Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Gaza severly attacks Israel for the first time since 2012
This afternoon most of the volunteers went on a shopping trip to Beer Sheva. There were 6 of us left in the house, sat around playing cards and one person was in bed asleep. Around 5 we heard a really load mortar go off. Got a phone call to go to the bunkers. After about an hour and a half we get told its safe to leave the bunker but we should stay in the house and be able to get to a bunker with in 15 seconds. Turns out this happened. Then we watched out the window and heard Isreals attack around 10pm. An eventful evening. Israels response. Hopefully that will be the end of it for the evening.
Monday, 10 March 2014
10 day catch up
It's been raining so I have some time off work. No need to irrigate when nature does it for you, which means plenty time to have a recap of Jerusalem, Garam leaving and the volunteer trip around the North of Israel.
Last weekend in Jerusalem was nice. Daniel, an Israeli guy I met while travelling around China, and his flatmates kindly let me stay on their couch and invited me to hang with them and their friends a in the evening. I met a lot of people and got to do my own thing during the day.
Thursday I spent wandering around the Old City looking at churches, the Western Wall, being amazed by the dedication of the religious and drinking tea with a Bedouin shop keeper whilst discussing the philosophy of life, as you do.
Friday I went to the over crowded market which was full of delicious food. I came back with a bag of pastries and a load of strawberries. There were a lot of buskers there too but these guys were definitely having the most fun.
Saturday with no buses running, for Sabbath, I walked from the New town through the old city and up another hill to the Mount of Olives. Here I bumped into some history and politics students from Leeds University who were getting a guided tour with all the history and links to the bible explained, so I tagged along. It was super interesting and especially as a non believer. Hearing the conflicting factions of the different religions how ones hell is another's heaven and all kinds of interpretations in between.
I came to the conclusion there was definitely someone called Jesus about in Jerusalem but that seems to be all anyone can agree on. Just the pure basics. Religion is definitely a powerful thing. I kinda found it shocking seeing people kissing the stone where Jesus was meant to have died and such. I do love the art and architecture that religion has left us but I am definitely sticking to being an observer rather than a participant in this religion malarkey.
Garam left on Friday. A sad day. Lots of people have come and gone in the house but this time was a little different. Someone who has become your best friend over the past 5 months. I miss her but it just means I will have to add South Korea to my list of places to visit!
It was also a good day though, everyone in the house went on a trip the north along with volunteers from two other kibbutz. We walked through a freezing cold Roman aqueduct, then to Nazereth to see an architectural impressive church and a quick stop for an ice cream and some shopping next to the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius. In the evening we BBQ'd and chatted the night away at Kibbutz Affikim.
Saturday we headed for a walk along River Banias to see some amazing water falls and the Golan Heights in the distance. Unfortunately I have zero photos of this as my camera died and my SD card in my phone is broken and no one seems to have put any on facebook yet apart.
On the bus on the way home things got a little crazy, the bus driver put on the radio and it started playing Isreali dance music so the guys at the back of the bus started dancing and jumping around to it. Crazy volunteers. Considering the bus driver had insisted we wore seat belts for the majority of the trip, the party bus was a little unexpected.
Next trip is a Volunteer seminar with volunteers from all over Isreal in Tel Aviv in a few weeks time. The four of us that have been here the longest are going. Should be interesting!
Last weekend in Jerusalem was nice. Daniel, an Israeli guy I met while travelling around China, and his flatmates kindly let me stay on their couch and invited me to hang with them and their friends a in the evening. I met a lot of people and got to do my own thing during the day.
 |
| The Old City |
Thursday I spent wandering around the Old City looking at churches, the Western Wall, being amazed by the dedication of the religious and drinking tea with a Bedouin shop keeper whilst discussing the philosophy of life, as you do.
Friday I went to the over crowded market which was full of delicious food. I came back with a bag of pastries and a load of strawberries. There were a lot of buskers there too but these guys were definitely having the most fun.
Saturday with no buses running, for Sabbath, I walked from the New town through the old city and up another hill to the Mount of Olives. Here I bumped into some history and politics students from Leeds University who were getting a guided tour with all the history and links to the bible explained, so I tagged along. It was super interesting and especially as a non believer. Hearing the conflicting factions of the different religions how ones hell is another's heaven and all kinds of interpretations in between.
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| Church at Mt of Olives where Jesus was arrested |
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| Ein HaShalosha says bye to Garam |
Garam left on Friday. A sad day. Lots of people have come and gone in the house but this time was a little different. Someone who has become your best friend over the past 5 months. I miss her but it just means I will have to add South Korea to my list of places to visit!
It was also a good day though, everyone in the house went on a trip the north along with volunteers from two other kibbutz. We walked through a freezing cold Roman aqueduct, then to Nazereth to see an architectural impressive church and a quick stop for an ice cream and some shopping next to the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius. In the evening we BBQ'd and chatted the night away at Kibbutz Affikim.
Saturday we headed for a walk along River Banias to see some amazing water falls and the Golan Heights in the distance. Unfortunately I have zero photos of this as my camera died and my SD card in my phone is broken and no one seems to have put any on facebook yet apart.
On the bus on the way home things got a little crazy, the bus driver put on the radio and it started playing Isreali dance music so the guys at the back of the bus started dancing and jumping around to it. Crazy volunteers. Considering the bus driver had insisted we wore seat belts for the majority of the trip, the party bus was a little unexpected.
Next trip is a Volunteer seminar with volunteers from all over Isreal in Tel Aviv in a few weeks time. The four of us that have been here the longest are going. Should be interesting!
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