Yesterday, after our fantastic hike and tour of Masada, we departed for our next stop of the day - the Ein Gedi waterfalls. Located west of the Dead Sea, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran, Ein Gedi contains a natural oasis, cave, and spring system - as well as a series of waterfalls and pools cascading from the high mountains above. It is a spectacular place - especially when you consider the surrounding desert conditions. Everyone who passes through the region inevitably stops at Ein Gedi - even if only just for a moment.
From the bus we hiked to the upper waterfall and pool. After our earlier hike at Masada, this one was pretty much a literal "walk in the park". That being said, it was still pretty hot, so some folks definitely took this as an opportunity to gripe. Once everyone was sitting in the cool water all the cares floated away. As we walked back down the trail to the parking lot, our guide mentioned the cultural and religious significance of the site. Apparently, Ein Gedi is mentioned several times in biblical writings. For example, it is featured prominently in the Song of Songs and also in Samuel - where David hides from Saul in the caves of Ein Gedi.
After departing the waterfalls, we traveled further up the coast to Mineral Beach - a small resort and spa along the shores of the Dead Sea. Heading straight to the beach, we jumped into the water. Since the water has such a high concentration of salt, you float right to the top. It's a very strange sensation, to say the least. The water also has a very smooth feel to it - almost like an oil - but not quite. Apparently, you can stay in the water for hours and hours, without ever getting wrinkled skin. Up on the beach was a small area to apply mud - which we each quickly caked all over ourselves. So much fun!
From the beach area, we all casually moved up to the on-site sulfur hot springs. Topping out at about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, this pool was a welcome third natural treatment after the waters of the Dead Sea and the full body mud applications. To be sure, it was absurdly hot outside, but believe it or not, these pools felt fantastic. Altogether, this was a great way to spend our final afternoon of the trip together. Tonight we are in Tel Aviv and tomorrow everyone says goodbye for the final time before going our separate ways. Without a doubt, it has been a good run this summer, but it had to end sooner or later. C'est la vie!
On Saturday, the team awoke early again for another hike, this time to the Red Canyon. For Chris and I, this day was an opportunity to travel to Jordan and see Petra - which is about a three hour journey from Eilat. Quite a few members of the group will be traveling on to Jordan after then trip concludes later this week, but since I don't have that option I took advantage of the chance. I'll cover this trip in a later post. Anyway, back to the main group.
"The team explores the Red Canyon"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
The Red Canyon is a gorgeous narrow passageway carved into the desert mountains not far from Eilat. Unlike the hike the previous day, this trek (at least according to the group) was much more relaxed, and also significantly cooler, since a lot of it is in the shade. After a little over an hour, the team had made it through and were back on the road to the hotel in Eilat. Following breakfast, the team had some time for the pool and then headed to a beach area for snorkeling by the coral reef - very near to where I'd scuba dived the day before.
"Gil climbs up from the canyon floor"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the evening, many in the group got ready for some late night partying in Eilat. The party started early in the hotel and then migrated out into the city - eventually to the Three Monkeys Pub - a real staple of the Eilat scene. Gil and I both called it a night early (before everyone left the hotel) since we wanted to get up early for some more scuba before leaving Eilat the next afternoon. It's a good thing we did - since people didn't make it back to the hotel until almost four in the morning. What a night they had! "Anne leads the group in the Wakka Wakka dance"
Photo by Brad Husser
Bright and early on Sunday morning, I returned for two final dives at Marina Divers. Both dives were wreck dives - the first to a small pleasure yacht and the second to the missile boat I'd already seen on Friday. At one point in the dive we saw an octopus (we'd seen him previously) which was pretty cool! I returned to the hotel after diving where the rest of the group was ready to go. Once we'd all gotten our stuff together and checked out of the hotel, we departed for Eilat's underwater observatory and aquarium. They had some really interesting sea life, including sea turtles and sharks, as well as tons of cool fish. "Anne and Sean look on in awe at some very cool jelly fish"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Eilat was a great place to see at the end of the trip. It was hot, but very chill, and some of the sights we experienced were definitely one of a kind. With the trip now quickly wrapping up - we have only a few days left. We're now heading back to the north with stops at the Ramon Crater, Masada, and the Dead Sea, before one final night in Tel Aviv.
Our destination for the night (and next day) was Kibbutz Ketura - home of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Arriving in the early evening, the team quickly dropped our stuff off at our rooms before heading to a BBQ at the Kibbutz pool. There were all the essentials (i.e. hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as an enormous pool). The Kibbutz was also playing host to a bunch of British birthrighters, who we (actually Asher in particular) challenged to a game of football. We lost a close match - but it was still good times.
"Our living quarters for our one night at Kibbutz Ketura"
Photo by Jessica (at Israelity)
After getting back to our rooms everyone brought drinks to the roof of the lodge to watch the stars and talk. In the desert, the sky at night is really something to behold. Early the next morning, we were up and out of our rooms by 7am. After a breakfast and a quick tour of the kibbutz, we proceeded to the conference room at the institute, where we heard from from the first of a few speakers regarding Arava's mission and activities.
Each of our meetings lasted about an hour. Our first meeting of the day was with Dr. Tareq Abu-Hamed, who is the head of Arava's Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation. Following this meeting, we heard from Roy Kagan of the Arava Power Company. Our third visit was with Noam Ilan at the Regional Energy Commission. Each of these three visits highlighted a different aspect of the Arava mission and some of the pioneering research they are conducting on site at the kibbutz.
"Exploring the Aora Solar Energy Installation"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the afternoon we had a visit to the Aora Solar Energy Installation at Kibbutz Samar. The Aora installation is interesting in that it is an experiment in providing a modular point source solar power system - though at this point the power outputs are still negligible. Before returning to lunch at Kibbutz Ketura, we stopped for a small ice cream snack at the Yotvata. The ice cream was good - but for me the real highlight was their chocolate milk. So good!
Upon return to Arava we had a final afternoon meeting with Miriam Sharton the Associate Director of the institute. Altogether, our brief visit was a great experience. With this portion of the trip complete we left the kibbutz to head down to Eilat. As we entered into Israel's southernmost city, we said goodbye to our fearless leader, Asher, who boarded a plane to head back to the US via Tel Aviv. Goodbye Asher!
Our next visit on Tuesday was to the Shafdan Rishon Wastewater Treatment Plant. The world's largest wastewater treatment plant, the Shafdan plant treats almost 500 million cubic feet of water annually - serving a population in the Dan Region (which includes Tel Aviv) of over 2 million people. Operated by Mekorot, this plant's reused water is transferred in large quantities to the agricultural regions in the Negev.
"Exploring the model of the Shafdan Watewater Plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
As we came to find out during the tour - Israel reuses almost 75% of their water. The next closest country is Spain at 12%. The USA only reuses a little under 1% of our water. What makes these figures the most appalling is that most wastewater is 99.9% water, and only 0.1% waste. We obviously have a lot to learn from Israel in terms of water management.
"Inside an exhibit on the Shafdan facility"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Wednesday, the team had a final class with Dr. Gilad Axelrad, another professor in residence at the School of Agriculture. Over about two hours, Dr. Axelrad discussed the various innovative structures for creating partnerships between government and private industry in order to address public infrastructure projects. Following this class, the team was accompanied by Dr. Axelrad to Palmachim Desalination Plant - the second largest desalination plant in Israel - and one of the largest desalination plants in the world. Our on-site host at Palmachim was Avram Tenne the head regulator for water plants in Israel.
"The team dons hardhats at the Palmachim Desalination Plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
The visit to the desalination plant was for me the most interesting of the water company visits we had while at Hebrew University. As we had at the previous facilities, we were given a full tour of the plant, seeing the entire operation from start to finish. At the end of the tour, we got to taste the end product (i.e. purified salt water) which had been in the ocean only 20 minutes previously. Interestingly, the taste wasn't quite what I expected - apparently having to do with the fact that many minerals that are normally in drinking water hadn't been added back yet. Still it was very cool!
"Dr. Yoram Porat lectures on the structural models of global development"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Our first visit of the day was with Dr. Yoram Porat, a distinguished faculty member in the field of international strategic planning and project management. Over the course of two multi-hour sessions, Dr. Porat provided a dynamic overview of the models and frameworks that provide the foundation for most global development initiatives - and particularly those in the realm of water management. At times, Dr. Porat lingered on conceptual ideas more than I would have liked, but in total his instruction was useful in providing meaningful dialogue within the team and raising issues we otherwise wouldn't have considered.
"On the roof Ra'anana's offices overlooking their facility"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Monday morning we awoke early for a day of company visits. The first visit of the day was to the Ra'anana Wastewater Treatment Plant. Our host, Avital Dror-Ehra - the on-site manager, provided the team with a comprehensive presentation on water issues in Israel, as well as a functional overview of the wastewater treatment system. Afterward, we received an hour long tour of the facility in order to see the system in operation. The Ra'anna plant is not overly large, though the small size was helpful putting the full process into context.
"The team looks at the bio-refiners at Ra'anana plant"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
That afternoon the team visited the Yarqon River Authority for a presentation by general manager (and University of Maryland graduate) Dr. David Pargament. The Yarqon is the major river and watershed in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Over the past few decades, as population and industry have increased, both water quality and water volumes have declined precipitously. The Yarqon River Authority is a semi-private, independent body, that was set up to combat the challenges to the Yarqon. It is amazing the success they've had in such a short amount of time - especially due to the multi-layered government bureaucracies.
"Dr. Pargament presents on the history of the Yarqon River"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Tuesday the team visited the Ayalon Institute - which though actually non-water related - was still of interest for its cultural (and entrepreneurial) history. Located on Kibbutzim Hill in Rehovot, the Ayalon Institute was the primary (clandestine) ammunition factory for the Haganah (Jewish militia) in the time before and during the 1948 Independence War.
"The exit to the underground bullet factory of the Ayalon Institute"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Between 1946-1948, over 2+ million bullets were manufactured here. These were nine-millimeter bullets, for the Sten sub-machine gun, which was the primary personal weapon during the war. In many respects, this factory was a precursor to the defense industry and contractors that would arrive after the war. What was most interesting about this factory was that it was hidden almost 30 feet below the floor of the laundry. Very cool!
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