Jordan

An independent venture into the rich history and kindness of Jordan - to the rightful traps of Jerash and Petra, but to the wonderful solitude and rock climbs of Wadi Rum and Dana Nature Reserve. Here we expected majestic scenery and history - but what we found with much greater majesty was the welcome, the humility, and the kindness of people who have little, but who gain so much, by remembering the simple acts of humanity we have all forgotten - like sharing tea. After such grounding, I arrived at the luxury Dead Sea resort we had booked as a nice idea at the end of the trip, and found it incredibly uncomfortable to walk through the door, for what luxury is bought pales in comparison to that which is earned.

The Arch of Hadrian
The arch of Hadrian in Jerash, Jordan, a major archaeological site
Tatooine
Houses built into the soft rock of Petra stand out beneath the distance moon high in the sky. Petra, Jordan
Distant
Marie looks up to the moon, standing on a high rocky outcrop near the Monastery, Petra, Jordan
Man atop the Monastery, Petra
A local man dances and plays the flute atop the pinnacle of the Monastery at Petra, Jordan
A fissure in the forest of rocks
I stand tall at the upper reaches of a beached section of rock in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Even if you've never seen a rock before you can surely work out a way up this one!
The Slow Advance
The sand takes centre stage in Wadi Rum, slowly eroding the rocks and replacing it with itself.
Camera Obscura
Soaking up the silence in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Taken with an APS-C lens on a full-frame film camera .

Tiered History
Staggered walls build up to an arch in Jerash, Jordan, a major archaeological site
Rock face, Petra
Distortions reign as we look upward on a rock face in Petra, Jordan
Above me
A donkey gazes down in Petra, Jordan
Softness amongst the sandstone
Steps carved in the soft sandstone offer easier ascent or descent on the way to the Monastery in Petra, Jordan
Lost amidst the vista
People disappear amongst the sandstone blocks of Wadi Rum, Jordan.
Desert Peace
The sun drifts down over subtly textured dunes in Wadi Rum, Jordan

The Temple of Artemis
The Temple of Artemis in Jerash, Jordan, a major archaeological site
Moon above the Siq
The moon rises above the Siq, a narrow sandstone canyon which descends down from Petra to the Treasury, in Jordan.
Lizard, Petra
A lizard rests on the rocks in Petra, Jordan
The Treasury at night
The Treasury in Petra, Jordan, is lit by candles at night as the stars appear overhead.
In our backyard
Camping in Wadi Rum, the sun begins to settle. Jordan
Light Walking
A light well is illuminated in the castle of Karak, Jordan.

Steps of the amphitheatre
The steps of the amphitheatre in Jerash, Jordan, a major archaeological site
The Siq
Two people are dwarfed by the Siq, a narrow sandstone canyon which narrows as it descends down from Petra to the Treasury, in Jordan.
The Monastery
Emerging out of the rock, the Monastery at Petra is a vast edifice carved high on the hilltops near Petra, Jordan
Solitude in the Wadi
An empty valley awaits the wanderer in Wadi Rum, Jordan
Pillars
A sole figure disappears amongst the sandstone in Wadi Rum, Jordan
The winding water and walkways of Mujib
Wadi Mujib, a huge canyon system in Jordan, traced by rivers and road structures.