Jordan
15/06/14 20:31
Nice breakfast at the Mövenpick and at 07.30h our driver picks us up again and it takes us 1 1/2 hours to reach Wadi Rum, a Bedouin town in the desert. It looks like a poorer neighborhood and not so well taken care of. At the office of the trekking company we meet our guides and mean of transportation. The pilots do not know about it since it is a surprise: 3 camels! With our Bedouin guide we are off. Getting on top of the animals is already tricky but after a while we get into the rhythm of the animals and ride for 2 hours into the desert. The guide’s English is limited and we hear „Camel Taxi Wadi Rum very good“ over and over. But it is true and people are again very nice here. At a beautiful rock we meet our driver with his 30 year old Landcruiser. It is a bit worn out with its 200’000km+ but still works perfectly in this harsh environment.
We climb several rocks, dunes and small hills from where we have stunning views. It is quite hairy most of the times and never be permitted in the US. But here obviously nobody cares - and the desert is beautiful! The sand is getting very hot; actually so hot that the soles of the web masters shoes just come off! We see 4’000 year old writings in the walls, stop at Bedouin tents for tea and some rest. Lunch, cooked over an open fire, in the cool shade of a mountain is simple but very good. The following siesta quite relaxing before we go on through the desert. Alone we hike for 30 minutes through a canyon since the guide is waiting for us at the other end of it. From there a short drive to another bridge rock which is at least 20m high. Of course we should climb it; so we do. Another hairy experience but the view again is amazing. Another drive to the red desert and some meditation on big sand dunes. No other sound than the wind! Sunset we watch from another mountain we have to climb but again it is very rewarding!
A short drive to the camp where we have a traditional Bedouin dinner; chicken cooked in an underground oven. Very delicious but the cool beer is missing. As during the day we have some serious discussions with the locals; again very friendly people. We all three sleep in a tent; simple but comfortable and showers are also here!
Another long day but what a beautiful one!
We climb several rocks, dunes and small hills from where we have stunning views. It is quite hairy most of the times and never be permitted in the US. But here obviously nobody cares - and the desert is beautiful! The sand is getting very hot; actually so hot that the soles of the web masters shoes just come off! We see 4’000 year old writings in the walls, stop at Bedouin tents for tea and some rest. Lunch, cooked over an open fire, in the cool shade of a mountain is simple but very good. The following siesta quite relaxing before we go on through the desert. Alone we hike for 30 minutes through a canyon since the guide is waiting for us at the other end of it. From there a short drive to another bridge rock which is at least 20m high. Of course we should climb it; so we do. Another hairy experience but the view again is amazing. Another drive to the red desert and some meditation on big sand dunes. No other sound than the wind! Sunset we watch from another mountain we have to climb but again it is very rewarding!
A short drive to the camp where we have a traditional Bedouin dinner; chicken cooked in an underground oven. Very delicious but the cool beer is missing. As during the day we have some serious discussions with the locals; again very friendly people. We all three sleep in a tent; simple but comfortable and showers are also here!
Another long day but what a beautiful one!
TransAsia 2014