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Published: December 17th 2006
Itay's family
Dad Yoav, Mum Orna, Barak, Itay and cutie bub Shira (6 mths). Youngest brother Gilard is absent.I had originally planned to visit Israel in '94, but Hebron happened and my plans were scuttled by the British Embassy cancelling all tourist travel to the area. Then again I don't think there is ever a really good time to visit Israel. So here I am, better late than never, to see what this country is all about beyond the CNN viewpoint.
The immigration lady at Tel Aviv airport was really helpful and agreed not to stamp my passport when I asked her. However I had been forewarned about the expected security interrogation after I cleared immigration. The usual questions like - why would I want to visit Israel (holiday); where was I planning to go (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, etc); did I have a guidebook (no, I couldn't get one in Egypt, but if you could recommend a good bookshop, I would be extremely grateful); did I know anyone here (not really, but hoping to meet some nice and interesting Israeli's whilst I am travelling around); what do I do back home and do I have enough financial resources (banking - and it pays the bills).
Then they espied some Malaysian stamps in my passport, which triggered a
Nice hat
Carmel Market busker new set of questions - why did you visit Malaysia (visited friends); what are their names (Denys, Richard, Eric); how do you know them (university); which university (Sydney); how often do you visit them (hardly at all). Final question was - when are you leaving? That's when I showed my return air ticket to Cairo in a couple of weeks' time, which seemed to appease them. I have to say I've not been anywhere where my imminent departure was of the utmost importance. Finally they let me in - hooray! Like any border crossing, all it takes is a little patience.
Next up was negotiating the public transport system, which is really efficient and easy to navigate. Whilst I was on the train, I thought I felt someone tapping my shoulder. I turned around only to look straight down the barrel of an assault rifle. There was a young soldier casually standing next to my seat; one of many who appeared to be heading home for the weekend. I just turned away and continued to read my guidebook.
I also met up with Itay in Tel Aviv (TA), an Israeli guy that was on the same Galapagos cruise
Sculptor
Local artist and his bizarre brick sculpting machine back in April. His family invited me to their home for dinner on Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath, which runs from about Friday 4pm to Saturday 5pm) and to attend the kiddush ceremony. It was wonderful to be part of a Jewish tradition that brings the family together every weekend.
The rest of my stay in TA was spent wandering the Friday Carmel market (fresh fruit and veggies, and local handicrafts) and nearby Sheinken Street where all the glamours and trendoids hang out. Also went hooning along the seaside to Jaffa, south of TA. I've also noticed quite a few Asians in Israel, which was surprising.
Next stop was Tiberias. Hired a bike from the hostel and rode about 25kms around part of the Sea of Galilee (aka Lake Kinneret) to visit the holy sites in Ginnosar and Tabgha. I was so buggered afterwards, I slept for 20 hours over the next 2 days.
Also took a day trip to Tzfat (Zefat) which is the birthplace of Kabbalah. I got talking to this dude at the bus station, and he was telling me that the Chinese used to be Jews too. What the .... ??? Call me a sceptic,
but is that for real? Then before I knew it I was almost roped into a private Kabbalah session with a rabbi. If I didn't have to head back to Tiberias that afternoon I could have been more than happy to while away a couple of hours of my life just to hear what Madonna and Demi find so fascinating. Oh well, next time. Instead I got a free brochure to enlighten me (huh?), and a tour of the Ashkenazi Ha-ari Synagogue (interesting).
Hold onto your hats pilgrims, heaps more holy delights to come in the next instalment.
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stephen
non-member comment
thank you
VERY