We just parked our car and there they were. A camel and her young. I get closer to photograph and when I raise my eyes the camel’s nose is centimeters from my head. Apparently, she was interested in me too :)
Less than 90 minutes away from home and worlds away. Guests of a Bedouin family, walking alongside the sheep ( and the camel that followed), enjoying a (few) delicious cups of tea. Eating the Maklube ( rice, eggplants, chicken, carrots) next to the elder brother of Sabah, our host. We use the plastic plates we bought, they eat with their hands from the common platter.
Around, nothing but desert. Sleeping under the starts is not a poetic sentence here. Actually, nothing is poetic rather an eclectic mix of tradition and modernity. Children riding on the donkey, the older ones have cellphones. We are allowed to wander, ask questions and photograph, but are informed in advance that we are not allowed to publish pictures of women. “Can I photograph your hands while preparing the food?”. Yes, this is allowed. So I take a picture of Sabah’s mother washing the chicken quarters with soap (!) before adding them to the pot.
The Bedouin story in the modern Israeli context is far from simple, and lately the news often report on the violence, insane driving, and negative behavior of some of the Bedouin youth. While this behavior should never be condoned, I think we should always remember there are at least two sides to every coin and get to know and respect each other’s worlds.
A cup of delicious Bedouin tea, warmed on the fire in the middle of the room.
Sheep skin drying on the fence, in the background one of the many Bedouin buildings that dot the Negev desert
As spoiled as a dog, this goat loooooves to be petted by Sabah. The hat, is an Israeli army hat.
Sculpted door and beautiful ceramics is the middle of the simplest of houses
The indoor kitchen. Sabah’s mom is preparing lunch outside today as it is a beautiful spring day
The cleanest chicken around after being washed with soap
We are not allowed to publish images of the Bedouin women, but here is a dress drying up in the sun
In the midst of the desert
Following the sheep
Dried cheese, sour and salty but tasty!
90 minutes from home - worlds apart