MIDDLE EAST
Gallery

I travelled to Egypt and Israel in 1999 with a couple of friends after we had spent 3 weeks in England and Europe. We spent a week going through Egypt on a Top Deck tour where we got to see the amazing pyramids at Giza, sail along the Nile and generally get a taste of what it was like to live in ancient Egypt 3000 years ago. In April 2008 I went back to Israel and spent a week there visiting Eilat, Jerusalem, Megiddo and all around the Galilee.

The best thing about Egypt was visiting the pyramids and sailing on the Nile in a felucca sailing boat at Aswan. The worst thing was how dirty the cities are and the way that the Egyptian site authorities and locals fleece tourists. A fair bit too much greed pervades the culture for my liking.

Israel was a pleasant contrast and much like a typical western nation. It is a well-kept and beautiful land which is quite green in many places even though it also has its arid places. It was so amazing to visit many of the places mentioned in the Bible and walk through the narrow cobblestone streets of the old walled city of Jerusalem with all of its Arab vendors selling all sorts of great souvenirs and produce. Jerusalem' old city is a good combination of the best of both cultures - the Jews talent in keeping a well-kept, clean appearance and the Arabs great flair for commerce.

It was especially wonderful to go up to the Mount of Olives at sunset and to stand on the very place where Christ will return to earth in a few years down the track. I also really enjoyed visiting the Biblical sites around the Sea of Galilee. Israel is a beautiful land and one well worth visiting.

If my 2 year work visa to the UK is extended I am quite interested in going back to Israel during the Feast of Unleavened Bread in 2009 for the planned UCG tour of Israel over that week.

I hope you enjoy the gallery.

 

Yours Truly at the Pyramids at Giza Sitting on the HUGE stones of the Great Pyramid Western Gate of Jerusalem Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Yours Truly on the
Moses seat at Korazaim synagogue
The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx Our group enjoying drinks on our first night in Egypt Outside the Walls of Jerusalem near the Tower of David Archaeological dig at south of Temple Mount Dome of the Rock Capernaum -
the town of Jesus
Laser Lights on the Great Pyramid Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids The Declaration of Cyrus to Rebuild Jerusalem Dome of the Rock The Valley of Hinnom - Gehenna or the hell spoken of in the Bible Capernaum -
the town of Jesus
A group of us camel riding near the Pyramids Camel Riding near the Pyramids Inside the Tower of David Mount of Olives Mount of Olives Capernaum -
the town of Jesus
The Great Pyramid and Boat Display House Walking near the Great Pyramid The Mount of Olives and Temple Mount View from near the site of the Temple according to Ernest Martin View from the City of David lookout showing Temple location according to Ernest Martin's research. The Mount of Beatitudes
Yours Truly as Lawrence of Arabia Egyptian Pyramids Jerusalem at night The Wailing Wall and Dome of the Rock Archaeological dig site south of Temple Mount Capernaum -
the town of Jesus
A Felucca sailing on the Nile at Aswan The Nile at the First Cataract in Aswan Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre View north from the City of David lookout View to north-east from the City of David lookout Capernaum synagogue
The Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan Hotel at Aswan where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile Archaeological Dig near Temple Mount City of David Bottom of City of David near Pool of Siloam Oil press at Capernaum
Our sailing hitchiker on the Nile Relaxing on a felucca sailing on the Nile Trevor and Wayne at the Dome of the Rock Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Kidron Valley and
Mount of Olives		 Oil press at Capernaum
Smoking Egyptian Style Our group having dinner on the Nile at Aswan The Garden of Gethsemane Damascus Gate along northern wall of Old City Jaffa Gate at night on west side of Old City Peter statue at Capernaum
The Temple of Philae Abu Simbel from the air Skull Hill Passover festival at
Jaffa Gate
Passover sound and light show on walls of Old City of Jerusalem
 Capernaum synagogue
Ramses the Great on his chariot Entrance to the Temple of Karnak The Garden Tomb Passover sound and light show on walls of Old City of Jerusalem Crowds around Jaffa Gate for Passover festival "Peter's house" at
Capernaum
Jewish cities conquered by Egypt in Rehoboam's time Thutmose III (Shiskak's) list of booty from conquering the Temple of God and Judah Downtown Jerusalem tree-lined mall Jaffa Gate at night David's Tower at night Sea of Galilee from Capernaum
More of Shishak's booty including possibly the Ark of the Covenant Inside Ramses the Great's Hypostyle Hall Garden Tomb and Skull Hill from the Walls of Jerusalem Old City at night Old City at night Bethsaida - home of
Peter, Andrew and Philip
Sound and Light Show at the Temple of Karnak Valley of the Kings from Luxor The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna - The Hell of the Bible) Old City at night City of David tourist centre entrance Bethsaida
The Valley of the Kings Inside a tomb in the Valley of the Kings Jerusalem in the snow City of David
now and then		 Digs at City of David Bethsaida - Fisherman's house
The Tomb of Ramses VI The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Queen of Sheba) The Mount of Olives and Church of All Nations Warren's shaft Warren's shaft Korazaim synagogue
Wayne and his mate Horus The Collosi at Memnon Haifa and Coastline Towards Lebanon Entrance to Hezekiah's tunnel Gihon Spring Korazaim
The Step Pyramid at Saqqara Grain Pit at Saqqara Chairlift in Haifa Hezekiah's tunnel Hezekiah's tunnel Moses seat at Korazaim synagogue
Mad Taxi Ride in Egypt Sosestris I (Joseph's Pharoah) The Mount of Beatitudes Pool of Siloam Pathway on eastern side of the City of David The Mount of Beatitudes
Sosestris III (The Pharoah who knew not Joseph) Amenemhat III (Pharoah who had the Israelite babies killed) Sea of Gallilee from Mt of Beatitudes Archaeological park in the City of David Old 9th Century BC walls up slope from Gihon spring The Mount of Beatitudes
Queen Hatshepsut (Queen of Sheba) King Tut's Golden mask The Sea of Galilee View of City of David from bottom of Kidron Valley Southern Steps - Probable location where Jews chose Barabbas over Jesus Sea of Galillee from near The Mount of Beatitudes
King Tut's throne Nazareth from Mount Tabor Mount Tabor Pater Noster church - Built over site of Cave of the Apostles site - possible burial place of Christ Grotto under Pater Noster church - possible burial place of Christ according to Ernest Martin Mount of Beatitudes plaques
Mount Tabor from the air Meggido Fort of Meggido Grotto under Pater Noster church Lord's Prayer at Pater Noster church - one of many in dozens of languages Jordan River near Sea of Galilee
Austin Powers Poster on Jerusalem Bus Tribes of Israel Stained Glass Window at Israeli airport Garden of Gethsemane Garden of Gethsemane memorial Church of All Nations Resort next to Capernaum
Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdelene Garden Tomb Garden Tomb Inside Garden Tomb The 2000 year old
"Jesus boat"		 Safed Inn where I stayed in the Galilee
Garden Tomb Protestant Golgotha site next to Garden Tomb Protestant Golgotha site Garden Tomb My gracious hosts at the Safed Inn Safed Inn
Entrance to Church of Holy Sepulchure - Catholic Golgotha Upper Room in the Upper City Kind David's relocated tomb in the Upper City Rabbi and silver Torah scroll near the
Wailing Wall		 Tiberias Ceasarea at night
Jaffa Gate Damascus Gate Old City Pedestrian mall in Ben Yehuda Street Aquaduct near Ceasarea Aquaduct near Ceasarea
Restaurant in Armenian quarter of Old City This reminded me of the Shadows, the spider-like creatures in Babylon 5 Arabian Horse in
City of David		 Goats at bottom of Kidron Valley Partition Wall built by the Israelis in East Jerusalem Ceasarea beach at night
Eilat Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat Tube riding in Red Sea at Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat
Dolphin Cove at Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat Dolphin Cove at Eilat Soaking my feet in the Red Sea Dolphin Cove at Eilat
Eilat Underwater coral at Dolphin Cove Dolphins underwater at Dolphin Cove Close brush with a dolphin at Eilat Charter boat at Eilat McDonalds in Israel - just love the back-to-front sign
Megiddo Megiddo Jezreel Valley from Megiddo Aerial photo of Megiddo Mt Tabor Happy Passover greeting at Ben Gurion airport
       
Negev Wadi in Negev