When working on the Kibbutz in the 80s they would take the volunteers on camping trips to touristy sites around the country. This trip was to the fortress of Massada near the Dead Sea.  We camped beside the bus, so that we’d be ready to climb the mountain the next day. 

The morning sun cut a nice silhouette on the old fort

We climbed up to the ramparts of Massada thanks to the earthen ramp that the Romans would have used.  Actually this one was built by the mini-series producers but it workesd just as well.

By Israeli law at the time each group of twn people had to have an Israeli accompanying with a weapon, in this case an UZI sub-machine gun. There were 22 of us so her dad, the volunteer leader, had his captured Kalashnikov assault rifle as well.

Looking down from the summit of Massada one can see rebuilt for the mini-series, the square encampments where the Roman Legions bivouacked during the siege

Further South near our Kibbutz was the city of Be’ersheva, first settled by Abraham during the Patriarchal days of Genesis.  Abraham dug many wells in search of water when he was in the area, he found water here at the 7th well he dug.  ‘Be’er’ means ‘Well’ in Hebrew, and ‘Sheva’ means ‘Seven’.

A view of the plaque on the well.

Our Kibbutz, Nirim, is located near the border check point between Gaza and Israel. This is a trouble-plagued crossing today seen here back in simpler, more peaceful times.

On the Kibbutz we volunteers used to earn our keep by picking in the citrus and avocado orchards, while driving what we dubbed ‘Yellow Monsters’.

This is the road at the rear of our Kibbutz which runs along the fence with the Gaza strip. On Israel’s Independence Day we all congregated 18klm (10mi) at the site of the old Nirim and ran, walked, and rode back to a barbecue at the new site of Nirim.

On another camping trip through the Negev desert this time we saw many awe-inspiring natural rock formations.  This one shows 3 similar formations called Solomon’s Pillars

A close up shot of Sol’s Pillar

There were many beautiful and incredible rock formations. I call this one Mushroom Rock for obvious reasons.

It is amazing how wind and sand can erode rocks.

This is Yam Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee

On our camping trip the Golan Heights, we stopped at Jalaboon and Dvorah Waterfalls that had crystal clear water. Swimmers who were brave enough climbed the cliff and jumped into the deep pools below.

The Desert Botanical Garden contains any type of plant, cactus, and flower that grows in the desert climate. It is amazing to see how many beautiful plants exist in nature. The colors are deep and stunning, despite the harsh climate that they live in.

It seems like there can only be a few varieties of cactus in the wild. As a native Arizonan, I thought I had seen it all. This garden is full of life that seems strange even in this desert environment. Notice the cactus on the bottom of this photo slightly left from center. Its thorns are so long and thick, almost like small branches sprouting from a tree.

The trees that grow in the desert are also different than what you would expect. These blossoming trees look similar to something that would be seen on the east cost during the fall. This picture was taken just a summer was beginning. During the warm weather these amazing plants flourish and come to life in the dry air.

My favorite stop at the garden is the recently added butterfly exhibit. This is a large tent filled with amazing flowers and beautiful butterflies. This is the most stunning life that can be found in the desert.

It is hard to believe that these colors can be found in the Arizona desert. This desert is not the typical blowing sand landscape that many may think it is. It is full of life and activity throughout the hottest of days.

The experience of a swarm of butterflies floating around you is very calming. They make no noise and fill the room with colorful motion. They will even land on your arms and hands if you remain still enough.

As I was preparing to leave the park I found this stunning butterfly. Its colors were completely different than the others that I had been observing. No matter what you look at in the Arizona desert, there is always something unique to be seen. Just when you thought you had seen every shape and color of butterflies, along comes one that stands out among the rest.

The Desert Botanical Garden is full of plants and life that you might not see elsewhere. It is definitely worth the trip to this amazing exhibit. Make sure you pick a cool, sunny day to go though… it still is the desert.

Rosedale Suspension Bridge

image source

A short 5 minute drive east of Drumheller on Highway 10, is the town of Rosedale. Not much of a town, but there is a nice treed picnic area, and a Suspension Bridge, which is a free tourist attraction. The Bridge is suspended over the Red Deer River, but isn't so high, or so wobbly to be intimidating to people of all ages. On the other side of the river is a very prehistoric looking area, but we must remember that although the land looks inhospitable, millions of years ago it was actually very lush. When the dinosaurs trod on this part of the earth, it did not resemble the desert it is today. Also, remember that it is a desert, do not stick your hands in holes, or places you cannot see. In this part of Canada, there are scorpions, black widow spiders, and rattle snakes.

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

You must drive off Highway 10 for a short distance south, to find this Guinness Record Book title holder, for "The Most Bridges in the Shortest Distance". Again this area is surrounded by the alien landscape that the area is so well known for. In fact, even if it were not for these other attractions, the landscape alone is worth the trip.

The Hoodoos

image source

About 15 minutes east of Drumheller, again on Highway 10, just beyond Rosedale, is an interesting geological feature, referred to as "The Hoodoos". These odd looking structures were formed when erosion removed softer bits of sandstone leaving some areas untouched due to the fact that they had harder stones protecting the sandstone beneath.

The whole area is fascinating, other worldly in appearance, and frequently used in movies about outer space. Unfortunately the Hoodoos have been somewhat destroyed by tourists who have carved their names into them, climbed on them, and basically tried to gain their 15 minutes of fame by destroying a feature that took thousands of years to form.

Other Information

image source

You may have noticed that I only referred to a few outdoor things, in reality there are plenty more things to see and do in the area, including the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, which is a wonderful museum for anyone interested in Dinosaurs. The city of Drumheller itself also has wonderful indoor, and outdoor points of interest, which I will talk about in other articles. This article was to feature a few of the sights and sites, outside the city, and basically outside. I hope you enjoy your trip to the Badlands region of Alberta, remember to bring your camera, sunscreen, and water bottle.

From there, Highway 62 heads east through Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twenty-nine Palms, by way of the Mojave Desert to Parker.

From Palm Springs, Highway 62 passes through Yucca Valley, a small desert town, with retirees, military personnel, and service workers.

There's not a lot to see in the small towns, the motels, gas stations and the general store are on the main drag, and all the residents live away from the highway out in the open desert. After the last little town of Twenty-nine Palms, we searched out the junction for Amboy Road which took us north into the desert.

The Mojave Desert is not as dry as many deserts because it does get winter rain and during the summer the occasional monsoon thunderstorm will catch on the high peaks and cause flooding down the desert washes. The spring of 2008 has been especially pleasant in the desert bringing plenty of winter rains and the heat of summer has not yet arrived. Mid-April in this part of the world can be blazing hot or cold and windy

Amboy Road north is a pleasant two lane highway with side roads going off into the waist high brush. in this stretch of road we see mostly desert dandelions and mules ears, with occasional patches of wild oats and other grasses. the road eases over two little passes, really just divides between two dry lakes. In the second there are salt mines and operations recovering minerals from the lake bed but beyond that there's not too much to see in the way of mankind's things in this first stretch of highway.

Amboy Junction marked our arrival at the historic Route 66 . We took a stretch here, looked at the service station, took a few pictures and hit the road. We planned to spend our first night at Laughlin and then proceed north to Las Vegas.

The next piece of highway, one of the last long stretches of highways 66, all too soon joined Interstate 40. Our next junction was Highway 95 n where we passed through Searchlight. It was a welcome relief from the long stretches of desert. At this point we were starting to see the beginning of Las Vegas traffic.

The tourist part of coming this way though was to see the Lake Mead recreation area. This national recreation area is extremely scenic with rugged mountains, fantastic rock formations and of course

Lake Mead. There are a number of pullouts and viewpoints along the 60 miles of highway from near the dam to the Virgin River arm of the Lake. Near the north end of the recreation area is Nevada's State Park Valley of the fire, on State Route 40.

.

This park stands out as a wonderful geological textbook of erosion by wind and water. The rocks and formations seemed almost alive with the changing shadows. The park is open year-round 24 hours a day so it's possible to go in early in the morning or late in the afternoon or at midnight to enjoy the spectacular scenery and the clean desert air. Camping is also available though I would recommend at least an RV. During my visit I found it hard to choose between the shots that were available as every turn in the road opened another inviting vista.

I like to get off the beaten path as you can tell, and Las Vegas was no exception. Highway 95 was the original road after Hoover dam was built and before Interstate 15 came through. So there are a lot of older hotels with the old style of neon signs. Las Vegas' unfashionable downtown has almost completely disappeared and seems that the redevelopment will eliminate the last of old downtown.

We had a great time at the Palace Station in Las Vegas, the big comfy beds, lots of iced drinks and a great view from the 16th floor looking towards the Stratosphere Tower.

I did some shopping, took a look at the monorail stations, and played slots a little bit just to say that I had.

 

Sometimes I fancy that these lonely places are the last refuge of dissatisfied pioneers, who came, restless, to the United States, and fled to California at the end of the rainbow. At the edge of the continent they piled up in the coastal cities, and from there, hard-core loners, seeking some sort of impossible dream, they wandered out into the desert.

Well, I said it was fanciful, but I've driven through many dusty outposts in the California heartland. There are dozens of them outside Palmdale, a dusty outpost itself thirty years ago, now locked together with Lancaster, a big city. Restless loners moved on from Palmdale to Littlerock and Pearblossom and El Mirage, tiny settlements in the California desert. Some drifted to the remnants of once-thriving towns on route 66, and some were left stranded when dreams dried up in the desert.

I used to pass a place called Yermo, on trips between L.A. and Las Vegas. One day, I decided to get off route 15 for a coffee and a bite to eat. The town was dying. At least one in three places was boarded up: the rest were on their last legs. Halfway down the main street, one man tended a beautiful garden in the middle of a dead landscape. He was the only sign of life, except for a police car, ominously prowling the deserted streets. The one fast food place I saw was boarded up.

I looked up Yermo on the Internet. The city guide listed - businesses one, a well-driller, community, one - Calico Ghost Town, education - a school district covering seven communities scattered over 3,200 square miles. That's Yermo.

Further on, towards Las Vegas, there's a place with the bizarre name of Zzyzx. The access road leads nowhere. I looked this one up on the Internet also, and all that remains now is a desert studies center for Cal. State University, one dormitory building.

Closer to Vegas is the 400lb gorilla of lost California communities, the town of Baker, population, last time they bothered to count - 650. It's a street of motels and restaurants with the I15 running on one side and a fringe of scrubby trailers on the other. Baker is home of the worlds largest thermometer and the Bun Boy restaurant, and it's about to be strangled by the San Bernardino/Riverside megalopolis, spreading relentlessly northward. When that happens, many of the 650 inhabitants will pull up stakes and wander out to remoter, more lost places.

It's a California that not too many people are aware of, far removed from the wide highways of San Diego, the glitz of Hollywood, and the liberal sophistication of San Francisco. It starts a few minutes east of the coast, and stretches out towards the deserts of Nevada and Arizona. It's a ragged dusty place where men and women can easily lose themselves.

Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Turkey

The cave was originally inhabited by the Christian monks in the Byzantine era for more than 5,000 years. The volcanic rock insulates the cave, keeping the temperature naturally comfortable. Opened in 1999, the restored cave hotel has a total of 18 rooms at around $100 - $150 per night.

Kokopelli's Cave, New Mexico, USA

This is actually a privately owned luxury cliff dwelling in Farmington, New Mexico. The one bedroom cave home is carved from a 65 million year old sandstone formation. For about $280 per night, not only you will get a "living-in-cave" experience but also a superb view of the La Plata River as well as La Plata and San Juan mountains.

2. TREE HOUSE

Woodpecker Hotel, Vasteras, Sweden

This is a tree house built on a 130 year old oak tree located in the Vaserparken park. At 13 meters above ground, the only access to the tree house is by a rope ladder. The tree house was built by a Swedish artist, Mikael Genberg. Even though small, the tree house is furnished with all the basic amenities. As this is the only tree house in that area, early booking is necessary and expect to pay around $300 per night.

Green Magic Tree Houses, Kerala, India

This is a tree house built on a tropical rainforest tree at around 100 feet high above the ground. The only access to the tree house is via a hanging bridge. As the tree houses are located in a protected rainforest, they are all eco-friendly and use alternative energy to keep running. There are four double rooms in two tree houses. Costing around $250-$300 per night, each room is equipped with a bathroom and telephone.

3. ICE

Ice Hotel, Sweden

Ice Hotel of Sweden is the original and the world's first ice hotel made of 6,000 square feet of ice and snow. This hotel only exists from December to April every year since 1990. At an average temperature of about 17 degrees Fahrenheit, the hotel beds are also specially made of ice and snow, topped with a couple of layers of reindeer skins with a thermal sleeping bed for the guests to sleep. The hotel charges around $200 per night. It has 80 rooms including suites, a church and a bar called the Absolute Icebar.

Alta Igloo Hotel, Norway

This hotel is made of snow and ice, measuring about 2,000 square meters. The hotel is decorated with ice sculptures depending on the theme set each year, for instance, Viking myth (2004), Norwegian fairytales (2005) and wild animals (2006). The temperature in the igloo remains between minus 4 and minus 7 degrees Celsius. To ensure comfort of the guests, the bed is made up of reindeer hide mattresses and a thermal sleeping bag. The hotel has 30 rooms which cost around $250-$300 per night.

4. DESERT

Al Maha Desert Resort, United Arab Emirates

This luxurious hotel has received world recognition for its architecture which comprises 40 Bedouin-tent shaped villas and two suites. The resort has a full spa complex with a large pool and gym. Each room is equipped with air-conditioning, a giant bed and a luxurious bathroom, costing between $800-$1500 per night.

5. UNDERWATER

Utter Inn, Stockholm, Sweden

This is an underwater hotel with a floating top which looks like a little red house in the Lake Malaran. The bedroom is like an underwater hatch with windows. This is in fact another creation of Swedish artist, Mikael Genberg. Access to the underwater hotel is by boat. Meals will also be delivered by boat. A night stay with dinner costs around $350.

Jules Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida

It claims to be the world's first underwater hotel, 21 feet below the sea. It was originally built in the 1970s as a research lab off the coast of Puerto Rico. It was only opened to public in 1986. The only access to the hotel is by diving for 21 feet underwater. Each room is equipped with a kitchenette, shower and window (for underwater viewing), costing around $350 per night.

6. CAPSULE

Capsule Inn, Tokyo, Japan

This is more like a capsule than a standard hotel room. These capsules are made of reinforced plastics. Each capsule has all the basic amenities such as TV, radio, alarm clock and lightings. The Inn also provides lounge and also shared bathrooms. It charges around $50-$100 per night.

7. FANTASY / WEIRD DECOS

Hobbit Motel, Woodlyn Park, Otorohanga, New Zealand

Hobbit Motel is one of the 3 unique motel units in Woodlyn Park. It resembles the authentic Hobbit home based on Tolkiens's books with the Hobbit furniture and circular windows. Comes with a very basic amenities, you can stay here for under $100 per night.

Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin, Germany

This hotel is especially designed for people who like weird decorations and arts. Each room at Propeller Island Lodge is distinct in its own way. For instance, one room is orange in color, another comes with a slanted bed as if floating in the air. There's also a room complete with coffins that double as beds or you can even sleep in a lion cage. Cost per night comes to around $150-$200.

8. BIZARRE WALK-THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach California, USA

Queen Mary was once a luxurious ocean liner and first set sail in 1934, carrying about 3,000 passengers and crew. During World War II, the ship carried around 16,000 troops at a time and also became a hospital for a short while. Right after the 1,001th voyage, the ship was permanently docked in Long Beach in 1967 and was transformed into a hotel with an interactive museum. Ghost sightings are quite common among the guests and the crew. However, if you can't see one, there is also the "Ghosts and Legends" tour, which is a special effect walk-through tour that dramatizes most of the ghostly stories reported on the ship. There are 365 rooms and suites. Price starts at around $150-$200 per night.

Old Jail Mount, Mount Gambier, Australia

This old jail house was transformed into a lodging aimed at budget travelers and backpackers. Guests will get the experience of being locked up during the night, pay legal fees, court appearance, eat in mess hall, sleep next to a toilet; all for less than $100 per night.

9. TRANSPORTATION

Imperial Boathouse, Hotel Cheong Mun Beach, Thailand

These boathouses were originally rice barges which are transformed into 34 luxurious beach-front suites. These two-storey boathouses are equipped with a luxurious bedroom, bathroom, dining area, living room and sunbathing deck, with a starting price of about $600 per night.

Exploranter - Overland Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This is actually a hotel on wheels. The hotel amenities include a shared kitchen, hot showers and a total of 28 beds. There is also a traveling chef on board who are also adventurous in preparing international cuisine. You can expect to pay less than $100 per night.

10. ANIMALS AND PETS

Dog Bark Park Inn, Indiana, USA

This is a two storey building in a shape of a giant beagle. For less than $100 per night, the rooms are well equipped with a queen sized bed, bathroom, fridge, microwave, hair dryer and a coffee maker.

Paw House Inn, Vermont, USA

This hotel is specialized for pets traveling with their owners. The pets get its own custom made dog bed complete with quilt and pillows. There is also a day care center for the pets to enjoy the scenic countryside. Price starts at around $200 per night.

California, the Golden State, has a wide variety of landscapes and weather conditions to suit just about everybody. Remember that song by Albert Hammond, “It Never Rains in Southern California”? It does rain . . . sometimes for several days in a row. Some areas of California see more rain than others. When I lived in Sacramento, it rained frequently. The best part of all that rain is that the lawns are always green.

Here's an interesting bit of trivia about California. The highest point is Mt. Whitney at 14,494 feet above sea level. The lowest point is Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level.

Next I'd like to tell you about the wide variety of California landscapes and points of interest with which I am familiar, personally.

Mountains

If you're a ski enthusiast, I've got good news! Most of the time there's plenty of snow, and several ski resorts. I don't ski, so I can't provide any insight.

I love taking trips to the mountains during the spring, summer and early autumn. Surrounded by tall trees, breathing the fresh air, smelling nature's bounty, visiting the museums many national parks have (Angeles National Park near La Canada is one).

Idyllwild is a mountain community above the city of Hemet (in Riverside County). Idyllwild is a seasonal community, geared up for tourists and local area visitors in the spring and summer. In addition to live entertainment, there are a couple restaurants, several unique gift shops, and a variety of other interesting stores, such as the store where you purchase a ceramic item, paint it, then the shop fires it in the kiln. You couldn't have a better souvenir than one you crafted, in my opinion.

Beaches

California boasts many beaches and marinas up and down the coast. Again, there are several types of beaches, although most are family-friendly.

There are beaches where surfers hang out because of the high waves. Families out for some summer fun and sunbathers are likely to have a favorite. Some beaches have amenities and some do not. You can check it out in advance.

Venice Beach is a culture of its own. Along the strand, many vendors set up shop, much like a giant swap meet. Various people perform their talents for the people visiting. Donations are accepted. Amidst the throng of walkers and watchers are the roller bladers and bicycle riders. It's really quite a unique place which I highly recommend to any visitor to southern California.

Santa Monica Pier is another great beach with a carnival and the famous carousel. Long Beach is nice and a visitor can visit the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific, nearby attractions.

Deserts

The deserts, home to wild critters, cactus, sand and sagebrush, has a lot to offer someone who enjoys things like rock hunting, searching for gold, dune buggy riding, or some other activity. The deserts are beautiful in the spring. All the wild flowers are in bloom -- acres and acres of poppies, and yellow flowers (I don't know the name of them). Another thing about being in the desert is that at night one can see the stars clearly, even shooting stars on occasion.

City Life

Some folks love the city life. I do, personally. I can visit the other places for fun and change of environment, then come home to the city. In addition to the metropolitan areas and suburban cities, Beverly Hills and Hollywood are big hits with tourists.

In terms of distance from one place to another, which is often lengthy in terms of miles, people often express distance in terms of driving time ? it's about half an hour from here (depending on traffic).

Los Angeles as a whole includes Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Even though they are separate towns on their own, it's hard to tell one area from the other except for the scenery and price tags.

Speaking of prices (medium), the Farmers' Market at Third and Fairfax is nice, where there's a lot more than produce. I haven't been there in several years, so it might have changed. I used to enjoy shopping there on occasion.

My personal list of "must see and do" in California includes the following:

• Disneyland
• Solvang (an interesting Danish community near Santa Barbara)
• Hearst Castle (located near San Simeon)
• Cambria (a unique seaside town near Hearst Castle)
• J. Paul Getty Museum (Santa Monica)
• Griffith Park Observatory (Los Angeles)
• Balboa Park (San Diego) (several museums and beautiful architecture)
• Sea World (San Diego)
• San Diego Zoo
• Venice Beach
• Santa Monica Pier
• Griffith Park Observatory (Los Angeles) (check out the laser shows also)

Wherever you go, bring a sweater because it cools off quite a big after the sun goes down.

It's true that there are earthquakes in California. However, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters are rare or non-existent in California.

California means many things to different people ? I think the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day gives a lot of people in the east a sense of wanderlust, tired of the freezing cold, snow and ice. I've heard that we do have an influx of people moving to California in the early part of the year. Is it because of the gorgeous weather we have on January 1? It could be!

Welcome to California!!!