My first adventure of the year is finally here! Arrived safely last night and after a few hours sleep I met my fellow Exodus Travels companions and guide, and then we were off to the Wadi Rum to start a five-day trek.
Wadi Rum is a protected area of desert, featuring rock mountains known as ‘jebels’, in the south of Jordan near the border with Saudi Arabia. On arrival we are greeted by the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a spectacular rock formation situated behind the Visitor’s Centre. It’s named after the book by T.E. Lawrence (or “Lawrence of Arabia”), about his experiences during the Arab revolt of 1916-1918 when the Bedouin rose up against the Ottoman Empire.
Our first camp was around a 6km walk into the blazing sun – very welcome after the miserable British weather, but a shock to the system. I’m not sure I appreciated what it would be like to walk on soft sand on the rugged terrain and 6km felt like 12 
Bed for the evening was in a little individual hut, relative luxury in comparison to what was to come.
In everyday life there are so many pressures, deadlines and responsibilities and it’s sometimes difficult to be ‘present’. Lying in my bed writing my journal under torchlight it felt good to be living in the moment, appreciating that right then I was where I was meant to be.
Tomorrow’s trek is 23km… Wish me luck!
Elizabeth Mooney 