WADI RUM ... This valley (wadi), long used in the spice trade, was also famous for Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab Revolt. Lawrence came from Wadi Rum instead of by sea to take Aqaba. In the words of Lawrence, the valley was "vast, echoing, and godlike." Very well said. It was formed 30 million years ago as a part of the Great Rift Valley from Turkey to East Africa. It looked completely uninhabitable, but people had been there a long time. Carvings of animals, people, and events in the lives of the Bedouins could be found on the rock walls. Ancient Thamudic inscriptions declared petitions to the gods. And even now, Bedouins living in tents made from dark goat skin still dotted the horizon. However, even though there were some camels, it appeared that many Bedouins had adopted Toyota land rovers and a village life around the Wadi Rum Tourist Center.