Still in Israel...

Dear All

I am now in Kibbutz Ketura. It is 30 minutes away from Eilat. I guess I should start where I  was last, back in Haifa. Well, after really overstaying our welcome in Haifa by a few days too many, it was time to go. My aunt and her family were not used to the trials and tribulations of adolescent life, especially the life of the elder Taviv siblings.

So after 12 days we got one of our newly acquired Arab buddies to take us to the central bus station. We took the bus to Jerusalem. We arrived there slightly disorientated. And OMG (OH MY G-D) was my backpack heavy. I could barely walk. Freaked out 'coz we missioned for quite a bit before we eventually found the Tabasco Hostel where we would sleep for the night. Spent 15 shekels and got beds in the room on the roof. This place was in the centre of the shuk (Arab market). Jerusalem's old city is like a maze. We went to see the wailing wall which is five minutes from the hostel and wandered around for over an hour after trying to find the damn hostel again. It was exhausting.

At first glance I did not really like Jerusalem. The people there are
extremists. We only stayed 2 days and hardly saw anything there, but I plan to return.The second day there I went to Yad Vashem, thats the biggest holocaust museum in Israel. It really made me think about things that I had never considered before.

I've been meeting people all over. When we left Jerusalem, Jacob from Denmark had to carry my backpack 'coz I was incapable. People we've met have been really friendly. Also, we met sisters from Holland, I told them I'll be seeing them in June, they said sure. Jerusalem is one place in Israel where all religious groups live together. Maybe that is why there is such a tense vibe there.

We made the last bus to Betar just in time. Betar is an ultra orthodox
neighbourhood in Israel. Only really religious jews live there. They have
closed off their families from the evil ways of the world. We went to our
family there for Pesach Seder. Ended up getting sent to this American rabbi and his six children. We got to see how they live. Let me tell you these people have nothing. The poor, harassed mother, this teeny woman could barely cope with her brood, nevermind trying to organize the dinner. I shocked them with the relevance and deepness of my thought processes. By midnight I could not take any of their brainwashed bullshit anymore and we hastily made our escape. These poor fools did not know what to make of us.

We rejoined our family for the last of the seder. At least with our family
there was a more jovial atmosphere. They do what they do because they have chosen it, and it is the kind of life that makes them happy. I can accept
and appreciate that, but it certainly does not change the way I see things.
Each to his own. My relatives, Esther & Garic are mommy and daddy and there have twins, two cute little girls. The house is constantly filled with other people and other children. Freaked out the little kids by telling them a story out of a pinnochio book from the pictures and my imagination alone. I'm sure they were very good little children after that tall tale.

Only stayed a night in Betar. From there, the following evening we caught a ride with Sasha (my cousin of similar age), Garic's sister and her dweeb doctor boyfriend to her family in Beer Sheva. Rita & Boris, her parents greeted us with great hospitality and we immediately felt comfortable there. That night while Yossi was wasting time withhis girlfriend Jacqui, i went with Sasha and her freind Alex to The Forum. Its one of the biggest clubs in Israel. It was fascinating to check it out. I must say its all very different to the way its done in South Africa.  I guess it does not matter where in the world you are, people still wanna party.

The next day we went to the Dead Sea. Oh, heaven, its an awesome place. I'd think about moving to Israel just for the Dead Sea. The water is like oil on your skin, and even me with my deep fear of water can paddle far into it as there is no risk of drowning. Your body is like a plastic bottle that just bobs in the water. Its a experience I highly recommend. Wow! Returning home Sasha and I again went on the jol, this time to the university party. It was nowhere close to the standard of Forum, but I am so interested in everything at the moment, as it is all new to me.

OK- Sasha had to go back to work so I decided Yossi and I would make a
mission to Ein Gedi, a nature reserve with waterfalls in the middle of the
desert. Unfortunately, it took ages to get Yossi out of bed and I did not
realize how far it was. It took us six separete hitch-hikes just to get to the dead sea and by that time it was already 3pm. We were too late to go to Ein Gedi, so we went to Masada, which is really nearby. We climbed that damn mountain. Geez I thought my breathing would cause my head to explode. Straight uphill at a really steep gradient took it all out if me. The blister I got by the time we reached the top spoilt the  missioning around we had to do to really take in the historical fortress of Masada. Our plan was to watch the sunset. I was worried  about hitchhiking in the dark though. Anyway, we met up with some Israelis that told us they'd drop us on the main road, where hopefully we could get a ride. So, we walked down the same steep side of Masada once again.

Once on the main road I was nervous. Thought we may end up spending the night there as we were far from Beer Sheva and the safety of my family's home. The first car that stopped for us was like "We're going to Beer Sheva". Thank God Almighty, I could not believe
our luck. They took us all the way to our door.

The next day was a real waste of time. I learnt that people talk a lot and often don't deliver, and not to depend on people when I don't know them. The only productive thing I did the whole day was buy a pair of cool sandals. I've put on at least 5kgs since I got here, family has been feeding me way too well.

Yossi, Jacqui and I got dropped at the central station and had just bought
bus tickets to Eilat when a cab driver made a deal with us. We managed to
get rid of the bus tickets, and cruised all the way to Eilat in luxury,
listening to Pink Floyd and smoking. He dropped us on the main road in
Eilat. The place was a madhouse. Apparently most of Isael goes to Eilat for
the Pesach holiday, nevermind that it's the no 1 tourist destination. It was
crawling with people. Prices at the hostels were very expensive but we did
not have a choice. I was not willing to sleep on the beach with my backpack.

This is the point where I learned that it does not cost people anything to
talk but when it actually comes to doing what they promised its an
altogether different story. I was very disappointed when I was let down by
every single person that said they would help us out when we got to Eilat.
I learnt that you can only rely on yourself.

Paid for two nights at Corinnes hostel, nice & quiet place with strong air
conditioning. And immediately hit the beach. Masses of bronzed bodies covered the shore. Smaller than Cape Town and so a lot more crowded. I don't think my skin has ever been as dark as it is at the moment. I seriously look like a Red Indian, my skin has that tinge to it. Met some people, and started asking around for work. All said to come back after Pesach, as it was too crazy at the moment.

Met Liev Steinman, a 40 something year old planetary guardian. He's a famous painter. Saw some of his work and I must say considering that I am not a great appreciator of art, his work blew me away. He's into some deep mystical sufft though, highly intelligent man and I enjoyed talking to him. Checked out a party on the beach later in the evening and was horrified to
see 8 and 9 year old boys, running around trying to score chics at 3am.
First time I've seen them so young. Where the hell are their mothers, is
what I'd like to know.

The next day was spent bronzing my body at the beach again. That night just went out for dinner. Met up with buds at the Underground Pub and had to make a quick escape from the cheesy karaoke that wa blasting there. Yuck!

We had to leave Eilat as hostels were still too expensive. We hitched to
Kibbutz Ketura. I got a lift first, Yossi & Jacqui said they'd get a lift
quicker if I went first. Yeah sure, I ended up waiting for them at the
Kibbutz for over two hours. I was a bit worried. They could not even get a ride and ended up catching a bus. I got here without a hassle and met two cool dudes from Tel Aviv.

So, we met the family on the kibbutz. Quiet life here. Nice to just take a
break from it all and just chill. Spent the day lazing by the pool. Finished
reading Aldous Huxley's "A brave new world". Really enjoyed it. So thats all
that I've been up to since the last time.

Hope all is well back in South Africa. For those who have not taken the time to write at all, and you know who you are, get your butts in gear and keep me informed.

Love, light and blessings
Michal