Egypt Travel Part IX: Mount Sinai, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

April 1, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
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Egypt Travel Part IX: Mount Sinai, St. Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

Day 8   Wednesday, 20 December 2017

Map showing the location of Mount Sinai near St. Catherine’s Monastery in south Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Map showing the location of Mount Sinai near St. Catherine in south Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Map showing the location of Mount Sinai near St. Catherine’s Monastery in south Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

 

Mt. Sinai Climb

It was at 1 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017 that we started the climb to the top of Mt. Sinai in St. Catherine, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The mountain was 2282 metres above sea-level.

Tour members starting the Mt. Sinai climb in St. Catherine at 1 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members starting the Mt. Sinai climb at 1 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members starting the Mt. Sinai climb at 1 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Moonless Night

The lower mountain path was lit for a hundred metres then headlamps or torchlights had to be used to see the stony path to the summit in pitch darkness on the moonless night. The climb was easy at the beginning but later it was tough as the mountain guide allowed us a two-minute rest at each stop. 

Stony path all the way from the bottom to the top of Mt. Sinai(2285 metres)

Stony path all the way from the bottom to the top of Mt. Sinai(2285 metres)

Resting at a Shelter

After two hours of climbing(3 a.m.), three of us including my brother gave up and rested at a shelter while the rest continued the climb to the summit of Mt. Sinai.

Colourful Sunlight

At about 5.0o a.m. I stood outside the shelter and was fascinated to see the colourful sunlight appearing on the eastern horizon.

Colourful sunlight at 5 a.m.

Colourful sunlight on the horizon at 5 a.m. as seen from a rest shelter on Mt. Sinai

Colourful sunlight on the horizon at 5 a.m. as seen from a rest shelter on Mt. Sinai

Bright Yellow Sun

Later at 5.40 a.m., I saw the bright yellow sun peeping out of the horizon. Soon the whole surrounding was brightened up.

The sun appearing on the horizon at 5.40 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017 as seen from the rest shelter on Mt. Sinai

The sun appearing on the horizon at 5.40 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017 as seen from the rest shelter on Mt. Sinai

Bright Morning

When the morning was bright, I could see the stone-shelter where we rested earlier and the summit of Mt. Sinai in the distance, clearly. But those who went up to the summit had not come down yet.

Stone-shelter and Mt. Sinai in the morning

Writer at the rest shelter waiting for his tour members to come down from the summit of Mt. Sinai(2285 metres)

Writer at the rest shelter waiting for his tour members to return from the summit of Mt. Sinai(2285 metres above sea-level)

Friendly cafe owner

The owner of the shelter-cafe was a friendly Egyptian. He had been serving climbers for several years.

Owner of the Rest Shelter cafe

Friendly owner of the shelter cafe

Arrival of Tour-Members

At about 6.20 a.m. the rest of the climbers arrived at the shelter but did not stop there. So three of us who  had remained at the shelter overnight followed them down the mountain. They told us that when they reached the summit it was still dark, but the mountain guide told them that they could not wait there to see the sunrise. He was told by our Egyptian tour-guide, Khaled, to descend immediately as we had to visit St. Catherine’s Monastery which would close at 12 noon.

Disappointment

The successful climbers felt disappointed and had to go down the mountain. But, fortunately, they did see the sunrise later as they were descending.

Tour members arriving at the shelter at 6.20 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members arriving at the rest shelter from Mt. Sinai summit at 6.20 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members arriving at the shelter from Mt. Sinai summit at 6.20 a.m. on 20 Dec 2017

Peter Lim and his happy family posing for a photo at the shelter.

Peter Lim and his happy family posing for a photo at the rest shelter

Peter Lim and his happy family posing for a photo at the shelter

Tour members descending Mt. Sinai in the morning on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members descending Mt. Sinai in the morning on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members descending Mt. Sinai in the morning on 20 Dec 2017

Tour members taking a long journey down Mt. Sinai

Tour members taking a long journey down Mt. Sinai(2285 metres)

Tour members taking a long journey down Mt. Sinai(2285 metres)

Book of Exodus

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses went up to the summit to receive the Ten Commandments from God.On

Chapel and Mosque on Summit

On the summit of Mt. Sinai the climbers saw an Orthodox Chapel of the Holy Trinity which was built in 1934 on ruins of a 4th. Century Byzantine church and a 12th. Century mosque nearby.

Summit of Mt. Sinai

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses went to the Mt. Sinai summit to receive the Ten Commandments from God

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses went up to the Mt. Sinai summit to receive the Ten Commandments from God

A painting showing Moses receiving two tablets of stone inscribed with the God’s Ten Commandments.

Moses on the Mi. Sinai summit receiving two tablets of stone inscribed with the God's Ten Commandments, according to the Book of Exodus

Moses on the Mi. Sinai summit receiving two tablets of stone inscribed with the God’s Ten Commandments, according to the Book of Exodus

Painting showing Moses with the Ten Commandments descending Mt. Sinai

Moses with two tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments descending Mount Sinai to see his people

Moses with two tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments descending Mount Sinai to see his people

Visiting St. Catherine’s Monastery

After the mountain climb, we returned to our hotel, Morgenland Hotel, took a quick bath and breakfast, and packed our luggage getting ready to go to St. Catherine’s Monastery which was 10 km away. Then our coach brought us to a place where we took a van-taxi that took us to the monastery, a km away.

Tour group stopping at a place to take a van-taxi to St. Catherine’s Monastery, a km away

After the Mt. Sinai climb, we were brought by our coach to a place near the St. Catherine's Monastery that is 10 km from Morgenland Hotel

After the Mt. Sinai climb, we were brought by our coach to a place near the St. Catherine’s Monastery that is 10 km from Morgenland Hotel

A km-ride to the monastery by van-taxi

Tour group taking a kilometre-taxi ride to St. Catherine's Monastery in the hot sun

Tour group taking a kilometre-taxi ride to St. Catherine’s Monastery in the hot sun

About St. Catherine’s Monastery

St. Catherine’s Monastery located at the foot of Mt. Sinai was built by the order of a Byzantine emperor, Justinian I, in the 6th. Century A.D.. It has become a sacred place for pilgrimage.

St. Catherine's Monastery was built by Justinian, a Byzantine emperor in the 6th. Century A.D.

St. Catherine’s Monastery was built by order of Justinian I, a Byzantine emperor in the 6th. Century A.D.

The Monastery’s Treasure

St. Catherine’s Monastery houses a treasure trove of icons and manuscripts. It is surrounded by high thick walls with small entrance and windows to prevent it from being attacked by unknown people.

6th. Century Monastery

St. Catherine's Monastery was built order of a Byzantine emperor, Justinian I, in the 6th. Century A.D.

St. Catherine’s Monastery was built order of a Byzantine emperor, Justinian I, in the 6th. Century A.D.

Main Entrance of Monastery

Main entrance of St. Catherine's Monastery

Main entrance of St. Catherine’s Monastery

Monastery’s Compound

Tour group in the compound of St. Catherine's Monastery

Tour group in the compound of St. Catherine’s Monastery

High and Thick Wall surrounding the Monastery

High and thick wall was built round St. Catherine's Monastery to prevent enemies from attacking it.

High and thick wall was built round St. Catherine’s Monastery to prevent enemies from attacking it.

Orthodox Church where no photographing was allowed inside

Tour group entering an orthodox church on the left

Tour group entering an orthodox church on the left. Visitors were not allowed to take photos inside.

Moses’ Well where Moses met his wife, Zipporah

Moses' Well, the place where Moses met his wife, Zipporah, who was one of the 7 daughters of Jethro, according to the Book of Exodus

Moses’ Well, the place where Moses met his wife, Zipporah, who was one of the 7 daughters of Jethro, according to the Book of Exodus

“Burning Bush”

“Burning Bush” in the Monastery garden from which God first revealed himself to Prophet Moses, according to the Book of Exodus

"Burning Bush: in the garden of the monastery from which God first revealed Himself to Prophet Moses, according to the Book of Exodus

“Burning Bush: in the garden of the monastery from which God first revealed Himself to Prophet Moses, according to the Book of Exodus

Group tour photo at St. Catherine’s Monastery on 20 Dec 2017

Group photo at St. Catherine's Monastery taken on 20 Dec 2017

Group photo at St. Catherine’s Monastery taken on 20 Dec 2017

St. Catherine’s Legend

According to legend, Catherine was a Christian martyr from Alexandria. She was sentenced to death on the breaking wheel that was supposed to kill her. Since it failed, she was beheaded. Later angels took her body to Mount Sinai. In around 800 A.D. monks from the monastery found her body and kept her in the Orthodox church. Thus. the monastery was named after her.

Mosque at St. Catherine’s Monastery

There is a mosque behind the Bell Tower at St. Catherine’s Monastery. Originally, it was built as a hospice for Christian pilgrims. Then in 1106 it was converted to that mosque for the use of local Bedouins , some of them were working for the monastery. It is still in use today.

A mosque at St. Catherine Monastery

Building behind Bell Tower was converted to a mosque for the use of the local Bedouins in 1106, some working for the monastery.

Building behind Bell Tower was converted to a mosque for the use of the local Bedouins in 1106, some working for the monastery.

Travelling south to Sharm el Sheikh

In the late afternoon on 20 Dec 2017, we left St. Catherine’s Monastery and headed south to a famous coastal tourist town in Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh. On arrival we checked in at a well-known hotel, Maritim Jolie Ville Golf and Resort.

Map showing the southern part of Sinai Peninsula

Map showing the southern part of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Map showing the southern part of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort, Sharm el Sheikh

A lovely resort that has many facilities, like swimming pools, tennis courts, 18-hole golf course, over 300 rooms, beach for swimming in the Red Sea, restaurant, bar, etc..

Tour group stayed for two nights at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort in Sharm el Sheikh on 20-21 Dec 2017

Tour group stayed for two nights at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort in Sharm el Sheikh on 20-21 Dec 2017

Fresh water and sea-water swimming pools at the resort

Water-slide for children at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort, Sharm el Sheikh

Water-slide for children at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort, Sharm el Sheikh

Beach for swimming in the clear water of the Red Sea

Sunbathing and swimming at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Sunbathing and swimming at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Writer and wife relaxing at Maritim Jolie Golf Ville and Resort, Sharm el Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Writer and wife relaxing at Maritim Jolie Golf Ville and Resort, Sharm el Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Resting at Resort

We stayed at that resort for that night and would go to Naama Bay for a submarine ride to see marine life in the bay on the following day, 21 Dec 2017.

(Continue in Egypt Travel Part X)

Previous / Home / Next

Egypt Travel Parts I to XII

Egypt Travel Part I :Salah el Din Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum

Egypt Travel Part II :Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

Egypt Travel Part III :Hot Air Balloons and Karnak Temple Complex

Egypt Travel Part IV :Papyrus Paper-Making, Luxor Temple and Esna Lock

Egypt Travel Part V :Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Galabia Party

Egypt Travel Part VI :Abu Simbel Temples and Nubian Village(Elephantine Island)

Egypt Travel Part VII :Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple

Egypt Travel Part VIII:Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, Moon Beach(Ras Sudr), and St. Catherine

Egypt Travel Part IX :Mount Sinai, Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt Travel Part X  :Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt Travel Part XI :Cairo Food, Saqqara Step Pyramid Complex and Memphis

Egypt Travel Part XII :Great Giza Pyramid Complex and Khan el Khalil Bazaar