EGYPT January 2010

It becomes complex to think about writing about another trip to Egypt. I've already posted the famous site photos. So this time, I'll just post some random photos with a little commentary. I read other posts and people carefully detail each day and each event. I don't have the mental energy to do that. But for all of you out there who want to know how our trip went, this is how...

One of the modes of transportation we take is the night train from Luxor to Cairo. We board the train in the evening, have a gross-looking dinner, and try to sleep. That is the simplified version. I rather like the rocking motion of the train and it is soothing for me. We are awakened in the morning at about 4:30 AM with a rap on the door and receive a semi-gross-looking breakfast of some breads. I only ate a roll.

I took this photos from the bus window. It typifies life among the poor people in Egypt. There are of course high-risers, but this is the Egypt that I love.

The Sphinx is always a remarkable sight. We went to the Sound and Light show in the evening. It has improved a lot through the years with laser technology.

If I could have a dime for every photo taken by our students, I would be rich. They made human pyramids at the pyramids. Not to be out-done, the faculty men also made a human pyramid. Luckily Brother Emmett was the top piece.

Isn't this a unique photo? The pyramid was pretty heavy, but it looks light in the picture. We've been lifting weights so we could lift it up for a few minutes.

I guess we should have a photo of us at the pyramids. It was beautiful weather for us and there were great crowds of tourists.

And yours truly..... Isn't it nice that I can still carry a draw string bag?

We've been here many times. They sell tote bags for $1.00. I bought about 10 this time. They don't last very long, but they last long enough and have nice Egyptian scenes on them. If you mention this to me, I'll give you a tote bag.

An interesting Egyptian man in Memphis by the statue of Ramses II. He motioned to me to take his photo which I gladly did. Then he motioned to me to pay him for the photo, which I did NOT.

A nice scene at the temple at Karnak. Most of you may not know that on one visit to Karnak I saw Elizabeth Taylor with two Egyptian guides. I followed them around and took photos. Unfortunately that was before the time of digital cameras so I only have printed photos of her now. You can ask to see my photo album and I can verify this.

We did lots of loading and unloading of buses. I thought you'd like to see some of that luggage.

We had a very nice room in Luxor. It was equiped with a toilet that had many features including a heated toilet seat. We didnt' try out the other features. It also had a jetted tub. I did try that out, but it didn't work. I was able to sit in warm water for awhile however.

We always take the students to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch in Cairo. We have a nice set menu between our visits to the Egyptian Museum and the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar. The favorite part of the meal is singing YMCA with the staff.

And we ride a felucca to get to the camels that take us through an Egyptian village.

An Egyptian Dog

A nice camel and a camel owner

Two nice camels, and five camel "owners"

Camels have very sore knees

Two Camels

As some of you know I collect beanie babies. I have too many now, and last time I came here I brought a suitcase full of them. I've been giving them out to children on the streets. These are the last beanie babies I have. The Brown and the Clegg children contributed them. I gave them to some children by the Khan al-Khalili bazaar. It is fun to watch their eyes light up. They don't know what my agenda is. I have no agenda. It is fun to give something away with no string attached.

And this is our student group for Winter 2010.

Christmas in Jerusalem 2009

The Clegg Family at Sunset

The Brown Family at sunset on the Galilee

Our Christmas "Vacation" this year in Jerusalem was shared with Julianne and Jason and their six children, and Scott and Jill and their six children. The 18 of us spent three weeks together. The youngest participant was Lily Brown, age 4 months. The oldest child was Tanner Clegg, age 14.

We visited as many sites as our ages would allow. We had beautiful weather and swam in the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. One of the highlights of our trip was the baptism of Spencer in the Jordan River on his eighth birthday.

One of the highlights of the season was our Branch Christmas Eve on Shepherds' Field and later a Carol Program at the YMCA. Kent gave the prayer, and I read a scripture. Brother Whipple, our Center organist, played several piano medleys, and played the carillon bells at the end of the program. All of Jerusalem heard a Mormon musician playing the carillon bells from the YMCA tower on Christmas Eve.

Now the dust has settled. We still see some little finger prints on the windows of the Jerusalem Center. We miss each family member. But for a few moments we had heaven on earth here.

The Winter Students arrived the day the Cleggs left, so I've not had much recovery time. Therefore, I'll post lots of random photos. I don't have time or energy to write about our whole experience. I am grateful that we could be together for the holiday season. I'm grateful that everyone traveled safely and remained in good health.

The Tent Restaurant in Bethlehem

The Falls at Ein Gedi


Sunset in Jerusalem

Spencer's Baptism in the Jordan River

Russian Orthodox Church

Two beach bums

A serious game in West Jerusalem

Caesarea Philipi without people

The Garden Tomb

Fish feeding on the feet

"Not to worry about the price" for the camel

A Gethsemane Cat

Site for Spencer's Baptism

We love to find strangers to give beanie babies to.

Anna listening carefully Tree Climbing
Banana Land in Jericho Pita in Afula with Maxwell

The Cleggs arrival

Grandma meets Lily

The Browns arrive

I have about 1,000 more photos. I don't suppose that I'll ever get around to posting them. These will have to do!!!!!

Galilee to Thanksgiving November 2009

Day 1: Our Galilee trip began with Kent climbing on the bus with students, viewing sites along the way and arriving at the destination on the Sea of Galilee just after dark. I drove a van up along the Jordan / Israel border. It is a very boring trip, but I was Accompanied by a faculty wife, so we had good conversation. The van carried such things as a printer, a projector, luggage and me. I seem to be the designated driver for these trips. I do not mind, because I get a few extra hours by myself before the students arrive.


Day 2: This is one of the most beautiful trips in Upper Galilee. We go to Hazor, Tel Dan, Banias, and Nimrod's Castle. The Kibbutz provided Lunches for us to eat along the way. Tel Dan seems to be the place where we lose students. We were not disappointed this time. Now we've lost them three trips in a row. It isn'ta serious loss because it is a Nature Reserve and they will eventually be found, but it does waste our time. On this trip we can view Lebanon and Syria in the distance. It would be wonderful if we could visit these countries while we are so close. But the mine fields would prevent that.
Tel Dan has a Pistachio tree that begs students to climb it. Here is a before and after photo.

Pistachio Tree before Students
Pistachio Tree with Students














Banias Falls

Days 3-4: On these days we cross the Sea of Galilee on a boat. We stopped mid-way and Reflected upon the events that occurred on this Sea. We heard musical numbers and stories from the Scriptures. We had a very peaceful day. Sometimes it has been stormy and the waves beat
against the boat. But this time there was a calm with beautiful clouds forming and Reforming in the blue sky.

A highlight of this trip is a visit to the Mt of Beatitudes. We always read the Sermon on the Mount here. It is a wonderful place to think upon those words. If I were to ever become a Nun, I'd request to be Stationed in this place, but without the tourists. They keep the grounds beautiful.

Days 5-7: Included a visit to Gamla, Qazrin Village and the Fish Restaurant. Gamla is quite a hike and I did not hike all the way down, but the students did. Instead I went to the Vulture refuge. There was a park ranger there and she pointed the cameras all around the Reserve. She even noticed a faculty member carrying some fauna that is illegal to pick. Vultures are bred and Rehabilitated in this facility.
Gamla
The Vultures

The Fish Restaurant is always a highlight. We have St. Peter's fish. It grosses out some of the students, but most Partake. The fish is actually very good. After the dinner we go to Tiberias for ice cream. We had a McD's caramel Sundae.

Day 6: This was the Sabbath Day. We went to the Galilee Balcony of the Branch House

Branch in two groups. It does not seat enough for our entire group. We went with the afternoon group. The view from the "chapel" is the Sea of Galilee. It is much more inspiring that looking at a Bishopric Seated in front of the Congregation. (forget I said that!) We also went to the Haifa Group for evening services. It takes about 1 ½ hours to drive there from Tiberias. We met with some Pilipino members. These women can not go to Galilee for church services, so the church has come to them for about an hour weekly.







Days 8-9: One of the highlights of this day is Mt Tabor. We have taken many people to this site. It is believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration. Those present were Jesus, Elijah, Moses and three Disciples: Peter, James & John. We visited other sites, including a little chapel in Naim commemorating the healing of the widow's son.
Mt Tabor

Raising the Widow's Son

Grounds at Mt Tabor




Gan Hashlosha Springs

Also included is a swim at Gan Hashlosha, a warm spring. It was a bit cool outside, but the water was warm. I was bit by a fish on one of our visits here. I was not bit this time because I did not go in the water.














Akko
Day 10: The highlight of this day is a trip to Albury. We went there many years ago with our children and they played in the tide pools. Akko is a wonderful seaport full of layers of history, perhaps the major interest to Historians is the Crusade period.

We returned back to the Kibbutz in time for the sunset.




















The Kibbutz provided a Thanksgiving dinner for us in the evening. It was Wednesday, but the day did not matter. They decorated the room in red white and blue Streamers, paper, and balloons. The balloons were filled with helium. We were served a very nice dinner Consisting of apple salad, bread, corn, baked potato, Squash and turkey! We were served six Turkeys that were
carried in on trays and had Lighted Sparklers sticking out of them. It was quite a show. We had a nice dessert with something that looked like ice cream on top. It was not ice cream.
And this is the Moore Thanksgiving at Denny's. That is what happens when the Grandparents are out of town.





The final evening the students had a Bonfire next to the water and spent about two hours bearing testimonies. I finally got too cold and left, but they continued on until everyone who wanted to had an opportunity. It is wonderful to hear testimonies from the students. Most are Tryng very hard to have a personal relationship with the Savior and have spent a lot of time focusing on that while in Galilee.


I always leave Galilee with a bit of sadness. It is a peaceful Respite. Though we have responsibilities while we are there, we also have reflective time and opportunity to read and study about the life of the Savior. In a way, it is like a long Sacrament Meeting. We keep going, but we do not get tired of it.




And on Day 10 I spotted these two identical kittens. Their Markings were beautiful. I considered shipping them home, but they would not let me catch them.