Indiana Jones…where are you?

Posted on by

32


Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan

One of the highlights for me while traveling through Egypt and Jordan with GAP Adventures in 2009, was sleeping in the desert with the Bedouin people.  Upon arrival to the camping area in the desert, we dropped our gear and made our way to the main dining tent for dinner.

We shared the tent with a group of Dutch people on pilgrimage.  They were the subdued, quiet ones on the other side.  We were the loud, fun-loving group on our side.  I actually spoke to one of the women to try to get the groups to mingle, but to no avail.  After a delicious meal, a few traditionally dressed Arab musicians entered the tent and one of the men began dancing and beckoned us to join him.   Feeling like a gypsy, I rose and began dancing, feeling breathless, having been seduced by the aromatic incense wafting through the air combined with the rhythmic melody.  Others began to join us and soon we had a party going!  I was having such a good time…I didn’t get any photos!  (the above photos I found online…but they are of the same or very similar camping spot)

The following day we took a jeep ride through the desert and I asked if I could drive.  The Bedouin driver “Mohammad” agreed to allow me and kept telling me what a good driver I was as I careened over sand dunes.  I wonder if the 4 passengers sitting in the open bed of the truck felt the same way after being jostled and bounced around…possibly fearing for their lives!

DSCN1373

The “Siq” … Petra, Jordan

I love this photo I took of the “Siq”, which is the mile long walk before arriving to the area called Petra, where all of the carved buildings are.  You are surrounded by towering walls of stone on either side as you walk.

DSCN1396

We hiked for two days throughout Petra…it was amazing!  Walking to the main entrance of Petra, I met a couple of 25ish men.  I discovered that one of them made his living taking people for rides within Petra on a donkey.  After a few minutes, he began flirting with me and wanted to take me to his “cave” on a date.  I told him I was married…but that didn’t faze him.  Throughout the day, I would see him and he would wave.

He gave me the tip of walking down a few steps for the photo shown below…so you don’t see the throngs of people!  These buildings carved into stone were simply unbelievably beautiful!  They were massive!

The Treasury, Petra, Jordan…(Raiders of the Lost Ark filmed here)

DSCN1405

A fellow traveler took this photo of me carefully crossing a very narrow ledge while hiking in Petra…whew!

Petra Cliff - Sherry

Beautiful Children of Jordan

DSCN1509

Children have such an exuberance for life…an openness…that I wish more adults could keep!

DSCN1476

Another unique experience we had was going to a Turkish bath while in Jordan.  The steam room resembled a cave and we were instructed to sit in the steam for 20 minutes…to then exit and be doused with cold water by a squat, muscled man in swim trunks…repeating this process three times…then to lay on a cold marble slab while he scrubs you with a mitt (ouch…that hurt)…pours cool water on you…slathers oil all over…massages roughly for five minutes and you’re done!!

Here is a group shot of us at the “Dead Sea“…the mud from the sea detoxifies your skin and makes it baby soft!  And you really do float in the Dead Sea!

DSCN1521

I hope you enjoyed  the trip!

Related articles

32 thoughts on “Indiana Jones…where are you?”

  1. Yesssss! Your post bought back some memories for me – had a fantastic, experience packed tour of Jordan (with g-adventures) amazed by the intensity and friendliness of the local people.

    Like

    Reply

  2. Pingback: Children of Egypt and Jordan | Fabulous 50's

  5. Sherry, thanks for liking my post. And am glad you did, it brought me to yours, this is so wonderful. And you look so beautiful at this age:). And don’t I envy the enormous travels you’ve had. Gosh, how do you fund it all:). I might go to Jordan in a few weeks, courtesy Jordan tourism, I notice you had a great time there, I already look forward to it:).

    cheers & all the best, Bhaven

    Like

    Reply

    • Bhaven – Thank you so much! I checked yours out also..very cool. I’ve worked my entire life…so using some of my retirement money. But I’ll need to keep working in between traveling. That’s cool about the Jordan tourism hosting your visit. Why are they? Sherry

      Like

      Reply

  11. I love the buildings in the stone mountain or whatever it is! I believe they sell potions from the dead sea, ha ha. Not sure I believe that one! The children are beautiful.

    Like

    Reply

  13. Sounds absolutely fantastic. That trail on the mountainside looks a bit precarious. One slip…No guard rails…Of course that would ruin it, but you wouldn’t want to slip on loose rocks just there. Not for the faint-of-heart.

    Like

    Reply

I'd love to hear what you have to say