Desert Adventures

"After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told,

'David is in the Desert of Ein Gedi.'" - 1 Samuel 24:1

Our last stop in Israel was the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve at the Dead Sea. We took a bus from Jerusalem and stayed at a field school that conducts environmental projects in the area but also has rooms to accommodate travelers.

Ein Gedi is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible as the place where David hid from Saul. It is an oasis in the middle of the Judean Desert fed by two rivers and two springs. It was first inhabited in the Stone Age.

It was dark when we arrived close to midnight so we couldn't tell what was around us until the next morning. We were surprised to walk out of our room just after 7 am to blaring sunshine, a beautiful blue strip of water, and tall sandy peaks.

We grabbed our hiking map and set off for Mount Yishai, located right behind the field school. The trail was steep and rocky but it only took about 1 hour to reach the top. From there, we could look out across the desert plateau to the east and the Dead Sea and Moabite Mountains in Jordan to the west. We hiked around a canyon and down into the oasis where there is a river, waterfalls, and pools.

Summit of Mount Yishai

Is that Mr. and Mrs. Yasser Arafat?

We donned Bedouin-style headdresses to protect ourselves from the harsh desert sun. The fashion style of the Middle East sure makes a lot of sense once you're there.

Finally, we find the oasis!

After hiking for six hours we enjoyed a swim, or rather a float, in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is bordered by the West Bank to the north, Israel to the south, and Jordan to the East. The surface is 1385 feet below sea level and contains high levels of bromine, magnesium, and iodine.

Floating in the Dead Sea

You don't have to worry about anything biting you because virtually nothing can survive in this salty environment. Because of the high density of the water, people float! It's actually hard to swim because of the way your body bobs to the top.

If it was good enough for Cleopatra, it's good enough for us.

Black mud from the Dead Sea, which smells like sulfur, is supposed to be rich in minerals and therefore good for your skin. You can buy in online for a lot of money, or just come to the Dead Sea and stick your hand in a hole and grab a handful.