Day 9 Masada and the Dead Sea
To day was the most relaxing day since I left Sydney . Right at 9am the mini bus came to the hostel to pick me up. With a few stops to pick up some more people, then the trip started. At first we followed the route like what we did yesterday. When we passed some Bedouin’s camp, the guide told the group some more interesting things about these people. I’ll talk about this when I come home.
When we passed the Jerico junction, which is the northern shore of the Dead Sea , we then made a sharp right turn, this time we were all the way going south. Now we were driving along the western coast of the Dead Sea . Remember yesterday I had mentioned that this is a desert, the Jordan Desert . But unlike others, say, the Sahara , they are sandy landscape, this one is scattered with some very small green grass. It was because that their winter time is rainy season, so it is wet enough to support some plant. As we were going on the road we saw oasis one after one, just stand on the shore of the Dead Sea .
Not far away, we reached a check point then I realised we were leaving the West Bank area; Palestinian people cannot pass through this point without permits. Then not far away I saw road sign said that turn right to Masada . The bus went up to the cable car station. It took 5 min to reach the top by cable car. I walked to the other side of the hill, and found that it was a plateau. In fact here is a very important archaeological site for Israeli people. In 66AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem by burning the city. Some of the Jewish people fled here to fight against the Romans. They climbed up the plateau of Masada, where was now I was standing, and built walls, houses for preparing long term fight with the enemy. The Romans also built castles surrounding Masada . After the battle, almost all people in Masada were dead, they committed suicide so that they won’t be insulted by the Romans, but only 7 people survived. So this story could appear in the Jewish history book. Now “ Masada shall not fall again” is the oath of the Israeli soldiers.
I came down hill by the cable car. The bus brought me to the Ein Degi Spa. There were a restaurant, a store, selling Dead Sea products, swimming pool, free Dead Sea mud, in a huge tub, lockers and so on. We don’t have to pay an agarot for them. It was all included in this tour. I took the “train’ which going from the building to the beach and back. I got myself dressed like a swimmer, then walked to the Sea. Oooouch! It hurts. The floor of this beach is not sand but is layers of layers of salt. It’s not that smooth, and is not flat either. So I walked lightly and gently to the sea. Under the water, the sea bed is even rougher than that on the beach. I walked until the water was above my belly button; I floated with my tummy up on the sea. You don’t need to do anything; but the sea will float you up. It’s a good experience.
Here I was standing in front of the beach; I play 2 songs with the Dead Sea as my back drop.
On the beach I got help from a young lady who took me photo and video while I was in the water. Her mates said that to day was her birthday. Of course I gave her a good hug and a kiss. Am I kidding? You guess.
In the group, there was a lady who just came from the States in the morning. She is an American Chinese. This is her business trip to Israel . I had an Italian dinner with her. The food there was quite good, that was another new experience to me.
Mates, tomorrow is the last day I will stay in Israel . My flight is 7:45am. But I have to arrive the airport 4 hours before the departure time. I booked the special night airport taxi. It will pick me up from the hostel to the airport.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Old City again, to see whatever I have missed at my 1st visit.
I don’t know if I have time to send my blog tomorrow. If not, then you will see me on the day after when I arrive Aqaba , Jordan .
Good luck everybody.
below I was floating on the Dead Sea
Above Masada,
Jorden Valley, Dead Sea , Far at where the mountain is the jordanian soil
To day was the most relaxing day since I left Sydney . Right at 9am the mini bus came to the hostel to pick me up. With a few stops to pick up some more people, then the trip started. At first we followed the route like what we did yesterday. When we passed some Bedouin’s camp, the guide told the group some more interesting things about these people. I’ll talk about this when I come home.
When we passed the Jerico junction, which is the northern shore of the Dead Sea , we then made a sharp right turn, this time we were all the way going south. Now we were driving along the western coast of the Dead Sea . Remember yesterday I had mentioned that this is a desert, the Jordan Desert . But unlike others, say, the Sahara , they are sandy landscape, this one is scattered with some very small green grass. It was because that their winter time is rainy season, so it is wet enough to support some plant. As we were going on the road we saw oasis one after one, just stand on the shore of the Dead Sea .
Not far away, we reached a check point then I realised we were leaving the West Bank area; Palestinian people cannot pass through this point without permits. Then not far away I saw road sign said that turn right to Masada . The bus went up to the cable car station. It took 5 min to reach the top by cable car. I walked to the other side of the hill, and found that it was a plateau. In fact here is a very important archaeological site for Israeli people. In 66AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem by burning the city. Some of the Jewish people fled here to fight against the Romans. They climbed up the plateau of Masada, where was now I was standing, and built walls, houses for preparing long term fight with the enemy. The Romans also built castles surrounding Masada . After the battle, almost all people in Masada were dead, they committed suicide so that they won’t be insulted by the Romans, but only 7 people survived. So this story could appear in the Jewish history book. Now “ Masada shall not fall again” is the oath of the Israeli soldiers.
I came down hill by the cable car. The bus brought me to the Ein Degi Spa. There were a restaurant, a store, selling Dead Sea products, swimming pool, free Dead Sea mud, in a huge tub, lockers and so on. We don’t have to pay an agarot for them. It was all included in this tour. I took the “train’ which going from the building to the beach and back. I got myself dressed like a swimmer, then walked to the Sea. Oooouch! It hurts. The floor of this beach is not sand but is layers of layers of salt. It’s not that smooth, and is not flat either. So I walked lightly and gently to the sea. Under the water, the sea bed is even rougher than that on the beach. I walked until the water was above my belly button; I floated with my tummy up on the sea. You don’t need to do anything; but the sea will float you up. It’s a good experience.
Here I was standing in front of the beach; I play 2 songs with the Dead Sea as my back drop.
On the beach I got help from a young lady who took me photo and video while I was in the water. Her mates said that to day was her birthday. Of course I gave her a good hug and a kiss. Am I kidding? You guess.
In the group, there was a lady who just came from the States in the morning. She is an American Chinese. This is her business trip to Israel . I had an Italian dinner with her. The food there was quite good, that was another new experience to me.
Mates, tomorrow is the last day I will stay in Israel . My flight is 7:45am. But I have to arrive the airport 4 hours before the departure time. I booked the special night airport taxi. It will pick me up from the hostel to the airport.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Old City again, to see whatever I have missed at my 1st visit.
I don’t know if I have time to send my blog tomorrow. If not, then you will see me on the day after when I arrive Aqaba , Jordan .
Good luck everybody.
below I was floating on the Dead Sea
Above Masada,
Jorden Valley, Dead Sea , Far at where the mountain is the jordanian soil
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