A real story about simple human connections and Karma in the desert
It was Friday morning, early June 2024. I was on my way back from a 4x4 job with my Defender, in a remote desert location south of Makhtesh Ramon. I had some spare time so I decided to have a coffee at the Lobby of the Selina Glamping Hotel, located inside the Ramon Crater.
As I was sitting and having my coffee, an Asian tourist approached the lobby desk and asked for hiking information. Overhearing her request, I immediately offered to share my knowledge and help her plan her hikes.
Kim was looking for extreme hiking options in the area, and I happily opened a map and suggested some options. She was very thankful, but she didn’t have any transportation solutions, and she was planning on walking a great distance the following day.
Later that Friday, I checked my calender and realized I have time to take her for a 4x4 tour on Saturday. We set to meet very early the next morning.
After picking Kim up, and another good friend, we drove to the Be’erot Campground, and went deeper into the nature reserve, passing through spectacular landscapes, beautiful rock formations, dry riverbeds full of vegetation, and we even came across some wild animals such as Ibex, Gazelles, Onagers and even one big Desert Rabbit.
We stopped to touch and photograph the colorful sandstone rocks and I showed them how to crush and mix the Anabasis Articulata plant ("Joint Bush", or "Yafruk" in Hebrew) with some water, to create natural soap:
Read about this plant in Wikipedia: Anabasis Articulata
As Kim is a fitness enthusiast, I offered to leave her at a spot, and pick her up from the other end of the hiking trail. 2 hours later we met. The hike was a great success.
Later that afternoon, after hiking in the Mitzpe Ramon scenic boardwalk, Kim joined me in another jeep tour, driving west, and picking up a group of hikers who had finished 3 full hiking days, not far from the border with Egypt (“Borot Lotz” area).
We said goodbye, and Kim declared she might come back for more. She took a bus back to Tel-Aviv, where she is currently working.
A week went by, and another great hiking option emerged - Camping and touring in the Zin Valley, and swimming in the beautiful Ein Akev natural spring. I offered - and Kim took the offer - joining me and my friend, to celebrate his 13 year old daughters’ birthday with some of her teenage classmates.
Later that day I realized, this was the first time Kim ever had a camping experience!
When the sun began to set, we set up our tents and campfire, and watched some majestic Griffon Vultures circling the skies, before landing on the cliffs, getting ready for their night sleep.
Read about this bird in Wikipedia: Eurasian Griffon Vulture
Later that evening we watched the stars in the sky, had great food and conversations around the campfire, and went to sleep in our tents. We set our alarm clocks for sunrise.
The next day I drove Kim to the starting point of a hiking trail near by. She had a 200 meter climb up to “Khod Akev” mountain top, and later that morning she joined our group next to the water in Ein Akev spring. For a few hours, we enjoyed the cool water, a nice breakfast with scrambled eggs, vegetables and Tahini, and a good rest in the shade.
When we hiked away from the spring, we picked and ate some leaves off an Atriplex Halimus plant ("Salty Bush" or Ma'lu'akh in Hebrew), and Kim said it was very tasty.
Read about this plant in Wikipedia: Atriplex Halimus
For me Kim is an ambassador; hopefully she will pass on the good impression of touring the area and of my hospitality, to colleagues in Tel-Aviv and to family and friends in Korea.
I was blessed to get some YouTube and Instagram links from Kim, with great video moments from our time together. And now I feel I am famous in Korea 🙂.
Morning trip in Makhtesh Ramon:
Camping in the Zin valley and hiking to Ein Aqev:
Follow Kim on Instagram: instagram.com/wjd___dnjs
Thank you Kim!
I hope You come to visit again soon.
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