Jordan - Wadi Rum and Petra, a desert adventure

Today we woke up in the desert in Wadi Rum otherwise known as the valley of the moon.  We had arrived in Aqaba Jordan having taken a ferry from Egypt a few days earlier and had travelled by truck into the desert north away from the city.  It had been a long few days so crashing out on the sand was easy.  Now we were more rested we were up early to travel further into the desert to Wadi Musa.  Here we were going to take jeeps to see some of the marvels of the desert, both natural and with human connection.  Wadi Musa itself claims to have some association with Moses himself and water, hence its name, Valley of Moses.

 

Lawrence of Arabia's well

The jeeps are fun.  Standing up in the open back and holding onto the roof is perfect way to cool down, and despite the fearsome heat and constant sand in the face it is an exhilarating experience.  First stop off point was the well associated with Lawrence of Arabia.  Had to scramble over rocks and uphill to get there but find a stagnant pool, still supplying enough water to support the 40-60 Bedouins who live in the surrounding area.  View from here worth the climb, amazing rock formations stretching across endless desert plateau. 

Wadi Musa

Next stop a natural rock passage with ancient carvings on the wall showing images of family, travellers and animals - including lions and camels, as well as signs of fertility.  A sign people had been travelling across this desert for thousands of years.  The best stop in the desert provides the opportunity to climb on top of a natural rock arch for photos in the desert sun where one of our groups does handstands which are dangerous close to the edge.

Amazing rock formations

Final stop in this wide open space is a massive red sand dune.  And it had to be done.  We scrambled to the top as fast as we could, feet burning as sand filled our hopelessly inadequate shoes.  Then only one way down, and its much steeper than I thought, fast and straight, a race to the bottom, half running, half falling and a lot of fun as well as hot feet by the time we reached the bottom.

Massive Sand dune

From here we journey to Petra for the night before an opportunity to explore tomorrow.  Of course we had to watch the obligatory Indiana Jones or half of it anyway before falling asleep as so tired after today's fun.  Early start to Petra.  We choose to walk through the natural rock passageway, a half mile shaded passage, complete with carving and shrines hidden in the multicoloured rock face.

Entrance to Petra

As we exit the passageway we come face to face with 'the Treasury' the building that so many of us would recognise from the aforementioned film.  It's a very impressive facade, but nothing at all inside.  And so it goes all day.  The site is vast, facades of buildings, remains of houses, temples, and burial tombs can all be explored.  No where it seems is off limits.  Exploration only defined by energy levels and the heat of the day.  We spend all day taking in the sites.  As we climbed up to the place of holy Sacrifice, a cool wind started to blow, a break from the stifling heat in the remains of the city below.  And the view was magnificent, the vast expanse of what was once an affluent city of trade on the silk route spread out below us.  We could almost imaging the camel trains arriving here laden with goods, a relief to be out of the desert we had experienced yesterday.  Climbing back down there was chance to check out the monastery, we declined taking tired looking camels and instead took a  half hour walk from where we started.  Another interesting facade in the rock hidden from view.

The Treasury

As we climbed back down, we began the long walk back to the hotel, through the passage way that had hidden and protected the city for so long.  The last couple of days had been an adventure and there was still so much more to see, Jordan was going to be fun.

Petra from place of high sacrifice