The best thing about Italy There are few things I like about Italy. My friends, the language, the food, the cheese, the landscape, the trips, the towns, the churches, the history, the feeling I live in a movie. But the best thing ever is the fact that it's the only country, but Israel, I can present myself and saying my name to whoever I meet and people would remember it. Merav is a short for Meraviglia, marvelous in Italian. Everywhere I go I have to find ways to make people remember my name: in East Africa I was called Mzuri, the [View Full Entry]

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I got back to Israel few weeks ago. I spent the first 10 days almost isolated and asleep, taking antibiotics to treat a blood infection caused by beg bugs, now I've started waking up and still can't answer this question. Ethiopia was the most complex country I have visited. It's amazingly beautiful, It has interesting and important culture and history, It drained my energies. I can't place the finger on what exactly was so difficult. I think that it was a mix of not feeling well most of the time, being hassled by people whenever I walked the streets, having unexpected [View Full Entry]

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Simien mountains are amazing mountains in northern Ethiopia. The highest pic is at 4,543 Meter. Its a nice few days hike, sleeping in huts, amazing landscape, endemic flora and monkeys. fun. I was sure that my ridiculous altitude sickness would be controlled, thanks to modern medicine, so I've decided to hike. the first day was easy - the driver drove, the cook cooked, all I had to do was to relax and get used to the altitude. So I did. I've even took a short walk, and found myself (as usual) sitting and admiring the amazing green mountains... dinner, bonfire, and [View Full Entry]

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What a great name to a great community... we found some info in the guide: It's a small community, isolated, secular, believes that education is the key to development so one can find adults attending primary school, they are socialists, they believe in Gender equality and children’s rights, the kids are not allowed to beg money from foreigners and visitors, the community charges the same price from locals and Faranji (white people) and the best way to support them is to buy the woven products they sell. We read, we were amazed, we thought it's interesting and surprising so we go [View Full Entry]

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We've made it to southern Ethiopia and the Omo valley, to visit the famous tribes. After the long trip south we have decided to rent a car and driver hoping to enjoy the tour. We found out that the roads are a lot better when u travel with your own car. bull jumping ceremony We felt very lucky. We've heard that there is gonna be a bull jumping ceremony. The ceremony is conducted by the hamar people and is the symbol of the transformation from kids to men. After the ceremony they are becoming MEN and are allowed to choose a [View Full Entry]

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3 days and 350 KM ago I wanted to see the country, I wanted to get to know it better, I wanted to speak to locals I meet on the bus, I wanted to ride trucks to remote villages and stay there for a while, I wanted to travel the hard way as I am used to, I wanted to take my time and know everyone and everything. 3 days and 350 KM later, the only one I wanna know is a pilot. [View Full Entry]

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Spending a week in Ethiopia, I believe that this is the most important thing to learn. Saying it should be mandatory as a visa application requirement, along with payment and a photo. Ethiopian Airlines should brain wash the passengers, one should never set a foot in Ethiopia without the basic knowledge of how to say “NO BURNING SPICE!!” my mouth is constantly num, the food is so tasty but then it bites back, burns the inside of your mouth and the lips and then you feel almost nothing… It’s funny to see us taking the first bite, counting to 3 and [View Full Entry]

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And once again it takes me ages to blog... I know I've promied to blog from the trip to New Zealand. I REMEMBER trying to write several times, creating folders of pictures to upload and show you, but never done it. I think I can explain. But - first thing first.... Last I wrote was from the Israeli airport on our way to my father's dream trip for his 60 years old B-day. We went all 4 of us - 2 women in mid 30's (give a lot or take), sisters and friends, with completely different personalities, and 2 heroes - [View Full Entry]

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Few months ago: My Father: my dear daughter (dear in Hebrew is the same word as expensive, I think that that’s what he wanted to say) I am going to be 60 soon. Merav: I know, you are old but wise and still good looking… F: what should we do with this important day? M: a big party, my only and much respected father. I have already started organizing, it’s the only plan I have - I’ve promised every one that I will be in Israel in November, for your birthday F: but I don’t want to have a big party, [View Full Entry]

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Every time that a roman person gets in his car, he becomes a killer. He forgets about his friends and family whom are targeted by others, he forgets how he felt before he started driving. He sees nothing. He is determent. He has a mission. I wish they where that terminated when it comes to other things in life….. Those of you who know me and whom have driven with me knows I have no issues with cars, driving, traffic etc. I have survived Tel Aviv, Tanzania and Italy for the last 18 months. But they are crazy!!!!! My first visit [View Full Entry]

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