Travelling Starfish

It’s 2:00am on a Thursday evening – well, I guess technically Friday AM.  As most of Tel Aviv is partying, I’m doing what all travellers do – packing .  I’m also doing what most freelancers/consultants do when about to take some time off, working like a maniac.

My roommates are out partying but I can’t go as I need to rise in 2-3 hours time to get ready and head to the airport.  The thing about running your own business is that’s its so tough to get away. Gone are the days where the clock hits 5:00pm and I was out the door with no worries in sight for another 2 weeks.  I do try but it’s not easy.

My view!

Alas, since I’ve been working hard the past few months, I’ve decided to get away for a few days just so I have the chance to kick back before life gets more busy AND I also managed to snag an incredible deal.

I looked at going down to Eilat but the hotels were quite pricey so I researched nearby hot-spots Aqaba in Jordan and Taba in Egypt. Taba intrigued me instantly as there were a lot of all-inclusive’s on offer and at great prices.  I’ve also never been to Egypt so I thought it would be nice to tick that off my list.

I booked my flight directly with El Al for a steal at 198 shekels return (about US$55) – a total bargain!  Then for the accommodation, I looked at both Hotels Combined and Expedia for a deal.  It wasn’t essential to have an all inclusive but if a five star offered this, I thought it would be a nice addition.

The result? I found an incredible deal with Hotels Combined through its partner Hotels4U.com at the Sonesta Beach Resort.

The price? An incredible 130 pounds all inclusive with a king bed, sea view, all meals & snacks, drinks and entertainment. I couldn’t believe it!  I was so pleased, so I booked it straight away.

I snuggle up for a 2 hour sleep and before I know it, it’s 5:00 am! I get up and am out of the house by 5:30. I take the bus and train to the airport and then the shuttle to Terminal 1.  A bit of a schlep but I can’t complain…well, until it’s 6:45 and I’m still waiting for this terminal to open.  El Al says to check in an hour and a half before departure but 1 hour is plenty for this domestic flight – trust me.  Finally, the terminal opens, I check in my bag and grab a cappuccino – of course!

Driving through Eilat - near the Taba border

9:15 – I arrive in Eilat with a slight delay. It’s totally fine (or so I think) as the Egged bus to the border I’m supposed to pick up, isn’t until 10:00.

9:45 – I’m still waiting for my bag and am unsure where bus 15 to the Taba border actually picks up.  I start to get a bit panicked and there is no help around. I just breathe:).

9:55 – finally my bag arrives and I get moving.

So you can avoid the confusion, here’s a tip – to pick up bus 15 to the border, go to the stop across from the airport NOT the one on the airport side. By taking that bus I saved a bit of cash as it only costs 7.50 shekels compared to about 30.00 in a taxi.

11:00 – after all the interesting border formalities (which I will cover in a separate post) I meet my driver to Sonesta.

Another tip – for those entering through the land border, I advise calling your hotel in advance and arranging a driver. I felt a lot safer and I was able to pay in USD, which I found easier than Egyptian Pounds. The cost to and from the border to Sonesta (just under an hour drive and about 20 minutes further than Taba Heights) was US$35 per way.

The room

12:00 – I check in, go up to my room and I’m in heaven. Time to check out the resort, grab a bite to eat & have a glass of wine.  Wine (lol) not?  I’m on holiday!

4:00 pm – after a bit of a wander, I feel like I’ve made a good choice.  I’ll talk more about the resort in my next post but the staff are friendly & it is a perfect destination for me for the next few days. After all the rushing around and minimal sleep, I decide to take a well deserved nap!

6:00 pm – I wake from my slumber refreshed and ready to go.  Next stop is the shower, then dinner and then a bit of fun at the Ramses Disco!

12:00 midnight – well the meal was fabulous – sea bass and calamari (yummm…) and the atmosphere lovely.  It’s off-season but there are just enough people around to make it a good time.  I’m at the disco now having a few drinks and chatting with some of the staff here.  A bit of dancing is definitely in order.

1:30 am – I get back to the hotel room and am content with the past 24 hours.  More importantly, I’m excited for the days ahead.

Me on the balcony in Taba

Stay tuned over the coming days to hear more about my fantastic time in Taba, Egypt!

As they say, it’s all about timing. I came back to Israel direct from Canada in need of some sun.

Southern Israel in December

Well, my dreams are starting to improve but not as much as I thought they would. When I first got here on the 31st it was obviously warmer than Toronto so an improvement but it was definitely not sun tanning weather.

What’s the difference in temperature from here versus a colder climate like Toronto? It feels a lot warmer inside a house in Toronto than one in Israel.  The reason? Houses are built for it in Canada.  If you hibernate, like I do, than you have nothing to worry about in a place like Canada.  In Israel, where their main issue is extreme heat, they don’t need the insulation like Canadians do.

The negative of visiting a place like Israel at this time of year is that you aren’t guaranteed the weather.  If you are looking for a dip in the sea, than it’s best to try somewhere else but if you are looking to tour around this glorious country than I think winter is a great time to come. for a visit  It’s cheaper, less crowded and you can do activities that wouldn’t be suitable in the extreme heat they get here in the summertime.

If you are looking for some fun in the sun, you have a better chance of catching it by heading down south where the temperatures are typically much warmer.  If you make your way down to Eilat, you can even sneak a trip into Egypt or Jordan as they both border Israel at this point of entry.  I’ve already been to Jordan to have a day away in Petra, so I’ve just booked a couple of days in Egypt.  I’m headed down to Taba which borders Eilat – I am so excited…I really need to kick back and I can’t think of a better way!

46 degress in June - time to stay away!

This time of year is also a great time to go to the Dead Sea.  Unlike when I visited in June with 46 degree temperatures, you can enjoy a much milder climate and maybe even do a bit of hiking in the Ein Gedi or up Massada. Hmmm – that’s not a bad idea actually. If only I had more time. Time & money are always the issues in life – especially in the life of a serial traveller.

Israel has tons of surprises in such a small country and so weather really shouldn’t get in the way of a journey here.  All of the surprises and adventure are what I love about Israel.  The winter can offer a lot to visitors who have varying interests – from getting back to history/religion, physical activity or general sightseeing.  It is a lot more comfortable to be outdoors and it really allows for an easier trip all around.  The only gap is if you want that dip in the sea.  Then, just hop on a plane (I got a round trip flight with El Al for 200 shekels return – about US$75 – from Tel Aviv to Eilat) and hit the Red Sea in Eilat.

So what are the “normal” temperatures in Israel right now? Today (Jan 12, 2011) it is –

• 20 degrees C – Tel Aviv
• 23 degrees C – Eilat
• 22 degrees C – Ein Bokek (Dead Sea)
• 19 degrees C – Jerusalem
• 19 degrees C – Haifa

As we all know mother nature these days can offer up some surprises but this is what its like this year.

Colder Jerusalem

So as you can see, the temperatures are not boiling but very comfortable all around.  I spent most of my time in Toronto complaining about how cold it was, so I’ve decided to stop complaining about the cold temperatures here.

Like one of my roommates said a couple of days ago, “when you live here you only get so many days with a cool breeze so you may as well enjoy it”.  I  couldn’t agree more.  Just pass me my hot water bottle and I’m good.

Bye for now, Miriam

After a long 12 hour flight, I made it back to Israel. I’ve decided to come back here to escape the cold and have a bit of Tel Aviv fun for the New Year.

As I think I’ve mentioned, most holidays are very unique in Israel. Since Israel is a Jewish state, its laws around holidays are governed around the Jewish calendar.

People don’t get XMAS Day or Easter off like in most parts of the world.  Instead, they get Rosh Hashanah and Passover off.  I think it’s quite cool but it does still take some getting used to.  The same goes for New Years.  Even though Israel follows the regular calendar, New Year’s Eve really isn’t a big deal here.  This past year, the 31st fell on a Friday, so everyone is already off because of the weekend.  I’m thinking that n Tel Aviv there will definitely be some action.

Old cinema equipment

So what is it like in Tel Aviv on Sylvester? As I said in an earlier post, most Israeli’s refer to New Year’s Eve as Sylvester, named after a Christian Saint whose special day is on the 31st of December.

So, I get off the plane and am ready to party – I tell a lie, I’m actually exhausted.  I get back to the flat, say hello to everyone and grab a cat nap.  When I rise, it’s dark and I start making my plans. It looks like it’s dinner and some drinks for us.

We head to a friends for what turns out to be an incredible meal of wine, food and fun.

After that, we cruise through Florentin and it looks like they are getting ready for a big street party (very popular in Israel). It’s raining (perfect, I know) so we elect to head into town and find a bar to grab a drink. There are so many areas in Tel Aviv to choose from but my friend has to work at 11pm (I know…even on New Years) so we go close to her work on Dizengoff.

Sophie working

We grab a glass of wine and toast the New Year…and what a year it’s been. I end up staying with my friend at her work, Hotel Cinema. It’s actually quite a cool place with memorabilia all over the lobby from its heyday.

The Cinema Hotel in Tel Aviv is situated a short walk from the Tel Aviv beach, in an original Bauhaus style building – the Esther Cinema, one of the first movie theaters in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel.  You see, the hotel was actually the Esther Cinema, one of the first movie theaters in the heart of Tel Aviv.  It has a unique design and even highlights the original projectors and movie posters, preserving the legacy of the building.

New Year's at The Cinema

Now, it is a contemporary hotel but it’s chosen to maintain a bit of its history through maintaining the movie feel. Hey they even give guests fresh popcorn…now that’s service!

On a New Year’s note, not much is going on if I’m honest – in the hotel and outside in Dizengoff Square. It is very quiet and definitely no Times Square, Sydney Harbour or Big Ben. But I’ll take this relaxed pace this year.

My friend and I do the countdown together and give one another a big hug. Last year we celebrated together too while in the kibbutz. We had just met at the time and our friendship has grown so much since then.

After the countdown we notice some sparks fly outside the hotel and realize someone is igniting fireworks on their own.  Outside of being afraid – very afraid actually – I realize that we are DEFINETLY NOT (as a metaphor) in Times Square anymore:).

You know what? I kind of like it…

Happy 2011 everyone, Miriam

Well, it’s that time of year again.  Growing up in North America, I always remember this time of year to be about snow, cold weather and lots of food & drink.  Even though I’m Jewish and don’t technically celebrate Christmas, I still did what many Jewish kids who grew up in Canada do – go for a visit to Santa at the local shopping mall for a photo.  Ah…the memories.

December and the holidays in general are a great time of year.  All of the hustle and bustle, the holiday parties and celebrations – it is just a joyful time for all.  Also we are closing down the year and starting the year off with a blank slate – something I’m looking forward to this coming year for a number of reasons.

Over the past decade, I’ve been fortunate enough to celebrate the holiday season in different parts of the world.  I’ve been down under, in the UK, home in Canada and even in Israel.

Here are some of my observations of the different traditions at this time of year in the places I’ve been -

XMAS 2004 - Oz

2004 – Christmas / New Years in Oz -

As I mentioned before, I spent about 5-6 weeks in Australia between Dec ’04 – Jan ’05.  As most of you know, this is the summertime in Australia and my first experience in the Southern Hemisphere during Christmas and New Years.  Instead of snow and slush, I was confronted with Christmas trees in the middle of beach and sun.  No complaints.

Since I don’t technically celebrate Christmas, I decided to take a break from the backpacking life and booked a 5-night holiday on Great Keppel Island through Contiki tours.  Even on this remote and relaxed island, Christmas celebrations were still in full swing.  When I talked to some Australian locals they told me that their Christmas traditions are to have barbecues outside on Christmas Day with the family. A far cry from hibernating inside with a roast to keep warm.  On this Christmas, the resort hosted a toga party – the togas were Christmas sheets you bought at the resort and it all went to charity.  It was good fun and a nice way to celebrate the festive season.

New Years in Australia is a pretty big deal.  The big party is in Sydney as it is one of the first places in the world to ring in the New Year.  I spent New Years in Fraser Island (as I mentioned in a previous blog) but the one thing that’s consistent across the country is that everyone is up for a good party.

If you are heading down under to escape the cold, enjoy mate!

XMAS ball in the UK - Yes, it's Elvis!

2006 – Christmas/New Years in Jersey, UK

2006 was my first year celebrating the holidays in the UK.  I must say, it is lovely to be on an island like Jersey at Christmas time.  Earlier in December, the Christmas Market comes out – La Fête dé Noué as they call it.  During this time, the high street is lit and the shops are bustling.  There are outdoor markets in the Royal Square and there is just a lovely feeling in the air.

My first UK Christmas was special – I loved how everyone got into the spirit with all the fun Christmas Balls, Christmas lunches and all the general festivities.  Christmas Eve most people meet up for a Christmas drink after they leave work (usually a bit earlier than normal).  Then on Christmas Day, after you open all your prezzies, we would head to the pub for a drink to chat to all the locals and wish them well.  Then came the meal – and boy was it yummy!  All of the roast turkey and pork (yes, I eat pork!) and all the trimmings – soooo delicious. The rest of the evening was spent watching Christmas specials of Coronation Street and Eastenders while chomping on snacks and chocolate.

I look back to those days and they will always put a smile on my face, that’s for sure.

Snowy Canada - 1st Jan '08

2007 – Christmas / New Years in Toronto, Canada –

In 2007, I spent Christmas Day on a plane back to Canada and New Years just outside of Toronto.  The holidays in Canada are lovely for a number of reasons.  Firstly, there is so much multiculturalism in a city like Toronto.  No holiday ever feels left out and there is almost something for everyone.  There are menorahs scattered around the city lighting an extra candle for each night of Chanukah.

For Christmas, there is a holiday feeling everywhere.  Usually there is some snow on the ground too and that always puts everyone in the holiday mood.  All of the bustling shopping malls and sales really get everyone out  Like the UK, there are lots of lights and glitter and even though it may be freezing outside, it’s always nice to take a stroll to get some holiday inspiration.

New Years in Canada is a tough one – I spent many a year getting all dolled up for fancy night clubs or parties only to be freezing cold and trekking through the snow.  In 2007, my partner & I just went to a friends house outside of the city.  To be honest, it was one of my favourite New Years celebrations I’ve ever had.  Good food, friends and laughter – who could ask for anything more to ring in a new year?

Israel - Dec 29th!!

2009 – Chanukah / New Years (Sylvester) in Israel -

Last year during all of the December celebrations, I was in Israel.  Chanukah started right when I arrived on Kibbutz Ketura. It is amazing to be in Israel at this time of year – well during any holiday celebration.  As a Jew who was born in an English speaking country, we celebrate Jewish holidays but they often aren’t as well known or widely celebrated as other holidays like Christmas or Easter.  To be in a country where the majority observes these holidays, is really something special.  It’s hard to describe.

Where I was, Christmas really was not a big deal.  I didn’t even realize it was happening until I looked at the date a couple days before.  First of all, the temperatures are warm so you don’t think you are in the month of December but also there are no Christmas decorations around like there are in North America or Europe.  I’m sure things would have been different if I went up to Jerusalem or Bethlehem though.

As for New Years, it also isn’t such a big deal here in Israel.  Dec 31st and Jan 1st aren’t holidays so if it falls on a working day, you work.  That’s not to say that people still don’t use New Year’s Eve as a reason to party – they do, especially on  a weekend.  Last year though I found out that Israelis actually call New Years Eve Sylvester – strange I know.  After researching I found out that this is named after a Catholic saint who has a feast associated with 31st Dec.  It’s a bit strange but I guess it caught on so Sylvester it is.

This year, I’m actually flying back to Israel just in time for New Year’s Eve (oops…Sylvester).  To understand more about what New Year’s is like in Israel, click here – an interesting article on the topic.

So – that’s my experiences on the holidays across the globe.  Do you have any others you’d like to share?

This Travelling Starfish wants to hear more…

It’s December right now and I’ve been in my hometown Toronto, Canada for just over a month.  I must say that I’ve lucked out and the temperatures haven’t too bad – it’s just started getting cold and the snow has just begun to arrive.

As I sit on the bus coughing with a case of the sniffles I think back to where I was this time last year. Well, definitely not somewhere cold, that’s for sure.

Cruisin on the Red Sea

At the end of November 2009, I arrived in Israel and by the 1st of December, I was already down south staying on Kibbutz Ketura.  This was also the time where I first took a trip even further south – 45 minutes to Eilat.

Eilat, as I’ve mentioned before is on the Red Sea and borders Jordan and Egypt.  Although Eilat is not my favourite place in the glorious country that is Israel, it is definitely a great place to be at this time of year.  Looking out at all the white fluffy stuff surrounding me here in Canada, I think a daydream to warmer temperatures is in order.

Eilat is a hot spot for many.  Tourists love it as it’s on the Red Sea with beautiful water for swimming and I’ve heard some of the  best scuba diving in the world.  It’s also a place for Israeli’s to head to when they want a bit of fun and warm weather. It’s essentially a local resort city.

Eilat, in my opinion has a lot of potential.  For me, someone who enjoys untouched lands, it doesn’t exactly fit the bill due to all the hotels and restaurants that occupy the landscape in front of the beautiful sea.  However, it is an incredible spot with gorgeous scenery and – my favourite – sunsets.

Eilat

There are a number of top notch hotels in Eilat.  A couple friends of mine from the Kibbutz used to go to Eilat on weekends sometimes for a mini-break.  A bit of a dash away from the communal life and to get a bit of pampering.  When I return to Israel in a couple of weeks (I’m so excited by the way), I’m considering the very same thing.

When I came back to Canada and spoke to my dad about Israel and my time down south, he showed me a map of Israel from when he was there in the early 1970s.  It was so interesting to see that Israel was a lot bigger on the map when he was there.

You see, areas to the south of Eilat were recaptured by Israel in the Six-day war in 1967.  This included Sharm el-Sheikh (which is a big attraction for tourists around the world).  This area remained under Israeli control until the Sinai peninsula was restored again to Egypt in 1982 after the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979.

So my dad’s map shows Sharm as apart of Israel – not the Israel that I have gotten to know on all my visits.  It is a reminder of all the changes this amazing country has seen over the years.  Eilat is definitely Israeli and I’m curious to visit Sharm to see if there is Israeli and Egyptian influences there.  Maybe another trip?  Hmmm…you never know…keep watching to find out.

For now, I have my memories and my dreams of planning trips back to this area – hopefully sooner than later.

Bye for now, Travelling Starfish x