Thursday, October 09, 2008

Into Jerusalem

I sneakily took this shot. Not supposed to take any pictures at the borders. We put up in Bethlehem which is under the Palestine's and everyday to visit the sites in Jerusalem,we've to cross this border. I should have snuck another picture of the graffiti on the walls on one side. It's artistically done speaking of the politics between the 2 nations.
Taken outside their embassy. But this does not mean any disrespect. Just got bored of doing the usual sexy poses. Hah.

This is apparantly Israel's equivalent to our Merlion.
The Western Wall, also known as the Weeping Wall is one interesting sight. The Orthodox Jews, are very religious Jews who follow the Old Testament rigidly. Only thing was they do not believe that the Messiah, Jesus Christ has come whereas the Christians do. Therefore, they come to this wall (where the Temple used to stand) and wail. They rock back and forth to wail for the coming of the Messiah. The Orthodox Jewish males wear black hats and long black coats, leaving their side burns un cut forever. It really is quite an eye opener to see another culture.

Took a walk on the Ramparts, saw the Armenian as well as Jewish quarters.




The only shopping we got to do. But so disappointed we couldn't leisurely shop. It was more of window shopping at a super fast pace. The dark tunnel reminded me Aladdin somehow.
This belt was the ONLY thing i got. Haggled from 25USD to 10USD.
They are ridiculously young yet very manly (because of the strict discipline)
I think i want to get invovled with the UN. I want to spread some love. I want to do more for the world.



Camels can be seen parked in car lots for rides.



Caesarea Maritima. A visit to this city is one of the 'musts' in any visit to Israel. Its a combination of ancient and modern cities. I can’t really see the difference because modern then were also rocks.
Herod the Great’s Promontory Palace, battered for centuries by the Mediterranean Sea, has been partially restored, as also the ancient stadium, bordered by ancient government buildings, including Paul’s prison (speculated) (to my right in the background).
How glamour-ess. An umbrella in between my legs. The wind was blowing lah! I WAS NOT posing.This is the ancient harbour where the Apostle Paul returned from his missionary journeys and where he set off on a merchant shit for Rome on his final shipwreck journey. Where we witnessed Herod's great invention of underwater cement. He managed to stop the waves from crashing into this serene pool right behind me.
The spot that Passion of the Christ made popular. This street was believed to be the street Jesus carried His Cross to His death by Crucification. Soldiers littered the street, keeping peace. Israelis are just hot. Uniformed men, even hotter.

I thought i would see rituals like this at the Via Dolorosa. But i think it only happens in Philipines, which i saw on TV. Christians don't adopt this ritual actually. We do not believe that we need to go through what Jesus did to atone for our sins. Nonetheless this group was doing some sort of a mild version of carrying the Cross.



Outside the walls of Jeruselem was the garden tomb.

Where Jesus was said to have laid and then resurrected.
My father looks kinda shocked emerging the tomb. I wonder if he's acting..



This is a 200 or is it 2000 year old olive tree that my mum insisted i took 30 pictures of it.
This must be the Dung gate, the walled city.
Mum being very frugal with her USD. It's 3USD for a cup of juice! Things are not cheap in Middle East i tell ya.
City of David! I like this museum. That's King David's tower. Pity we couldn't spend more time here. It closes at 2pm, we reached at 1.30pm. We toured in record time, 30 minutes.
I tell you, there're so many types of denominations of the faith in Israel that i'm even more confused after the visit. But all the more intrigued. There was the Church of Beautitudes, Church of Multiplication of the Loaves (one long name), the Greek Orthodox Church and many more.
And at each church we went, we sang hymns within. To hear the repercussions, and boy are they powerful .
My heart ached for the people living in Bethelehem. Because of the political issues, they are not allowed to enter Jerusalem. It's like they're confined, quarantined even. Therefore unemployment rate in Bethelehem is sky high. Everyday you see street hawkers ranging from as young as 6 to as old as 40. You look at the youngsters and feel such pity for them, because is being a street hawker all they can do? Besides, this was the birth place of Jesus. So the place holds some significance you know, and its bad to see it so sorrowful.

Sadly, yes. Got to give them credit though, at least they're not turning to crimes. So if you do go to Bethelehem, please do buy from the street hawkers. They're not out to cheat your money, they really need your purchase to make a living.
No guns at holy sites. Riiiight.....we carry guns all the time. Haha, actually they probably do. I noticed that almost every boy on the street carried a toy gun. Weapons are probably glamourised in this somewhat war torn country.
Fierce loh, i tell you these boys. Reminds me of this movie i watched, where all these young boys stoned backpackers to death. Hostel 2 i think. This is a Jewish cemetry. One very interesting difference is instead of bringing flowers to a grave, they bring...
Stones!! I can't really remember the reason but i think its something like flowers can't be found all year round (the country is somewhat a desert, a very dry land).

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Holy Land experience part 2

Singaporeans are identitied as the umbrella carrying group. We were the ONLY ones! But i tell you, we're not ashamed because it's simply really blazing! Going to Israel, few things you definitely must have:

1) Sunnies

2) Sun block

3) Umbrellas

4) Loose clothing but not all skimpy as this stone will tell you (at holy sites)


I am on yet another ancient fotress and city of Tel Megiddo. The scenery behind me is where Armageddon happened (some fight between yet another someone and another one) and will happen (in Revelation, the end-of-time war will take place here again between Angels and Devil).
The Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem) was one of my favourite museums. Not because i am a saddist, but because it evoked plenty of emotions for me. To see the testimonies on video, all these people relating their war stories is just tear jerking. That's L-O-V-E in Jewish by the way, like the one we have outside Fish and Co near Plaza Sing.
Secretly (and secretly happy being shot at) shot looking at Golan Heights, the historic Jewish city of Gamla and the very publicised fight (currently taking place) for that peice of land.

I visited so many ancient cities. I don't know which is which. These pictures are either Jericho- the old city. Or the ancient city of Beth Shean. Or maybe its Gamla, OR Beit Alpha. Hahahahhaa...



The owner of this fruit stall went to ask my father for my hand in marriage. He's 24, Palestinian. Told me he had a house ( i pointed to a hotel and asked if its that big. He said "yeah". Wonder if he understood my question), a car, cows, horses and asked me to marry him. Freaky! Lol. But he's sweet. He gave me free fruits and nuts. Hahaha...unlike Singaporean men nowadays. So stingy!

I think its just me being Asian, everywhere i go, the locals will be "you're very beeeeautiful". It's just like how naturally everyone would think an ang moh would be good looking. But there are ugly ang mohs also mah.
Aha! I remember this. Although i've seen like hundreds of stones in my 12 days. This is Masada- Herod the Great's palaces. You would think palaces are grand marble flooring etc. but palaces in those days of Israel are simply great rock massifs.


Pastor/ our tour guide is a really good one. He's not only knowledgable in all Biblical aspects, he really only wants the best for his tour group. So we visited way and beyond our itinery. Kudos to the 78 year old (?) man who walks faster than anyone else in the group. Ok, actually i'm sure Tim and i can walk faster than him. Just that we were busy cam whoring 90% of the time. And then the Sea of Galilee. Where no swimmung is allowed.
Funny you know, Israel is a country that can speak English pretty well. And so far all the signs we saw were in good English. What happened to this one?
A boat like this was found by archelogist during the time of Jesus. And therefore it's probably DA boat that Jesus took out to sea with His disciples to fish. No one tried to walk on the sea of Galilee. The kawaii poses of 6 and 7.
To be continued..

Monday, October 06, 2008

I have 1'103 pictures from Israel.

And i'm feeling alittle light headed from the work load i have waiting for me.