climbing a mountian (part 2)

The beduin said nothing as he led the camel up the path. Around me, I could barely distinguish the outline of the mountain. I hear the other camels carrying our group. I leaned over and touched the hide of the camel, wondering how it would feel like. His skin/ fur was similar to a horse.

"Who's there?" I shout out as I sensed a camel coming up from my rear. I felt uneasy being alone in the darkness and I longed for conversation. We were told not to use our flashlights as these might blind the camels so it was impossible to tell who was beside you. 

"It's me!" a girl shouted.

I could hardly see who this "me" is, considering that we were about 90 people in the group,  so I asked, "Who is ME?"

"Shawn"

I smiled. It was one of the younger girls in our group. In front of me, another girl shouted "Hey, Imelda. It's me Yolly"

My camel was getting grumpy. The beduin who was guiding me was having a hard time commanding it to move forward. Every once in awhile, it would try to make a U turn and go back down from the path we had come from.

I chatted up some of the people beside me. It was dark and as we learned, a very long ways up. The saddle had a handle in front and at the back, which made riding a bit rough.  I gripped them both as the camel rocked me back and forth trying to sway with the rocking motion of the camel. I figured it would make it less hard on my bum.  I was wondering how long this would take. (guessing the boys would have a hard time in this kind of seat)

I squinted and tried to make out the path we were going. I could make out shadows of the side of the path as we slowly ascended up. I look up and see the silhouette of the camels of the other who were in front. To the left of us was the side of the path, the ravine side. In the dark, you can't really SEE anything but you can SENSE that there is a ravine there somewhere especially when your camel decides that he want to walk on the LEFT side most of the time!

By mid way, the Bedouin was REALLY making an effort to control the stubborn camel. Every one in awhile, it would bump another camel beside me, squishing me feet in between that I had to shout "oww!!" By this time, the beduin gives me a stick and gestures me to whip the camel on the backside. Really???

I make a light handed tap on the camel, shouting "Yala, habibi!!" like what I heard out tour guide shout when he is calling us. My friends laugh.

The beduin gestures "more!" I feel guilty as I give a better tap--(secretly, I feel excited at being able to "guide" the camel) I ended up shouting louder rather than tapping harder. The others in the bottom of the pack instantly recognizes my voice. (truth to tell, my voice is like a child's- quite thin and shrill)

"Imelda!!!!!!" they shout from the bottom

I shout back the hello's and laugh. This is getting to be fun after all.

Midway, another beduin took over my camel and it seemed the camel is more agreeable to him (I am guessing the first one was not the original owner) and I had no problems with my ride after that. It was a long ride and I had packed some small chocolates with me (for energy) and some dried dates. I rummaged through my bag and give my beduin a pack of dried apricots.

He looks at it and asks "good?"

"yeah, it's nice!!" I tell him.

He seems skeptical. I try to tell him "apricot" but I could not determine if he understood. Finally he eats it and exclaims, "good!". He reaches out his hand to me again, "chocolate!"

Errr… ok… not even a thank you??

The tour guide warned us that the beduins would be persistent in asking for anything you have on. Particularly asking for chocolates, your bag, your pen or whatever they think they can mooch/ask from you. It is not impolite to tell them that you need or still want to keep you things. They would usually brush it off and try on some other poor guy.

Next: reaching the top

Climbing a mountain (part 1)

Sinai Peninsula:

12:30am and my phone alarm clock goes off. I can’t believe I am waking up at this hour.  It was a mere 4 hours ago that we trudged into this hotel in the middle of the sinai peninsula after a long bus ride from the border crossing at Eilat (Israel) to Egypt. The hotel claimed to be 4 stars. The only thing 4 star about it was the expansive swimming pool. (w/c we will never have a chance to try). The hotel room itself was bare. The key lock (yes, the one where you turn it -old style) looked like it had been repaired from being previously kicked in. The furnishings were worn down. They said it was the best hotel in that area. 

Rubbing my eyes, I see my husband is already awake too. I quickly go to the bathroom to brush my teeth, skipping taking a shower all together. I had thought about taking a shower the night before but scouring the hotel room, there was no hair dryer in sight. The morning would be no different. I would not dare go out and climb a mountain with wet hair. (they say it’s near 2C when you go up). By 5 minutes to 1, we were already on the bus. They also warned us to go to the bathroom before we climb as it IS a mountain after all and WC’s are not available (guys are so lucky they can GO anywhere).

Everything was pitch dark as we drove from the hotel to the foot of Mt sinai. The only lights were the lampposts from the road leading to the hotel. After 5 minutes, even they were not visible. I wondered how the bus driver would know where to go- experience, I guess. Another 5 minutes and I could see some shops. It was the bus parking lot at the foot of the mountain. Our guide hustled us out and directed us to walk to the camel station. I looked around and saw a WC SIGN. Suddenly (or maybe psychologically) I had the urge to pee. But the group was moving fast going forward like a wave. I dismissed the urge and prayed it was just nerves. I would not be seeing another WC for the next 4 hours.  (eeek)

I could not determine the length of the walk since we only had flashlights to light our way. I kept reminding myself to stay with the group and not trip on the rocky road or step on camel poop. When they told us it was dark, it was REALLY dark. I have never been out in such darkness before. Living in the city all my life, darkness meant you had some kind of light coming from somewhere all the time. This place had NO LIGHT.

“nguaaaaa”

I could hear the grunting of the camels. We were nearing the camel station where we were going to ride camels to go up. (cost $20-) there were about 90 of us and we were asked to line up. We would be given numbers and a beduin guide. I lined up, hardly seeing anything. I clutched the small flashlight I brought along. “36! Name?” the guide asked. (they need to check eveeryone is accounted for). “Imelda” I said, looking out in front of me trying to see determine how far the path leads. I could see some silouettes of camels lying on the side of the path. The beduin headman shouted something unintelligible to someone and another beduin suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me. He said nothing and walked at such a fast pace, I was afraid I would trip. IMaybe he had night vision eyes but I was having a hard time determining where we were walking. I had thought they would let us ride the first camel available but he led me farther down the path. I could hear several camels and wondered which one he would ask me to ride. (I think I passed 10 camels before we stopped). By this time, all I could hear were grunting camels and several people shouting as the camels rose to their feet. I had no idea where my husband was.

This is my camel, and I don't know his name. I gripped the handles as the camel rose to it's feet in a wobbly front first and then back kind of rise. (whoa mama!) .... Now, we ascend 7000 feet!

(to be continued)

TREES

and just because I was so happy snapping away... here is one shot I did that made me want to buy a hallmark card.. hope you enjoy the pics!

TREES by Joyce Kilmer

I THINK that I shall never see  

  A poem lovely as a tree.   

  A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  

  Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;     

  A tree that looks at God all day,         

5 And lifts her leafy arms to pray;     

  A tree that may in summer wear 

A nest of robins in her hair;    

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;  

  Who intimately lives with rain.  10   

Poems are made by fools like me, 

But only God can make a tree.

Feeling Indiana Jones

By the sheer number of sites we visited, I decided to just talk about the highlights of the trip. Starting with the first, which is PETRA.

Petra is like a product of a hollywood movie. something not real. It dates back 3000years ago and was the trading point between the east and the west. It is the city of the ancient Edomites, who the Bible says are the descendants of Esau (the red haired brother of Isaac, son of Abraham) that is why, the rocks are colored RED.

It was about a 1.5 km walk to the start of the trail going into Petra, we had to walk carefully through the path because it was uneven. We were told that the day beofre, there were showers and a flash flood went through the valley and Petra was not accessible. Good thing they got the path into working condition.

The hard part of walking through is trying to keep up with our group, taking pictures and not stepping on camel/horse poop. They have carriages for those people not willing to trek the path. But it would be a shame to not see the cliffs and rock formations. Also, it is not a PAVED path so the ride would be VERY bumpy.

 ancient dwellings made from the rock  face (going into Petra)

the 1 km walk into Petra proper, you are awed by the pathway and rocks, surprisingly, the camel poop is not smelly at all!

 helloooo camel!

 the upper portion of the treasury @PETRA. the most famous structure and the first thing you see when you enter. the magnificent building takes your breath away. You can imagine how the ancient travellers stood in awe as they entered the city of Petra to be greeted by this building. They probably came in caravans of several hundred camels... imagine!

 the treasury... what adventure dreams and Indiana Jones movies are made of

some other buildings carved on the walls.

The day was made short.. we were told you need 3 days to fully explore Petra. We only had one day. bummer. It would be another reason to go back eh? One of the best sights on this trip. Truely a highlight and worth the visit. For photographers, it was one of the best places to get amazing pictures.!

National Geographic

I will post some pictures for awhile.. suffice it to say. I took a lot and brought out the national geographic in me.

These were taken when I climbed Mt. Sinai. We went up early morning and waited for the sun to rise. It was hard but fullfilling. An hour and a half camel ride up.. then another 1 hour for the next level (no camel bec it was too steep) . After the sun rose, we took some picture and quickly went down. They tell us the temperature will rise VERY quickly. As with any desert, the nights are cold and the days are hot so you can guess I was wearing 3 layers and had to peel them off 1 by one as I descended the mountain. The next day was killer as my legs were aching! but oh well... you only do this once in a lifetime.

so..I'm back

whew! Watta trip! ok, so I got to see PETRA... and I got to go up a 7000 ft mountain plus visit some old dude called Tutankamen. But really, what I got out of this trips was whole lot of information, perspective and  a lot of new friends.

Aside from which, I also got to practice some photography. I have got some great pictures and experienced so many things i don't know where to start. (might take a few more blogs to tell it!)

Monday and I have to work on WORK first..but here's a preview of my trip...

the library at petra

church of the beatitudes

random pic of flowers

Wish I could stay

It is 3 days till the trip of a lifetime. I am still enjoying my new house and wish I wasn't leaving so soon.

My house is so comfy, I am tempted to NOT go to work everyday. The domestic goddess in me has kicked in. (hello.. Nigella Lawson!)

One of the things I have done (that was not possible in my old townhouse) is:

---Making homemade ice-cream (french vanilla cookies and cream and ahost of various sorbets)
----Soaking in a bubbly bubble bath (ooh yeah!)
----Gardening in my flower power of a garden
----Planting seeds in the "farmville"
---Decorating the living room and fireplace.

I still have a bunch of things in my list but I am so pressed for time that it will have to wait. Gotta get thing ready for the 3 week trip. Gonna meet "the mummy"!

To those who got to chance to see my house, they said it felt so comfy and homey. (that was what we were aiming for really).

Excited to host a dinner party for my friends when I get back. Bought some lanterns and put in the candles.. It would be nice to have conversations on the patio in front of the fountain with candles burning in the background..

I hope I have time on the trip to blog. (I doubt it) looking forward to it and yet not wanting to leave ...