Crossing the Desert

In the olden days of the near east, there were two highways that were built to go from one place to the other.  One was the International Coastal Highway and the other was the King's Highway. The ancient kingdoms built these two main roads for special purposes, and history says the people adhered to the purposes of these roads very well.  The International Coastal Highway was like a main highway, you catch that you can go anywhere quickly, the main travelers on that road were the military forces, merchants carrying goods, families moving to a different location and individual travelers.  Now, the King's highway was a bit different, it's the shortest of the two highways and it crosses over the great desert of the middle east.  This highway was especially built for those carrying spices of all kinds and frankincense. Traveling on this highway is sometimes lonely and boring and, there is a chance of being robbed because you are in the desert alone.

In learning about the two highways, I found that traveling the ICH was more busier and probably much more fun than the King's highway.  But, the most interesting fact about the two is that people forgot that there was ever an International Coastal Highway, because it changed names over the years of different rulers and kingdoms in the area. But, the King's highway has always remained the same from the years of past glory to even now.  In these days, some of our sons and daughters are fighting wars crossing the King's Highway, and tourists who go to the area, are amazed at how long this highway stood and still being used with it's name still being intact, maybe not so much on the maps but, spoken by locals who live on the land.  I have thought about the reason of why the two highways had special purposes for it's being built, and mind you now this is my opinion, you can have yours, but this is me, ICH is just like the way life is, many travelers, much fun and ups on it, so it seem like there is no time to feel down because many people are with you.  KH on the other hand is another matter, you travel alone, open to robbers and the elements.  The heat of the desert sun might weaken you, or the snakes and scorpions might attack you and it could be fatal, but, even if I think like that about KH, I have to wonder about the cargo that was carried on it. The merchants traveling on KH were carrying spices and frankincense. They were not an easy product to carry, for their smell can give them away.  But, everyone knew the value of these products exceed any other on ICH. And, that's because their uses are significant.  Can you guess what they are used for?  Well when you find the answer, then you will know the difference between the two highways and you will also know the answer of how to cross your desert. :)