Channelling our inner Lawrence of Arabia... in the desert sands.

Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.

We are nearing the end of our journey as we head into the desert of Wadi Rum. (Wadi meaning Valley and Rum meaning of high peaks).

From bus to jeep to desert camp, we arrive at Rahayeb Desert Camp.

 

 The camp consists of rows of Bedouin style tents, structures covered with woven blankets and tarp-like roofs.

There is a central dining tent and fire pit area.

Inside each tent is a king size bed and a smaller cot, a rough bathroom with shower, sink and toilet. Power is provided from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm by way of solar power.... no shortage of sun here.

It is mid afternoon when we head out for four hour jeep exploration (well more like in the back of very dated half ton trucks) and sunset in the desert.

The desert is vast, it is fairly windy and clouds roll in with the occasion drizzle. This is actually not a bad thing as it cooled down the scorching heat.

All around red rock outcroppings tower like desert castles and rolling dunes of fine red sand soften the landscape.

 Wadi Rum has been inhabited since prehistoric times, once a hunting and meeting point with vineyards and olive trees. Now it is home to nomadic Bedouin people with their crude shelters pitched in the shelter of the red rocks.

This is where Lawrence of Arabia rode across the desert on camel with the Arab warriors during the Arab revolt of 1917, creating the romantic hero of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Sand ripples across the open desert and creates deep dunes as it blows against the rocky cliffs. I notice my footprints in the sand... there one minute, swept away the next.

 We encounter a towering bridge of rock and notice people way up atop the ledge.

Of course we are fascinated. HOw did they get up there? We decide we have to try it too. A handful of us daring souls bravely join the other tourists who want to make it to the top. This time we are slightly more mindful that we will also have to make the climb down.

 There are indentations and footholds for the climb up, narrow ledges to inch along, and at the top a narrow chasm to climb.

The view is worth the climb as we scurry to the top and stand victorious on the bridge of rock.

Watching those ahead of us, we determine the best way down the steep smooth rocky embankment is to scoot down in a crab-walk from foot hold to foot hold.  

Once down we load back into the trucks and continue.

As the sky begins to fade and the sun starts to sink low, we head to our vantage point for sunset.

Once again we are challenged by a cloudy sky that obscures the sunset. But, we encounter a camel caravan and spent the time photographing the camels against the dusky sky.

Back to camp and a dinner of chicken and lamb roasted in a pit in the ground. We visit around the camp fire and make it an early night because we will rise at 5 am for sunrise.

You would expect a night in the desert far away from civilization to be peacefully, serenely quiet. But the wind whips the tent covering and dogs bark as I drift off to sleep.

5 am dawns early. The moon hangs over the cliffs of rock as we climb aboard our camel caravan. 

The camels are tethered at the gate and we are directed to our camels, and carefully mount as they are sitting on the ground, resplendent in the colorful arab blankets.

Joe goes first onto one of the largest of the camels.             

He is barely on as the camel decides to rise up, not waiting for the driver. Only problem, the camel is still tethered. He gets half way up and can not go any further, lurching back down. Their front legs are tied so they do not wander and he is unable to rise. He pitches Joe forward and back as he tries to get up, then back down. The driver hurriedly unties the camel and all is fine.

We begin our caravan into the early morning desert as the sky begins to brighten.

Once again, the clouds hide the colors of the sunrise but the early morning quiet across the desert sands is a wonderful way to start a day. 

How about that sunrise!!! became our joke of the day. But it wasn't about the anticipated colors of sunrise it was about the peaceful dawning of our last day together in Jordan.

Come With Me as we head back to Amman for one last day in Jordan.