Jordan is a safe, welcoming, and incredibly photogenic land in the Middle East. Bordered by mountains, the Dead Sea, The Red Sea, enormous deserts and lush, green hills, Jordan has a little bit of everything. Combining beautiful landscapes with the history and physical reminders of thousands of years of settlement, Jordan is a small country with a lot to offer.
These pictures of Jordan are a photographic document of solo travel in the Kingdom one sunny, but chilly November.
Wadi Rum
The favourite part of Jordan of many people (including me) in Jordan is Wadi Rum. Thankfully, the landscape is almost untouched by tourists and industry. Apart from the Bedouin camps, which have to more or less conform to certain standards and colours, and tyre tracks from 4WD vehicles, the desert is as it has been for centuries. Lawrence of Arabia, the most famous visitor to this part of the Middle East probably saw an almost identical landscape to what you can see in Wadi Rum even now.
Petra
Many people around the world were introduced to Petra through the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". Sights like the beautiful Treasury of Petra, the imposing Cathedral, and the long passageways through the sheer rock faces, including the iconic Siq, have drawn visitors in their millions every year, with numbers increasing steadily since the release of that movie. Photographers are in luck. The colours of Petra change with every season and at every hour of the day so there's always a new angle to shoot.
Amman
Despite appearances, it's only in relatively recent times that Amman has transformed into a bustling city of 4 million people and the capital of Jordan. People have been living in the region for thousands of years and evidence of the city's history is dotted around the many hills. While not on the level of say, Rome, the architectural and historical sites of interest make the city a worthwhile trip for travellers. Amman now sees a regular influx of tourists and business travellers - it is one of the most visited Arab cities in the world. The hilly nature of Amman and the almost guaranteed sunshine make it a great location for travel photography.
