Petra via Wadi Rum

Today we left Aqaba for Petra, stopping on the way to inspect some Bedouin Camps in the Wadi Rum (the largest wadi - or 'valley' in Jordan) and enjoy a guided tour of the conservation area.  As we wanted to do the tour towards the late afternoon to see the evening light on the desert, we decided to do the inspections first - at midday.  I wish someone had prepared me!!!  The heat was intense as you can see from this picture taken of me when we arrived at the third camp.....

The views of the desert were more than worth it though.  An amazing, unforgettable experience. I can see why the Bedouin are fiercely proud of their desert culture, and why they wish to preserve it.

Our guide Haeyl from nearby Rum Village

In front of T.E Lawrence's 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom'

Stunning

Nabatean Inscriptions

at the 'Little Rock Bridge', a natural formation 

utter exhaustion after climbing a near verticle sand dune - I hadn't even got the strength at this point to survey the view for which I'd made the climb!

Haeyl stops for Asr - afternoon prayers

The lights starts to fade in the Wadi

Sunset

'Bedouin Mobile Phone'