In the newly built village of Umm Sayhoun, near the famous city of Petra in Jordan live so-called Bdul Bedouins. Until the 1980s in the last century, they led a semi-nomadic existence: in the summer they moved around with tents and in the winter they inhabited the caves and caverns of Petra. After the 1980s, they moved to Umm Sayhoun. Here now lives a close-knit community of some three thousand inhabitants who have adapted to modern times: they work in tourism as guides or souvenir sellers. Only a few still herd animals.
I met this young man who made his living in Petra as a desert guide during my vacation in Petra. He caught my eye during my vacation in Jordan because of his traditional head covering: a necessary measure against the burning sun in Jordan's famous Wadi Rum desert . Using this type of guide is indispensable if you want to explore this beautiful desert.