Monday - THE CAMEL RIDE UP MOUNT SINAI 

OK NOW FOR THE CAMELS :)  We had to take camels up part of the way (well we didn't HAVE to but David insisted.)  This is not NEARLY as easy as it looks.  They are tall and they make riding a horse look like a breeze.  They hurt your butt!  :)  It was fun though.  I would definitely not trade this experience for anything in the world.  I had a blast.  If anyone reading this ever has the opportunity to ride a camel up a mountain then by all means DO!  lol  We went around some passes that were pretty scary looking.  You would look down below and figure that if you fell off of the camel or if something happened to the camel then you would be going BYE BYE!  :)  It was fun though.  I am a bit soar!!!!! :)  I will NOT be trading the SUV in anytime soon for a camel.  I will stick with the four wheels for now.

Ok well don't make fun of us :P (ok make fun of David in his umm designer headwear.)

This is my camel.  I have no idea what I am about to  be in for!
The camel is already starting to whine.




Ok Well I ACTUALLY made it onto the camel.  Now the fun part
will begin!  EEK  I know I look like a natural camel rider in this photo.




The camel is not happy!   I don't know why it is complaining...it isn't like I 
weigh THAT much.



It is hot and the sun is beating down on us.  We have to wear these head covers in order to keep from getting sun burnt.  It didn't matter though - we still got too much sun!  :)  I think my shoulders will be red for the next few weeks.




This is the boy that was leading/guiding my camel.  He got it started moving
up the mountain and then the camel did his own thing while the kid walked
behind.   Sometimes that was NOT a good thing!  The camel would occasionally
decide to make his own path.

DAVID DID NOT GET OFF EASY!  Don't worry - he was RIGHT behind me.  He kept trying to get his camel to bite me.  Thankfully he did not succeed!  He also said something about not putting these photos on some web-site.  I just wish I could remember which site he was talking about.  Heh oh well

Ok David :) fair is fair!!!!  :)  The funny thing was that David's
Camel was actually happy.  I don't think I ever heard a peep out
of it the entire time we were going up the mountain.





This is David with his head gear on :)  He looks happy to me!




He is going to kill me for this.  :) :) :)

ONWARD UP - UP - UP - UP and UP!  Thousands of feet up.  It was fun!  A blast actually.  I won't ever
forget this trip!




Ok so this camel looks pretty happy in this photograph.  Don't let it fool you though. 
Nice camera shot though!  Perhaps it is getting ready to SPIT at the camera.  





These camels were resting along the path.  





My Camel Looking Out Over The Mountains!  We are resting now.
The scenery is indescribable.  I have NEVER seen anything like this - EVER!
The mountains are INCREDIBLE.  They take your breath away.  Perhaps
this is one reason to call it the Holy Land.  I wonder what my camel is thinking?
I have a few thoughts...heh





David's Camel is resting as well!  It looks content enough.  Great view in front!

Resting...Resting...Resting OR perhaps planning his escape!  hehe
(Did you see the halo that my camel has?  I think it must be a holy camel!
hehe :)

SO WHAT IS THE SCENERY LOOKING LIKE AT THIS TIME????


CHECK IT OUT!



Looking down from Mount Sinai.  WOW WOW and WOW! 
There really are no words to describe what we were able
to see today.  You just have to come and see if for yourself.
It is certainly one of the wonders of the world!  




You can almost imagine the way things were back in the
Bible.  That is a well in the front right corner of the
photograph.




Some more of the awesome view!  



Our tour guide - Moses (that really was his name) - also our guardian angel - cooked our lunch.  We stopped at a little camp about 1/2 way up the mountain.  There were two or three adults and three boys that live in this camp.  They sleep there during the nights.  I believe they also have a home below in the valley.  They sell some water and other drinks at this camp.  They also let people rest there.  It was really interesting.  You can even sleep in the camp overnight.  The keepers will rent you a sleeping bag/cot type thing.

As soon as we arrived at the camp, one of the boys came and sat down beside me.  He was fascinated by my camera and wanted me to show him how to use it.  I showed him how to take photos and focus.  He loved it!  His friend then wanted to try it out.  We spent awhile talking - Moses helped to translate when I was not able to understand each one of them.  I think we made some new friends!  They gave me their address and told me to mail them some of the photographs that I took while I was there.   I told them that I would be happy to do that!  

The boys cooked bread for us over an open fire.  They made the bread from scratch!!!!  They used black flour.  It was good.  David and I both ate some of it.  There are some photographs below of them preparing it.

Moses also made a great lunch for us!  It was relaxing sitting around the camp and watching the clouds move overhead.  It was about as peaceful as life can get.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to watch a meteor shower from this high up.  No lights to drown out the brilliant black sky!  Stars would be EVERYWHERE!  Tonight there is a full moon.  That is going to cut down on the stars.  It should be a wonderful sight though.

Moses prepared this meal for us.  



Mousaa (one of the boys that stays at this camp) is 
making bread for us and for the rest of the family 
in the camp.

Getting the bread ready to roll out into flat pieces - it
will then go onto the grill (you can see the fire and pan
there to the left.)




Now Hamed is cooking the bread :)  Hamed was the first
boy that I met at this camp.  I think he fell in love with
my camera.




All three of us around the fire.  It was funny to watch them
fight over the best way to cook the bread.  It reminded me
of my house.  I think Moussa would have liked to have had
control over the entire process!  lol



Ok time to eat the bread :)  It was good.  David
and I both ate some.  I know it prob doesn't look
as good as it tasted!  heh





This is Hamed Ebeed Eid.  He was the oldest boy there.  
I grabbed this shot while he was looking at some more people 
coming into the camp.  I am going to mail them copies of these photos.
I think I will send them some Superman Comics from Metropolis as well.
They will prob love that!

THE SUN SETTING AND THE MOON RISING!

After we had dinner we headed up the pathway that led to the top of the mountain.  The walk took us about 45 minutes to an hour.  The terrain was rugged (to say the least.)  It was a very difficult walk.  We would walk a little ways and then rest.  The rocks were mostly loose and one would easily slip from time to time.  It was interesting and we had fun.  I think all of us were pretty tired by this time of the afternoon.  It was going on 7 p.m. when we finally arrived at the top of the mountain!  ONE MILE UP IN THE AIR (ACTUALLY A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE MILE!)  This is higher up than Denver, Colorado!

Once we were at the top we were able to see a small monastery.  There were about a dozen other people that had walked up the mountain as well.  These people were also there to watch the sun setting.  This is the main reason that people go up on Mount Sanai.  Some go up to watch the sun rising and some go up to watch the sun setting!  We were able to see the sun setting and the moon rising!  A rare event because the moon was full and was coming up at the exact same time the sun was setting.  It was spectacular!  Beautiful!  Amazing!  Stupendous!  A small taste of paradise!  Should I continue?  :)  There really are not words (once again) to describe something this amazing.  I won't ever forget it!

There were three boys selling eggs that were made of rock.  We bought four of them.  The boys were really funny.  They asked me where I was from and I said "America."  One of the boys gave a thumbs up and said "America Good."  :)  They liked David's NDI Pen!  One of them turned to me when the other two boys were not watching and pointed to his chest and gave the sign for scribbling on a piece of paper.  He would then look to see if the other two boys were watching him.  He looked at me again and pointed to himself and made the pen gesture and said "I use for education."  :) I couldn't resist giving him the pen - of course!  lol  They gave us their mail address and asked us to mail them some photographs.  The oldest boy said "if you want to send gifts that is fine also."  I will have to send them some Superman stuff from Metropolis!!!!  :)

We had fun talking with the boys.  They told us about their schooling and about sleeping on the mountain.  I think they sleep on the mountain all the time.  

Moussa-Mahamed-Mohed - the names of each one of the boys.  The one 
at the bottom has the eggs that I bought.



These are the eggs that they were selling.  :)

OK WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A SUNSET PAINTED BY THE MASTER OF ALL ARTISTS???

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