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Israel: A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

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Hawaii Five - Oh!

Hawaii Five - Oh!

Story & Photography by Morgane Turqui

I hopped on the plane. With my friend, we looked at each other as the plane was taking off, and we burst in laughing. We laughed out of nervousness, excitement, and happiness. That was the first time that I have ever flown to a destination, completely ignoring everything about the country I was about to discover. That was the first time, I was about to go in a country, exploring a new land without having done tons of research beforehand. I wasn’t really anxious or worried, but rather enthusiastic and eager to find out more about this place.

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Let me take you into this discovery.

We went to Israel in October. We left home, at the beginning of fall, wearing coats and scarves. As soon as we landed

on the only airport of the country, in Tel Aviv, I was seized by the heat, and we went straight to the sea. How could we not jump more right into local traditions than by landing on a Friday, which is Shabbat for Jewish people, and on Sunday there was a celebration, so everything was closed for 2 days and a half...

Israel, the former land flowing with milk and honey, being at the crossroads of the three major religious branches, is definitely a country not know enough and not appreciated enough. As soon as I told my relatives I was planning on going to Israel, they overwhelmed me with questions, and remarks about how dangerous and not safe it is to go there with a girl friend of mine. I’m grateful

that I did not take very much care about their remarks for once, and still had my clear project in mind. Truth be told, as previously mentioned, I didn’t really know what to await of my trip, but the few expectations I had were certainly puzzled and astonished by what I encountered there, by how Israel really is, which defeats every rumor or prejudices people have regarding this country. I felt quite ashamed about all the prejudices people have about this country - and that I myself have thought as well.

Not a single time have I felt unsafe, or scared that something would happen - I’m honestly more anxious in France than I was there.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

TEL AVIV

Tel Aviv is the closest Mediterranean city I can compare to California. It has a chill vibe, lots of surfers, music, good healthy food and splendid large beaches. Perfect weather all year round, athletic people running on the beach, playing volley, working out or driving scooters, and breathtaking sunsets. Skyscrapers, lively night life, nice people, tons of children in the street, and ice cream shops on every corner. I truly felt like I could live there for a while.

THE DEAD SEA

I remember when I was a little girl, my dad would tell me that people can float without any effort in a sea far away from home - that was one of the few times I did not believe him. Years later, I’m still probably the most skeptical girl ever, as I did not believe how easily you can float on the Dead Sea before trying it myself. Walking in the Dead Sea was harder that I have imagined as the ground is covered

by clots of salt, forming little spiky ping pong balls of salt. Once you walk further and immerse yourself in the sea, a force is pulling your whole body upwards. You cannot stay for a long time in the sea as you cannot swim, and the salt itches you very quickly if you have a scratch. A single drop of water in your eyes and they are burning. A single one on your tongue and you want to throw up. That feeling of floating is amazing, unreal, and extremely relaxing. When you go out, your skin has never been that soft your entire life. Wait until sunset, so that the warm colors marvel the sea, the pink mountains and the sky, and remember that you’re at the lowest point on earth.

EIN GEDI

Not far from the Dead Sea, this is where David escaped and hid from King Saül wanting to kill him. As soon as I got off the car, I was astonished by nature, catching me back to reality. It’s been 2 weeks that we were in the desert, without any vegetation nor animals.

And here, the first thing I’ve heard was tons of birds singing. The first thing I’ve felt and smelled, was the fresh air under palm trees shadows. You can walk in this little oasis, resting near a waterfall and coming across different animals, which will make you feel you’re on another planet, as desert and dryness are the only thing surrounding it - which makes you understand why David found refuge in this oasis.

An odd feeling surrounds you while you’re visiting this country, especially if you’re a believer. You’re walking in the same streets, cities, places that you’ve only read about, Jerusalem, Megiddo, the mount of Olives, Nazareth ... as if the myth gives in to reality, as if everything makes sense now, and what you used to read in black and white, now turns out to be in colors. Whether you’re a believer or not, this region is soaked with history, more than any other on the planet, so why not go and have a look, to have a deeper understanding of our world today ?

A FEW TIPS, IF YOU’RE PLANING ON GOING TO ISRAEL.

Careful about parking, you need to download the app, Pango, in order to park, otherwise you’ll get a ticket. You can park for free on the grey sidewalk, when it’s white and blue, you need the app. Every sign is only in Hebrew, so download a translating app as well.

You should learn a few words and sentences. Starting with shalom, of course, meaning “peace” which you can say anytime, and to anyone. (If you have a bad memory, don’t worry, everyone speaks English there).

Life is quite expansive and they use the Shekel (1 Shekel = 0,25€ / 0,29$).

Careful with Shabbat, starting from Friday, at sunset, till Saturday evening. Depending on which city you’re at (Tel Aviv, for example, is looser, religiously speaking than Jerusalem), every store may close. So make sure you have enough food and gas with you!

Speaking of food, the best hummus place in Tel Aviv, is in a former synagogue, at the Carmel Market.

Take tours on most of the sites, to get a full comprehension of it. Whether at Megiddo, Jaffa, the Israeli museum in Jerusalem... you can book online, and it will make more sense that just seeing ruins by yourself.

If you can’t stand the heat, don’t go there in summer. Winter is usually cooler (but still around 25° Celsius), even though it’s hot all year round, and it is less touristy.

If you want to go to the Jordanian desert, Petra for example, you should know that it will cost you approximately 300$ for one day only, leaving at 3am from Tel Aviv. Adding 100$, and you’ll get to

sleep in a tent and spend one more day at Petra.

In Jerusalem, go to Hezekiah’s tunnel, you’re going to get wet, so wear a short, but it is worth it. In the City of David, you’re walking in a carved water channel of 583 years long, built in 701 BCE.

Be prepared to answer a lot of questions, at the airport, going back. Don’t panic if you’re asked by unpleasant agents what kind of job your grandpa had, how many languages do you speak, what souvenirs you bought, if you met people in Israel, belong to a community, or if you packed your suitcase yourself... it is all for security measures, and everyone goes through it.

I didn’t know what to expect of this country or this trip, but one thing I’m sure, is that I will definitely go back. On the return flight, with my friend, as we looked at each other and smiled, we knew we came richer than when we left, and we both agreed that this trip had fully bewildered us. Israel is not appreciated enough, and it’s a country worth knowing. This has been one of the best trip I’ve had, as from a cultural point of view, everything is unalike my own habits and customs, which made it all the more so fascinating.

If I was to listen to what people have told me, I would probably never have moved out. Go where your heart tells you to go, explore some parts of the world that may appear as less attractive, don’t listen to narrow-mindedness or prejudices.

Just go, see for yourself and make your own opinion of it.

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