Day 3

Sunday 28 sept.  drove south from Petra.  At first overlooking the mountains ravines and gorges of the Petra area.  Then just through desert or very arid country east of the Dead Sea then down to the top of the Gulf of Aqaba.  Country unlike Australian desert in that not red but gravelly in colour.  Through this country we were going in opposite direction to the exodus, who were travelling north.  In area where Moses drew water from rock.  Then about 40 kms north of gulf we were in the area of Lawrence of Arabia.  Stopped at Wadi Rum visitor centre which was some kms north of Lawrence's battle in 1917.  Went out into desert in unroadworthy old Toyota utes.  Saw escarpments which were probably what Lawrence called the 7 pillars of wisdom. Saw an Arab demonstrate how the Bedouin rubbed a plant into pulp to lather it so could wash without water.  Phil B, Bob, Jan and Lavena rode camels for a short way.  Arabs did drag race in utes to get us back to visitor centre.  Drove to  Aqaba which borders Jordan, Saudi, Israel and Egypt.  Moses camped here.  Went through border in to Israel but Israel border closed half way through for about 40 mins due to a "minor security scare".  Israeli employees remained cheerful.  Drove in Israel north to Dead Sea hotel where we stayed.  Hot and a bit like a slightly sulfuric Surfers Paradise.  

Through the desert in unroadworthy Toyota 4 wheel drives.