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!!!!!