'Israel Odyssey'

Scanning my email sent folder, I saw whole bunch of emails describing my travels to friends. The following is one of them.

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How have you been all this while? I have been doing quite well. I had a very nice time in Israel. There were so many places to see and a lot to experience. Israel has such a rich history that it's one county everyone must go to. I consider myself so lucky to have made this journey. Its' such a small country in terms of size but its got everything from history, culture, natural beauty, beaches, but unfortunately wars, conflict and a lot of destruction as well. I am returning back to India now and was in Jordan for a day before coming back. The journey across Israel was memorable. This was the first time I was traveling all alone but it was so much fun exploring the place all by myself. I made a lot of friends as well and had a great time.

First I went to Tel Aviv as I had some work to complete at one of the market research companies there. My colleague's were really helpful and they appreciated the work I did. In short, the work went really well. After that, I started my travel around the country.

My journey to Israel started at the place where it all began, The Dome of Rock. I was fortunate enough to visit the church where Jesus was born, and where he was crucified. The place where Prophet ascended to the heavens and to the Western Wall - the holiest place of Judaism. I also visited the holiest place of the Baha'is – The Baha'i Garden at Acre. Israel has so much to offer and there is so much to see. All this makes me wonder why it all happened in Israel? This place must be special, people no wonder call it the Holy Land. Are there any reasons given in the Bible, as to why Jesus was born there and not at any other place.

I fell in love with Jerusalem. Jerusalem is unparalleled in terms of its history and culture. Earlier I had thought I would stay 2 days in Jerusalem but I was there for 4 days. Jerusalem did enchant me. (Im just not able to put it into words, you would have to be there to understand). There is just so much to see in and around Jerusalem. It means so many things to so many people. To Muslims it's about the Al Aqsa Mosque, to Jews it's the Western Wall and the Christians want to visit the Via Dolorosa and the Church of Holy Sepulchre. I hope that it doesn't have to witness more wars and conflicts now. The trip to the Church of Nativity, Bethlehem was good too. I had to cross over to Palestine to make it to Bethlehem.

I took a day trip to the lowest point on earth - Dead Sea. I had a dip in the waters and just the feeling of floating on the water was so exciting. To see the sun rise at at the Dead Sea was so mesmerizing. I traveled to the Tiberias as well & to the Sea of Galilee. I rented a bike and rode all the way around the Sea of Galilee. Its around 61 kms, though I was really tired after the trip but it was fun. I really did learn a lot about Judaism and Christianity on this visit. Visiting the Church of Holy Sepulchre, just walking through Via Dolorosa and going to Bethlehem I was able to understand the life of Jesus Christ a little bit.

I will surely take a lot of memories of this trip along with me. But the visit to Israel made me miss the final of Cricket World cup which India won. I am so disappointed that I missed it but excited as well that India won!!! It would have been so exiting watching it back home with friends, but anyways if I have to be away from India to make India win I don't mind that!!!! I am back in India now and the hectic college life begins all over again.

I made a Jew friend as well and learnt a little bit about Judaism. It's so great to meet people from diverse backgrounds, religion and culture. Its such an learning experience meeting them and learning about things they believe in and the rational about it.

I hope you are having a good time. Its so good to hear that you like traveling as well. I personally like it a lot too. Just keep your traveling passion alive so that it makes you to come to India and I see you soon!!!

Bless!!!!!(Icelandic way of saying bye)

Wah! babuji Wah!

"Wah! babuji Wah!”, the waiter retorted, flipping two coins I had left in the tray as a tip. Realising that it could turn a little ugly, I quickly ran away from the scene. Jayant, busy enjoying the last gulp of saunf and mishri down his throat totally misread the situation. Jayant thinking I had given the most generous of tips, looked at the waiter to see him in his minute of ecstasy. The waiter exclaimed again, Wah! Babuji Wah!, as in just to make sure Jayant enjoys that one last gulp of saunf. That’s what you call true hospitality!!!!!! God bless Bhopal.

Im back!!!

So here I am at the end of another chapter. Its been three days since I returned to India. Had a wonderful time in Israel, it was fun traveling, meeting people, and learning so much about the holy land. Back to Israel, I planned my Israel trip with a lot of doubts and fear. Mom n Dad were really apprehensive about my choosing of Israel as a tourist destination. Through the days traveling, I had some bad experiences but now, I have no regrets. No regrets about going to Israel. The only regret is, why didnt I go earlier.

Life is full of choices and sacrifices. At the end of the day, all I can hope for is that I have No regrets and a lot of choices of travel destinations!!!!!

Dont Worry Be Jewish!!!!

The title is most important lesson learnt from Israel. Just savor the moment, the past and future are irrelevant. Life's a journey so enjoy the trip rather than just waiting for the destination. These are some of the other ways of putting it. The jews believe in that and just dont worry. So dont worry, be jewish.

These are some of scribblings of my trip. They were all randomy written when I was traveling on bits of paper here and there. Luckily I had time to put them up on my flight back from Amman to Delhi. They not too good, but still. Read the paragraphs as different writeups.

Travelling in different parts of the world, I can see, feel, and sense the difference of culture, in terms of language, food, and people. Its so different with and yet I feel at home. World is so different, yet so similar. Everywhere one’s existence depends on the money in his wallet. Sure, people have different cultures, different lifestyles but at heart they are humans. Everyone likes to be loved, to be cared for and just for that they love the people around them. It’s just like world is different but the differences are just so similar that it feels the same. I know this is all pure shit, but I don’t write that well just as a lot of people don’t!!!!!!

I have had it all. Israel is the place to be. I went to the place where it all began, the dome of rock. Visited the church where Jesus was born, spent all his life, and where he was crucified. Saw the place where Prophet ascended to the heavens and prayed at the Western wall - the holiest place of Judaism. And if that wasn’t enough, today I visited the holiest place of the Baha’is – The Baha’i Garden. All this makes me wonder, why it all happened in Israel? Is the land really the Holy Land!!!!!

At the Mount of Olives just outside the old city, Jesus wept that his holy land was being destroyed. The romans killed him. Then Muslims controlled Jerusalem for 400 years. I went to the lowest place on earth, Dead Sea. It was hot and it took my breath away. Just the feeling of floating on water is great. I loved it!!!! Luckily waiting for the bus, one of guards let me in his chamber which was air conditioned.

It was Shabbat these days and I could see the Haredis( a particular class of ultra orthodox Jews) walking past me all going to the Western Wall. Then there were Arabs coming in huge numbers to the Al Aqsa Mosque for the Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. To cap it all there were Christians holding the cross walking along the Via Dolorosa just to make sure they walk past the same places Jesus walked past before being resurrected. Jerusalem means so much to, so many people. Its like a world within a city. It has seen development, wars, destruction but now it stands united. Israelis keep their flag hoisted every where just to remind everyone that they control the city. May god keep it peaceful. Let the people come, enjoy and experience the wonderful place that Jerusalem is, which I have to the fullest.

Israel is the Holy Land. Its blessed, everyone says that, I agree. Its blessed with religious places for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. But I see its graced with the most beautiful girls in the world as well. Just walking down the streets at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or any place in Israel the beauty enchanted me, or rather mesmerised. Just when I thought I had seen the most beautiful girl of my lifetime another one walked past proving me wrong. The land is surely the Holy Land!!!!!

Noticed a very peculiar thing in Israel. The people around the Dead Sea region walk really slowly, the ones around Jerusalem a little faster and the ones in Haifa even more faster. First I thought, it was just a stupid observation but then I realised it wasn't. I couldnt help myself asking someone around, the reason behind it. The man I asked had a whole theory behind it, he explained it using a global view! Sure, Jews are considered to be the most intelligent beings on earth. He said the greater the distance of a person from the equator the faster he walks. I was amazed as the reason behind it was convincing as well. The temperature decreases as we move away from the equator and since people near it have to save water inside their body they walk slow inorder to decrease the perspiration and the ones far away from equator walk fast inorder to remain warm in cold weather. I am really hoping to see the global applicability of this theory in Iceland this December, hope I can get an answer.

I met people from diverse nationalities in the youth hostels. But the first question they asked me, what made you to come to Israel. They couldn’t digest the fact that I have come just to travel around the country. People have the perception that Indians don’t travel just for travelling .I had to tell them, I was the trendsetter and now Indians do move out. Moreover I had one more reason, its just because India is so diverse Indians just travel around the country as it’s a world within itself. We have the Himalayas, desert, seas, oceans, and above all places of historical interest as well. So Indians don’t feel the need to travel outside the country.

In Haifa stay at the Port Inn Hostel, though it’s a little expensive as compared to other places available but spending an extra buck is worth it.

In Iceland I had the lonely planet handbook, but I didn’t use it that much had a lot of local sources of information. But here in Israel it was the most handy information source I had. The information ranged from places of interest, eat out places, accommodation and most importantly places to hang out in the evenings. Sure I haven’t been to a lot of places, but Tel Aviv offers one of the best night life. Strangely I heard Beirut’s night life is one of the best in the world. (Just for the record Beirut is in Lebanon). Not even Lebanese but a lot of Americans had this opinion as well. But the Israeli Stamp stigma wont let me get into Lebanon now, for some time. I think I would have to wait for it. But if anyone interested, I have a lot of first hand information about Beirut. But I don’t thinktold me this fact.

Jerusalem it would have to be Hebron youth hostel. Its inside the walled city so one has a little trouble finding it but its fairly good place. It offers the best value of money. For money exchange the best places are no commission bureaus which are everywhere there. To reduce the food expenses, eat a lot of felafels, hummus, shwarma. But do try Arabic sweets, Armenian cuisine and Lebanon dishes at least once.

Unlike Europe one doesn’t drink tap water here in Israel. So rather than spending money on water, its better to buy juice, soft drink or if you have a little more money just buy beer!!!!! But it does hot real fast, if you can drink hot beer then just go for it.

There are some more as well, but havent got them on comp yet. Wait a little while if interested.

Happy reading!!!!!