2 years ago, in the cultural exchange program of South-East Asia youth (SSEAYP), I had a chance to experience the life with Muslim and Christian families; and now, I have more opportunities to explore the lives of the Jews.
Climbing mountains in the middle of Tiberias desert.
After 2 hours walking under the hot sun light on Tiberias desert, although I had already put the sun cream on and used umbrella, I still felt my skin burning. Each 20 minutes, I had to stop and drink water in order to keep out of the dehydration.
Our group stopped at a high cliff (about 200 meters high) which there were only barren rock deep down the cliff. Here, they provided the adventurous hiking service for travelers with the price of 50 Skekel/time (equivalent to around 13 USD). This game is not for those who have weak heart or afraid of height; just looked down to the bottom of the deep desert, you might feel dizziness, and vertigo.
Our climbing instructor was a professional athlete who had nearly ten years of experience. He led us the way to tie the belt securely around the stomach then round to the legs; we also had to wear helmet, and got ready for hiking posture.
I had to stretch my legs, and lean my back at a 120 degree behind, and slowly drop down. My initial fears were lowered, and I started to feel more pleasure climbing down to this high cliff. The photo of me climbing the mountain in the middle of Tiberias desert was set as a profile picture on my Facebook, and then I received a lot of comments and "like" from my friends. I realized that I not only conquered the highest mountain in the middle of this barren desert, but also trained my courage.
Sleep in the "numberless star" hotel
I went from Tel Aviv to the Southernmost point of Israel which is Eliat. After a long journey through the harsh heat of the desert, I set my foot on the highest point in Eliat - the connection of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. The night temperature in the middle of the desert was very cold. At this destination, behind the bared wire fence was Egypt territory. According to the Naday - my friend from Israel, although the Egyptian Military post was near here, there were many Israel people still walked a hundred of miles in this hot desert in order to immigrate illegally to Israel.
Eliat is considered a traveling place for high-class travelers, thus, the price for a room in the hotel is every expensive. Instead of hundreds of US dollars per night in Hilton hotel like our first plan, our group decided to experienced the "numberless star" hotel. For a girl who used to live a convenient life, it would be a challenge to sleep in the small tent on the beach; but I was still very eager to experience this feeling.
Everybody in my group made tents on the beach, and then we organize a BBQ party. At the mid-night, the sound of sea waves was whispering, some Arabs in the next tent were smoking shisha. Outdoor, the temperature was very low. Naday pointed across the Red Sea Coast, where lights twinkled like diamonds, it was Jordan.
If Eliat was sparkling in the night, seeing the sunrise over the Red Sea would be the most impressive thing. Diving into the sea, surrounding me were small colorful fishes like int the animated cartoon "Finding Nemo". About 20 meters far away, the sea water was very clear; this was also an ideal place for tourists to enjoy watching the coral. After diving, I found the relaxed feeling by floating on the sea surface because the salt concentration was very high.
Floating on the Dead Sea
The Jews had a statement "Coming to Israel without swimming in the Dead Sea, it is considered not to Israel." We called it Sea, but actually it was a big lake located in the desert at the Southeast of Israel. The sea is very salty. The reason for the name as Dead Sea is that the salt concentration is very high and it is also the lowest place in the world (400 meters depth below sea level).
If the salinity in sea water is usually about 2.5%, the water in Dead Sea has the salt concentration of 38%. In Hebrew, it is called "Salty Sea". Naday told me unhappily "Now, the Dead Sea area is narrowed to only 1/3 compared to the past; and around 30 years later, Dead Sea will disappear completely".
When I arrived at the DeadSea, the temperature is 24 degrees. On the surface of my skin, there was slightly feeling of greasy and stinging because of the high salt concentration. Dead Sea water contains about 21 minerals, some create the feeling of relaxation and good for skin. The Israel said that people who are suffering from skin diseases should come here, take bathing by this water and they will overcome these diseases.
The more I went far away, the more my body lost weight and floating. At that time, I knew one part of the no-gravity feeling of the astronauts. All my try to dive under the sea was failed because my body automatically floated on the surface of the water; I could even not swim like a normal way.
I rolled on the sea, crossing my legs, and floating like a boats. Each time I changed the positions, I found it very difficult if I did not want to roll a round and put my face into the salty water.
Although I had been warned that I had better not let the sea water into the eyes because I would easily get burn, but unfortunately, I put my face into the water, and then I felt like my eyes had just been boiled. I could not open my eyes until my friend took me to the coast and washed my eye by fresh water.
Taking the advantage of minerals here, there are many cosmetics shops around Dead Sea area. Dead Sea Cosmetic products are considered high-class products which are extracted from the salt and minerals at the bottom of the sea. These products are very good for the skin. Almost all the people come here and buy some products as gift items.
- Nguyen Lan Huong -
Climbing mountains in the middle of Tiberias desert.
After 2 hours walking under the hot sun light on Tiberias desert, although I had already put the sun cream on and used umbrella, I still felt my skin burning. Each 20 minutes, I had to stop and drink water in order to keep out of the dehydration.
Our group stopped at a high cliff (about 200 meters high) which there were only barren rock deep down the cliff. Here, they provided the adventurous hiking service for travelers with the price of 50 Skekel/time (equivalent to around 13 USD). This game is not for those who have weak heart or afraid of height; just looked down to the bottom of the deep desert, you might feel dizziness, and vertigo.
Our climbing instructor was a professional athlete who had nearly ten years of experience. He led us the way to tie the belt securely around the stomach then round to the legs; we also had to wear helmet, and got ready for hiking posture.
I had to stretch my legs, and lean my back at a 120 degree behind, and slowly drop down. My initial fears were lowered, and I started to feel more pleasure climbing down to this high cliff. The photo of me climbing the mountain in the middle of Tiberias desert was set as a profile picture on my Facebook, and then I received a lot of comments and "like" from my friends. I realized that I not only conquered the highest mountain in the middle of this barren desert, but also trained my courage.
Sleep in the "numberless star" hotel
I went from Tel Aviv to the Southernmost point of Israel which is Eliat. After a long journey through the harsh heat of the desert, I set my foot on the highest point in Eliat - the connection of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. The night temperature in the middle of the desert was very cold. At this destination, behind the bared wire fence was Egypt territory. According to the Naday - my friend from Israel, although the Egyptian Military post was near here, there were many Israel people still walked a hundred of miles in this hot desert in order to immigrate illegally to Israel.
Eliat is considered a traveling place for high-class travelers, thus, the price for a room in the hotel is every expensive. Instead of hundreds of US dollars per night in Hilton hotel like our first plan, our group decided to experienced the "numberless star" hotel. For a girl who used to live a convenient life, it would be a challenge to sleep in the small tent on the beach; but I was still very eager to experience this feeling.
Everybody in my group made tents on the beach, and then we organize a BBQ party. At the mid-night, the sound of sea waves was whispering, some Arabs in the next tent were smoking shisha. Outdoor, the temperature was very low. Naday pointed across the Red Sea Coast, where lights twinkled like diamonds, it was Jordan.
If Eliat was sparkling in the night, seeing the sunrise over the Red Sea would be the most impressive thing. Diving into the sea, surrounding me were small colorful fishes like int the animated cartoon "Finding Nemo". About 20 meters far away, the sea water was very clear; this was also an ideal place for tourists to enjoy watching the coral. After diving, I found the relaxed feeling by floating on the sea surface because the salt concentration was very high.
Floating on the Dead Sea
The Jews had a statement "Coming to Israel without swimming in the Dead Sea, it is considered not to Israel." We called it Sea, but actually it was a big lake located in the desert at the Southeast of Israel. The sea is very salty. The reason for the name as Dead Sea is that the salt concentration is very high and it is also the lowest place in the world (400 meters depth below sea level).
If the salinity in sea water is usually about 2.5%, the water in Dead Sea has the salt concentration of 38%. In Hebrew, it is called "Salty Sea". Naday told me unhappily "Now, the Dead Sea area is narrowed to only 1/3 compared to the past; and around 30 years later, Dead Sea will disappear completely".
When I arrived at the DeadSea, the temperature is 24 degrees. On the surface of my skin, there was slightly feeling of greasy and stinging because of the high salt concentration. Dead Sea water contains about 21 minerals, some create the feeling of relaxation and good for skin. The Israel said that people who are suffering from skin diseases should come here, take bathing by this water and they will overcome these diseases.
The more I went far away, the more my body lost weight and floating. At that time, I knew one part of the no-gravity feeling of the astronauts. All my try to dive under the sea was failed because my body automatically floated on the surface of the water; I could even not swim like a normal way.
I rolled on the sea, crossing my legs, and floating like a boats. Each time I changed the positions, I found it very difficult if I did not want to roll a round and put my face into the salty water.
Although I had been warned that I had better not let the sea water into the eyes because I would easily get burn, but unfortunately, I put my face into the water, and then I felt like my eyes had just been boiled. I could not open my eyes until my friend took me to the coast and washed my eye by fresh water.
Taking the advantage of minerals here, there are many cosmetics shops around Dead Sea area. Dead Sea Cosmetic products are considered high-class products which are extracted from the salt and minerals at the bottom of the sea. These products are very good for the skin. Almost all the people come here and buy some products as gift items.
- Nguyen Lan Huong -
0 comments:
Post a Comment