Israel: What to Do, Where to Go?

[midnight]

I'm going to Israel for personal reasons. What can I do there and what places will you recommend that I visit? I don't  mind visiting the surrounding countries either, as long as they don't have visa restrictions. Thanks!

[mooncake and leaves]

uy my friend was just telling me about israel yesterday. i don't know if this will really help but she mentioned that she became interested in israel after watching that trip na trip epi on israel. si uma ata ang host. maybe you can search for that on youtube.

ang alam ko madaming restrictions if you go to neighboring areas, especially nowadays. but jordan and egypt are the two closest nations that you can go to that offer a lot of attractions. petra in jordan is particularly interesting.

[midnight]

Thanks sis. Oo nga, mukhang fresh ang Israel sa utak ng mga Pinoy right now because of the trip na trip episode. Hanapin ko sa Youtube. Thanks again!

[Frozen Toes]

Any travel stories on Israel? DIY (if possible) or Travel Agency?

Thanks!

[Mr.Punch]

One has to be very careful in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Christianity's holiest site - believed to be the site of the Jesus' resurrection.  Any innocent act done carelessly might offend one or more denominations who have presences in the site.

There's a "turf war" between the oldest Christian denominations (Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, and other Eastern rite Churches) within the church itself.  Tradition is important and every single act, no matter how innocent might be viewed as offensive to one or more denominations.  Better stick with the guide.

One example of how extreme this turf war is, is the presence of the 'immovable ladder".  Sometime in the 19th century, somebody did some work outside one of the Church's windows and used a ladder to get to the ledge.  That person forgot to take the ladder back in and it has been there ever since.  For some reason, the Church occupants can not agree on how to remove the ladder without encroaching on the territory of one another (which is pretty stupid, I think).

I've seen photos of the site in the 1800s, and I've seen my mother's photos just last summer.  The ladder didn't budge at all.  When I go there, I want to get a grappling hook with me and take down that ladder.

[midnight]

@Mr. Punch, I was just at the Holy Sepulchre a week ago, I did not notice any ladder, which area of the church is it at? I'm sure it would still be there (considering how (borderline) ridiculous the ultra religious can get when it comes to their territories)

[Mr.Punch]

If you have pictures of the front of the Church, it's just under the big window on the upper right of the facade.

[Frozen Toes]

^ Did your mum book a travel agent for her trip?

[midnight]

Hala, nawala yung post ko for sis Frozen Toes!!!

@Sis Frozen Toes, I really think that with careful planning and intensive research, you can go DIY here in Israel. Visa on arrival naman for Pinoy Passport holders (good for 90 days) The thing kasi with most travel agencies, esp. in the Ph, correct me if I'm wrong, is they only focus on the religious aspect of Israel. Once you get here, there are alot of tour companies that do day, multi-day tours of other areas of interest. Sadly, I cannot vouch for any of them kasi I was not able to maximize my stay here in Israel (yes, andito parin ako!)

[Frozen Toes]

How much roundtrip airfare mo and what airline? Which part of Israel would you suggest I stay in?

Actually, ako gusto ko sana DIY. Medyo hassle kasi yung mag-adjust ng sched para sa mga kasabay sa tour. Gusto ko hawak ko sarili kong oras.

[christinep_111187]

My mom is in Israel. She works there for nearly 5 years now
She loves the place a lot

[midnight]

Mine was 1900 usd, BUT that was a biglaang ticket, booked less than a week before the flight date. I'm sure there are lots that cost so much less than what I paid for. I flew El Al, via Hong Kong, but other airlines like KLM fly here too. Israel is a very, very small country. From tip to tip, via car, only takes 6 hours (max. na yan) Public Transpo system here is very organized, BUT there are no buses during Sabbath. Which part of Israel? Depends what you like, up North is Galilee and the mountains, South naman is the desert and the Dead Sea. Tel Aviv is the center, and Jerusalem is an hour away via a sheroot (the Israeli FX taxi)
What I like about Tel Aviv (I'm in Jaffa right now) is that the Mediterranean sea is just your neighbor. You know that opening beach scene in Zohan? Ten minute walk from where I stay.
Places like Bethlehem and Nazarene, you have to contact travel agencies to visit, just to be on the safe side.
There's a place called Eilat, which is near the border of Egypt (yung nabalita na may namatay due to missile rockets) that everyone has told me I should visit. I haven't yet, kasi I came during summer and everything related to tourism was double the price then. Ngayon medyo ok na kaso, prob is, I'm broke na. Pauwi na nga ako eh Next year nalang ako mageexplore.

Oh, btw, if you know anyone residing in Israel, maybe they can make you an invite letter, esp. if you plan to totally use up the 90 days alloted to you. Maybe it was just me, but Immigration at NAIA gave me $#@+

[Frozen Toes]

^ Kamusta ang friction between Israel and Palestine right now dyan? Or parang wala lang?

Thanks for the travel notes! I might really do the trip DIY. Mukha namang doable. May language barrier ba? How long have you been there?

[omneecka]

this is one of my dream destination before i turn 30 or at least before i get married. is it true that if u came from US or any Muslim country chances are, u wont be allowed to enter Israel? and is it true that if u go there solo, u will have difficulty in dealing with their immigration officers? thank u thank u!

[sachism]

The best about Israel, no need for a visa my husband stayed at Hilton. Maganda din weather doon. Super layo nga lang but at lEast the had a stop over at amsterdam

He went there nung kasagsagan ng gulo na may travel advisory pa nga:) hindi naman daw magulo, tsaka malayo sa sentro parang mindanao ~ manila.

Andami nyang pasalubong na Ahava. Lol. Tas nakasabay nga nya si Uma sa plane. Dun ko nalaman na taga doon pala yun 

[midnight]

Most Israelis know how to speak English, some are more fluent than others. I guess having a phrasebook will be very helpful esp. if you will be travelling alone, just to be on the safe side. And always remember to SMILE, kahit di kayo ngitian back. Bihira bungisngis dito, promise. I've been here since early June, I had my tourist visa extended because my partner and I (he's Israeli) were thinking of staying here for a bit. Pero nagbago utak at sitwasyon namin, so balik Asia muna (yes, magulo buhay namin)

Re: travelling alone, I met an Indian with American citizenship a few days after I got here, and he said he was hassled by the Immigration officers in Ben Gurion Airport. So I guess there is still some discrimination against tall, dark and handsome people. Also, if after Israel eh may plano kayo, or there might be a chance na you will be travelling to the Middle East countries, pakiusapan ninyo ang Immig. Officer na makakaharap ninyo na wag tatakan passport ninyo. There will be issues if you try to use same passport in Middle East countries, once they see that you have an Israeli stamp.

Personally, I did not encounter trouble with immigrations here in Israel. Immigration officer sa NAIA pa ang nang hassle sa'kin, to the point I almost missed my flight to HK. Again, kung may kakilala kayo sa Israel, better to ask them to send you an "invite letter" kahit for show lang.

Parang wala lang ang Palestine - Israel feud dito, tahimik pa ang lahat... for now.

Btw, wag kayo hihingi ng shawarma with cheese dito ha. I tried doing that several times just to see what the vendor's reaction will be, they look at me na parang tinubuan ako ng sungay. Hahaha!

[Mr.Punch]

^ Did your mum book a travel agent for her trip?

Yep, she did.  But it's more of a Church group that specializes in pilgrimages to the Holy Land.  She said it cost her above $2,000 (I forgot the exact figure.)  But she also got to visit Jordan (Petra) and Egypt.  I'll ask again.

Since it's a Church group, the tours are religious in orientation, there's a lot of praying and reflection involved - which is fine, unless you're an atheist or a non-Catholic (wherein the rituals might not appeal to your religious sensibilities).

[Frozen Toes]

^ Cheapest roundtrip airfare for the MNL-TLV route is US$ 1,558.65 (El Al Airlines). I think reasonable kung around US$ 2,500 yung travel package for Israel. Hotels are quite pricey. If kasama pa Egypt, better.

[Frozen Toes]

Also, if after Israel eh may plano kayo, or there might be a chance na you will be travelling to the Middle East countries, pakiusapan ninyo ang Immig. Officer na makakaharap ninyo na wag tatakan passport ninyo. There will be issues if you try to use same passport in Middle East countries, once they see that you have an Israeli stamp.

Medyo nagworry ako dito. I'm planning to do Israel and Dubai next year. Dapat yata mauna muna ko pumunta ng Dubai before Israel.

[sachagirl]

sis midnight, your post re issues on travelling to Mid East if may stamp ng Israel caught my attention. Is it really possible to ask the immigration officer in Israel not to put a stamp on your passport?

tia