Wadi Rum/Petra Adventure

Just wanted to post some pictures from one of my more recent trips to Southern Jordan. Overall it was a pretty hilariously fun trip with many unexpected thrills/surprises as usual...

Asmaah and I in front of the Monastery at Petra. and I will have you know that it is not a painless hike up the 800 something odd shaped steps to reach this beauty.

A little further up from the Monastery. Beautiful surroundings, beautiful weather.

Jordanian flag at a viewpoint above the monastery.

Taking a break at this refreshingly windy viewpoint after the last stretch of hike up.

Written on the outside of the canvas tent at the top of this viewpoint. Did you know there is no tax in the end of the world?

An older Bedouin man who wanted to show us his goats. He grew up in Petra and still lives nearby although no one is technically allowed to live in the UNESCO World Heritage site. Forced relocation for most Bedouins living in the designated UNESCO site started in the 60s and continued throughout the following decades. Now most Bedouins who previously lived in ancient caves carved by Nabateans live in neighboring villages, but some still use the Petra area and caves for livestock grazing and shelter like the older Bedouin man we met.

The night before we stayed a few kilometers away from any villages. This picture is the outside of the "cave" we slept in the night before with some people I might describe as "rasta Bedouins," big dreadlocks, wild political views and all.

View of the cave entrance.

The cave was situated in the neighboring terrain of Petra. It was several kilometers off any real road so our hosts kindly picked us up in town and we had quite the adventure being thrown around in the cab of a toyota pickup in the dark to reach this destination.

Wadi Rum

Mickey taking one of his famous self-portrait shots.

Asmaah and Seth on our jeep tour in Wadi Rum.

VERY tall red sand dune. It may very well have been 800 steps to reach the top of this as well.

Our jeep tour guide Omar lounging in the sand below as we explored the tops of rock formations.

Neat little rock hut. Use: Unknown.

Mickey and Seth being explorers in the strong morning sun.

We camped on some mats with blankets provided by "couch surfing" Bedouins in Wadi Rum. The Wadi Rum night sky is unlike any other that I have seen.

I have a feeling I'll be missing the warm desert sun almost immediately upon my arrival back home to the soggy (but beautiful) Northwest in less than a week.

love to everyone at home!