The mystery of the desert man.

Just passing the desert city of Be'er Sheva to the south, the car suddenly stopped. Much to my surprise my friend Lodie got out of the car.

As I looked up, this magestic desert guardian (one interpretation of the unexplicable giant) became the first sign of the Negev's depth.

And as the dunes became more, the unmentionable unvailed itself. I left the giant with a - not so big - question.

My friend the desert man, what lies behind those eyes?

Wagpos

My vrind, woestynman.
My hart bloei vir jou.
Vir jou en jou hoë pel
die son.
Woestyn hou toe,
steek weg.
My vrind, woestynman,
vir jou lyk wêreld,
in die winter veral,
maar bitter grou.

Hidden curves of the Negev desert

An eerie feeling surrounded me as we headed deeper into the Negev desert.

With Sderot and its colourful bomb shelters disappearing along with Be'er Sheva, the road turned into salvation.

The road dangerously curves though the arid landscape. As we drove past this sign I realised that we are at the mercy of the road.

This sign appeared on both sides of the road.

Military traces gave the desert another deadly curve.

Children still play

People carry on with their every day life. Some have to work, others go to school. If it is time to play the children play. When a sirene goes off every one scatters.

The fifteen seconds are sometimes not enough. The shelters (like the colourful one) on the background not close enough.

On www.operationlifeshield.org people are actively trying to bridge this situation.

'n Vuurpyl se slagoffer

Soos 'n mens deur die dorpie loop is daar af en toe tekens van verwoesting. Besighede wat tot stilstand gekom het.


Destruction is a ever present reality in Sderot.

Sderot Police Station

These missiles are some of the Hamas sent missiles that struck in and around Sderot. When a missile is launched in Gaza a warning sirene of 15seconds is sound. This is the time you have to find shelter.

Sderot

Jewish patriotism decorates this town. This is a town on the North Western outskirts of the Negev desert. This town is also a mere 4.7km from the Gaza Strip.

Old City Jerusalem

Following the Via Dolorosa.