Wadi Rum, Jordan

Fumi enjoying Wadi Rum
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OK, so getting out of Egypt was a chore!  There was no high speed ferry and so I had to take a slow boat.  Now the slow boat is a 4 hr ferry ride across the Gulf Aqaba and its supposed to leave at 2pm.  So actually this sounded like a beautiful way to travel. I figured I'd see the sun setting just as we got into port.  However, it was a 13 hour ordeal until I finally got to my hotel room!  I left Dahab at 11am, and yes, I arrived at Midnight!  Exhausted and hungry.  I made the best of the waiting time by playing guitar.  I met a russian dude Denis who played the whole Metallica collection!  Then I played the songs I knew and we sang and actually got quite an audience.  I think my singing is better when you don't know the language ;-)

Me n Fumi sharing some tea in a Bedouin hut
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Aqaba is very pretty.  Much nicer than the Egyptian cities and the people are super friendly and not trying to hassle you at every turn.  My taxi driver rushed me over to a sandwich shop that closed at Midnight so I could get a bite to eat - and didn't even want a tip!  I like Jordan - which was a surprise coming on the heels of other Muslim countries which left a worse taste in my mouth.  I'm glad I ended up coming here.  Here is a great example of the difference between Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.  I went to buy a postcard in Jordan and when the fellow found out I only wanted 1 card, he refused money and told me just to take it as a gift!  I tried very hard to pay for it - but he wouldn't have it.  Could this happen in Morocco or Egypt?  No shot!  They not only would charge you - they would try to gouge you on the price as well!

But it was SO MUCH FUN running down the dune! I was like a 5 yr old again!

Wadi Rum has all sorts of topography... here you can see 3 types in one shot
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My first day I rented a car and headed off to Wadi Rum.  Driving here is easy compared to Morocco.  Wadi is about 45 minutes away from Aqaba.  You have to hire a guide with a jeep to see it and it is $75 for the day.  However I met Fumi who was also looking to do a tour.  We teamed up and we split the cost.  It was much fun having company as we wandered around.  She is very cool!  She is Japanese, lives in Tokyo and her favorite food is Italian.  Can you believe that she doesn't eat sushi?!  What is the world coming to!?!?  She does however like Unagi Donburi and promises to take me when I come to Japan.  She brought a guide with her, Omar who is one of the nicest fellows ever.  I like Jordanians!

Pretty rock formation
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Wadi Rum sort of reminds me of the countryside of Morocco.  It is very beautiful!  There are spires jutting up all over the place and it gives the place a majestic feel.  The 4WD is a tough way to travel, at least on my back and bum!  Clearly there are no roads and well - its bumpy as heck!  Oh, and there are  echoes in the canyon... it was cool to yell and hear yourself yell back.  Loved it.

Fumi and I hiked up the large sand dune and when I got to the top I was exhausted!  Its probably 75m high - felt like 500 to me!  But it was SO MUCH FUN running down the dune!  I was like a 5 yr old again!

Wadi Rum
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The other thing I'm finding that is weird is using different money everywhere I go.  When I was in Europe - it was the Euro... so I really got used to it.  But now every country has unique money and its hard trying to pull out the correct money quickly, and even harder to remember the conversion rate in your head so you realize exactly how much of this funny money you are spending!