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Tourism is on the increase. Egytpt, Jordan and Israel were alive with visitors and we had 46 eager people with us in Egypt, the largest diggings group we have had so far. Msot travelled with us by Singapore Airlines from Australia. Some, including a couple from Canada, joined our tour group in Cairo.
As usual, the pyramids were a big attraction. In recent years tickets to enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu have been limited and applicatns have had to queue in the hot sun to get a ticket. This time there was no problem. Those in our group who wanted to explorethe inside of the pyramid were able to get tickets and make the descent through the entry passage, deep into the great structure. As always, those who went inside found it to be a very memorable experience.
Our visit to the Faiyyum Oasis was of interest. Security seemed more relaxed than in the past and we had time to visit the ingenious ancient automatic water wheel that lifts water from a low source to a higher channel. We were also able to stop and take photographs of Joseph's Canal.
At the deserted city of Kahun where there is so much evidence of Israelite slave labour, we saw a lot of broken pottery strewn around the ground. Our group members spread out across the site and were very excited with the various items found, particularly the numerous pottery beehives. They were broken, but it was exicting to handle items that were 3,500 years old. These small beehives have significance because Moses had asured the Israelites that they were going to a land of milk and honey. Apparently they were fond of honey and this was a strong incentive to embark on the arduous and dangerous journey to the Promised Land.
We were especially fortunate to be able to see Tutankhamun's mummy in the Valley of the Kings. Ever since Howard Carter's great discovery in 1922 the boy king has rested in his sarcophagus int he tomb chamber. There was no air-conditioning for the unfortunate mummy and it could not be seen anyway. Recently the mummy has been scanned and placed in a special air-conditioned glass container at the opposite end of the tomb chamber from the sarcophagus and we were able to look on his face.
Our bus took us from Luxor to Aswan and on the way we visited the crocodile temple of Kom Ombo. For many years there has been a mummified crocodile on display there but now plans are afoot to build a special crocodile museum near the temple. The crocodile god Sobek is depicted on some of the temple pillars. On the back wall of the temple there is a relief picturing a doctor's medical instruments. Temples were healing centres as well as places of worship.
In the past we have only spent one night at Petra but often group members have asked, "Why can't we stay longer at this peaceul and fascinating place?" So this year we put two nights on the itinerary and it was a popular move. Petra is an amazing and large site with many different places to see, some of which cannot be reaced in the one day. If you want to visit the High Place of Sacrifice it can be very difficult to also visit the Monastery on the same day. A couple of our more energetic members made the trip to the Monastery on the second day. We have decided to make the two day visit to Petra a permanent item on our itinerary.
In Israel the weather was unusually cold for that time of the year. Our visit to the Herodion was of special interest because of the recent discovery of the tomb of Herod the Great. It has been located on the outside of the hill. There is not much to be seen, but it was a spectdacular find. It has not been fully excavated yet so it will be of interest to see if any treasures remain in the tomb.
We were intrested to listen to the guide who took our group round the Garden Tomb. Ever since its opening, guides have recounted all the evidence to prove that it was the genuine tomb of Christ, but fifteen years ago Israeli archaeologists examined the tomb and declared it to be from the time of the late Israelite kings 500 years before Christ, so it could not be the real tomb of Christ.
For some years after this conclusion was reached the Garden tomb guides explained to visitors the archaeological evidence, but it was not popular news and now the guides are once more recounting the evidence for it, conveniently omitting reference to the archaeological evidence.
One of the regular items on the itinerary in Israel is a trip across the Lake of Galilee from Tiberius to the kibbutz at Ein Gev. This year's group boarded our wooden boat, known as a "Jesus Boat" because it is modelled after the style of boats from the time of Jesus. About half-way across we stopped and one of the young deck hands gave our group a demonstration of how the local fishermen cast their fishing nest. Needless to say his efforts went unrewarded. Fishermen usually do their fishing at night, just as they did in Jesus' time.
We also visited a few extra sites that were not on the itinerary in Israel. One of these was the Church of the Beatitudes on the northern shore of Galilee, or Lake Kinneret as it is known today. While the authenticity of the site is fairly dubious, the church and the location are quite breathtaking. AS our group arrived at the site they were very interseted to note the arrival of the Australian Governor General, Major General Michael Jeffery and his wife, Marlena. Apparently he was in Israel to open an Australian war memeorial at Beer Sheba. The security people assigned to protect the Governor General did look a little uncomfortable to see a group of people rushing forward, but relaxed once they heard the Australian accents and the shouts of "G'day!" A few lucky members of our group managed to shake his hand, say hellow and snap a few photos.
There were no problems with security in any of the places we visited. Some sites such as Samaria, Gaza and Bethel are off limits but elsewhere it is life as usual. We look forward to next year's tour and invite you to come with us for the experience of a lifetime. Information and a tour brochure are available from this site.
DKD
