Judean desert (photos)

Good day to all. Whilst we are waiting for 59's photos of Nepal. I made a trip to the Judean desert ,which for Israelis is Judah and Shomron,not the 'West Bank! This area is called 'area C' ,and for B T its Palastine. I made a mistake in that I took a 170-600 mm lens ,mainly for birds of that area. Look at the vast wilderness,why should Israel not settle in these wide open spaces?
<a href='https://postimg.cc/SJtF1NZY' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/t49qTsWk/DSC-1766.jpg' border='0' alt='DSC-1766'/></a>
The monastery of St George,(Greek Orthodox) ,in Wadi Kelt.
This amazing cliff-hanging monastery, one of the world’s oldest and definitely one of the most inspiring churches in the Holy Land, is a must-see for the desert.
The monastery was destroyed by the Persians and then rebuilt by the Crusaders before falling derelict. It wasn’t until 1878 when a Greek monk, Kalinikos, came to live here that the monastery started to look like its former glorious and cliff-hugging self. Kalinikos finished his renovations in 1901.
A couple of highlights to watch out for, apart from the amazing Biblical-like scenery surrounding the monastery and the Wadi Kelt valley: the upper part of the monastery hosts the cave that Elijah the Prophet sought shelter in, while in the lower part of the monastery, a tomb of a Romanian monk that lived there in the 1960s still holds his well-preserved body.
https://i.postimg.cc/g0S84FG9/DSC-1721-01.jpg
A problem is how do you get water in the desert? They built channels to collect the water ,maybe from 'flash floods ,from rain which can fall some 10 k -15 km away.
The Judaean Desert has an average annual rainfall of 47mm.
https://i.postimg.cc/ZY7YRbVz/DSC-1689.jpg

I took some 300 photos if you would like to see more?

Wide open spaces

https://i.postimg.cc/t49qTsWk/DSC-1766.jpg

What is the desert without a Camel?

https://i.postimg.cc/MHxsJJfs/DSC-1915.jpg

and its people;

https://i.postimg.cc/HxfrrT92/DSC-1817a.jpg

Then if you want you can be Baptised? The Jordan river is less and less each year,but here was a group from Ghana,they pay quiet a lot to experience the 'holy land' ,and this must be the climax,at the spot where Jesus was Baptised? The Jordan River:

https://i.postimg.cc/RZx4NXJw/DSC-1988.jpg

then the climax ,the experience, the singing etc

https://i.postimg.cc/Jh214mNz/DSC-2043.jpg

and under you go!!!

https://i.postimg.cc/5tZZRt5L/DSC-2096.jpg

Two places I'd love to visit Balan, the first is Israel, not for the moronic 'fact-finding' missions of virtue signalling lefties, but to see the country and meet the people, the other is Russia, sadly Mrs S will not contemplate us visiting either. Israel too risky she says, and she still suspects the KGB might never let us back from Russia. Thanks for the photos, keep them coming, it's the closest to Israel I'm ever likely to get.

Great piccies Balam!

We are really suffering from heavy colds here and don't feel inclined to do bugger all.

We will get the Nepal photographs sorted next week (honest).

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Originally Posted by sinkov

Two places I'd love to visit Balan, the first is Israel, not for the moronic 'fact-finding' missions of virtue signalling lefties, but to see the country and meet the people, the other is Russia, sadly Mrs S will not contemplate us visiting either. Israel too risky she says, and she still suspects the KGB might never let us back from Russia. Thanks for the photos, keep them coming, it's the closest to Israel I'm ever likely to get.

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I went to the baptismal site at Yardenit on the Jordan River in 2017. Really great place to visit and plenty of baptisms taking place. I couldn’t get baptised though as I had already been baptised way back in 1952 and you are only allowed one go at it! Mrs Outwood and I were on a guided tour of Galilee and felt really safe. Foreign Office advice may be more cautious now and Mrs S clearly has doubts so it looks like you will not be going. Seeing Nazareth and the amount of Beatitudes and other Biblical places was just a dream come true. We have been on pilgrimages to Canterbury and to Rome but this was very special.

That should have read Mount of Beatitudes. I am happy to wish Merry Christmas to all except autocorrect. May it roast in piss.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sinkov

Two places I'd love to visit Balan, the first is Israel, not for the moronic 'fact-finding' missions of virtue signalling lefties, but to see the country and meet the people, the other is Russia, sadly Mrs S will not contemplate us visiting either. Israel too risky she says, and she still suspects the KGB might never let us back from Russia. Thanks for the photos, keep them coming, it's the closest to Israel I'm ever likely to get.

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Before the Blair/Bush apocalypse I visited Iraq and Jordan several times and was very impressed with them both sinkov. Jordan is particularly welcoming and I loved Amman. The Palestinian refugee camps are very sobering though.

I would love to visit Gaza City, but we all know that ain't going to happen.

I think Mrs S is right about Russia. I've been three times for week long business trips and I would need to write an essay on my discoveries over there. One thing is for certain, Russia does not evoke happy memories. Choose another destination sinkov or stay wrapped up in the charms of the Ribble Valley?

The Judean Desert, or the Judean Wilderness as it is has been known throughout history, is one of the world's smallest, yet most unique desert regions. The Judean Desert is a wilderness landscape spanning from the Judean Hills at 1,000m above sea level to the west all the way down to the Dead Sea at 400m below sea level in the east. https://i.postimg.cc/k4CbhzvM/DSC-2178.jpg
The Judean Desert is marked by barren wilderness, mountains, terraces and escarpments rather than rolling sand dunes. The final escarpment drops steeply to the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley. The desert is criss-crossed by a number of valleys (wadis) and has deep ravines cutting through the rock. There are several lush oasis and streams.
https://i.postimg.cc/T2gRPhxs/DSC-2164.jpg
It is a fascinating region to stop and explore, full of fun outdoor activities, as well as a rich history and fascinating geography and geology. ( Spy Hill?)
https://i.postimg.cc/nrCBv71q/DSC-2170.jpg

But the country it is so safe here, on the Israeli side.
https://i.postimg.cc/L8HcPVcw/DSC-1984.jpg
....then 10 m away over in Jordan
https://i.postimg.cc/YScMWFxW/DSC-2087.jpgpost a pic
Signs are clearly marked :-)
https://i.postimg.cc/J4wfK8kf/DSC-2128.jpg