JeremyLaDuke.com

So far Instanbul has been beautiful. Its very clean and very modern/western. I would suggest Istanbul before heading to Egypt. It’ll give you a introduction into the Islamic culture.

A brief off topic observation–I’ve noticed that in the countries with Islam as the dominating religion that people, especially women are treated completely different. And not in a good way. I say this only as an observation. Women are treated horribly. Women sould be advised that dressing with clingy clothing (clothing that defines any curves in your body) or clothing that shows skin anywhere beyond the ankles, elbows and neck is asking for extremely rude comments, leering, touching, and outright disrespect. Some may find some of these things slightly flattering at first, but guaranteed, it WILL get worse. Another observation is the need for bargaining. You won’t need to worry about that in other countries. Getting ripped off only seems to happen in these countries–that is all for now.

I apparently didn’t learn my lesson. I accepted the help of a “kind” man as I got off the bus from the airport. I was looking for the Tram. He informed me–as usual–that the destination I’m heading for is closed. He also informed me it was too long and too dangeous to walk at this time of night and that a taxi was cheaper than the Tram, but that he wasn’t a Taxi driver, he just worked for the same copmany as the shuttle bus. Yeah right.

He threw my bags into a taxi and told me to get in as he (looked like he was) negotiating my taxi fee for me. After I got in, he got in instead of the other guy. I immediately asked how much it would cost to get there. He said the Tram was 12 Lira and–as usual–I could pay him whatever I felt was fair. 2 minutes later we arrive “near” the hostel. He said “Now you pay me”… I said I’d pay him the fair I would have paid for the Tram since that was apparently more than a Taxi. He turned evil, like the guy from the horse and carraige. He said in broken english “Excuse me, a taxi is normally 27 Lira to here and now its night time so it’s double.” He wanted 57 Lira. I again informed him that I was very disappointed that he was being dishonest with me and that I’d only pay him after he got my bags out of the trunk. I gave him 50 Lira and told him that’s all he’ll get. He took it with out much of a fight, only protesting once.

I wasn’t really near my hostel. I had to ask for direction and walk a few blocks. When I arrived I asked how much I should have paid. Reception told me 12 Lira. ARGH!

Basically here’s the long lesson I’ve learned, that I will pass on to you. Do NOT enter a taxi without getting a price solidified. Repeat it to them and have them repeat it, multiple times if you have to. Find out before hand approximately how much you should pay from someone at an information booth or someone YOU approached first. Put that amount and maybe a few extra small notes or coins in your wallet, put the rest somewhere else. NEVER LET THEM SEE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE. When they inevitably try to screw you at the end of the trip and ask for more money than agreed apon, of course argue until you get your way, or you may use your now empty wallet as a scape goat. “I’m sorry that’s all I have! Take it or leave it!”

Okay….I thought the Israeli security at Cairo airport was bad. The Israeli security at the Tel Aviv airport was unbelievable. As with my Eurorail pass, my travel agent upgraded my ticket from Israeli to Istanbul to Business Class. Unfortunately she didn’t make me aware of it. This poses a problem for security officials who’s job it is to ask you all sorts of questions that don’t seem important.

Many of these questions are trick questions, in which they ask you the question once, then later ask it again but add a peice of information that is incorrect such as “What class are you traveling to Instanbul?” then later “I understand you are traveling Business Class?”

Naturally I responded to such a question with “No, I’m traveling economy” since all my tickets were supposed to be as cheap as we could get them. Red flags flew up! They informed me my ticket was business class. They asked why I would pay SIGNIFICANTLY more for this flight and not others, and why I didn’t know I was in Business Class.

Honestly the ticket itself doesn’t clearly state “Business Class” it just says class “C” and cost almost $700. I noticed the price before I left and asked my travel agent specifically about it. She said it was probably because I was flying between two countries that don’t get along–a muslim country and Israel. I didn’t question it beyond that. That made sense.

I was forwarded on to many different supervisors and supervisors of supervisors. Each time I was grilled and asked similar questions and then questions that more and more directly questioned my integrity, often implying that, even though I’ve been completely honest, I was lying. There aren’t many things that set me off more than questioning my integrity and honesty, especially since I work very hard to ensure I have integrity and am honest. But I kept my cool out of necessity.

I was then brought, with my belongings to a “security only” back room. The made me strip down a bit as they maticulously scanned my clothing and patted me down. Of course, as usual, they took EVERY item out of my bags (I have since purchased a small day pack to carry a few useful items I’ve picked up along the way.) Every item was tested, scanned, sampled, etc. Again some items were determined that they needs to ship them separately. I protested, citing they had previously permanently lost my belongs just 1 week earlier. The ensured they were going to be on my flight and sealed with VIP status thanks to my upgraded ticket.

After the whole ordeal I was escorted past ALL lines. Now THIS finally felt like Business Class. It made me glad I came to the airport 6 hours early. I had just enough time to grab something to eat and head to my gate. I hit McDonalds then headed to the Business Class Lounge. No one told me you get FREE EVERYTHING in the Lounge. A Wonderful selection of food and beverages were available to guests as well as free internet, tv, everything! I was stuffed from McDs, but forced some veggies and other goodies in. They had my two favorite veggies sliced and ready to eat! Fresh green peppers and fresh cucumbers! Soda, water, jucies, coffee, tea, wine, everything, free!

The plane was hardly different than the lounge. Extremely comfortable, reclinable sleeper chairs with a huge gourmet meal, free drinks, newspaper, tv, snacks and impecable service–all for a simple 1.5 hour trip. I was surprised I wasn’t sitting next to some celebrity.

So El Al LOST my belongings. This included my CD/MP3 player, my CAMERA’S BATTERY CHARGER!!!!!!!!!! and my Card reader so I can upload photos to the site!

Their solution? Mail me a check in a few months. Obviously that wasn’t going to work for me, so after a day of yelling they are going to give me $160 in cash. That doesn’t really help me. But it’s my ONLY option. Take it or leave it.

I may have paid $160 for the total of these items, but that isn’t going to cover the lost images I never got to take while in Israel because my camera’s battery needs charging. It doesn’t make up for the fact that I’ll never find a Universal battery charger in the third world countries I’ll be heading to. Or make up for the fact that if I did order it online again that the shipping would be outragous, if I even had a place to ship it to!!!!!!

Losing my CD player pushed me to upgrade to an mp3 player. That was cool. But the battery charger is just simply irreplaceable. It works in EVERY country in the world. No fuss. It just works. And its small. Hopefully I’ll find a solution soon. Otherwise….no pictures!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER TRAVEL EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I ran into Pedro here in Tel Aviv. It’s still hilarious that I run into people I’ve met in other countries. We’ve been having a blast ever since.

So I went to Nazareth…nothing special. The Sea of Galilee was cool. I also saw the supposed spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. I also went into the water near by. The actual location is forbidden to enter. I would have liked to have been baptized there but unfortunately it wasn’t much of an option since I was with a tour group, had little time there and no one was baptizing. Next time!

I ate St Johns Fish for lunch that day. Very good, very fresh. The whole fish was on my plate. Very interesting.

I was in the West Bank friday, since I was taking a trip to the Dead Sea and Messada…which in the West Bank. Don’t believe the hype. CNN likes to make a story out of nothing. The West Bank is prefectly safe. The idea is basically to avoid big political demonstrations. That’s where the possibility exists of getting hurt–as it is ANYWHERE. There is no war going on over here. Gaza, West Bank, Jerusalem. It’s fine.

One thing the news doesn’t really tell you is that Palestinians in Israel get all the same legal rights as Jews. They get health care, can vote, have seats in the Parlament. In fact they get to take a larger adventage of the heath care system since they can legally claim 2 wives and the children of both, where as Jews can only claim one wife and their children.

There is a scary senario playing out here though. That is the creation of a large (Berlin-like) wall. This wall is supposed to separate future Palistine from Israel. You can see it as you enter Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is beautiful. TV does it no justice. The terrain is very similar to Northern Arizona. Lots of pine and fur trees with a somewhat dusty, deserty floor atop mountains and hills. The city is kept very clean and the architecture is beautiful. The old city is a waste of time. The supposed holy sites are tourists traps and no one really knows if they are even close to the actual sites. You are basically looking at the 7th version of a symbolic site. I can symbolically call my toilet at home the place where Jesus pooped. But that doesn’t mean anything. And the sites in the old city are swarmed with tourists and vendors trying to get you to buy cheaply made, over priced toys. Useless items.

I floated in the Dead Sea. It’s amazing. The water is so dense you basically float on top of it. I forgot my camera, so sorry, no pictures. The mineral content will burn you if you stay in longer than 20 minutes but after you get out you skin is immediately softer. That effect is enhanced 10 fold if you put the mud on. The water is HOT. Like a bath. It’s soooo wierd.

The West Bank is desolate. There is nothing out there. Literally. Messada was cool. Its a fortress on a plateau built by Herod. It’s amazing. Again, no camera, no pictures. Let’s again thank El Al for confiscating my battery charger–still hasn’t arrived yet, one week later. Of all places to not have a working camera…Israel is not one of them. Well I guess it’s better you all come here and see it for yourself anyways.

There is so much I’m forgetting… oh well. More stories for me to tell in person I guess.

So after my incredible experience at the Cairo airport with Israeli security officials I found myself safely in Tel Aviv. I’m staying at the Adiv Hotel right on the beach. It is amazing. The number is 03-522-9141 and my room number is 209 for those of you who would like to call. I’ll be here all week.

I’ve booked 3 tours. Day One I go to Nazareth, Tiberias, Galilee, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, The Mount of Beatitudes, the Jordan River and finally Armegeddon.

Day Two Jerusalem (Old and New), Mount of Olives, Temple Mount, Garden of Gethsemane, Mt Zion, Hall of last supper, David’s tomb, Western Wall, local bazaar, Christian Quarter, Stations of the Cross, Church of the Holy Sepulchre - site of the crucifixion, Jewish Quarter, Bethlehem, Judean Desert, and a few government buildings and the holocaust museum.

Day Three Massada - palaca and fortress built by King Herod, caves where Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, float in the Dead Sea, see Jericho and old Roman road.

Action packed! Then Day four I take a free tour around Tel Aviv for 2 hours. All this for $192. My hotel is about $52 a night. Which is a bargain since there is a special sporting event going on and every place is booked. Plus I’m just across the street from the beach, which has the most amazingly fine sand and warm water! It’s like bath water, and the weather is prefect!

I took a trip down to the mall to think about purchasing an MP3 player. I was frisked by an armed guard who waved a metal detector over me. Later I saw two 18-20 girls patroling the sidewalks outside the mall with M-16 machine guns almost as tall as they were. From what the news is saying (CNN World) there is a pretty heavy situation going on in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli government plans to pull settlements and troops out of Gaza. People are still going about their business in Tel Aviv.