LEFT View of Eilat, Israel from above the huts along the harbour at Aqaba, Jordan. The Israeli town is less than 20 miles away... close enough for me to receive a "welcome to Israel" text message from Israel's Orange network provider!

BELOW LEFT Flock of sheep beneath a tree near a large rock formation

BELOW A huge expanse of desert, dotted with more amazing rock formations in the distance

LEFT The 4WD carrying the six other members of our group zips across the terrain.

RIGHT An elderly couple walk away from the entrance of a gorge. The ultra fine, deep rust red coloured sand surrounding the gorge reminded me of central Australia.

LEFT Some inscriptions on the walls of the gorge.

BELOW LEFT The 4WD carrying the other members of the group starts to drive off. Talal, the tour guide, gives a thumbs up sign from next to the driver.

ABOVE Kathy and I spent most of our time while in the 4WDs trying to take action shots of each other, unsuccessfully in my case, despite almost falling out of the vehicle to do so!

LEFT Exploring a rock bridge.

BELOW LEFT Group photo taken just after everyone has climbed down from the rock bridge. Back Row: Sam, Wesley, Richard, Shelley, Douglas, Francis, Chris. Front Row: Jim, Kathy, Chinny, Gisela, Birgit, Norm

BELOW Creating mini-duststorms while crossing back through the desert