Wadi Rum Unplugged – Christmas with Sand, Silence, and Self-Discovery
Today, I held a few keepsakes from Wadi Rum in my hands – and in an instant, I was back there. In the silence. In the cold. In the vastness. Suddenly, everything was there again: the sand, the camp on the hill, the camels nearby, the USB cable Christmas bush – and me in the middle of it all.
Offline under the stars
In December 2023, I went to the desert. Not because I had nothing better to do, but because I truly wanted to slow down. To live more minimally, which also meant: less scrolling, fewer clicks, less digital consumption. In Aqaba, that was hardly possible. As charming as the city is – it revolves around tourists: food, souvenirs, excursions. So I made my way to Wadi Rum.
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The camp was located on a small hill, offering me a breathtaking view of the sunset. The colors! The calm! Most tourists only stayed briefly – one or two nights – a few photos, a short jeep tour, then off to the next highlight. Like a cultural to-do list. I wanted more. I wanted to stay.
No connection, but fully present
Because of a rock directly behind the camp, my internet connection was as reliable as a wet matchstick. Anyone wanting signal had to walk downhill – just like I did daily, for work or messages. Eventually, that small path became my personal pilgrimage route. The reception spot. The signal stone.
At first, it was tough. Really tough. I lay in bed at night – tucked under thick blankets – experiencing withdrawal symptoms. No Instagram, no YouTube, not even useless WhatsApp messages about some meme from 2017. I was offline. And honestly: I was overwhelmed.
But then something else came: thoughts. Real ones. My own. No external input. No constant noise. Just me. And the sand.
The great nothingness that gives so much
Wadi Rum is not empty. It’s full. Full of what you usually overlook. My mind, for the first time in a long while, was back with me. I noticed how difficult it was for me to do nothing – and how good it felt. I was often alone, only with the cook – a wonderful human and an equally wonderful cook. Sometimes we both trudged down the hill to check messages. Then back up – to the silence.
The water was cold. Freezing cold.
Solar heated – in theory. In practice, it meant deluxe cat-washing. I developed entirely new techniques to wash myself with as little water and as much speed as possible. Having to use the toilet at night was a true test of courage. That blanket was my home, my cocoon. And outside… the ice age waited.
Christmas without kitsch, but with soul
On Christmas Eve, I decorated a small bush I found a bit off the path. With fridge magnets, USB cables and whatever else I could find. No hardware store glamor, no shopping mall sentimentality – but true emotion. I was calm. I was free. I was present.
I missed nothing – except maybe some pointless posts. But I gained: clarity. Calm. Gratitude.
Wadi Rum – a place of remembrance
It wasn’t the “wildest” part of the desert. No, Wadi Rum is developed for tourists – safe, organized. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something there. Quite the opposite. You just have to take your time. Most people just see sand. I saw myself.
Wadi Rum was – and still is – the place where I realized: I don’t need much. A bed, some food, and silence. I realized how tightly I cling to digital distractions. And how liberating it is to let go – even if just for a while.
