Product Description

' "Where you staying?" the Bedouin asked. "Why you not stay with me tonight - in my cave." He seemed enthusiastic. And we were looking for adventure.' Thus begins Marguerite van Geldermalsen's story of how a New Zealand-born nurse became the wife of Mohammad Abdallah Othman, a Bedouin souvenir-seller of the Manaja(h) tribe, and lived with him - and their children - and a community of about one hundred families - in the ancient caves of Petra in Jordan. It was 1978 and she and a friend were travelling through the Middle East when Marguerite met the charismatic Mohammad and decided that he was the man for her. Their home was a lofty two thousand year old cave carved into the red rock of a hillside. She became the resident nurse and learned to live like the Bedouin: cooking over fires, hauling water on donkeys and drinking sweet black tea, and over the years she became as much of a curiosity as the cave-dwellers with tourists such as Mary Lovell and Frank Mc Court encouraging her to tell this, her extraordinary story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160806 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'For anyone who enjoys travel books, especially about the Middle East, this is the read thing - a fascinating account of life as a Bedouin in the late twentieth century written by a Western woman' Mary S. Lovell

About the Author
Marguerite van Geldermalsen is from Nelson, New Zealand. In 1978 she married Mohammad Abdallah and moved into his Nabataean cave. They had three children. She was widowed in 2002. She now divides her time between Sydney, Australia and Jordan.

Customer Reviews

I loved this book
I have just visited Petra and met some of the delightful people of the bedouin tribe and our guide recommended this book. It is a thrilling, romantic tale set amongst the stunning scenery of Petra. The story is all the more remarkable because it is a true tale. Marguerite gives a fascinating insight into day to day life of the bedouin and vividly describes the remarkable surroundings. I finished the book a few days ago and was so enraptured by Marguerite that I am still wondering what happened next. Please write an up to date epilogue!

One of the best books
the thing that made me pick this book is that to exploer how a young women fron Newzleand leaves everything behind her and lives in a cave in the Jordinian desert. this book is really intresting it gives great details in how the bedioun lives. i highly recommend the book to anyone who is intrested in the middle east and how any one can do anything for the sake of love.

A wonderful love story
A very interesting book which not only describes the live of Marguerite and her husband but also the way the Bedouin think, celebrate and their general customs which I found very interesting.
It seem to be the love story I have longed to read but never found what an unusual couple which seemed to be soul mates in a harsh climate.