Day 2

This is going to be our first long day. We get up at sun rise, so just after 6. Aid even earlier to prepare the fire, boil the water and pray. We are at a beautiful spot. To stretch our muscles after a rather hard sleep on the rocks Gerald and I explore the surroundings a bit.

The rocks come in the most bizarre forms and shapes.


After breakfast we get ready. Everything needs to be packed really neatly so it can't fall off, nor get too dusty.

After an hour or so we come by this typical Bedouin village. Life is pretty simply around here.

But where-ever there is a Bedouin village there are kids, hospitality and water. We stop at a little water tank. Every passerby is invited to stop and take some water. Typically one or several kids will look after the water and advise you of what quality it is (to drink after boiling, to drink for camels, to water plants)

Nowerdays gas fuelled pumps get the water out of wells.

The kids 'engage' us right away in a discussion about the importance of pens and why on earth we haven't brought any. Pens are the typical present for kids aorund there. Had only somebody advised us, we could have brought a hundred! What a nice and useful gift as well. Kids elsewhere want sweets or money.

The donkey and I couldn't bond very well.

And off we go. The underground gets rocky as we approach the ascent to a mountain path.

Even the jeep needs his first gear and use all its power to get up here.

After about a century in gruelsome heat we finally arrive at the top.

Later in the day we get back to our beloved sand.

Enough is enough. It is virtually impossible to drive in sand; let's get a ride.

Time for lunch.

Waleed prepares it - while we take a rest.

A little spot in the shade, more than enouh to enjoy. What is not visible here is that we are surrounded by secret plantations of hashish. Each guarded by about 3 Bedouins with big guns. This is apparently how the Bedouins survive in the desert in the 21st century.

And now for something completely different. The endless planes of stones and rocks.

It felt like a never-ending story.

Riding this for about 2 hours at great speed (otherwise the wheels did into the sand beneath the rocks an dget stuck) is great news for your buttocks.

Finally our destination. again a pretty spot very close to something famous - one of the places described in the bible where Moses got lost with his tribe; - and the black chimneys!

The black chimneys were formed by lava

Stunning.

And a sunset to dive into

The evenings are to discuss the day, life, the universe and everything else. It gets quite cold but it does not matter. What matters is the total tranquility, not a sound anywhere; the serenity of the environment; the most pristine state of the sand around you; the entirely clear sky.