(cont’d)

Wadi Rum, a unique place that truly reflects how a desert looks like. The surrounding was impressive, huge rocks and pure red hot desert sand, and I witnessed them with my own naked eyes. It comes together with Khazali Canyon enclosing it. Used to watch about deserts on TV but now it’s real and genuine. We snapped some pictures as we waited for our transports-the trucks to arrive. Our journey exploring Wadi Rum was somewhat like Jejak Rasul, and was extremely exciting and adventurous. Loved it. The truck was shaking like crazy as it crossed the desert and we had to hold the handle really tight to keep us in place. The surrounding was essentially filled with sand, and the rocks in a distance, countless desert undergrowth and a couple of wild camels. Not to forget some tents which I wasn’t really sure of what’s inside them.

One significant point in the desert was this one place where the red desert sand was massively deposited. Just sand. We were running trying to climb up the hill of sand but didn’t make it up to its pinnacle. Just for fun. Huhu. I got the sand entering my shoes, and socks too. I think everybody else as well. But couldn’t remove it from my socks as I was doing khuf.

The next destination was a place where the rocks look like layers of melting ice cream. We can go in between and have a look at what’s inside it. Nothing much except some carvings that failed to be made sure of whether they’re authentic or fake. Also this one part of the rock that has a special structure, utilized by film makers as Mars surface (if I’m not mistaken) when it is zoomed in, or something like that. Interesting. We also climbed up the rocks and stood on this part where the rocks merge presenting a distinctive structure like a bridge. Unfortunately I don’t have the picture with me for the time being. However it was awesome!

Enough on Wadi Rum, we then went straight to Petra where the ruins of the place where the 'Ad people used to stay were found. It took a few kilometers in that place itself to explore every bits and pieces of Petra. We walked quite far but still didn’t manage to reach its end where Lot (Luth) a.s’ shrine was found (if I’m not mistaken).

Still remember Lot a.s’ story? Let’s together recap; in that time Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lot a.s, who then went to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea. This city was filled with evil. Its residents waylaid, robbed and killed travelers. Another common evil among them was that men had sex with men instead of with women. This unnatural act later became known as sodomy (after the city of Sodom). It was practiced openly and unashamedly. It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to Prophet Lot that he should summon the people to give up their indecent behavior, but they were so deeply sunk in their immoral habits that they were deaf to Lot's preaching. Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham (pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lot (pbuh). There was quite a long story with the angels in Sodom, and the people there still didn’t realize about the truth. It reached a level where Allah had decreed that the city of Sodom should perish. An earthquake rocked the town. It was as if a mighty power had lifted the entire city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones rained on the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's wife who betrayed him. Subhanallah.

Back to the story, our group also had our lunch in Petra, between the rocks. An unforgettable memory pinned in my mind is the “Jangan Pandang Belakang” trick. Ustaz Syahrul and Ustaz Razi were trying to trick us but it was in vain as we managed to discover what it was on our own. Anyway, good try! They tried to make a surprise on the most impressive part of Petra, you can see it on the picture. Huge and grand. It clearly implies the great architecture of their people.

That’s all for our journey that day. Really really need to rest ourselves. So we set off for Sweileh, Jordan where we stayed in Ustaz Razi’s house while Ustaz Razi and his family went to stay in Ustaz Syahrul’s house next door. So kind of them, weren't they?

(to be cont’d)

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