I wrote earlier about exploring the Wadi Rum in Jordan and how much fun it was to ride around in the back of a pickup truck and admire the magnificence of the landscape of this unique spot in the Middle East, at a crossroads between Asia and Africa.  What made that day even better was how it ended that evening:  over-nighting in the Wadi Rum in a Bedouin camp under the stars!

We stayed at a Captain’s Desert Camp camp, I am not really sure where exactly in the Wadi Rum, somewhere surrounded by the giant rock formations typical of the Wadi Rum, if that helps any…  The camp was mostly candle-lit at night and the night consisted of enjoying our dinner outdoors, listening to Bedouin music, some dancing, and a lot of star-gazing up above.  It was a wonderful experience.

The camp was separated from the area around it with screens and simple structures that seem easy to put up and bring down as needed, perhaps influenced by the nomadic tradition.  The tents we were staying in were spacious and just had the beds – nothing fancy.  The camp had bathroom and shower facilities that, though basic, were not too basic (says he who went a week without showering going up Kilimanjaro…).

In any case, it was the evening activities under the stars that made the night so memorable for me.  The night started with music and a demonstration of Bedouin bread (or “shrak“) making.

Bedouin music players (see short video below for a 20sec sample of the music)

One of the locals enjoying the shisha pipe

Then it came time to get the food out:  the meats and vegetables were cooked covered up and underground and it was a little production to get it out and served.

1.  Beginning to uncover the underground “oven”

2.  All the coverings removed, there is the hole…

3.  The goods being pulled out

4.  The final delicious product: chicken, potatoes, eggplant, etc. – mmm!!!

The seating area for dinner – comfy!

No pictures of dinner itself as this traveler was starving and eating -not my blogging- became the focus.  My apologies 🙂  Suffice it to say it was as delicious -or more- as it looks.  The seating was leisurely – you truly feel like a ruler of an empire leaning back with your plate of food…

I close with a picture from the next morning of the comfy area (with its great backdrop) where we had listened to the music by the campfire and had enjoyed our dinner under stars in the amazing Wadi Rum – an experience not to be missed during a trip to Jordan!

The dining area turned sleeping area for outdoor lovers