Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Caves at Rosh Honikra

Rosh Honikra and Northern Israel:


The Good:
 I honestly didn’t expect much of Rosh Honikra, and I didn’t get much. I did like one thing about it though, and that was being on the border with Lebanon. It was really cool to be there at the site of so much news and conflict in recent times. Even better, though, was the lone Israeli destroyer that sat in the water, facing Lebanon. Terrorists have been trying to smuggle weapons and equipment over the border here for years, and this destroyer was here to stop it. It was also remarkable to see the thin line of buoys, running out to the horizon, which marks the territorial waters of Israel and Lebanon. There is a lot of tension here, as the two countries are sworn enemies. You can also go up to the checkpoint where a road leads from Israel into Lebanon, and a sign reads
ß Tel Aviv  Beirutà

  

The Bad:
No one should go to Rosh Honikra just for the caves. There is a pretty short circuit that goes through all of them, and none of them are very impressive. Also they have a brief movie describing the formation of the caves, but I didn’t think it was particularly informative or enjoyable, even for the inquisitive mind. The aesthetic value of the caves is limited because you can only see them from the slippery walkways dug to allow tourist access. I’m usually a pretty adventurous person, but the passages are so wet that you might hurt yourself before you even get to the caves.



I would only go to Rosh Honikra to see the border between Israel and Lebanon. Otherwise, it might be best to use your time somewhere else.


 The sparkling, rocky coastline of Northern Israel

 The tunnel, formerly a railroad, leading down to the caves

 Our one picture inside the caves, viewing the sea through a little porthole

 The aforementioned sign, leading to the capitals of the two rival nations

 The border with Lebanon, a military base, and... a diner?

The tiny buoys in the picture represent the border, one of the tensest places on the planet

The tiny speck below the island and to the left is an Israeli warship

Driving in Egypt

I was talking a lot about the crazy driving in Egypt during the last post, and I got to thinking that I should publish some of those photos. These are the best of the Egyptian driving pictures. Enjoy!


 Driving to the Pyramids, just as much of an adrenaline rush as seeing them

 This gives a new meaning to "Yield to Pedestrians"

 You'd better not rent a car here!

 If you think you've seen traffic back home, you're wrong

 Negotiating a business deal... in the middle of the street

Donkey cart, a common mode of transportation

A typical Egyptian street, complete with huge crowds of wandering people

Make your peace with God before embarking on the roads

The Original Pyramids

Saqqara and Dashur, Cairo
I’ve written this article about the original pyramids at Saqqara and Dashur. These Pyramids existed long before the Great Pyramids. If you didn’t know, Pyramids are giant stone structures built to house the pharaoh, or ruler of Egypt, after he dies. They are important because they are engineering marvels, huge in size, even by today’s standards. Most people only know about the 3 famous ones at Giza, but there are several equally important pyramids only a few miles further south, at Saqqara and Dashur. If you are at all interested in Egyptian History, you have to see these places in order to get the rest of the story. The pyramids here are the missing link between the simple stone-bench constructions of earlier times and the mammoth Pyramids at Giza. I was able to cover these all in a single day from Cairo.


The Original Pyramids:
Why You Should Go:
These pyramids rival the famous ones at Giza, and yet barely any tourists know about them. This means that you can have them almost to yourself if you decide to go. Egypt is a ghost town right now in term of tourists, as many people are afraid of being caught up in the turmoil of the revolution. I would encourage you to go.  I found the people to be very friendly everywhere I traveled in Egypt. There is no better time to go, because the hordes of tourists are almost nonexistent.
There are three main pyramids worth seeing; the Red Pyramid (Dashur), the Bent Pyramid (Dashur), and the Step Pyramid (Saqqara). I think the Red Pyramid is worth seeing just for its sheer size. It is the second largest pyramid in Egypt. The Bent Pyramid is unique because the builders had to change the angle of the sides during the construction (see pictures below). I enjoy looking at it because of the strange and elegant shape that this produced. Finally, the Step Pyramid is important because it was the first pyramid ever built. It might also be the first large scale stone structure on Earth. The Step Pyramid complex also boasts the first forty stone columns ever erected by humans. I think that it is just mind boggling that columns, which seem so intuitive to us today, at one time had to be invented.  Also, there is one minor Pyramid that deserves my mention, and that is the Pyramid of Teti at Saqqara. I quite enjoyed going inside this one, because it is one of the first Pyramids to be inscribed with Hieroglyphs and painted. That makes the interior look spectacular, even if the outside now looks like a dirt mound. I also like to think about how incredibly old these pyramids are. They were here when Moses led his people out of Egypt! Going to Saqqara and Dashur is vital for any trip to the Middle East.



How:
 Saqqara and Dashur are both in the general area of Cairo, but you still need a guide/driver with a car to get there. Seriously, Egyptian traffic is crazy. Just riding in a car to the Pyramids was nearly as heart-stopping as seeing them. Stoplights are almost completely non-existent, and the few that are around are ignored in most times. Just as often, camels and their owners weave in and out of traffic. Take a tour. My favorite tour group in the entire Middle East is South Sinai Group. They have a rather confusing website at www.southsinai.com and contracting through www.viator.com is difficult, but it is worth it. They offer tours with your own private driver, coordinator, and Egyptologist guide! However, it is important to know that they don’t run an official tour to all three sites. In order to see all three, you have to talk directly to South Sinai Group, which is pretty difficult. They don’t respond to emails (at least, not when I tried), and the only way to contact them is through their hotline, which is open during Egyptian daylight hours.  I believe that Isram World still contracts through them, but sometimes they don’t notify me when they make a change. Of course, I’m only 13 J. If you do take a South Sinai Tour, ask for Marwa. She is one of their Egyptologists and my personal favorite guide in the entire Middle East. South Sinai was a real pain to schedule with, and a real pleasure to tour with.

I suggest going to Dashur first, before Saqqara. This may seem counterintuitive, because Dashur is farther from Cairo than Saqqara, but there is a perfectly good reason to do so. Dashur is almost completely ignored by tourists, and the site often closes earlier than official closing times. In order to guarantee seeing them both in the same day that you visit Giza, you must go to Dashur first. Also, if you go inside any of the pyramids, I recommend the Red Pyramid at Dashur. Though it smells really bad (you wouldn’t read that in a guidebook! J) it is worth it by far. Bring a small, handheld flashlight for the dim interior.

          Though you can enjoy these sites without a whiff of knowledge about Egyptian history, it does make the experience a little more memorable to know what you’re seeing. Besides, you can’t ask the guides to show you what you don’t know about. I liked the Egypt Pocket Guide, by Alberto Siliotti, about the Pyramids. He has published a series of these pocket guides including ones for Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and Islamic Cairo.  I also loved the documentary Engineering an Empire: Egypt, from the History Channel, for explaining these pyramids and other Egyptian landmarks.



Don’t climb the Pyramids.

I was very tempted, but apparently it’s illegal because dozens of people have died trying. I feel sorry for those that died, but I personally can’t imagine how you could fall off of a pyramid.



Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions or feedback. Especially if you’re related to me.


Can you tell why they called it the Red Pyramid?

Going inside the Red Pyramid
The odd looking Bent Pyramid
The Bent Pyramid, which would've been taller than the Great Pyramid, had the builders kept to their original plans
The first stone columns ever built by man, in Djoser's Necropolis
Djoser's Step Pyramid, the first monumental stone construction in history
Were they built by aliens? Marwa was adamant that they weren't, but you can never be sure...
The rather unimpressive looking Pyramid of Teti
The even more ruined Black Pyramid, at Dashur







                                                                                                        

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Temple Mount

I wrote this post to convince people to ascend onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque are located. The Mount is a large platform on the edge of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is visible from almost everywhere in the city, but it isn't enough just to see it from a distance. In order to really absorb it, you have to go up on the top for a closer look.

Going up on Temple Mount-Jerusalem
Before Going: 10/10
Reason for score- I knew it was a very important place for history and religion.

Why you should: This was one of the greatest experiences of my entire trip- and my entire life. It was stunning to see the world famous Dome of the Rock and stand where King David, Jesus, and Mohammad once walked. Most people associate Jerusalem with the world renowned Golden Dome, another name for the Dome of the Rock. This is where the Jewish Temple once stood, and where now stands the spectacular Muslim shrine. If you’re Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, this place has immense religious significance. This is, after all, the place where God traditionally asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. Even for atheists or people of other religious faiths, this place is very important in history. In fact, I can’t think of any other place that has been at the center of so much conflict. There has been bloodshed over this place by Jews, Romans, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Christians, and Muslims for millennia. It isn’t enough to see it, you have to go up.

How: There are many entrances to the Temple area, but there is only one for non-Muslims. If you go through one of the Muslim entrances, I've been told that the guards will ask you to recite something like the first verse of the Koran. The Islamic Authorities only open up the Mount to visitors for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon. It is a good idea to arrive 20-30 minutes before opening time, as the lines tend to be very long and it takes a while to get through security. I was early getting there, and nearly didn’t make it to the top regardless. I also recommend having a fallback day in case you can’t get up on the first day.
Be very careful about offending people. This is the third holiest place in Islam, and Muslims are justifiably angry about blundering tourists acting disrespectful at a holy site. Make sure not to bring bibles, rosaries, crosses, stars of David, Torah scrolls, Talmudic scrolls, or any other religious items. Also, don’t stray into any Muslim-only areas or try to enter the Dome of the Rock. Please, listen to any guard’s orders, for your own safety.
This is all much easier if you take a tour of the city that includes this. Personally, I loved the Holy City Tour from Sandeman’s New Jerusalem tours. Visit them at www.newjerusalemtours.com.  If you decide to go on one, ask for Alon. He was a great guide, one of my favorite over my whole Middle Eastern experience.
After Going: 11/10
Reason for score: It was among the top three experiences I had in the Middle East.

If you liked this post on Jerusalem, consider reading about the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The only tourist entrance to the Mount
The beautiful facade of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, complete with columns donated by Benito Mussolini (?)
The awe-inspiring Dome of the Rock
Where in the world is Matt Lauer Michael McGerty? (A Today Show reference)
The intricate decorative tile work unique to Islamic architecture always makes good photos
The nearby Dome of the Prophet, slightly marred by the giant white fence
I think that's a pretty good picture
My guide, Alon, and I (with my signature weather hat)
A bird's eye view of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives
The stairs where we took most of our pictures from
Wow

Saturday, June 9, 2012

The Valley Temples- Top sights in Petra


                Some of the most notable constructions in Petra are the numerous temples to gods long forgotten. The ancients channeled all of their money and energy into building these enormous houses of worship. Below, I’ve listed the best and how you can get the most out of them.
·         The Two Best Temples of Petra:
Ø  Qasr al Bint (The Temple of Dushares)-The farther of the two, this Temple is well signposted. I like this one not only because of the hugeness of it, but also because of the building chunks organized in neat columns out back.
Ø  The Great Temple- The closer, and, (In my opinion) better of the two temples. It is very well restored and quite awesome when viewed from the top
·         The best place to view both is the ridge opposite the Temple of the Winged Lions, where a less reconstructed temple stands. This is also the best place to view the Royal Tombs.
·         Make sure to get your picture in the small “theater” near the back of the Great Temple-it may be where the rich and powerful hung out in ancient times
·         Be careful of the big pits in the floor of the Great Temple-they reveal a complex network of tunnels that runs underneath the floor. Don’t fall in!


·         Another notable place is the huge stone slab in front of Qasr al Bint. This may be where sacrifices were performed


E-mail me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions. Come on, I’m sure you have some!




A beautiful Corinthian capital. Things like these are strewn about in Petra like a junkyard, by archaeologists without the money to do anything with them.
The Holy of Holies in the Qasr-al-Bint Temple. If the Petran gods turn out to be real, I'm in trouble.
Outside the ruined Qasr-al-Bint, which may have once had a second floor
A great view of the Great Temple, from my favorite viewpoint

The small theater shaped structure in the rear of the Great Temple

Top sights of Petra: The Royal Tombs


I've made this post about what I think is one of the most cool and little known sites in Petra, The Royal Tombs. These are a collection of giant stone buildings carved into the sides of cliffs where the kings of Petra may have once been buried. Below are all of the things you need to know about getting the most out of your visit to them.


·         The Important Tombs, from left to right
Ø  Palace Tomb- A very large and obviously important tomb in its day. You can go inside, but there is only an empty room


Ø  Corinthian Tomb- This tomb, although decrepit, is still impressive. I also don’t advise going inside


Ø  Urn Tomb- Probably the best preserved of the three, the Urn tomb is accessible by a flight of steps leading up from ground level. The inside isn’t spectacular, but is worth a look.


·         Look inside any small caves or openings that you find- you may be surprised what you find. I’ve seen everything from a makeshift home to an escaped camel to an ignored tomb.
·         It is best to see the Royal Tombs from a distance. My favorite place to look at them from is the hill opposite the Great Temple and Qasr-al-Bint in the valley







E-mail me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions.

A panorama of the Royal Tombs from my favorite spot-mentioned above
The Palace Tomb
The Corinthian Tomb
The Urn Tomb and the steps leading up to it
Inside the Urn Tomb-Once converted into a church

The High Place of Sacrifice








                I was very prepared when I went to see Petra a month ago. I read everything that I could find about it and learned a lot. However, there were still many things that surprised me. Below, I’ve written everything that you couldn’t know about Petra without going there. It would’ve helped me a lot. I hope it helps you.
The High Place of Sacrifice
·         Located on the left hand side of someone coming out of the Siq, between the Treasury and the Theater.
·         It’s not very well marked- you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for the small sign on the canyon floor.
·         A short, somewhat steep climb up stairs that can take between 15 and 30 minutes
·         The Three objects of interest at the top:
Ø  The High Place of Sacrifice- a large stone “pit” with channels for the draining of sacrificial blood; found by turning left shortly after you reach the top of the stairs
Ø  The Viewpoint, a flat rock with fantastic views of most of Petra; to get to go straight following the flow of people
Ø  The Obelisks, two worn-looking stone pillars of unknown purpose; behind the stairs. It is easier to find on your way back from the Viewpoint or by turning left immediately after the last stair.
·         Best time to visit: If it is a hot day or you don’t have much time, it is best to go early in the morning and make the climb first thing after you see the Treasury. This will give you extra time to spend at the top (shoot for between 9 and 11 A.M.). If you have longer or it is not as hot, come back after seeing everything you want to see and climb it before leaving. This means that you can recognize everything you’ve seen in the valley (best between 2 and 3 PM).

Choose to go to any one or all of the sights depending on how much time you have or your interests. The High Place climb is a very rewarding experience for those people done with seeing the main attractions of Petra.


E-mail me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions, as usual


Seeing the tourist road, probably looking just as it would've in ancient times


The view from the viewpoint, if you thought I was kidding


The actual High Place of Sacrifice, a little more modest than the name suggests


I wonder what this was...


Did anyone lose their 9 foot pillars of stone?