the yauhuinator

The vast, magnificent desert of Wadi Rum greeted me on the third day. I can’t help feeling a little dwarfed while looking up at the towering sandstone mountains, which the locals fondly call the “Valley of the Moon”.

Tents were placed in a grid formation near the desert restaurant. From what I’m told, it’s where the local people live – like a mini community.

Most of these people make a living serving tourists and sightseers, since there’s practically nothing else to do in the desert.

Despite being in the winter season, the temperature under the scorching sun can get rather toasty. In fact, the weather is so extreme that you can start sweating in the open, and suddenly be hit with a cold shock as soon as you step into the shade.

A common signature dish here is the curry lamb and grilled chicken on flavoured rice. It almost tastes like our local nasi biryani!

A unique treat served here is their sugar-glazed dessert. It’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, though one might find it overly sweet. The dessert does somewhat taste like doughnuts, but shaped in balls.

Here’s a silly picture of me.

With lunch done, the journey into the desert begins.

The desert is so big that tourists have to be brought around in 4x4s! The ride was understandably bumpy…

… but oh boy, was it worth the pain in the ass (literally!).

Being in the desert means you’ll hardly see a single fluff of cloud in the sky. It’s clear blue all around.

We whizzed past mountains after mountains. It’s almost surreal to actually be there.

Interestingly enough, the locals claim that this vast desert was once a sea bed. Yes, this place used to be filled with water!

I can’t help feeling slightly narcissistic when I’m here in the desert for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

They gave us the option to continue the rest of the journey on camels, but at this point in time all I wanted to do was go back to the hotel – I’ve been rehydrating myself countless times but there’s not a toilet in sight. (The tour guide kindly pointed out that I am already standing in one.)

And so I scurried over to one corner and relieved myself. Looking up, I caught sight of carvings on the rock face. The locals later told me that it was left behind well over a thousand years ago by nomads living in the area.

And this is me again, with a funky little fashion accessory. Last one, I promise!

This is the “kitchen” of a common tent where the locals gather and have meals together.

As we begin our way out of the desert, I spotted this group of camels just chilling around on the sand.

We stopped by a small place with ancient carvings along the way.

I was too absorbed with this cat that as soon as I was done taking pictures of it, the 4×4 driver decided it was time to leave.

And that marks the end of my desert adventures.

P.S. I’ve received some feedback from my readers telling me that my captions-before-pictures format was slightly confusing. I’ll change this in the next post.