Middle East, Stories / 13 Sep 2015

Heaven Above & Hell Below in Wadi Rum

There are some life events that you know will never be forgotten, and some that make a non-drinker contemplate getting wasted. During the trip’s planning stage, Wadi Rum, Jordan sounded like a three-star Michelin restaurant, complete with all the ingredients needed to guarantee a world-class adventure. After all, Adventure is my middle name. My dreams to conquer Mount Everest, visit the Titanic, and win Olympic gold started when I was young, and since I haven’t made it to 29,000 feet up or down, or stood on the podium proudly singing, “God Save the Queen,” I spend my time as a professional photographer, media producer, and world traveler. I thrive on going off the beaten path, exploring where Rick Steves has yet to go. So, Wadi Rum was set to be the highlight of this Middle East work trip, and I was ready. After driving most of the day and stopping to admire the Jordanian royal family’s portrait at the last McDonald’s this side of civilization (I never refuse a clean Western toilet), our group of six arrived in early evening and found our tour company, Bedouin Directions, located at the end of a paved road within a walled compound. We were eager to load up, head out and enjoy the off-road Jeep trip before dark. We tossed our overnight bags in one vehicle and climbed into the back of the other. Minus the Jeeps about to take us off into the wilderness and our guides talking about the Internet, it was easy to imagine what life has been like here for the past five-thousand years. Moments later, we left the pavement and drove back in time, to when camels ruled the world and Bedouin camp fires first lit up the night sky. We were surrounded by tall red sandstone cliffs, above…

Continue Reading