Holy Land 2011

Red Sea in Eilat

July 13 (Wednesday) – Arrival.

• It took 6 hours to travel by land from Egypt to Israel.  Though it does not require a visa for Filipinos but we were asked for our purpose of visit.  From the bus stop to the border, it took us almost 15 minutes by foot.  Then we took a taxi from Taba to Eilat bus station to Jerusalem where we met a Palestinian mother who taught me basic Hebrew while waiting for the departure, like the following:

1. akad                      11. akad esre                 100.     miah
2. eshtime               12.  eshtime esre            20.     esrim
3. shalosh                13.  shalosh esre            30.     shloshin
4. arba   (same as in Arabic)                          40.     arbaim
5. kamesh                                                              50.     kamsheen
6. shesh                                                                  60.     sheshim
7. sheva                                                                 70.     shevaim
8. shmony                                                            80.      shmoneem
9. teshaa   (same as in Arabic)                     90.      teshaim
10. esher

right – yemina   (yemin in Arabic);     left – smolah;   straight – yashar;

street – rehof;   thank you – tudaraba

now – mahayom;    yesterday – etmol;    tomorrow – mahaar

What time?   Ma shaa?

What is your name?Ma shem shelak?

Where?   If fo at gara?

• I was uncomfortable the whole day searching for my luggage which was lost.  An old Jewish lady accidentally got my luggage, because we have the same luggage size and color.  So I was uncomfortable the whole day like Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker.  Then I went to her flat, which was clean and organized.   It was such a test of patience.   It was exhausting but it’s alright, at least I got my luggage back.

View of the Old City from the rooftop of Austrian Hospice.

Entrance to Austrian Hospice

• We stayed in Austrian Hospice which has an amazing view of the old city from its rooftop along Via Dolorosa (where the traces of the footsteps of Christ to his crucifixion or the stations of the cross to the Holy Sepulcher is located.  The word hospice sounds like “a place for medical and emotional care for the terminally ill”.  But it’s a lodging for travelers (especially “one kept by a monastic order”).  It’s secured, clean, well maintained, and it’s the most practical place to live conveniently in the old city because it provides free WiFi, free safe drinking water (which was said to be filtered, but so far my tummy didn’t get upset during my stay there) and it includes breakfast buffet from 7AM-9AM (with different kinds of cereals, breads, processed meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, yogurts and with unlimited coffee, tea and juice).  A heavy breakfast is already enough for the whole day travel. It also has sumptuous Viennese cafe.  But of course, it’s better to explore in different restaurants and the local food in the market for snack & dinner.

July 14 (Thursday)- Tour in the Old Jerusalem

Damascus Gate

Dome of the Rock

• We went to explore the Old City by just walking around.  It’s a safe place with security cameras almost everywhere.  We got the maps and guides from the Tourists’ Center inside the old city.  It’s also where we got a free tour in the old city.  The tour guide has done a great job in showing us the religious and historical sites inside the old city.  The archaic sanctuaries, chambers, perfectly military engineered fortresses, castles, buildings  and architectures  were preserved even after the ruins from the religious wars.   Great to see the remnants from the Knights Templar and Saladin.
• Since the cost of living in Israel is quite high and we plan to stay for a week or more, we searched for the most practical way to live in Israel and to get a great deal.

July 15 (Friday) – Station of the Cross  & Tour in Bethlehem

Holy Sepulcher Church

Western/Wailing Wall

The Jews

• We were so lucky that we have met the Sisters’ of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Congregation) and joined them for the station of the cross then we went to observe the Sabbath of the Jews in the place where King Solomon’s Western/Wailing Wall or the Muslim’s El-Mabka/Al-Buraq Wall is located.  There were drinking fountains where a lot of people were drinking and washing their hands and face. There were mugs shared by some.  I’m actually clueless why other people were praying while washing their face.

“This silver star, beneath the altar in the Grotto of the Nativity, marks the spot believed to be the Birthplace of Jesus.”

• In the late afternoon, we went to Bethlehem to the Church of Nativity.  The travel by bus from the old city took almost 30 minutes.  It’s cheaper to commute or take a bus  (most are clean air-con buses)  to Bethlehem from the old city than to take a taxi or thru travel agency.   From the bus stop it will take almost 20 minutes to reach the Church of the Nativity.   It’s safer to walk during the day and make sure to have a companion because there are  locals who will try to harass you or even force you to buy something from their store.  Learn the art of saying NO.   Inside the church was the

• • “Silver star embedded in white marble marks.  The exact spot where Jesus was born.  The original star was place here by the Roman Catholic Church in 1717.”  (text from This Week in Palestine, Issue No. 44, December 2001)

July 16  (Saturday) – Tour in Nazareth, Cana, Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha & Jordan River

• We took a whole day tour package to Nazareth, Cana, Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha & Jordan River.  First we went to the Church of the Annunciation, which according to the Roman Catholic tradition, “it marks the site where the Archangel Gabriel announced the future birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-31)”.   Then we had a chance to feel the breeze of the sea of Galilee and a stop over for lunch @ Tanureen Oriental Restaurant (which I have no comment).

Inside the Church of the Annunciation

• It was in Capernaum where the ruins of the old synagogue and the house of St. Peter are located.

Courtyard of the Church of Multiplication

• In Jordan river we met various groups:  A religious group singing hymns; A group of people wearing white as they do their baptismal ceremony;  A group of ladies swimming in the river; And a group of brave rats swimming as they get close to the crowd for food and picture taking.

July 17  (Sunday) – Sunrise in Masada, Ein Gedi (Oasis in Israel)  & Swim in the Dead Sea

My poor shoe overused during the sunrise trekking in Masada.

View from the fortress in Masada

To the cable car in Masada

• On top of the mountain, you can drink cold water from the drinking fountain.
• Since we have to leave before 9AM, we have no choice but to walk because the cable car opens at 9AM.  So if you plan to go to Masada, you have to arrange the schedule earlier so you can take the cable car.

A hungry bird in Masada

• On top of the mountain, we had a great time learning as we relax, observe the Jewish teens from the US  while they were praying, took a lot of pictures and fed the birds around us.
• Then we went to the Ein Gedi where the oasis is located.  Since some of us  were so tired from the Masada trekking, we just stayed on the foot of the mountain of Ein Gedi.
• The last trip was in the Dead Sea, where we soaked ourselves in mud and float on the sea after.  I felt rejuvenated after the mud bath.  Though the trip was exhausting, it was truly remarkable. 🙂

June 18  (Monday) – City of David, Mount  of Olives, Mount Zion & Garden of Gethsemane

Mount of Olives

Garden of Gethsemane

Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives

The Church of the Pater Noster

A Copt inside the church where Virgin Mary’s tomb lies

July 19 (Tuesday) –  Yad Vashem

A relaxing landscape in Yad Vashem

• Yad Vashem is a place where you’ll learn to value humanity.   You’ll surely be emotional once you’ve seen the memorabilia of the victims of the holocaust which can take almost 3 hours just to tour around the museum.  Too bad it’s not allowed to take pictures inside.
• It is open for everyone for free.
  • “It is located in the western region of Mount Herzl on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem is a 45-acre (180,000 m²) complex containing the Holocaust History Museum; memorial sites, such as the Children’s Memorial and the Hall of Remembrance; The Museum of Holocaust Art; sculptures, outdoor commemorative sites such as the Valley of the Communities, a synagogue, archives, a research institute, library, publishing house and an educational center, The International School for Holocaust Studies. Yad Vashem honors non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, at personal risk, as the “Righteous among the Nations”. Yad Vashem is the second most-visited tourist site in Israel, after the Western Wall. It receives some one million visitors annually.

July 20 – Jerusalem & Departure

• I felt amazed to see a BMW motorcycle for the first time, since I’m just used of Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki & Honda.
• Before we left, we met a group of people protesting for the rental price hike, they put tents outside the Citadel, had band performance and sponsors from various sectors.  Too bad we have to leave the following day, we could have joined them.
• If there’s one word to describe Israel, it’s HEAVENLY!

Police Motorcycle

I felt so blessed to be in holy and sacred places.

I felt so blessed to visit the religious and historical sites.

I felt so blessed to meet good people and learn from them.

I felt so blessed that I was guided to live in a clean & decent place.

I felt  so blessed that I was guided to eat and drink healthy.

I felt so blessed that I had a safe trip and had so much fun.

I felt so blessed and thankful for the blessings.

What more can you ask for when you have felt that you are so loved and blessed?

Because of these experiences, I can prove that there’s God .  A majestic and noble God.