Sunday 8 October 2017

After our big day in Petra yesterday, we have a long drive today. We are headed to Wadi Rum, the extraordinary desert landscape in which Lawrence of Arabia was shot. Cherrie and I watched the film for the first time just over a week ago, the day before we left Quamby. We are pleased that we did because it actually helped us to understand some of the history of Jordan and the other Arabian countries.  It’s a two hour drive from Petra to Wadi Rum and so we had an early start, especially since Murad and Raed have kindly agreed to take us to Aqaba on the Red Sea (and the scene of Lawrence’s greatest victory when he overtook the Turks) before turning back to our ultimate destination for the day, the Dead Sea.

We climb over the mountain (well, the comfortable van does) opposite Petra and we realise we are growing used to this sandy, rocky landscape.  There are fields ploughed, waiting for rain so that the barley can be planted.  Looks barely likely to me.

We are driving on the desert highway and we pass lots of Bedouin camps.  Where you see an animal, there will be a camp nearby. These people live so simply but it’s their choice.  Fewer are nomads these days but many still live in their tents and farm their goats, sheep or camels.  The animals obviously enjoy a menu of stones and sand.  I went to a restaurant once that served that food but I won’t be returning.

When we arrive at Wadi Rum it is a strangely familiar site.  Very reminiscent of my beloved Central Australian landscape, but more vast.

We see these wonderous sites from the back of a ute, an enterprise of yet another entrepreneurial Bedouin community. Oh what a feeling

4 WD safaris are not the domain of Africa alone. Here we meet lots and its still early morning

Lawrence’s preferred mode of transport is still very evident here and still used widely

And here’s their fuel

We were able to get out of the vehicle for some trekking but my leg was still complaining so I stayed put

I felt more like joining gramps in a smoke. What you can’t see clearly here is that he was also clearing his emails

Glamping is not exclusive to African safaris either. This moonscape is a very classy permanent camp site. We rather wish we had time for a night here. It’s so peaceful and such an inspirational landscape.

Even desert camps need water delivery. Just like at Quamby

And so after two hours of desert safari, very gently driven in deference to the physically impaired passenger, we reboard our van and, in the words of Lawrence, we’re off “To Aqaba”