Blogs from Middle East - page 1002

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Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Marmaris September 15th 2007

HI Everyone, So here goes... We left Kefalos (Kos) early on the 26/08/07 to catch the local bus to Kos town, as we had a lot of tıme we left our rucksacks at a frıendly cafe and went explorıng. We vısıted the sıte of the Greek/Roman Agorra, great archeologıcal sıte but as usual ın Greece no sıgns to explaın anythıng! We also vısıted the Crusaders castle that domınates the havrbour, ıts full of bıts from varıous centıurıes and cultures. The ferry crossıng on the catamaran was fantastıc, the boat saıls along the Datcha penınsula of Turkey, whıch we had tıll then only ever seen from land. On arrıval to Symı we located the room we had booked whıch was on a hıll above the boatyard, where they stıll hand buıld wooden fıshıng boats. The room had ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul September 14th 2007

Well here I am, Istanbul, last stop for my jaunt through Europe. A great place to end this trip, jampacked with history, colorful traditions, intoxicating sights and smells and a first-hand glimpse of Islam. Istanbul quite literally stradles Europe and Asia,with Bosphorus strait dividing the city. It's a huge city of 15 million but the sights are tightly packed in a manageable area. The Old town and most of the historical sights are in the western/ European part. I'm staying at the hotel Hanedan just behind the Blue mosque and (would you believe it) just around the corner from the Istanbul 4 Seasons. It's the beginning of Ramadan here. Turkey is a very secular country and it's not uncommon for people not to fast but I think most people do. The restaurants and the area around ... read more
Topkapi Palace
man-donna and child
Yeah Hagia Sophia

Middle East » Israel » Haifa District » Haifa September 14th 2007

(Child Labor Incorporated) Since my parentals are giving me work I decided that I can give them homework as well. I making my mom read a book and I haven’t decided for my dad I’m thinking impossible or exact math problems. The weather is especially hot to day and my parents made me go on a walk for 2 hours in the heat of the day. (Note: the title, "child labor incorporated," is Zach's)... read more

Middle East » Israel » Tel Aviv District » Tel Aviv September 13th 2007

So before I forget any of the things that happened to me today, I have to write them all out. Tonight I was given the opportunity to go to Rosh Hashana dinner with my loyal blog reader, Itay and his beautiful family. His wife Galit and adorable daughter welcomed me into their home in Ness Ziona and adopted me for the holidays. Which in and of itself is amazing and makes me love this country even more, because it's of people like their family and my friends here that make living here on my own bearable. The fact that I have such a strong network of people who are really like my family is the best thing that I could ask for in the beginning of this new year. How awe-inspiring it is that I am ... read more
Amit
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Shana Tova

Middle East » Israel » Haifa District » Haifa September 13th 2007

.שנהֹ טובהֹ וחגֹ סמח Shanah tovah v’hag sameach! to all our Jewish friends and family. It is Rosh Hashanah, but we got here so shortly before the holiday that we haven’t yet found a synagogue at which to attend services. So we are spending a quiet Rosh Hashanah together in our apartment. We will find a synagogue before Yom Kippur so we can attend services on that holiday. We are also looking forward to Sukkot; there are many city activities that take place during that week. There is a film festival with early showings for kids’ films and later ones for adults. Our apartment is becoming home. As Stewart wrote earlier, we had some confusion with the appliances, but now we know which buttons to push to make happen what we want (even if the symbols ... read more
Our side yard.
View from our apartment.
Another view from our apartment.

Middle East » Israel » Haifa District » Haifa September 13th 2007

Yesterday the weather was hot and sticky. We had to do 3 hours of easy tedious math. At the end of that we did reading, and then I wrote the earlier blog installment. After that school was out. I played my PSP, then I went to read something my dad recommended, “To Build a Fire,” but I can’t say anything because my mom’s going to read it. We have an incredible view of the city and we’re right next to the biggest shopping mall in Israel.... read more

Middle East » Israel » Haifa District » Haifa September 13th 2007

I’d forgotten how really good the food is in Israel. Our first meal: hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, pita, and g’vinah lavanah (a yogurt-like cheese with the texture and richness of sour cream but without the sour taste and only 5% fat). Granted we ate it on our second day here, right after we got home from the store. Up to then, we’d been subsisting on rice crackers and icky-sweet protein shakes. So, it’s really no surprise that I stopped after every bite and remarked how superb the food tasted. But it really is great. The cucumbers and cheese especially. When we were in ulpan (Hebrew language class) in Jerusalem, an Israeli Arab classmate who had recently returned from the US remarked on how you just can’t get a good tasting cucumber in the States. She's right. ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai September 13th 2007

Dubai Airport is pretty big and very busy. People from everywhere. After passing through customs and getting our visas we went to baggage claim. Luck have it ALL of our bags were missing. 7 bags. This did not make me or my husband happy. We found out that they had not been put on our connecting flight in Heathrow. Duh. They must have been to heavy. They were to be delivered to Sam's sister's house in the am. They did give us four complimentary toiletry bags with all we needed to smell good and even included a white t-shirt. Dubai is hot. You sweat for no reason and the air is thick. Today is not to bad. Even at 1:00 at night it is hot. Thank goodess for A/C. If you did not have A/C, especially ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai September 13th 2007

I was very lucky yesterday and was taken out onto Palm Jumeirah by a colleague in my office who used to work on the Atlantis project. For those who don't know Atlantis is a new 5 star hotel and theme park that is being built on the crescent of the palm. Because it is all still a construction site out there you need to have a special pass to get out there, which luckily Barry still has. The palm was amazing. It is so big and there is just so much construction going on. Apparently the Atlantis is due to be completed by June next year. However there is no power, water or sewage to the majority of the palm yet (according to Baz) so it is anyones guess if it will actually happen. ... read more
The labour ship
The Ziggaret
Part of the hydroslides

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai September 13th 2007

Geo: 25.006, 55.1953After 5 weeks at home and shipping 68 boxes to Oz and also hooking up with 68 friends and associated offspring we finally leave for Oz amid many tears from me. (And in the months of this whole trip since March, 6 new people arrived in our realm so we say congrats to the parents of: Jasmine P-E, Rebecca C, Daria Ross, Alex F, Coco D & Louis A (pronounced Louie)). 7.5 hour flight to Dubai ok apart from screaming demon child who deserves an asbo (you could see people all around slowly losing it, this kid screamed for 4 straight hours!) Aer Lingus are just gone so cheapo it's shocking, 1 tv screen per section and crap earphones so sorta saw 'Ocean's 13'. Dubai time 3 hours ahead of Ireland (in summer). Grand ... read more




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