Beautiful Wadi Rum

"No man can live life and emerge unchanged. He will carry... the imprint of the desert... and he will have within him the yearning to return."  T.E. Lawrence

Wadi Rum... The Valley of the Moon... What can I say? This expansive desert region may just be one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and certainly where I had a profound experience I will never forget. 

The first sights of the area are seen here, as I looked out on the hills to the left that were dubbed "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" after the book title from the legendary British Army Officer T.E Lawrence- better known as Lawrence of Arabia. 

The area is massive, and each section of it breathtaking. The sand is a deep red, and hills rise sharply from the desert floor. Looking at them closely though, the sandstone cliffs almost look as though the rock is melting. The formations are just incredible, and unlike anything I've seen elsewhere. 

It's next to impossible to imagine, but thousands of years ago, this whole area was part of the ocean floor, which helped to shape the rocks the way they are today. I wish that I had had a few more days in the area, as I would have adored to rock climb there! 

Humans have astoundingly inhabbited the desert since prehistoric times, and many areas contain ancient rock paintings- depicting everything from people and animals, to grafitti, to inscriptions of names of people, instructions, and which way to the next water sources. 

Other interesting formations in the area include this natural rock bridge, seen below. 

...Which some people still choose to climb and do a little dance across.... 

After a day in the desert, we went to a Bedouin camp to spend the night out under the stars. Although our little huts were an upgrade from the tents Bedouins once lived in, the shiek of the area- who we stayed with- said that these dwellings are what he and his sons have lived in for years. 

I thought they were very cozy! Just look at my little home for the night!

Before the sun set, I took the opportunity to climb up to the highest peak behind the camp and have a look out over the desert. The view was simply breathtaking, and went on for miles and miles in every direction. 

Far down below I could see a part of our little camp for the night. 

After climbing down, I went out to another rock ledge to watch the setting sun. It felt like the perfect place to be still and quiet within myself for a bit, so I sat and meditated there. It's amazing the clarity and inner peace you find in those moments. In that spectacular setting, a mantra for my whole trip came to me, and I couldn't be more grateful to the universe. Opening my eyes in that moment, this is what I saw: 

Just after the sun set, I walked back towards the camp for dinner. Several other members of our little group had come out to watch the setting sun as well. As I turned to walk back, I saw Martin and Frances (And I hope they will forgive me for this intrusion into their world). 

There was something about these 2 that just touched me our whole trip. Married for over 42 years, they still seem to be the best of friends who laugh hardily together... and still are in love enough that I rarely saw them not holding hands. I took this image quietly behind them, and cannot help but love it more and more each time that I look at it. We all can dream of being half so fortunate. 

After a wonderful dinner of chicken and potatoes that was cooked by burrying them under ground with a fire, the Bedouins had set up pillows outside for us to lay on, and we laid out watching the stars. Not since I was back home in Colorado years ago have I seen the Milky Way so clearly and crisply. The shooting stars didn't disappoint, either!

Laying there, in that beautiful place with the perfectly clear sky, I could only reflect on what an amazing world this is, and how incredibly lucky I am.