Camels, camels, everywhere and not a one to ride...

You tell me. Should I be worried? You watch the news. Should I be worried?

This is how the day started out for Peter and the Big Boys on their Outing in the Desert.
They went with a couple from here and a few families from the other branch and ward down south. What a great experience! It was too far and too long to take the three youngest children and myself along. Although I didn't go, I thought you'd enjoy seeing life away from my hamster cage. (aka, camp) This is at a Beduin market, where they sell EVERYTHING, including camels.

Camel harnesses. You say Camel; Jamel in Arabic. Ooooh. I like to say Jamel. Instead of camel. oops. He got a lady in her abaya. sorry.

This man is selling sticks. Well, they're acutally roots that the Bedu's use as tooth brushes. When the bark is off, they split into many small pieces, like a toothbrush's bristles. So you peel a little off and use it until you need more. My boys, AND the Scoutmaster (Peter) loved them! They brought a ton home and the boys try to get away with using these as their toothbrushes. Mmmm? No.

Camel Saddle. I have a need to buy one of these before we move home for good someday. NO IDEA why. But I think I need one. Don't you?

Camels are everywhere. They roam and graze and the Bedu's take care of them. They herd them, as they have since anyone can remember.

One of their stops. These are Mammoth bones. Cool, huh? The boys found a ton of sea shells, well, fosilized sea shells that is. From Utah, and all the Dino digs there, to the other side of the world to Mammoths. What a cool place.

This is an old abandoned village. I like to think of an oasis. I think there may be some inhabitants, not sure. But it was neat and made for some great pictures.

Looking up at a thatched roof from the inside.

Window, from the inside.

I love these doors. These big Arabic doors are all over the place. Sometimes people sell these kind of doors to expats, for furniture. People lay them flat, put raised glass over them and make dining room tables out of them. Many have cool locks and a lot of detail. I like this one because of the color and how simple it is. Many are ornate; this one is just simply beautiful.

Jamel. Just walking down the road. Did you know there were so many colors of Camels? I didn't. Until I moved here that is.

Si, my child with the weakest bladder, HAAAAAD to use the bathroom on the way home. HAD to. I think you can imagine what a gas station is like here. If you can't. Try. Watch some footage of Iraq and you can guess. Middle of no where. Run down. Dirty. Anchient. Creeeeepy. Anddddddd. You need to use the bathroom? Yep. They were sent around the side of the building, up the stairs, to where employees live- and where there was a bathroom. This sign was in there, and seriously makes my stomach turn. Ew. (I am sure he must have had to go #2, that is the ONLY reason to enter a place like this...)

More JAMELS!

It's nice and kinda cool right now. Can you imagine this in the summer? Can you say H.O.T?

Dr. Linvingston, I presume? And his assistants, too. They had a great time and it turned out to be SO much adeventure. They climbed into the center of a huge rock, under it, then up a three story rickety ladder to the top of the rock. They met new friends, tried new food (some not so good), saw new lands and types of people, and saw places that have been basically untouched for thousands of years. Yes. I'd say it was a day of adventure. Wouldn't you?