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Holy Land 2023

June - July 2023
A Visit to See the land of Jesus's Birth and God's Promised Land to the Isralites. Read more
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  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    1
    Day 1

    Leaving Home Sweet Home

    June 1, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Last evening was busy in a nice way. For once I was packed already, and had time to enjoy dinner and also make some desserts for Mr James to Enjoy while I went off on my pilgrimageand adventure. We had decided that we would try and get out by 3.15 am in the morning. Luckily I had gone to FLight Centre and asked them how many hours early I had to check in at Wellington airport. Normally its 3 hours before flight time but Qantas was not opening till 4.00 am. that meeant one hour of extra to sleep.

    Got to the airport and no issues, I was given my boarding passes for the flight from Wel lington to Sydney and Sydney to Bangkok, but was told my last leg from Bangkok to Tel Aviv was to be issued in Bangkok. Met a lady from our parish who was also going on a pilgirmage to Ireland and Scotland, what a coincidence. The flight to Sydney was a bit of a bore, the food on the flight and in the lounge was so so. The seats are not that comfy, but needs must...

    In Sydney must have walked at least 1.5 kms to get to the lounge, had just enough time to catch up with Hamish, deal to a few emails and re charge my battery. But the flight to Bangkok was good. Had a flat bed to sleep on, always helps, watched a movie had a meal and off to sleep. Got up with a little time to spare before breakfast, by then all I had done so far was eating, so was too full to eat, then landed in Bangkok. I had thought everything had gone swimmingly well till then, and this was good. Well I was in for a nasty surprise.

    Once through the transit Security check, went from pillar to post to find out where I got my boarding pass, but apparently I had to get it from EL AL airlines and they were not opening there counter till 8.00pm. Now the time was 4.45pm. the flight was leaving Bangkok at 23.55p,. No bording pass meant no entry in Business Class lounge. Honestly here I was thinking I had a long lay over no issues will go to the BC Lounge have a shower, do some work, havea drink etc. Haha more fool you Sonali James.

    Spoke with Colin and we decided that I would try and put my hand luggage in storage and do a it of exercise by walking within the airport. But there is no lockers in the airport once you through customs. Got a Trolly and walked 3 floors clocking up my step count, looking at all the duty free shops, could'nt even buy anything as there was no boarding pass. Sure Colin would be happy about that.

    Was the first person at the ELAL counter when it opened. I had heard they were very security conscious, but did not realise howmuch so. Was asked 20 questions in a very nice way though, then was not given the ok till they had checked my luggage had come to Bangkok and that it was ready to go on the same flight as me. Got my invitation now to the BC Lounge. By then it was over 24 hours of travel time, so got into the showers and had a lovely shower and change of cloths. Was human again. Then had a bite to eat and was about time to baord the next flight. Did'nt want to miss this flight after all the Q&A session I had gone through, even then the security to get through was phenominal.

    This too was a full flight, I had thought this plane would be like to flight from Wellington to Australia.F- Nah it was lovely inside, Nice comfy seats and lie flat beds again. By then I could have slep standing or sitting. :)
    I had a guy sit next to me and we got talking, Asked him how long he had been travelling and he said 24 hours, he asked me how many hours had I been travelling and I said 28 hours by then. He gussed it then and said are you travellling from NZ. what an Einstein. He was a sleep before the flight took off, and as soon as it was possible to put the seat down I was off to dreamland. Got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo, small issue of jumping over this guys bed as I was on the window seat, but my shoes had got stuck under the seat when i pushed the bed up, tried getting it out, could'nt do it thought oh well its a morning problem not a night time matter.

    Got up only when the lights came on, had not slept much but enough to be rested. Breakfast was surved once again didnt eat much. and then my seat companion and I I got talking. We got talking of families, his was a blended family of 5 plus 2 adults. he was a doctor and his now wife is a Radiologist. Was lovely talking to him. He mentioned how he and his middle child ( son) were going for couples therepy ( father and Son) because of unresolved issues when he broke up with his first wife. Was really nice to talk with him. We just spoke of life and work and travel and walking, cycling, families etc etc. He had come for a conference to Israel for a week.

    Colin please note I did wear the face mask in the plane from Wellington to Sydney and Sydney to Bangkok as you requested, but on the next plane I slept with my head covered most of the time. Also one of the photos is of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House from the air in the far background.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 2

    Tel Aviv

    June 2, 2023 in Israel ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Finally, culimination of planning, booking, and traveling. Arrived into Tel Aviv 45 minutes later than the original time due to a suitcase that had gone missing in Bangkok. Was concerned the taxi I had pre booked might have left, but then that's what travel insurance is for, no point in swetting the small stuff. I had been a bit anxious about the customs and border petrol at Tel Aviv. But there were no issues, facial recognition identificatil gives you the blue slip, and then walk to the customs who question you again and then you are free to collect your luggage and out I was. Honestly, I had been worried about being refused entry. :). My luggage when I got it was opened, the lock was open, and the bag had not been shut properly. But by now, I was beyond caring of that.

    I had to pick up the sim card that had not arrived and now was informed to pick it up at a shop at arrivials foyer, then called the taxi company thinking mmmmm......... this was going to be a waste of time. Bu I was pleasantly surprised the taxi was yet there. The manager told me. We had a bit of misunderstanding his English and my interpretation of it. He was saying go past the escalators and take the elevators, I thought that meant go beyound it, but what he meant was go parrallel to it passing it on your side and take the elvators got to the top floor and then could not find my taxi driver, so called the manager guy again and he got the taxi driver to come from where ever he was and that was that.

    The taxi driver was very good too, chatty in a nice way, informed about shabbath and how I would have no issues in Telaviv on Shabbath, but not so in Jerusalam. He went on to say they were a lot more conservative there in Jerusalem. It was going to be 38 degrees today, so it was going to be a hot day, though it did rain a bit while we were on our way to the hotel.

    Arrived at the hotel, and the driver helped me to get my luggage to the reception. He thought it was too heavy for me to take it up the ramp. what a gentlman. But then we got to the lobby, and there was some ambulance staff putting on a male on to a streacher. there was blood everywhere. and I thought bloody hell what was happening, and it was only around 7.00 am. There were a lot of airline crew from a foreign airline in the lobby too, some of whom were helping the ambulance staff. Mmmmmm, I tried not to rubber neck, so got into the reception.

    I had booked for the night of the 1st, even though I was checking in only on the 2nd, so that I would not have to stay till the afternoon to check in. once I got to the room, it was tiny. But I just needed to have a bed to sleep. When I looked in my luggage, I think the airport staff had had looked at the medicines I had in there. I had brought with me some Asprins, Gaviscons, and Antibiotics. At 7.30, I thought I would go down, have a hot cup of tea, and then go to sleep. Whilst I waited, I thought I might rethink my idea of staying here once Marita went back. Marita comes tomorrow, and we had booked an apartment for 4 nights, but then went for breakfast and thought Nah this place is good. The breakfast alone was worth the money I was paying. Honestly, it was all vegetarian food, but it was lovely. The manager came and said and asked me how the breakfast was and said you can order your eggs made the way you want, but I was a very happy lady with the spread in front of me. I had not thought of eating any of this, only came to have a cup of hot tea, but .......after Breakfast had a shower and that sealed the deal. it was a rain shower, and anyone who has stayed at the farm knows how bad our gravity fed shower is. So I am going to keep the bookings I have made here. plus the breakfast manager was really nice to me, so why look at a gift horse in the mouth.

    Caught up on some beauty sleep for a couple of hours, now eating complimentry popcorn and writing the journal. It's 1.41 pm, not sleepy, so I might go for a walk after this.

    Woke up with Col doing a group call, Shan and I were in shock. Was nice chatting and catching up, Shan was giving me a hard time as she woke up at 4 00am, and she thought I might be in some trouble so she had jumped out of bed to answer the call, here was Colin now ringing us at 4.00am in NZ. He had woken up and couldn't get back to sleep. Then Troy joined the call, so it was great. Nothing has changed in the whanau.

    Got all dressed up to go for dinner and a walk. Stopped to listen to some drumming. Boy it was hot and muggy so after a while went to have dinner but the restaurant was fully booked, so went and changed into some shorts and went back for a walk along the promenade. Found a restaurant on the beach. Food is very nice. Real crab in the pasta yum!!!.. For those of you who don't live in NZ we don't get real crab in NZ often, so it's a treat to eat crab.

    Night Life with Families, the Beach Promenade, the Keep Fit Facilities along the Beach, the Cranes and the Development, and the Same Sex Culture are all things that I can honestly say is a melting pot that makes Tel Avivv a Unconventional Cosmopolitan City in the fringe of what is better known as Holy Land to many.

    See Colin, the same moon shining britlghtly in Whitemans Valley is also shining in TelAviv. I say this as Colin had mentioned how the moon was very bright at 4.00am in WV. :)    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 3

    Marita arrives this afternoon

    June 3, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    I think my body has slept out now. Today Marita comes and I have to check out from the hotel I have been staying, then go to the apartment we are living for the next 4 days. Then go to the airport to meet Marita. Then we can decide what we are doing over the next few days. I decdied to go for a walk before breakfast.

    Walked 5kms before breakfast, another lovely breakfast. TelAviv is supposed to be the vegan capital of the world. Another fun fact Jewish people will not mix meat and milk together. So it's one or the other.

    Got a late checkout organised and then it was time to pick up Marita. But before that I had to go drop my luggage, .then got another taxi to go to the airport to meet Marita. Got a good taxi driver again, so he stayed till Marita came out and then dropped us back to the apartment.

    It was so great to see Marita, we were being so silly and stupid in the taxi, the driver must have thought what morons are these two. But being able to just pick up where we had left off, even though we had not met for 4 years in person and carry on is something very special that only close friends can do.

    Marita wanted to streach her legs so we went for a walk after we got organised, it was hot, the beach was just packed with people, the sand was ever so soft, paddled in the water as we had not taken out togs or towels. On our way back home stopped to get a drinks and a meal for Marita. Got back to the apartment, Stayed chatting on the balcony then went for dinner.

    Now back home, washed rested and ready for sleep.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    22
    Day 5

    Jaffa

    June 5, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Today our plan was to go to the Carmel Market, which was just a hop step and a jump away from our apartment. Then to BeinHarim Tours and finally to go to Jaffa. Marita wanted to go to BeinHarim office so she could talk to them about going to Bethlehem, as she had read that it was not safe to go there. I did tell her that so many tourist groups would not b going there if it was not safe, but then it was better to be sure. Also she wanted to know if she could wear shorts and how short they could be. ( Germans honestly)

    The Carmel Market was all I had thought it was going to be like it was colorful, noisy and the food and vegies were so fresh. Yum!!!. The container of tomatoes was about $7.00 NZ . We would never get that in NZ for that price.

    After thtat we trotted along for nearly 40 minutes with the aid of good old google maps. going there was easy, finding the shop in a building that had about 10 floors and everything is written in Hebrew was a different matter. Asked a acouple of people and it was no use. But finally got the correct floor and we were taken into the area where they normally do the bookings via the phone. It was unsua for them to have people come in person and talk to t1hem. We got a 10% discount for our trouble. :

    After that we had a drink at a cafe and then took a taxi to Jaffa. This was the area that I had walked to last morning before breakfast. We had lunch there at the port and then roamed around the streets of the old town. We asked the lady at the bakery if it was ok to take a photo, and she said as long as she was in it, I was ok to take a photo. 😊. The photo with Marita holding on to her Zodiac sign was where you had to hold the sign on the bridge walkway and look towards the sea and make a wish, and your wish would come true.

    After a while Marita wanted to go the beach, so off we went again this time with some towels to sit on the sand and watch the world go by. There were so many people yet on the beach. There was kite surfing, surfing and wind surfing there were people swimming, sun bathing making sand castles etc. It was so very nice.

    Now back in the aprtment , tomorrow for our tour to Jerusalem and BethleheIm we have to be at the pick up point at 6.40am. So it is going to be an early night. the following day after that we are going to Masada and thet Dead sea with the same tour company.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 5

    Jerusalem & Bethlehem

    June 5, 2023 in Palestine ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    At the 3.00am in the morning the Israeli Fighter jets or the equell of this started flight training, which woke me up and they were just oging round and round I think before the commercial airlines stated to fly. I had done a load of washing the previous night, and that had not finished till 11.00pm. So after I hung that to dry out on the balcony then being woken up by the planes my beauty sleep was really hard done by.

    But bright eyes and bushy tailed Marita and me half pie awake took off to the meeting place earlier than we meant too, and off we went to Jerusalem. My perception of Israel had been that it was going to be brown, dry, dusty and not very well off. Well the truth be told it was mostly Green even thought it is summer now, full of agriculture fields as far as the eye can see with crops such as corn, vegies, grapes etc. dry and dusty The per capita income in this country must be high ( which we looked up later and it was th 16th highest in the world per Nov 2022 stats well before NZ and Germany) going by the high rise buildings already in existance and being built, the restaurants and cafes that are full this news is no surprise. We were told that the education was very good and so was the Infrastructure well maintained etc.

    Came in to Jerusalem at around 9.00 am in the morning was like entering anyother capital in the world, meaning all the roads were blocked. Luckily buses have a seperate lane. Jerusalem is on a hill, so first we stopped at a cafe/ rest room where we got a fantastic view of Jerusalem. In the bibble Jesus has a look at Jerusalem at one point and cries over it obstinence, sure the view Jesus had in its time is totally different to the view in front of me today, but you do under stand the terrains. Interesting fact Telaviv which I thought was very highly populated had half a Million people, but Jerusalem on the other hand has one Million.

    After that we made our way to the Western wall, (The Wailing wall) and to think that this was over 2000 years old WOW!!!, the mind boggles. Jewish cleaning rights are that you wash each hand 3 times and then proceed to the wall. you have note paper to write on, then insert those notes in the cravices of the rocks. once you have touched the wall and prayed you do not turn your back to the wall, you come back facing the wall. Some people have got their chairs right by the wall praying, some are lamenting, some are seated scattered around the area. The females have one side of the wall, and the men are on the other side. The reason the wall is so important to Jewish, Muslims and Chritians alike is that this was the place the first ever permant resting place for the Arch of the Covenent and was built by King Davids son King Solomon. God did not want king David buiding it, as he had blood on his hands, so the resting place for the arch of the covenant was to be built by the son.

    After that we made our way up the Via Dolarosa. The way was lined with shops on wither side, we were taken to a tourist souvenir shop and fed some garbage naunsence about how they were authenticated dealers in coins whih were scarece among other things, but this shop seemed to have a truck load of these coins. mmmm......... then it cant be scarece huh!!!. I looked at getting Shanalee a star of bethleham pendant which also turner to Mary's crown and was told they had a 50% sale it was now down to $240.00, but in Bethlehem I saw it and asked the price and it was $98.00 down to $90.00. Good job I did not buy it in Jeruslaem. In case your wondering miss James I did not buy it in Bethlehem either. didnt think you would wear it.

    After that we went into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The annointing stone is there as you enter, this is where Jesus was taken down from the cross and washed and cleaned and prepared for his buriel. From there you could stand in que to go to the tomb of Jesus, but Marita was not interested as there was a long que, and I could do it when I was on my own next week. We then went to the true cross of Jesus, and Golgatha. Here too there was a que, I will do it next time. I had read in Fr James Martin's book about booking with the Franciscans to stay the night at the Holy Sepulchre. Found out where to do that and got my name in to stay there on the 17th of June. One item on the to do list ticked.

    Then we went off to Bethlehem. Crossing over to Palestine had been a concern, but no issues as we're in a tour group bus. Entering Bethleham there are some drawings done by Banksy. Very poignant the dove holding a olive branch in an iron vest, a man throwing a bunch of flowers towards Israel, instead of a molotov cocktail.

    Lunch at a hotel restaurant in Bethleham, then to the Church of the Nativity. No ques we were very lucky. We were going to see the birth place of Jesus. We went off to the catholic church in the nativity church complex. It also has the orthodox church. You enter the complex through the humility door, where the door is small you have to kneel or bow down to show respect to our lord. Then you have the Armenian church, and finally the catholic church. Due to this 3 churches, Christmas is celebrated 3 times each year.

    Catholics on the 24th December night, Otthodox on the 6th of January and the Armenians on the 16th of January.

    We had a lovely Jewish young guide from Tel Aviv to Palestine,in Palestine we had a new Guide by the name of Marion, then when we left Bethleham the original guide took over again. His name was Itamar. Hoping to meet Marion when I hope back to Bethlehem next week.

    It was a very long day, as the trip home should have been around 1.5 hours, but it took 3.5 hours. This because Guns & Rose's were playing in TA.

    We then went off for dinner and a drink, came home feeling very tired, but having enjoyed our day.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 6

    Dead Sea and Masada

    June 6, 2023 in Palestine ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Once again this morning up early to catch the tour bus to visit Masada and the Dead Sea. Bypassing Jerusalem, and over the Judean Desert to the Dead sea.

    Going over the desert we passed quite a few Bedouin camps. These are the desert nomads who have lived that life for ever so long.

     Luckily for us, ours was the first bus to arrive at that resort. So into our swim suits and in for a dip. It was weird, You hear of the dead sea and how you only float, but till you do it your self , the fact that you could not sink you just floated does not sink in. We had been told not to put our face, eyes, mouth into the water. But you could back paddle and just float. The mud in the dead sea apparently is very good for the skin, but you had to get it from the bottom of the ocean, which is a problem as you float and cannot reach the bottom. It was hard work to find mud, but found some in the shallow water. At one time I got just a tiny bit of sea water in my eyes, boy it started to sting. Both Marita and I enjoyed our time at the DS, the inner child in us loved it.

    Some drops of water fell on my pack when I came out of the water, later to see there was crystallized salt on the top of the pack. One of the photos is of a stone on the beach that was full of salt in its middle.

    The date palm trees were full of dates. I have seen date palms in Dubai, but this was the first time I saw a date palm in Israel/ Jordan/ West Bank.

    From there we went on to have lunch to Qumran where they found some of the Dead sea scrolls in the caves in the hill. Next to the restaurant was a very old grave yard. After a lovely lunch we went on to Masada.

     This was a fortress build by King Herod. The mountain it's built on is like a table top, in the middle of no where. You can see a 360 degree view of the enemy's coming. Left over original frescoes can yet be seen on the walls of the palace rooms.

    We took a cable car to the top, and then walked around the fortress ruins. What a palace he had built up there. Recently Colin and I watched Hitlers place known as the Eagles Nest, well that could not hold a candle to this place that Herod had built. The photo of the tags with names were when the Jews living on the palace grounds were cornered by the Romans in AD70 they decided that rather than being captured for slavery and wives being raped by the Romans they would kill their families. The names are how the lots were drawn as to who would first kill and be killed in this suicidal pact.

    Now we are back in the bus going back to TelAviv. Yesterday journal was updated several times today due to us getting so late to get back to the apartment last evening. I got up early this morning and wrote some of it, but kept updating it with missing information as and when I remembered. Hence decided to write today's one while on the bus.

    Came back to the apartment had our washers and went to the beach for a fish and chips dinner. We decided the Cat fish was nothing to brag about.

    ps as a matter of interest my skin does feel silkier this evening.:)    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 7

    Tel Aviv

    June 7, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Marita is going back to Munich today, and I am on my own. I tried begging, crying and blackmailing her to stay and she refused to stay one more day with me. :(, :)

    Like my child who will peruse the internet for a good cafe, or place to eat Marita too looks for these places. So off we went for breakfast, and the food was lovely once again. Especially after the cold cat fish for dinner last night it was lovely to eat any food. Point of note Tel Aviv is the gay capital of the world, so you see more gay couples than you see heterosexual couples. Which is so noticable when you are walking around. This cafe had the rainbow flags though it too in case you forgot where you are.

    We checked out of our apartment and checked back into the hotel that I had stayed a few days ago, and then went back to look at old Town Jaffa. Mooched around there. On the way walking to Jaffa my flip flops broke, so we walked on the beach, and the first stop was to purchase a pair of slippers. I think the owner of the shop knew he had me over a barrel there when he saw my broken sliipers in my hand and would'nt budge on the price of the slippers at all. :)

    We stopped for lunch at a Fish and Chips shop we had seen on the first day, This time the fish and chips were lovely, tasty and hot. Food in Tel Avi is very expensive. For 2 drink , 2 portions of Fish and a portion of chips we spent the approximately NZ70.00 After which we walked back to the hotel and Marita was off back to the airport. Before she went she made sure she made a mess of my bathroom with water all over the floor. So hard to get good friends who think and act like you. Huh!!!!

    As today I have no photos as such to put other than the portion of Fish and Chips I am putting on some photos from the previous days. Note the photo again of the young conscript girl with the machine gun when checking our bus yesterday returning back from Masada.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 8

    HAIFA

    June 8, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Last night the fire alarm in the hotel went off at 2.45 am. I heard the noise, but was half a sleep yet, then when the announcement came on I came to my senses, got up and got my passport, in my nighty and house cost walked to the stairs. There were a handful more but there was no people rushing down the stairs. Anyhow got as far as we could go on the stairs but it was not on to the road, it was a roof top terrace. Then a lady in our group rung the hotel, and was told it is ok to get back to our rooms.

    The darn alarm started going off again at around 4.00am. I could not be bothered this time there was no announcements I just rolled over and went back to sleep. The building was still standing when I woke up this morning.🙂. The first photo is the view from my room.

    After another lovely breakfast, I got myself sorted to go to Haifa to see the Bahia gardens, and also Elijah's cave. I had to take the train, but was unsure weather to take the bus or a taxi to the train station. But when at the reception, the receptionist told me it's best to take a taxi as today there is the Gay Pride Parade.

    Took a taxi and went to the main train station, got a return ticket all good so far. Was told what platform to go to as well by the kind person at the ticket counter. Train was due in 2 minutes he told me and he was correct. Thought I will go upstairs so I would have a better view. The train was quite full and there was a single seat by the window available but the table was littered. Beggars can't be chooses so plonked myself there. Across the isle were 2 older ladies, one of them gave me wet wipes so I could clean my table, which was so nice of her, and when I cleaned it to my sa tisfaction they gave me a thumbs up gesture.😊

    Oppersite me was also a vacant seat, and a young man sat there. I asked the ladies about where I should get off to see the Bahia Gardens, and the young gentleman then piped in and said he would show me where to get off. How jammy was that. The terrain we passed was mainly agricultural and they seem to grow lots of vegies and fruits in tunnel houses.

    So got off at the correct place thanks to my knight in shining armor. Came out to get a taxi and found a driver who said it would cost me 50 shekaks to go to the top of the gardens. Apparently you cannot enter the bottom area unless you are a Bahia. So then I asked him about him picking me up after I toured the gardens and taking me to see Elijah's cave too. He agreed to all of this for 200. Shekals. He said he would be my tour guide too and not just a taxi driver. And he was good. On the way to Barhia Gardens he kept stopping and showing me te different architecture, Haiffa was once a German town, I did not know that. They left Haiffa one the first world war was over.

    Then we went to the tope of the Bahia Gardens. This is the central place for Bahia Faith Perople to come to. Its like us going to Rome or Jerisalem as Catholics, or the Muslims going to Mecca. Its a beautiful place, te gardens are perfectly manicured. I hope my photos will do justice. There are free tours of the gardens and it was in Hebrew, but met up with a gentleman with his daughter who was a hebrew who lived in Hungary, so he translated for me. In the complex is a school, a court house, and a library. In order not to spoilt the look of the place with more building structures the ground level all the floors are below the ground.

    My guide had told me to live my day pack in the car, I had insisted I carry my passport, but I did'ne take my money out, so the thouht did cross my mind if he would be meeting me where the free tour ended. But my worries were for nothing he was there, so off we went to see Elijah's cave . You reach this by going down a cable car . It was so so nice to be there, I have read of how God appeared to Elijah in the wind, so to be there, imagine what it would have been like for Elijah to hear God in the wind, was very deep and meaniful for me. Very touching and special.

    There is a convent there with a lovely painting on the ceiling, but this place was closed till 3.00p, and It was now 2.00pm. so my guide/ driver said he could take me to a place where the armaggdon was going to take place one day acording to the bible, but sadly that was going to cost another $300.00 sheklas, and I thought that wa not in my plan, so I politely thanked and refused and took the train back to Tel Aviv. Ofcourse then my phone decides to die on me. So that meant I was going to have to take a taxi to the hotel. No google, no walking home. So spoke to a taxi driver he asked me where I want to go to told him where and agreed on 50 shekals and then once in the taxi he says where are you going and when I repeated the address of the hotel, oh I did'nt hear you its atually 80.00 shekals. So once again I poitle declined and got out of the taxi. its not the 30.00 shekals but the principal. So now no phone, now maps, Sonali could try and get a different taxi or work it out.

    The place was teaming with the young ones who were coming into Telaviv for the Gay parade. honestly what a eye opener, I normally dont feel the age, but today I did, it was a differnt world from the world I grew up. words fail me. the sheer number of people, are there no normal hetrosexual people any more in the world. Our train to Telaviv had been full of this crowd, but that was tame compared to what was on the street. Stopped to ask 2 conssripts the way to the beach, they were helpful, but I had more of a clue where I thought the beach should be compared to the two of them. So onwards I marched among the crowd, while I did not want to be in the midst of it, there was a small part of me wanting to perve into this world as well to see what do these people do in a Gay Pride Parade.

    I asked some one else and he said yes the direction I was going was correct, but I had a very long walk ahead of me, and he was not wrong I clocked 12 kms in all. By the time I got to the hotel I was very tired. THe Gay Parade was on the beach close to the hotel, but by then I had talked my self out of being in the midst of it. There was so much security, armed forces etc, I thought the risk was really not worth it. So stayed and had a meal from a shop by the hotel foyer. The shop keeper gave me a taster meal free of charge, and honestly that would have done for me, but then I felt that was not the right thing to do, so purchased a meal and ate only half of it, as I was too full.

    It was going to be a early start tommorrow as I had booked to go to Jordan for 3 nights and had to be at the pick up point by 5.15 am. So got the bags packed on what to take to Jordan and what to leave at the hotel luggage room and off to Bed.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    Day 9

    Jordan here I come

    June 9, 2023 in Jordan ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Up early, had a restless night, changed my mind about the bag I was taking, so got up at 3.00am and re paccked everything. Got less than 5 hours sleep. especially after the previous nights fire alarms going off as well, not sure how I managed to get up and get to the meeting point by 5.15 am. I had choesen to stay at this hotel due to its proximity to the meeting point. It was less than a 3 minute walk.

    But as things do happen often in situations such as this, the coach did not arrive on time due to an accident on the road. but we were entertained by a lightning show. I recorded it just for Colin. You would have enjoyd it. There was 7 of us at the Telaviv meeting point. 3 from Australia, 3 from the States. Finaly the coach came and we were on our way. Picked up another 14 from Jerusalem. Afther the Bein Harem tours that we had used to go to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Dead Sea etc this was totally unorgainsed and the driver did not know what he was doing, some of the group people didn'nt know which what was happening, so wasted quite a lot of time getting people organised. Everyone was there but they did'nt seem to communicate with each other. While there it was poured with rain. Just buketed down. Cooled the place down a bit. Anyhow we were now off to Jordan. Well talk about s stuff up at the boarder crossing. Leaving Israel, you have to get out of your coach, then go pay the fees at a counter, then go to te customes officer. The place where you pay your fees won't accept israel currency even though its Israel boarder petrol, what ever you pay it is accounted in US $'s then it takes the lady a month of sundays to convert that. Finally into Duty Free. Mr James got you Blue Berry and Vodka soft centred choclates for you. Now if it so happens that it is so hot, I need to eat it so it does;nt go to waste, remember I bought it originally thinking of you. :)

    After that you have to take your luggage out of the coach as the Israeli driver does not cross over. So we have to get in to a lareg bus along with every other Dick Tom and Harry and cross over to Jordan. Which is all of a 5 minute drive or so. Then of we get off, and there is a person with a tour group board, but it does not say "Petra from Israel", Which is the name of our tour group. instead the board that is being held by the guide says Jordan Tours. So 18 of us trapse through to the passport control and your not allowed to take your luggage in. We are all going around like head less chooks wondering where is the guide for our group, what are we to do now. So I went off to speak to the guide who was yet at the bus stand to make sure he was not our guide and he says No he is waiting for a different group. Then we ring the tour company and it wa this stupid moronic person. Not sure what plantet he was living on, that is a mystery. But as it so happens he is not reallay bad. Has a sense of humor and he is trying to earn a living, and he is very proud of his home land and the Royal Family, especialy the crown prince who got married on the 1st June this year.

    So after a lot of sorting out because there were people in our group, some who was staying 1 night in Jordan, then there were others who were staying 2 nights in Jordan, and still more of us staying 3 nights in Jordan. So we got moving. First we went to Jerash. This is an ancient Roman City. On the way there wer went though very mountainous country. We were travelling north and climbing all the time. much of the country is a desert but the towns were full of homes and shops and people. The roads were very bad compared to Israel, and the towns and the places were not maintained that well etc. Jerash once again was like Masada. Jaw droppingly awsome, how did these get built, and how are they yet standing. Some of the place is destroyed due to Earth Quakes, but the ruins are yet standing, not sure about what is built today,
    dont think there are going to be around 2000 years later.

    Lunch was picked up from a shop and we had it at Jerash in a restaurant that caters to that, then after wondering around Jerash we went on to see one of the oldest Mosaic Floors in a Greek Orthodox Church Madaba. After that we were taken to a Jordanian sweet shop for sampling and purchasing of same, Quickly scooted into a church that I psssed on the way of the Virgin Mary too which had mossaic work on the walls. Then to Mossaic workshop set up by the late King Hussaine's wife for young disabled people. I really and truly liked a mossaic artwork there, but it was over NZ $ 2000. Could not justify paying that, have a photo of the mosaic artwork will put it up on my photos. they also make camel haired carpets and bamboo carpets, but as I learnt today 1 Jordan Dinar is worth just over NZ$ 2.00. So when they say something is 1300.00 then bring it down by bargaining to 850 Dinar its yet close to NZ $2000.

    After that we dropped off the 4 people not going of to do Petra tomorrow and we arrived at our digs. I paid for a single room and have got a suit, the quantity is there but not the quality. the water was warm and clean the sheets a clean, Our group has gelled together, we had dinner together and there was lots of laughter and fun. so all in all a great day.    Read more

  • TravelerHoly Land 2023
    1
    Day 10

    More Roman Ruins,Mt Nebo & Waadi Rum

    June 10, 2023 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    After a so so breakfast, we were off to visit the Citadel. Those darn Romans were everywhere. They knew to build and keep it strong. The caves were where the people lived.

    The amphitheater that is yet there in all its glory in Amman is yet used in this day and age. WOW it is beautiful. Cannot believe that it was built over 2000 years ago. It can hold over 7000 people. In the days of the Romans the place was used for all forms of entertainment, including performances and cage fighting of animals like in the coliseum. The last of these were held when the governer had a cage fight for his daughters wedding celebrations. The lion killed the man he was fighting , but after that the lion got out and killed the governers daughter as well. That put an end to cage fighting at this place. I did climb right to the top, and it was a long way up, and a long way down. would have sure broken a bone if I fell. the bottom 3rd was for the governer and his tribe, the 2nd third was for the military, and the last 3rd was for the public. In the first 3rd there are 2 individual seats for the governer and his wife.

    After this we went to Mt Nebo. This is where Moses saw the promised land, after 40 years of travelling over the desert since crossing the Red sea. It was very very special. To think that Moses long years ago stood there or some where in the vicinity and looked at the promised land. WOW moment.

    Then we were off to Waadi Rum. It took nearly 3 hours to get there. Then on to jeeps for a 4 wheel drive over the desert. The desert lanscape here unlike in Dubai was full of mountains of rock formation. The thought crosses your mind when you see some of them how the hell did that happen to be carved like that or sliced like that. This was where Lawrence of Arabia lived and the film took place too. His book 7 pillars of Wisdom was written under one of these rocks in the shade of the rock now known as the 7 pillars rock. The Waadi rum was also a trading route, and some of the carvings state how many camels went that way for taxation purposes so that the Nebathians knew how much should be taxed from the traders per the animals that went that way.

    We had to get to a perticular place and on to a rock to see the sun set and that was lovely. A sunset is a sunset, but normally we see it at the sea side. So to see it over in the desert was special.

    Then to our digs for the night which was a desert camp. I had paid for a night in a Martian tent. ( a dome tent with a glass front. That was nice being able to see the outside at night time and the sun shine very early over the desert.

    After dinner went off, for a star gazing experience. That was a very well spent experience. Very informative and interesting and presented so well I think I will not forget some of the constellations now ever again.😊. Famous last words.

    Finally got to bed at 2.00am.    Read more

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