Photos: Sunrise at Mt Sinai

To experience watching the sunrise at Mt Sinai is one of those moments you’d never forget in the longest time. The arduous hike that started at 2 in the morning and ended at the summit at 5, just before sunrise, was totally worth it – despite not being dressed for a chilly, biting wind.

If you’re a Christian or a Muslim, there’s no doubt you’re familiar with Moses, who is both mentioned in the Holy Bible and the Quran. And in these Holy Books, Moses plays an important role in both religions.

Mt Sinai is said to be the summit where Moses received The Ten Commandments from God.

While the Christian world knows the mountain as Mt. Sinai, the Islamic world calls it, Gebel Musa or Moses Mountain.

And right on the summit of Mt. Sinai, two distinct, tiny buildings stand adjacent to each other: a chapel and a little mosque.

The church was closed and the little mosque was open but can only accommodate 10 people or less at the same time for prayer before the sun rises.

It was breaking dawn when I settled on my spot.

There were already hikers from other groups who arrived earlier than us—so the best spots were already taken–but with good photographic eyes, I know I had the best spot nobody would ever dare because it’s right at the edge of a cliff.

I came not just for the breathtaking sunrise at Mt Sinai but also for a perfect photo I could hang on my wall.

I wanted to be alone, too—away from so many selfie sticks around.

This is the first photo of me, extending my arms wide to welcome the morning sun. I was hoping that the first golden rays would strike the granite stone I was standing on and cast the 11th Commandment: “Thou shall be fabulous all the time.”

When the sun was slowly rising behind the clouds and mountains, I sat still – hypnotized.

The billowing mists start to fade and the mountains show their incredible beauty.

Nature literally took my breath away.

Looking back, I saw an equally mesmerizing, golden view of granite mountains.

They look like sleeping giants fighting off the will to nap a little bit more.

Enjoy the rest of the photos.

Related: See all the blog entries of my trip to Egypt