gym pre-ramadan! Trax boasts football fields, basketball and volleyball courts, a running track, outdoor gym, indoor workout studio, sitting areas and a cafe. So run around, play a few friendly games and run around the track in preparation for the Ramadan feasts ahead!

Do a Pub Crawl with Your Friends 

Pubs are a great place to hear some good music, enjoy whatever drink floats your boat and chill with your friends. Why not go on a pub crawl, bar hop or skip around the block – whatever you want to call it. Jabal Amman is always a great place to start and if we were to recommend a route, we’d hit up Amigo for some beer and wings during their happy hour, get a little fancy and grab a cocktail or two at Copas Central afterwards, move on down to La Calle’s recently redesigned patio and then find ourselves settling on the terrace at Corner’s Pub to round out the night. What would your route look like?

Dance the Night Away 

Amman’s first pop-up club concept is nearing its end. CLSTR is open Thursdays and Fridays and has been the go-to place to dance into the wee hours of the night. So yes, head on over this weekend and make sure you don’t miss their closing weekend with Kenny Glasgow and Akladios, Thursday, May 18th. CLSTR is closing their doors with a bang, the same doors that open up at 9:30 p.m. and take those who get there first. It’s a 15 JD entry fee, worth every minute you’re grooving to the beats.

Start checkin’ off the pre-Ramadan list Tipsters! 

And as always, stay curious. 

Lemur Love, 

The Tip n’ Tag Team