Mount Zion is one of the rare places that can move, having migrated from the City of David (Lower Eastern Hill) to the Temple Mount (Upper Eastern Hill) to its present location on the Western Hill, just outside the walls of the Old City. Despite shifting locations multiple times, present day Mount Zion remains an …
Horse ride or hike? This isolated hilltop monastery can only be reached by foot or horse, so be prepared to hike, absorb a bit of history, marvel at the stunning views and work up an appetite on the way down just in time for a picnic lunch in the middle of nowhere. Tuvkhon Monastery sits …
A mountain ridge on the eastern side of Kidron valley, Mount of Olives commands wonderful views over the Old City and Temple Mount. Its name is derived from the olive trees that once covered its slopes.Steeped in biblical significance, it is associated with key events surrounding the life of Jesus which occurred during His final days …
This natural wonder in the Orkhon Valley is the result of an earthquake and a volcanic eruption that occurred some 20,000 years ago. Fed by the Orkhon River, the water thunders down the 26-meter high waterfall into an almost perfectly circular basin and the adjoining gorge. One of the best sights in Central Mongolia Regardless …
2000 year-old Hebrew texts that are manuscripts to the Hebrew bible In the heart of the Judean desert, a Bedouin shepherd made the greatest manuscript discovery (though he did not know it then) among the high cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. Ancient scrolls found in a desert caveAs the story goes, this accidental discovery occurred …
This was my first proper hike following the easing of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to "conditional" after 11 weeks of strictly stay-at-home. Hiking in small groups are allowed with social distancing strongly encouraged. Unlike 5 years earlier, there is now a clearly marked path leading to the trail head along the slope parallel to …
For more than 40 years, it was almost impossible and dangerous to visit the original baptismal site of Jesus due to the presence of landmines, planted by the Israeli Army after the Six Day War in 1967 to prevent infiltration from Jordan.Fully re-opened in 2019, I had the privilege to stand on the banks of …
Continue reading Baptismal Site on the Jordan River – Qasr Al-Yahud
Continuing along the Jesus trail from Tiberias to Nazareth, we visited two important sacred Christian sites where significant events had taken place in different centuries - before Christ (BC) and after Christ (AD). 1. Cana Catholic Wedding ChurchWhile attending a wedding in Cana with his mother, Mary and his first few disciples, Jesus turned water …
Just outside the city, a row of stone arches by the Mediterranean Sea makes for a dramatic backdrop against a long strip of sandy beach. The beach area with its unique setting among ancient Roman ruins, guarantees magical views of the azure blue waters and is the perfect spot for a relaxing stroll, a swim …
Visited December 2019Built as a shrine to the Baha’i faith, the Baha’i Gardens comprise a staircase of 19 terraces extending up the northern slope of the city's Mount Carmel. At the central terrace stands the golden domed Shrine of the Bab (the “Gate” in Arabic) - the final resting place of the Founder of the …
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