Travelling Starfish

146 posts, 3 continents – what a year!!!

I can’t believe it but it’s already been a year since I started Travelling Starfish.  Just like I did on New Year’s, I’m casting my mind back to the year that just passed me and can honestly say that it’s been a year full of change, adventures and life lessons.

Most of 2010/2011 has involved a lot of travel – whether it be staying in Israel and travelling around the Middle East, a trip back to my hometown of Toronto or countless trips to the UK, these places have transformed me and my life.

As for writing this blog and Travelling Starfish as a whole, I love it!  Keeping a memoire of places I’m visiting in the present and looking back to past trips has really helped my writing capabilities, helped me learn more about the digital life of a blogger & allowed me to meet new friends in the blogging community.  This has only added to my zest and passion for seeing and experiencing the world around me.

So on this memorable anniversary, you may be interested to know what some of my favourite memories of the year are – here you go:

Petra, Jordan

Most Memorable Adventure –

Hands down, my most memorable adventure would have to be heading from Israel to Jordan to see the beauty that is Petra. As I said in my post, Jordan itself impressed me but Petra was a place like no other.  I can’t wait to go back and hope it is sooner than later.

Top Relaxation Memory

No surprise my favourite R&R moments in 2010/2011 were in Gran Canaria.  It was the first time in awhile, maybe my whole life, where I just took it easy, lounged around and enjoyed.

Big R&R moments have to include the “Get Fit” pool at the Gloria Palace hotel.  It was great fun and we could have stayed in there for days.

Best Meal –

I’ve had a lot of food over the past year.  Even though I travel on a budget, I do enjoy a good meal out.  On this category, I’m a bit spoiled for choice but I would have to say that Mamacho’s in Cleveland wins.

Even with a tickle in my throat (it was December!) I still indulged in spicy guacamole and tasty margaritas.  If only Israel, the UK or Toronto could do fantastic tex-mex like they do in the States!

Israeli Capp - the BEST!!

Best Drink –

Surprising to most, I’m going to skip over some of my favourite wines, cocktails or spirits and go with the love of my life – the Israeli cappuccino!

Sadly enough, this is one of my favourite things about Israel.  I don’t know if it’s the espresso they use or because the dairy is so lovely there, it is just incredible.  No more to say!

Geneva

Place I Want to Go Back to the Most –

In October, en route from Israel to the UK, I spent about 12 hours in Geneva, Switzerland.  In that short time it really made an impression on me.  Also even though it was absolutely freezing outside (I WAS coming from Israel) my heart skipped a beat when I saw the Alps in the distance.  Since then I’ve been keen on going back and seeing more of this city and also the country in general.

So what will this coming year bring?  To be honest, I have no idea!  This Starfish loves to travel and loves to write about her adventures.  I hope that I’ll have more interesting adventures, holidays and stories to tell in the coming year.

Thanks for all the support I’ve had in this 1^st year – when I write, it makes me feel happy but it is even better knowing that I can enlighten others who read it too.

Be sure to join me as I continue along life’s journey!

Miriam x

Retro Tel Aviv

As I’ve mentioned a number of times, I have spent a lot of time living and working in Israel.

It is an incredible country filled with an incredible energy.  Throughout my life, I’ve spent a lot of time visiting Israel but at the end of 2009, I arrived and decided to stay for awhile.

Like many countries in the world, Israel is a country that is portrayed at a stark contrast in the media to its true identity.  I won’t go into what they show, but we all know what I’m talking about.  To those reading this, I can say that my experiences in this small but incredible country are quite the contrary.  A dynamic place to work, live and raise a family, Israel is one of the gems of our world.

I’m not alone in my views as many people throughout the world decide to move their lives to this country every day.  In 2010 alone, there were over 19,000 people who immigrated to Israel by making Aliyah.  Many of these new immigrants come from wealthy countries, such as the US, UK or Canada – not choosing to leave their home country for lack of opportunity but to be closer to a lifestyle they feel is closer to their heart and soul.

The word Aliyah means to ascend, hence why this process of coming back home to Israel is termed in this way.

Jerusalem by Night

This process dates back over 50 years.  When Israel was declared a Jewish state in 1948 after the 2nd World W, the Law of Return came into force.  Putting it simply, this law allows those who are Jewish at birth (born to a Jewish mother) to return to Israel and gain citizenship.  People from all over the world make Israel their home- from South Africa, North America, Australia…just to name a few.  It really is something special.

As with any immigration process, there is paperwork.  However, over the past decade, various agencies have began assisting those that wish to make Aliyah.  These include the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh.

You can make Aliyah from your home country or from within Israel. When you do this and upon arrival into the country, the new “oleh” (or immigrant) receives a gift from the Israeli government to help them start their new life in Israel. This includes free Hebrew lessons to learn the local language, some financial assistance so it’s easier to deal with upfront expenses, preferential rates on mortgages and many other incentives.

Speaking from experience, I’ve never seen anything like it.  I’ve had my fair share of dealings with immigration and it blew my mind how welcoming this country is.  Also there are so many opportunities in the country.  Israel is a hotbed for the high-tech industry and many US firms have operations here.  For English natives, there are definitely opportunities.

If any of this interests you and/or you’ve considered making Aliyah in the past, I would suggest you contact one of the agencies I’ve listed above for more information.

For any of my readers who’ve made Aliyah themselves, please comment below & tell us all about your experiences.

Todah (thank you) & Shalom!

Chag Sameach - Happy holidays!

It’s February 2010 and I’m in Israel and staying on a kibbutz as a volunteer.  I’ve mentioned my time in the kibbutz before – such good memories.  I can’t honestly believe that it was a year ago.  It feels like I was partying it up only a few weeks ago with all my kibbutz friends.

A year ago we were also celebrating the festive holiday of Purim.  I have 2 favourite holidays in Israel – Chanukah (which typically happens in Dec) and the other has to be Purim.

In a way, I always think of Purim as Israel’s Halloween – time to dress up and have a bit of a boogie.  Purim is a time of costumes, prizes and treats.

The story behind the Festival of Purim is in commemoration of a major victory over oppression of the Jews.  Every year this story is told at synagogues around the world by the reading of the Megillah.  This is the story of Esther and celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people living throughout the ancient Persian Empire from a plot by Haman the Agagite to annihilate them.

During this festival, we now (centuries later) eat cookies called Hamantashen that look like mini-ears.  These ears are supposed to represent the ears of Haman.  They are made of sweet dough and filled with various jams and chocolate:).  They are one of my favourite deserts to be honest.  Yummm!

When we were at the kibbutz, I worked in the kitchen so we were lucky enough to bake some yummy cookies of our own.  The volunteer baking session did make a bit of a mess but it was a really good laugh.  They also turned out to be pretty tasty – especially the ones with the yummy choco filling.

We were told at the kibbutz that during Purim no outsiders are allowed into the kibbutz and in true Vegas style, “whatever happens on Ketura, stays on Ketura”.  The kibbutz also has an open bar that night to all members and volunteers – making it for a very interesting night indeed.

A bit risque, I know!

A couple of good girlfriends and I decided to get dressed up a bit racy – well a lot racier than usual.  We made a decision to dress up like ladies from the Moulin Rouge.  The funniest part of the evening for me was getting ready – all of us I think were so gung ho (yes, I just used the words gung ho) but when we started to get dressed in our lingere our nerve started to dwindle.  All I remember was having quite a few glasses of red wine to calm those nerves.  Once they went down, I looked in the mirror and only had one conclusion – I looked fantastic…lol.

When we got to the pub (where the festivities were being held) there was a play put on by the kibbutz members.  Although I couldn’t speak Hebrew, I could make out some of what was going on.  It was definitely entertaining and I remember thinking that it was so lovely to have all of the members and volunteers together.

As the night progressed and the open bar took on a personality of itself, my memories start to dwindle.  All I know was that it was one CRAZY night and I have the pictures to prove it…don’t think I will be sharing those on here though (haha).

From now on, I’ll always look back on that night and Purim as a time to party & have a bit of fun.  Maybe this year though I’ll calm it down slightly:).

If you are in Israel for Purim this year (it falls on 19th March) make sure to put on your favourite costume and go a bit wild.

Cheers, Miriam

When one lives in Israel, it is hard not to say “let’s eat”!  Most people who visit Israel for the first time are amazed by how amazing the food is!  For such a small country there definitely is a lot of flavour.

Every time I leave Israel and start eating in another country, I really miss the freshness factor.  Most people don’t know this, but Israel grows most of its own food.  Over the years and since it is a country that struggles with access to water, it has developed innovative ways to grow some of the most amazing fruits and vegetables you’ve ever tasted.  I sometimes think that the whole “buy local” idea was probably created in Israel.  When you eat one of the scrumptious cucumbers or juicy oranges, you’ll know what I mean.

Amazing is the only word to describe it.

Out of everything in Israel, I love 3 things when it comes to food – the cafe culture, street delights and their delicious dairy.  What are these all about>  Well, read on to find out more –

So tasty!

Cafe culture

Surprisingly to most, Israel has a very European attitude towards life.  If it wasn’t for people speaking Hebrew, I’m sure most visitors would think they were in a scene from a chilled out city in Europe like Budapest or a lively and dynamic city like Paris.

People enjoy life in Israel and that is part of what I love about it.  There are coffee shops everywhere and people spend time relaxing, catching up and reading the paper.  There is a great vibe in almost any cafe I’ve been to in Israel AND the food is great!

There are so many coffee chains across Israel but Aroma is probably the most well known on an international scale.  They even have a number of them in my hometown of Toronto.  I like Aroma as it is consistent across all locations, they have them off the highway and for fast food (Israeli style) it is really not too bad.

If I had to pick my favourite cafes in the places I’ve stayed in Israel I would have to say that Arcaffe is the best chain I’ve been to.  Their cappuccino is to die for and there is just a really nice atmosphere at most of the locations – a great place to work for my freelance projects.

If I had to pick a unique cafe I would have to suggest going to Rojet in Yaffo.  It is on the edge of the roundabout right near the clock tower.  They make a really lovely Shakshoukah and the service is always friendly.

Bourekas

Street Delights

You cannot go to Israel and not buy some yummy food off of the street.  For most tastes there is something on offer.

If you are a meat eater, it’s got to be a Shawarma made of either lamb or turkey.  If you are a veggie, try out an Israeli falafel.  Both come with options of various salads, hummus, tahina (sesame paste – delicious) and even French fries (chips for our British friends).

If you want something a bit lighter, make sure to grab a boureka.  When I first got to Israel, I think I ate too much of them as the sight of them now doesn’t do much for me.  Basically they consistent of a flaky pastry filled with various items – primarily cheese and potato.  They are delicious but speaking from experience – eat in moderation.

Lastly, if you are on a health kick, there is always a chance to get some sweet corn – yes, you heard me right.  Most of the bustling markets (including in Yaffo) have sweet corn on a stick at the ready so you can indulge in something a bit healthier – just be careful not to add too much butter and/or salt.

Mooo - Israeli cows

Delicious Dairy

Now, I’ve saved the best for last!  Before living in Israel, I never was that into dairy products –all I have to say is thank goodness I’m not lactose intolerant.

Israel has the tastiest varieties of dairy that I’ve ever had.  That is a huge compliment considering I lived in an island that is famous for their Jersey cows.  The sweet brown cows in Jersey are much cuter than those in Israel (at least from my experience) but I have never enjoyed dairy as much as I have in this glorious country.

Since many restaurants in Israel are kosher, there are a lot of separate dairy restaurants.  Jewish law (for those that follow it) states that you are not supposed to mix milk and meat.  Restaurants like Yotvata (a famous dairy in Israel based on a kibbutz) offer incredible goodies – from pasta, toasted bagels (with cheese obviously) and scrumptious desserts.

For a real treat, I recommend trying a traditional Israeli breakfast, available at most cafes and dairy restaurants.  Unlike other breakfasts around the world, this one contains fresh bread (incredible!), Israeli bite-size salad, freshly cooked eggs and a selection of cheeses.  A must!

Unfortunately (for my waistline) one of my big weaknesses became the incredible gelato available.  How can you resist some tasty ice cream when the temperatures start soaring above 40 degrees C?  Even after trying gelato in its home country of Italy, I tell you it’s better in Israel.  Sorry!

Am I making you hungry?  I’m sure that I am.  Next time you head to the holyland make sure that you indulge in some of the incredible cuisine that it has to offer. As you tickle your taste buds, raise your glass (or mug) and toast L’Chaim (“To Life”)!

Enjoy!

Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of crossing borders.

When I started travelling a lot for work when I lived back in Canada, I crossed the Canadian/US border quite a lot – like I’m talking weekly.  It got so bad, a year into spending 3 weeks per month for a year travelling back and forth from Toronto to California I got stopped by Customs and Immigration at the US border in Toronto.  Luckily, they let me in but I did get a warning that my employer needed to provide me with a letter explaining why they needed me to make so many trips south of the border.  Since I was in my mid-20s at the time, I was freaked out.

And so began my interesting adventures with the border patrol authorities.

I think all travellers have stories – some funny, some serious – of strange stories either they’ve experienced or witnessed while crossing the border.   All you have to do is watch an episode of Border Security: Australia’s Front Line to know about some of the odd ball stories that happen when you are crossing into other countries.

Entering Jordan!

When I went to Australia, I got stopped by customs officials as there were 5 almonds peaking out at the bottom of my bag.  I also remember the time I got stuck at Heathrow behind a flight that just got in from some small African country where each person had to be examined for hygiene.  Thank goodness they saw I wasn’t coming from that flight – I don’t need an “extra” check.

When I lived in the UK, I hated going through the border from day one. Every time I’ve entered I’ve felt nervous.  I find it quite humorous as – I’m a Canadian passport holder (and who doesn’t love Canadians, eh?) who is a professional.  Most people think I’m crazy for getting so worked up but it’s always been an interesting experience nonetheless.

Even though Canada is a part of the Commonwealth and still technically has links to the Queen via our Governor General there is nothing “special” for us when we got off that flight.  If I was Hungarian (which I technically am…but some may argue I’m not – again a long story!) I could walk right through a fast immigration check and off I’d go.  To the official, I may not even be asked anything or need to speak (demonstrating I can communicate in English) but I’d be free to live & work in the UK with no worries.

I could start a whole political debate her so for now I’ll just say – rant over…lol.

Anyway, of all my border experiences I must say some of the smoothest have actually been when I’ve flown or crossed in and out of Israel. Although some might be surprised about this, I have found that any questions I’m asked (which are few) are fair.  They are well trained in looking at behaviours more than anything else and the whole process is extremely efficient.

Note that when flying in and out of Israel there are no additional exit fees to pay when you exit the country.  I believe this is added onto your flight fare already so at least you don’t need to worry about bringing extra cash. At the land border crossings into Egypt and Jordan, you must pay a 96 shekel exit fee.  This goes to the admin costs of maintaining the border.

Also if you are travelling to other countries in the Middle East it is a good idea to ask for authorities to stamp a piece of paper vs your passport.  They will do this if requested nicely.  Some of the Arab nations do not accept passports with an Israeli stamp in it – including the UAE (i.e. Dubai, Abu Dhabi) and Lebanon.  You will have no issues in Egypt, the Maldives or Jordan.

The reason why I find going through the border in Israel fairly comfortable is because everything feels efficient.  I feel that when I’m asked a question, it’s to verify a legitimate query.  This is compared to my experiences with other services I’ve been through frequently (in North America and the EU) where I often had inconsistent experiences.

Eilat/Taba border

So if I could offer any advice to my readers about what to do when you’re going across borders, here it is:

1) Know what to expect – the internet is such an important tool for any traveller and it is at our fingertips.  It’s always worth it to do a google search about the border and understand about any additional fees and processes you may need to consider.

2) If your travelling is work-related – figure out if you are going to need a special visa in advance. Likely, if you are just attending a conference or office meeting you won’t need one but if you are visiting direct customers you may – so check it out.

And most importantly…

3) Come prepared – have your documents ready, know your local details (like addresses) and tell them what they ask – not less and definitely not more.  Trust me – that’s the way to do it – I will say no more!

Happy travels &  enjoy,

Miriam