Narrative

Chris and Greg on their way to Wadi Hidan. Near Madaba - Jordan.

Today we are in Wadi Hidan.

Chris.

Well, we are not quite in Wadi Hidan, but we are getting close to it.

Maybe not...

Well, I got him (the police) to laugh.

That is half of it.

I am sure he is not police.

They were stopped by the "police", but talked their way out and got into the Wadi.

Then they met Attif with the donkey.

We could not film in the wadi and had to leave, but only after drinking tea.

What, no? OK. It is not working.

We have two warnings, Chris.

We are here to explore for the book.

We do understand that.

We need to go back.

It seems - first the police stopping us.

Now Attah warning us.

We have to call this off. Wadi Hidan.

Not in the book.

What is your name? Chris.

What is your name? Gregory.

Attif, Attif.

We could film and Chris was offered local transport.

Chris has been invited by Attaf (Attif), the...Bedouin in Wadi Hidan, to sit on the donkey.

This could end badly. Don't throw a rock at it.

Come on.

I could get used to this.

They are nice animals.

Come on.

Oh, these are nimble footed things.

After the donkey ride, back to the car.

Yeah, Chris. Ah, it must be riding.

They did not mention anything about a permit?

Correct.

Uhm,.. interesting.

Someone probably organized it and they... just did not mention it or even know.

So this was a short visit to Wadi Hidan, Chris.

Ah, it was kind of short, we did not get too far.

Our first hiccup occurred in the car park... when a Bedouin pulled up in his battered old utility and...made it clear that he didn't want us going in there.

After considerable dialogue and attempts to explain what we're up to, he...reluctantly acceded to our determination to go into the wadi, and then after getting a bit further we met a nice fellow on the donkey...whose considerable charm and powers of persuasion... made us decide that we could not continue with the hike.

The reason for the prohibition on entry is unclear but I suspect, they are good and well-meaning attempts to prevent...poaching happening in Mujib reserve.

Because the Mujib reserve is connected to Hidan.

That's right. It is nearby and this in a way is not an official entrance to Mujib.

So the locals are certainly policing access to stop people going in there, potentially to hunt.

That is my guess, but there could be other reasons.

So, this is not a hike for the book I guess.

It doesn't look like it unless there is some way of getting a permit... to go in that is not loaded with complexity... which may in itself be impossible.

I don't think this is one for the book.

Anyway, we had a fun morning and we met some interesting folk.

And I got to ride on a donkey. Very nice animals.

Oh well, back for the next one.


While hiking in Jordan, unexpected things may happen, even in public areas.

Although not always clear, good reasons normally exist to restrict access to hiking areas.

In this case, people were concerned about us poaching animals in the nearby reserve.

Our hiking poles were mistakenly perceived as hunting devices.

We drank tea and left the area, searching for the next hiking trail.

Waiving goodbye to our new friend Attif.