Sunrise on Masada and a float in the Dead Sea

After climbing Masada, our group descended down the mountain and went to the Dead Sea. This was a part of the trip that I was especially looking forward to. I remember being a very young boy the first time I heard that there exists water that is so special and different than all other water I had ever known - water that forces you to float. Going in the sea certainly met my expectations. Floating in the Dead Sea gave me a feeling of being an explorer on another planet - where rules of gravity no longer apply. We applied special mud given to us by our leader Ori, which made my skin feel smooth and renewed. We floated freely, without any exertion. When we tried to sink to the bottom, the water would not allow us. We reached down to the sea floor and picked up handfuls of crystal sea salt that shimmered like jewels in our hands. Some of us were too short to reach the bottom and instead used our feet to pick up these sea treasures. The scenery further heightened the other-worldly feel. Huge, reddish mountains towered over us, reminding me of how I imagine mars to be. The Dead Sea is a unique place that would be equally exciting for a person of any faith.