Can women wear bikinis in Saudi Arabia?

A couple of years ago I visited Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula together with my family. The town was filled with tourist from all around Europe, I could hear people speak Russian, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch and even some Arabic. The temperature was quite nice and most of the tourists gathered at the beaches were they enjoyed the sunshine and the sea.

I came in contact with one of the Egyptians who worked at the facility. When I had talked to him for a while I asked him the following ironic question:

- Are there similar tourist facilities on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba and can women wear bikinis there?

He didn't understand my irony, and his answer was quick: 

- No, no, it's Saudi Arabia on the other side they practice a fundamentalist form of Islam and women aren't allowed to dress in bikinis or swimsuits there, they have to cover their whole bodies. He made a sweeping gesture with his arm over the beach to emphasize what he just said. 

That's when he realized that two Russian women in bikini took photos of each other on the reef. The reef is very vulnerable to damage and it's forbidden to walk there. He ran away from the conversation and started to yell in English that they had violated the ban to walk on the reef. The Russian women didn't understand him and waved cheerfully to him and continued to take pictures. The Egyptian got angrier and angrier. A Russian man who could speak English came to his aid and informed the women that they wasn't allowed to walk on the reef.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

Koreans worshipping God at the summit of Mount Sinai

A group of Koreans Christians sang the hymn How Great Thou Art at the summit of Mount Sinai. It's the place where Moses received the 10 commandments from God.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

Before sunrise at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai was the place where Moses received the ten commandments from God. This is the view he had in the mornings when he woke up. I don't usually do sunsets or take photos in colour. But I couldn't resist to capture the magnificent colours that I saw from the top of the mountain just before sunrise.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

Moses ancestors came from Eastern Europe

The name of the young bedouin is Moses. I met him when he guided me to the top of Mount Sinai (Horeb) in Sinai, Egypt. His main occupation is to guide tourist to the top. Moses belongs to the Jebeliya Bedouin tribe (The People of the Mountains) who lives in the surroundings of St. Catherine Monastery. According to the Jebeliya they are of Romanian and Greece origin and they were brought to Sinai by the Byzantine emperor Justinian to build, protect and serve at the Monastery that was finished in 565 AD. 

There are 34 different Bedouin tribes in Sinai. 33 of them immigrated from the Arabian peninsula between the 14th and 18th centuries. Every tribe on the Sinia Peninsula has it own special dialect which differentiates them from the other tribes. There are around 300 000 bedouins on the Sinai peninsula and 4600 of them belongs to the Jebeliya tribe. During the centuries the Jebeliya tribe intermarried with Arab Bedouins and became Muslims. They have since long lost most of their old traditions and their life is now quite similar to other Bedouins in the area. But they are aware of their origin and has kept some unique features.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

The Shadow of Mount Horeb

Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai as it also is called is the place where the prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments from God which you can read about in Exodus 20:1-17.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

The Burning Bush and the fire extinguisher

The burning bush are described in the Book of Exodus and it's located close to Mount Horeb (Sinai). The bush was on fire but was not consumed by the fire. God spoke to Moses through the burning bush and he told him to take the israelites from their captivity in Egypt and bring them into the promised land. The monks at the St Catherine monastery believe that this is the actual bush that God use to speak to Moses through. They have even placed a fire extinguisher to prevent that the bruning bush will catch fire.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

The Lord is my shepherd

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walkthrough the darkest valley, I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Text: David. Photo: Mikael Good

The Cameraman who moved like a mountain goat

I met Ali when I went to Mount Sinai in mars 2012. He is the kind of guy who always have a big smile on his face and I made good contact with him even if my arabic was as bad as his english. Ali made his living by filming tourist groups who went to the summit of the mountain. It was a tough climb to the top. Ali who had been their many times moved like a mountain goat even if he was heavily loaded with a big and bulky video camera. Ali's big dream was to work as a cameraman for the Egyptian movie industry.

The area in Egypt where Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine's Monastery is located was safe when I went there. Today the area is controlled by a terrorist organization that has close bonds to the Islamic state (IS) and because of that there have been a drastic drop of tourists in the area since the Egyptian regime can't guarantee for their security. Many egyptians and bedouins was dependent on tourism to get an income but now they have lost that possibility. I hope that Ali lives his dream today and work for Egyptian movie industri.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

Wiew from the top of Mounth Horeb

The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” - Exodus 24:12

Text: God. Photo: Mikael Good

Bedouin at the summit of Mount Sinai

Saint Catherine's Monastery and mount Sinai (Horeb) are located in an area of the Sinai peninsula which is controlled by a terrorist organization that has close bonds with the Islamic state (IS). Today tourists are strongly recommended to stay out of the area since the Egyptian regime can't guarantee for their security. There's a immediate risk of being kidnapped or even worse. There's been a drastic drop of tourist in the area during the last years. Bedouins and native Egyptians that was dependent on tourism to get an income has lost that possibility. They now have to struggle hard to provide for their children.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good

Muhammad’s letter of protection for a Christian Monastery

Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai as it also is called is the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God which you can read about in Exodus 20:1-17. Moses is considered to be a important Prophet for all the three Religions and the place is sacred to the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 



Tens of thousands of pilgrims visited the summit of mount Horeb to worship God, Allah or Yahweh and to see the marvelous view and sunrise from the top. There is an Greek Orthodox Chapel as well as a small Mosque on the summit of mount Horeb. Thousands of tourists who belong to other religions or are non believers also visited mount Horeb to see the sunrise and to feel the wings of history surrounding the mountain.



Saint Catherine's Monastery and mount Horeb are located in an area of the Sinai peninsula which is controlled by a terrorist organization that has close bonds with the Islamic state (IS). Tourists are strongly recommended to stay out of the area since the Egyptian regime can't guarantee for their security. There's a immediate risk of being kidnapped or even worse There's been a drastic drop of tourist in the area during the last years. Bedouins and native Egyptians that was dependent on tourism to get an income has lost that possibility. They now have to struggle hard to provide for their children.



There are not yet confirmed rumors that the monks at the Monastery are forced to pay the Islamic jizya tax, which is applied to non-Muslims in areas controlled by IS or their collaborators. What is known is that the monks recently asked for financial aid and that is something that is very rare since they live their lifes in seclusion.



Some of Christianities most priceless treasures are kept inside the Monastery. The collection of rare books and manuscripts in Greek, Arabic, Syrian, Georgian and Slavonic can easy compete with the collection in the Vatican. It also contains a unique collection of more than 2000 icons from 1500 years. And what is said to be the burning bush that God used when he spoke with Moses.



Saint Catherine monastery was completed in 557. It has not been without enemies since then, but it has never been conquered. The tradition says that earlier in his career Prophet Muhammed used to stay at the monastery when he travelled with caravans on his way from Egypt to Arabia. In 628 travelled a delegation from Saint Catherine's to Prophet Muhammed and made a request for his protection of the Monastery. Muhammed issued a letter of protection for the monastery and stamped the document with the imprint of his hand, since he couldn't read or write. You can read more about the letter of protection here.



The original letter of protection are kept in an museum in Istanbul, and a copy of it is on display in the monastery's museum. Even if muslims has respected the letter of protection from Muhammed through centuries. The monks don't rely that IS will respect it. They are afraid that IS will eventually attack and plunder the Monastery and destroy or scatter all the priceless books, icons and artifacts. 



It's important that we pray for Gods protection for the monks and the people in the area. So that they can continue their important work and be a bridge between religions and cultures. It's also important that we pray for the terrorist that they shall meet the loving and caring Father that God is and start to worship Him. There's only one way to God! Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.




Click the following link if you want to see some more photos from Mount Horeb and Saint Catherine: www.flickr.com/photos/chasid68

Text and photo: Mikael Good

Sharpness is a bourgeois concept

A Bedouin guide and me (I'm the man to the right) from my trip to Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. A retired Norwegian journalist who could not handle a range-finder camera took the picture and therefore it is not utterly sharp. But on the other hand is sharpness a bourgeois concept according to Henri Cartier-Bresson and the picture still serves as a good memory for my trip into the vaste hills of the Sinia Peninsula.

Text and photo: Mikael Good

De sjöng O store Gud från toppen av Sinaiberget

Att gå i Mose fotspår till toppen av Sinaiberget är ett populärt utflyktsmål för turister på Sinaihalvön i Egypten. När jag var där i mars förra året samlades människor från i stort sett alla kontinenter uppe på toppen för att bevittna den spektakulära soluppgången. En grupp med sydkoreaner representerade Asien. I samband med att solens lät sina första strålar smeka Sinaibergets vinterkalla topp tog koreanerna tillfället i akt att stämma upp i en psalm. 




Trots att jag inte förstod deras sång kände jag genast igen melodin på psalmen som de sjöng - O store Gud. När jag tittade på soluppgången som var extra magnigik på grund av den pågående solstormen förstod jag varför de sjöng just den psalmen. O store Gud är en svensk psalm från år 1885 med text av Carl Boberg som var en svensk predikant, författare och riksdagsman.



O store Gud har översatts till en mängd olika språk. Särskilt känd och uppskattad har psalmen blivit i USA där den framförs i ett långsammare tempo än i Sverige. I samband med att Elvis Presley spelade in sången How Great Thou Art och fick en Grammy för sången år 1967 ökade sången i popularitet i Sverige där den till viss del fallit i glömska.





Jag la upp bilden på de sjungande koreanerna i en bildgrupp på Facebook, titta vem som var först med att gilla bilden :)

Text och foto: © Mikael Good. All rights reserved.

The True Revolution Starts At Home

There´s so much hatred in the world today. Many children around the world are brought up with hatred. Hatred that has been given to them by their parents, by their teachers and by their societies. Their hate are used to fuel a conflict that seems endless.

A true revolution are not fueled by hate. A true revolution is not driven by warmongers who are constantly looking for more hate to fuel their fires. We live in a ever-changing world and it´s time for us to wake up before it´s to late to do something. The true revolution starts at home. It starts when you are down at your knees praying for and forgiving people who´s been treating you bad. 

When I teach my children I try to teach them the best that I can. I teach my children to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them. If all parents could learn their children to love and forgive instead of hating each other I believe that this world could be a much better place in just a decade or two.

The wake-up call is given, and it´s time for all builders to wake up. It´s much work to be done. Even if the world is dark and painted with the dark colours of hatred. I believe that it is possible for us to build a new and better world together. A world where hate is forgotten and love is not only a beautiful word but also the way of living.

I believe that we are created in the image and likeness of God. And for this generation who live our lives through iPads, computers and smartphones only the everlasting love of God can reboot us. Press the Like Button and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour if you want to reboot and take part of the everlasting love revolution.

"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness". - Jeremiah 31:3

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved". - Romans 10:9

Text and Photo: © Mikael Good, All Rights Reserved.

Den sanna revolutionen

På TV ser jag människor i Egypten med brinnande ögon som spyr ut vrede över sina medmänniskor. De tror att de är sanna revolutionärer som kämpar den goda kampen. Men deras förstånd har runnit ur deras hjärtan rakt ned i en stor kokande kittel av hat och våld.

Den sanna revolutionen sker aldrig på gatorna. Den sanna revolutionen äger rum djupt inne i hjärtats allra djupaste och varmaste kammare. Den sanna revolutionen är som en stor varm kram fylld med äkta kärlek och omtanke om sina medmänniskor. Även om det ser mörkt ut så vet jag att en hjärtats revolution har startat på platser i Egypten dit våldet och TV-kamerorna ännu inte har nått och den kommer att förvandla hela mellanöstern.

Text och foto: Mikael Good

Jordens undergång är nära

I morgon går jorden under enligt en feltolkning av en gammal Mayakalender. Men man kan ju aldrig vara riktigt säker och därför presenterar jag ett litet axplock av årets bilder redan i dag. 



2012 har förövrigt varit ett riktigt bra bildår för mig och trots att jag redan har visat många av bilderna i min blogg eller på Facebook så har jag många fler bra bilder i mina gömmor som jag valt att inte visa upp ännu. En del bilder mår faktiskt bäst av att mogna till ett par månader eller år. 

    

Appropå jordens förestående undergång så tror jag ändå inte att jorden går under i morgon. Det är en hel del saker som behöver hända innan det är dags för den riktiga undergången. Men det kan å andra sidan vara bra att hålla lite extra koll på händelseutvecklingen i Egypten och Israel. För där kommer det först att märkas när det verkligen börjar att dra ihop sig. 

Text och foto: © Mikael Good. All Rights Reserved.

Exodus 24:12-18

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Photo © Mikael Good, 2012.

Lögnen har gjorts till sanning

Människor tränger allt djupare in i sitt jag, mig och mitt utan att ta någon som helst notis om världen utanför sina lätt förljugna livsbubblor. I hög fart stryker bilarna förbi några decimeter från mig och grabben när vi cyklar till dagis. Ett människoliv i Sverige idag verkar inte vara mer värt än ett par sekunders intjänad restid…

Det vrids och vänds på argumenten för eller emot olika prylar som vi köper för att trösta våra trötta och sårade sinnen med. Egentligen är alla diskussioner om prylar ganska meningslösa. Så länge prylarna som vi har fungerar och levererar är det ganska så onödigt att byta till nyare modeller. Genom att använda kärlekens intima språk har skickliga marknadsförare lyckats med bedriften att lura oss att köpa prylar som vi egentligen inte behöver och att i rask takt byta ut de prylarna vi redan har för att marknadshjulen i samhället ska rulla snabbare och generera ännu mer pengar.

Ge dig inte in i meningslösa diskussioner och strider om ord sådant bryter ned den goda diskussionen och för in den på den mörka planhalvan där prestige, ilska och förtal härskar. Orden når mig från ryggmärgen. Jag lyssnar och bestämmer mig för att försöka undvika att ge mig in i fler meningslösa diskussioner. Många människor har inte längre tid till att lyssna, de är fullt upptagna med att tänka ut vad de själva ska säga och snappar bara upp ett och annat ord ur konversationen, därför är det tyvärr lätt att bli missförstådd trots att man egentligen menar väl.

Vi lever i ett samhälle där lögnen på ett skickligt sätt har gjorts till sanning och sanningen har gjorts till lögn. Men allt det som döljs i mörker kommer fram i ljuset så även lögnen. Snart kommer den att avslöjas och sanningen om lögnen kommer att bli uppenbarad för oss i hela sin prakt. Våra lätt förljugna och kraftigt belånade livsbubblor kommer då att spricka och då blir det ordentlig fart på det här landet.

Text och foto: © Mikael Good. All rights reserved.