I kept putting off writing a post because i thought, oh nothing THAT interesting has happened to me. Well unfortunate it appears that the way it works is nothing happens and you've heaps of time. Then all of a sudden everything happens at once. and there's no time to do something simple like write a short blog update.
So here i am, taking a break to write this novel.
Last time, i was just waiting to move into my new place, so what'd i do? The day i could move in i dumped my bags there and went to jerusalem to visit the Fidler's. Which was fun--as expected. I kept my first shabbat in years, the result of which was "and why did i do that again?" the amount of uber religious people in Jerusalem really does make me feel a little uncomfortable. I'm not entirely sure if it's just because i'm not used to them, or what...but ultimately i don't enjoy that!
Didn't actually get up to too much in Jerusalem, but did enjoy the chilling aspect of it all. Tel aviv life appears to take a tole on the body. I guess looking at it you don't sleep too much, you endure extreme heat (i think it's extreme!) and basically never have a day off. Which is great for me, but it is tiresome.
Back in tel aviv i met up with a guy from couchsurfing, Orion. Backtrack... I'd put a post online saying: i want to go to petra. anyone interesting in joining? Well ultimately we met for coffee to see if we got on and talked plans. And that very point was were everything went off!!
I don't think from then until now, did i really rest. well. not really anyway, you'll see!!
On sunday (after a weekend of meeting friends, making friends and not sleeping much), we headed off on our journey. Our rough plan was to hitchhike to eilat stay at a couchsurfer for the night, then get to petra and stay for two nights with another couchsurfer..then to go back to eilat spend another night there and head back early the next day. WELL it worked pretty much like that.
Hitching
Orion and i didn't start our day as early as planned...mostly because of the lack of sleep the night before. We walked for around half an hour to the nearest highway. That was where we stood with our sign "Eilat" for about half an hour whilst everyone driving past would giggle and point. We had no understanding of that. What was so funny? could they laugh whilst they drove us? In the end we ditched out signs and just used our thumbs (even my little stubble of a thumb!) and within minutes got a lift from a group of european/israeli guys who not only drove us but where so concerned that they gave us their number's, and drove us to the onramp for our next stop. Fun. Well i could give a story of everyone that gave us a lift, but that's just not necessary. Ultimately was a really fun journey even if we did a little offroad hiking to get between high ways. None of our drivers was creepy at all, but orion had pepper spray just in case!
Our first night in Eilat was with a couchsurfer Clil, who lived not in the city but on a small organic farm about 15 minutes walk away from the beach. That was rather fun. With no electricity we made a big vego salad in addition to freshly made eggplant dip a bottle of wine and some bread and ate it whilst sitting on mattress's under the stars. We did have to watch out for the rabbits who kept trying to steal our food.. (they had a small feast on the salad whilst we naively waited).
We slept in a tent with half a roof (made of blankets sort of) and well i had a lovely incredible sleep....though really i always do!
Petra
the next morning we took an early start (to escape the heat) and headed to Petra. Our hitching was so successful the night before that we decided to hitch into town (a 40 min walk). i can't believe i've never done that before. Hitching is great, the conversations you have gah it's incredible. Though i don't think i'd do it alone. Or at least not alone without some sort of protection, my Krav is good...but i would prefer to rely on something else and use that as a back up.
At the border we met an american couple who asked if we'd like to share a cab to petra. Which was great because it is pretty much the only way to get into town (about 2 hours from the border). As usual i slept almost the entire car ride and woke up only when our driver stopped to say, oh look pretty site. So half asleep i'd take a photo, probably not even in focus!
In petra or more acurately in the town Wadi Musa we met up with our host for the next two nights, Abraham and hence the beginning of the new chapter...
Bedouin's
That night we ate Bedouin style slow cooked chicken, fish and rice. Under the fire type stuff. According to Abraham only Bedouin's cook like this...but i'm pretty sure it's traditional of most peoples. Don't the Maories do similar with their hungi? It was delicious either way, and the way we ate suited me fine. Big platter and eat with your hands. no washing before (bit ewwy), its very communal. That'd have to be the best way to describe it. Orion warned me "this is the best way to get backpackers diorreah" well good news all, i didn't get anything! :D
Slept outside in the mountains that night. Apparently Abraham sleeps out everynight, because Bedouin's appreciate nature. Which is fine by me. everyone would probably be better off if we took the time to appreciate what's around us. Saying that, what really rubbed up wrong against me, was the fact that rubbish was just left everywhere. I mean, if you appreciate nature, why ruin it? Orion said it was a cultural thing, but i don't know. I didn't like it at all.
For convenience i was married for a few days in Petra, fun right? Another culturally thing, it was assumed that if we were travelling together we must be married! But because of this, there was no real trouble. the bonus's of travelling with a male!
Abraham hooked us up with a few donkey's from the village and so we didn't have to walk up to the monestry. Was glad for that afterwards...quite a distance! and my mule was lovely, Ilyan was very calm and loved to try to run if he could. i did pay for it the next day when not only my bum hurt but my back too....never even realised i would have used back muscles riding a mule.
Back in Eilat we met up with our host for that evening, Nimrod, and his friends. Unfortunately--for me--we met at the beach. Where we stayed for a few hours. It was lovely in the water, but SO hot out. If you were in the sun for 3 minutes you were dry. needless to say, i hid in the shade. I still got sunburnt. My first time in israel. tut tut.
Our hitchike back to Tel aviv was really easy, only 2 rides (and cheating, a bus!) our first even bought snacks for us! the second was a big truck. I must say hitch hiking is a great thing, but i see how it could be used badly. On both parts, lucky for Orion and I it was not!
That very night we got back to Tel aviv, i went out. First with a new friend to have a few drinks at a bar. She had to go back early so i went home. Coincidence has it that my roommate was back from the army that weekend and so he joined me with a few beers on our balcony. Soon enough Orion called to say he was around the corner at a bar and i should join. I was talking to Elise about this just today, but from my apartment the bars are a 3 minute walk away...so it's not exactly a hardship!
Josh (room mate), decides to join and so we get there and Orion starts to introduce people. Would you believe it, my other room mate is there too! What a small world.
After a few drinks i decided (what a genius i am) to go to the beach. Very clever right? But first before you decide. Put it in perspective; from my apartment to the bar-2 min walk, from the bar to the beach-30 min walk. YEP great idea.
Needless to say we all strip off to bare minimum and swim until sunrise. Which is a great idea until you walk home in wet jean shorts and wake up with a burning throat from the saltiness of the water, and sick from walking home cold and wet.
As it happens as well as swimming at the beach that night i met Daniel. Friend of Ariel (my room mate), and new friend of mine. He had said that they were going to camp up north the next day and would i like to join. SO after a few hours sleep we set off up north. Aswell as daniel and I, there is Ty and Pame a new couple and friends of Daniel.
Not surprisingly i fall asleep in the car, and soon enough we're there. There being the Banias; a natural park near Mt Hermon with a beautiful river running through and a waterfall. We jump the fence to get in (israeli style), because even though their closed surely their not really closed! Our camp for the night is right next to the river... it was stunning. Daniel sets up our tent--a two person hammock, i know HOW COOL!. and Ty and Pame set up their regular two person tent. In between we have a fire. It is really perfect. Our dinner is Delicious chicken wings and roasted vegies. But get this, WE even did kiddush!! YUP a real night outside.
A bit later on we're all warm next to the fire, we've had a few beers and i decide hey lets go swimming. We're a little worried about slipping on the rocks but Ty goes to check it out and it seems to be fine.
well well well, that water was freezing! i'm talking "can't feel my feet" cold. But not only do we go in once, we do it twice...and of course. Naked. Seems to be the new theme with me.
As we're sitting around the fire, naked, drying off we all have a similar comment of...this is just perfect. I mean i'd only met these people that day. Daniel the night before. It was like being with old friends. I was completely at ease, nothing could have made it better. And already we have plans to go again.
The next morning Pame makes us a Delicious Shakshuka whilst i try to grab a little more sleep--i'd not slept much at all during the night...hammocks are more comfortable for 1! such a lovely experience......so far
Getting in trouble
We had half packed up, cleaned already and where just doing final touches when a ranger walks in on us. Hmmm it was something i'd almost expected, it was illegal after all! Well well Ty took the lead and we played stupid tourist. No hebrew all that. According to them we'd not just broken one rule, we'd broken all of them. We'd camped, had fire, swam and whatever else we weren't allowed to do..we did!
They threatened us with a 800 ILS entrance fine, a 300 ILS fire fine and whatever else. All the time Ty is doing his thing. And did he do it or what! Instead of all those fines we had to pay entrance fees. (23 ILS each), and we were still allowed to do the waterfall hike! incredible. I mean they were literally threatening to call the police and we got off with paying fees we were meant to pay anyway, and we even got to still go hike. What an incredible sweet talker Ty is!
The only negative of course was that now not only i was sick but Daniel too...apparently swimming in frozen waters isn't the best of ideas.
Hilton
Back in Tel aviv, daniel suggests we just crash at his place..which at the moment is the Hilton. To me that sounds perfect. Comfy beds, big tv, air con, shower, everything i wanted right then. But mostly it was the black out curtains that did it for me. We were both feeling unwell so sleep was absolutely in order. So from about 3pm till 9 the next morning i slept on and off. So great.
Anyway, that's essentially it for the fun stuff.
Today i biked to the Ministry of Defence office to nudder a little. I still haven't heard from the army and i'm really running out of time. He assured me they'd call tomorrow with my id no and interview date.. so i shall wait. At the moment it's probably best i don't have a medical...i look like a junky. My legs are covered with bruises, scratches and mossy bites and i'm all coughy and sick. so i'll take the time to rest.
 |
| At the monestry, Petra |
No comments:
Post a Comment