Not at all. Muddled East extensively and Central America and Far East Europe. No, not in the military either; when I'm in places I'm most always alone which allows me to be with people. It also means I'm on my own.
All I can say though is don't wish to be in a very bad place or bad situation because your wish may come true and the reality isn't so nice.
Indy related story: In spring 2003 when the war in Iraq had just begun I was passing through Jordan and decided I'd blow a day or two and detour through Wadi Musa and see Petra. Not a fan of Last Crusade really, so Indy wasn't on my mind and only a bit of an amusing detail when I got there. Because of the war (and everything else going on in the region) there were zero tourists. In fact, they'd lowered the admission price for Petra to less than half, I believe, because nobody was going. Actually it was a fantastic time (for me, not the people who make a living there) because I had the entire place to myself. Maybe 10 or 15 other people in the entire site and nearly all the concessions were shut down. I felt like a freakin' explorer seeing things for the first time in centuries!
People who've been there know the Treasury is the first thing you see after the long walk through the Siq then the rest of the site is off to the right and downhill a bit. As I was walking along I came across a group of Bedouin, who act as sort of park rangers, and this blonde haired anglo kid who looked in his 20's. Under the kids breath I heard him comment about me being "Indiana Jones." He was making fun of me and trying to be cool for his "local" pals! Didn't bother to go up and smack him but I wanted to. Funny part is I wasn't wearing a fedora, no leather jacket, nothing like that. I probably had on khaki pants and a t-shirt. I did have a small rucksack with some gear I didn't want to leave in a room in town, but nothing Indy-like at all! Jerk.
I?ve since been to Petra fairly recently and tourism had picked up nicely. I prefer going a bit further south though to Wadi Rum, where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed, and spending time in the desert there.
If anyone is thinking of going to Jordan definitely go! Some of the friendliest people on the planet and, in my opinion, while Petra is a must see, Wadi Rum is spectacular and a bit more ?wild?. For very little money you can hire a Bedouin guide, camels, and head out into the sand and spend a few nights or a week. It?s so beautiful and the sand is the color of Mars.
As I write this I have some stones collected in Petra on my desk. They have purple, yellow, and red running through them. Look like miniatures of the cliffs there. Please, go to Jordan and have a great adventure!