Eilat, Israel

The first thing I did, in my hotel room, after a bath was very simple. The ‘to visit’ list. And the first place which caught my eye was waiting for me on the southern tip of Israel. This trip to Israel is my first trip in the middle-east. I was all pumped up to visit this place with such a great location. The reason this city would turn out to be my first stop is simple. The roots of Eilat dates back to the Christ and The Three Wise Men. This ‘promised land’ for Jews is situated in the ‘Heart’ of the world and is surely a point of cultural importance for the Jews. Though the roots of Eilat are certainly a souvenir for the Jews.

Safe Middle Eastern City

This city solves the the stories of the biblical Moses and the ‘Ten Commandments’. The seeds of the most mysterical religion of ‘Kabalah’ were also swon in this mainland. The city, of cultural and traditional importance is very rich and is one of the very few safe cities of the middle east. It is safe from suicidal bombings and other inhuman attacks.

The way this trip would go was now clearly on my diary page. The first thing to do in morning is to catch a flight and march to this exicting location which is just around 350 kms from Tel Aviv. Its 10 am and I am feeling the desert heat of Eilat. I was finding myself in pie and was sweating heavily.

The route through the desert was tough. Some of the things on my agenda were very clearly related to the culture of Eilat. Amran pillars, Red Canyon, Timma Park, Mt. Yoash, Mt. Hizqiyahu were of the some of the important places which over the years influnced the Jewish culture.

The Amran Pillars

The Amran Pillars are sandstone pillars along the western wall of Amran crater.This archeological and historically important site is standing tall from the Roman era.This place has its root from the Biblical Moses. Amran got its name to preserve the sound of the arab name ‘Amrani’. Amran was the name of Mooses’ father, this was certainly the thing which attracted the attention as it was related with my curiosity about the Jewish culture. This place finds itself in the Bible also.

Coral Beaches of Eilat

Beachs at Eilat

After visiting this place of importance I desparately wanted to relax along the beaches. The coral beaches of Eilat bay were waiting for my visit. The airodium and oceanarium are a must watch to experience the oceanic culture of the people associated with this land. By evening I was again editing my ‘to visit’ list and planning my trip back to Tel Aviv, a group of people caught my attention in the desert with lamps and fire amongst them. I quickly followed there.

To my pleasent surprise, a group of young women were getting ready to perform for some guests. On further enquiry I was told that they were belly dancers. I was amazed and quite happy to witness the authentic and culturally elite dance for the first time. This experience was a perfect display of the  influence of the Jewish culture.

Photos by Or Hiltch