Little Petra/Wadi Rum - December 31,2010

Today our plan was to be in Wadu Rum for the early afternoon.  We started the morning in the fog but it made for some awesome views / pictures :)  Our first stop was at Little Petra (Siq Al-Barid).  It was a mini Petra with a smaller scale siq (400 m) to walk through.  There were houses, temples, water channels and some cool places to explore.

Wayne and the kids in the siq (left), a set of stairs that led to somewhere at one time but now just up to nowhere (middle) and a dining room (right).

The kids found a few holes to poke their heads through.  Samantha found one that looked to have been a water channel at one time.

The picture on the right is from the "Painted House".  It is said to be a rare example of Nabataean paintings.  We were able to see some birds (along the bottom) and vines in the painting.

It was a very cool hike and at the end of it there was a geocache!  :) 

Next stop Wadi Rum.  We met our guide at the small town before you go into the wadi area itself.  There we got into the back of the pickup to be taken out to our camp.  What a view and fun but bnouncy ride...

Once there we found out what tents we would be in and stowed our luggage and headed out for a little exploring.  It was a beautiful place and our only regret was that we didn't have more time to do some actual exploring farther afield than just at our camp site.  Oh well, maybe another trip is needed to Jordan? 

We were able to do lots of rock climbing on our exploration (left and middle) and the view from the top was amazing.  Note: I know you have been hearing that a lot but it was very cool.  We could see our whole camp from the top (right).

Patrick and Samantha got an impromtu science lesson from Wayne (left) and then found a mushroom rock to hide under (middle).

We climbed down and decided to go another route - around the "mountain" if we could.

Patrick (left) pointing to the top where we eventually built an Inukshuk (middle and right).

We made it!!! (upper right).  Wayne contemplating his route up (left).

Wayne checking out the view and our tents.  Patrick checking out his bed - not bad for the middle of the desert! 

 

Samantha what on earth are you doing?  She was very focused on writing her name and Patrick's.

They even had camels that we could ride on.

Here we are waiting for the sunset and contemplating life in general - who am I kidding, we were just enjoying the view and waiting for a photo op.  We ended up waiting for a very long time but with it being so cloudy I only got a few (dozen) pics.  :)

 

Once we got our sunset shots we went back to camp to sit by the fire because it was starting to get cold.

We had a wonderful night chatting and listening and watching the Jordian dances that the Arabic men did.  I even got up to join in the fun - mind you it was to stay warm.  It was a wonderful New Year's night.  Wayne and I still went to bed relatively early as per usual for a New Year's night but what an experience.  I'm so glad that we did this.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!