Balagan did not continue to Istanbul with us choosing to return home with his fellow pilgrims to Brisbane.  Balagan first appeared with us  when we were in Galilee, having risen from a pile of wool Leanne had brought with her from Australia at the last moment following a suggestion from Allthego.

At first he was simply known as the Pilgrim Gnome, a lonely soul looking for friends and companions on the trip. Well he soon had a few friends and began to appear in photos in some unlikely places and poses. If the tour had been a little longer he might have even become a bit of a show off. You might be wondering what Balagan means? It is Hebrew for something like a ‘spot of trouble’. You can have ‘ big  Balagans’  and ‘little Balagans’. Our Balagan was just a nice little guy with the wrong name!

 So here are some ‘Best of Balagan’ moments…………..

Balagan enjoying a break at some ruins

Balagan showing how to scale a Crusader fort from the 12th Century without being seen.

Crusader Balagan

Waiting for a Big Mac

Balagan looking pensively at the Roman ruins from the Citadel at Amman.

Just can’t wait to get at the sandwhich in this lunch box at Petra

Enjoying a surf board at the Dead Sea, not many waves!

Exhausted after the swim Balagan is all ends up on the beach chair