…Was my family with the thought of me being so close to the bombing in Syria whilst being here in Petra – Jordan. If fact, the travel warning by Australian Consulate isn’t needed as the place is perfectly aimed towards tourism.

The taxis from the airport are regulated and easy, everyone wants you to have a good time and gently but constantly they ensure you do. Oh and the metal detectors at every door ensure you feel um..safe…yes, sure…um…safe.

No, what they should have really been petrafied and full of warnings about is the cost, for that has its’ target squarely facing off at tourism and designed with maximum impact. The JOD become my new swear word as even a bottle of sun cream cost JOD30 which is AUS$57! Paleo Pete would be so happy, a suncream tax…solves those people dying from too much suncream!!

My friends, put that aside, and the blathering tourists, and gain an insight into the old ways of a country that is in one moment haggling, generous, amazing hosts, poor, rich and at peace – with itself. A complex contradition that works.

The old sites in Petra are stunning and more so by the night tour where the candles bring a cool collective experience after the heat of the day. Do watch out for the horse and carts that run down the gauntlet, that you share as a path, like headless horsemen…the only warning is the smell.

Food at The Oriental was surperb and beers at The Cave Bar near the entry to the old site an ‘own goal’ with English Premier League showing – for one of the oldest cave bars in the world it was rightly deserted (pun intended!).

Onto Wadi Rum the next day for a much needed drink. My taxi driver told me this is in fact an old protected desert and no rum, that was before he laughed at me only knowing English and Garlinguage…he knew four languages…I said he had never seen me drunk as I was then fluent in French, Italian and Drunkswellie…he went faster over the next speed hump.

4×4 driving through this magical desert is not to be missed, as picturesque as a dry Grand Canyon and as eyre as an animal free Seregenti. The rock faces were black, cream, red, orange and at times flowed like molten ice cream…as the heat came I could see more and more ice cream…traditional tea wasn’t going to do it for me mate.

Perhaps an advantage of Trump’s latest work is the lack of people here, it is quiet and accommodation cheap. Except for two tourists in a canyon that had a queue wait 15 minutes. She said it is ok he is a photographer, I said that may be the case but you are no model. Luckily that was only in my head otherwise I may have been a Dead man, which we will Sea…