For
3 full days and 4 nights, my friend and I were couchsurfing in Ein
Gedi Kibbutz, which is one botanical garden. The atmosphere is
totally different than in busy Jerusalem. While the latter is more a
heavy Bach symfony, this place is more a Manu Chao song.
People
share, know each other (in this small community), walk sometimes
barefoot, all look free men, and not bound by religion. It is like
living in the free paradise described in the famous book « the
beach ». There are giant baobabs everywhere, and there is also
some plant. Our host, a very easy-going guy, known by everyone, took
us on the first evening already to a small look out point which is
built out of respect for a dead friend, and under the stars he let us
make music by drumming on some wind catchers. He also taught my
friend about aloevera, which is everywhere. « It is almost like
garbage in the botanical garden, » our host told her. My friend
already took almost a whole plant, and put it in the fridge, because
the sap of the plant can cure mosquito bites (which started to occur,
when we went more southwards).
One
day we visited the Dead Sea. Floating in the lowest place on Earth, is
apparently very healthy. We got for free in the spa. No way how we
did it. Or maybe a bit. We just ended up on the beach, in fact, not
in the real spa, were floating there, and covered ourselves in mud.
Everything for eternal youth, I guess?
The
day after our host took us to Masada Fort. Very early in the morning
my friend and I hiked up via Snake Path (name is because of the
shape, not because it is full of snakes ; otherwise I would
never take it), when the sun came up, and for many hours we enjoyed
the history and archeology. While my friend dived in all the
information, I dreamt how I would make an amazing romantic historical
epos about the siege by the Romans, which ended when all the Jewish
rebels killed themselves and their families, because they rather
wanted to be free than slaves. I already decided to take a lot of
epic helicopter shots, because the landscape is stunning : The
salt, tectonics and the dry climate shaped some amazing features in
the rock. Of course I also would work a lot with shadows, being lines
of prison, to emphase the Jewish rebells were stuck. Yes, I can see
this movie. I only need a good story, about love (maybe forbidden),
and oh yes... money.
In
the evenings and some mornings we share really interesting
conversations with our host. He talks about his experience with the
real religious people in Israel. We didn't know the religious people
don't pay any taxes, and only pray. They got a lot of money from the
government. In Antwerp, we've got also religious Jewish people, and
they are quite isolated from the rest of our population. To be
honest, I don't know anybody who has friends from that small island
in my city. The religious people also don't go to the army, and our
host claimed they were maybe the biggest enemy of the state, because
they have their own court and rules. Sometimes, I wonder, what is
Israel ? Also, in Jerusalem, we, or in fact my friend who read a
lot about the coloniation of Israeli's in Palestine territory, had
some discussions with our host, and although my friend likes to find
strong arguments to make an opinion, I am still confused what to call
Israeli, or what not. Jerusalem is totally different than Ein Gedi.
In Jerusalem I couldn't relax, in Ein Gedi immediately, to give an
example. In Jerusalem you've to dress like a penguin, here in Ein
Gedi you can wear just your bikini... still... it is the same state,
nation ? It is very interesting to hear stories, opinions... but
at the same time so confusing.
On
our third day, we went to the nature reserve. We hiked up via water
fall to a look-out where we could admire the Dead Sea. My friend and
I split up ; she wanted to refresh herself, and wanted to hike
faster, while I wanted to take many pictures and footage. In the end,
I hitchhiked with a guy, with his jeep full of yellow spots, with his
hyperkinetic dog, the Dead Sea Beast I call it, who tried to push me
out of the car. Or it seems. The dog was jumping to everything and
everyone. When my friend and I were waiting for sunrise above the
Dead Sea, and our bus to Eilat in the south, we met him back ;
two times. He invited us to spend time on a local beach, but we had
to move on. Our time in the Middle East is limited. The dog almost
attacked my friend. He is quite a figure. Like our host. Ein Gedi is
full of interesting relaxed people, all a bit quirky, but I love it.
I
think these 3 days were full of nature, hiking, relaxing and beauty
products. My friend and I bought enough mud to become real princesses
with shining hair, but maybe it is not a good idea, because in the
next days we go to a more « conservative » country. I
don't know Jordan is very strict, and we'll have 'female traveler's
problems ', but still... we don't know anything about the
country, apart from the fact you can find Petra, one of the new World
Wonders, there, and the idea it's the heart of the Middle East
(neighbours are Syria, Iraq, Saoud Arabia...). We've got an
Couchsurfing invitation from someone from Petra. I wonder which song
will remind me to these country.
