What is shaped like a kidney, about the size of Delaware, and home to spectacular wildflowers, mountain gazelles, and at least one crotchety old Orthodox monk? If you guessed the West Bank, you're correct.

Part of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years until WWI, and then administered by Britain followed by Jordan, it has been occupied by Israel since 1967. The Palestinian population in 2010 was approximately 2,350,000 (including East Jerusalem). Approximately 500,000 Jewish settlers also reside in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem).

What follows are fifteen photographs taken in 2003. There is no shortage of images of conflict in the region, which is why I've chosen the images below to illustrate something else, namely relative normalcy, life, and beauty.

DONKEYS ON HILLSIDES (Nablus)

SMILING CHILDREN (Jenin Refugee Camp)

SPRINGTIME WILDFLOWERS (Nablus)

CHURCH HYMNAL (Bethlehem)

COFFEE AND HOSPITALITY (near Jenin)

TEA AND HOSPITALITY (near Jenin)

BRIGHT EYES AND A PACIFIER (Zababdeh)

BRIGHT EYES AND A BAPTISM (Zababdeh)

BACKROADS THROUGH OLIVE GROVES (near Jenin)

PRAYERS AT EASTER (Zababdeh)

MONASTERY BALCONIES (Wadi Kelt, near Jericho)

PEACEFUL PROTEST (Mas'ha)

FRIENDS IN UNIVERSITY (Zababdeh)

CHILDHOOD SECRETS (Hebron)

MISTY MORNING SUNRISES (Zababdeh)

Joel Carillet, chief editor of Wandering Educators, is a freelance writer and photographer based in Tennessee. He is the author of 30 Reasons to Travel: Photographs and Reflections from Southeast Asia. To learn more about him, follow his regular photoblog, or purchase images, visit www.joelcarillet.com