Ride a Camel in the Wadi Rum Desert Jordan

“We were about one hour into our hour and fifteen minute ride and we were all feeling stable in our saddles. A few of us even asked if we could pick up the pace a little to add some adrenaline to the adventure. [...] Then, it happened. They started to run. I held on with my hands gripping the bar and my legs bent and digging into the side of the camel. I thought about falling off and smashing my camera. Rather than worrying about breaking a bone or dying, I thought about breaking my camera. It’s odd where your mind goes in bad situations.”

“As I mounted my camel with her diamond studded blanket beneath the saddle, I realized instantly that the saddle leaned towards the left. Sadly, I couldn't communicate that to the driver and had to ride leaning toward the right to avoid falling off for the entire trip. [...] The camel was wider than any horse I've ridden. As a physician, I can tell you if you have recent pelvic or hip injuries, it's probably not a good idea to take this trip. We rode for about 25 minutes, past moon-like landscapes and rock formations in the dark that appeared different as the mist of the morning broke into dawn, alien to those envisioned under the harsh edges of the midday sun.”

“You may find that riding a camel is something you only need do once in your life. If so, do it in a place like Wadi Rum -- one of the most lovely deserts you'll ever come across. Camels offer a traditional way of experiencing this desert in a quiet way (i.e., no engines). [...] giving you something impressive to look at as you sway from side to side. Since both legs on the same side of a camel rise and fall together, it makes for a rocking motion that does indeed feel a bit like being on a ship in the desert.”