The beaches in Tel Aviv are wonderful. Showers, lavatories, no pets allowed ...
But: Some people do not understand that "No animals allowed" does mean, that they are not allowed to bring their dogs to the beach. I witnessed this already a couple of times and also tried to explain what my concerns were, but they just ignored me completely or pretended not to understand ...
I also was the witness of a theft on the beach this morning. The thief even caught my attention by his indecisive behavior, even when i SAW him walking away with two backpacks, my positive-thinking-mind still thought, well he probably spent the night on the beach and was contemplating if he should go to some other place, then made a quick decision took all of his belongings (2 backpacks) and left the scene.
Half an hour later i hear some british tourists complaining about their stolen bags ...
I somehow felt guilty for not acting at all, but hey, the guy looked like he just left the army, well trained, sunglasses and hat.
Dienstag, 21. Oktober 2008
Sonntag, 19. Oktober 2008
More from Carmel Market and the Piano Situation
Today i made another clip on Carmel maket. Bedouin women baking bread the old style. They also use it for some kind of wrap, similar to the turkish goezleme.
Here is the clip:
I then went to the Dizengoff Center a huge and i mean huge shopping mall.
Sofar i only made one clip. The cheapest fresh upright piano in the country.
It sells for around 9000 NIS.
I later went to a big piano shop on Dizengoff Boulevard and the used pianos start from 4000 NIS.
Anyway here is the clip from Dizengoff Center:
Better and more explicit clips of other stores and the incredible architecture of this mall shall follow, once i found my way around ...
Here is the clip:
I then went to the Dizengoff Center a huge and i mean huge shopping mall.
Sofar i only made one clip. The cheapest fresh upright piano in the country.
It sells for around 9000 NIS.
I later went to a big piano shop on Dizengoff Boulevard and the used pianos start from 4000 NIS.
Anyway here is the clip from Dizengoff Center:
Better and more explicit clips of other stores and the incredible architecture of this mall shall follow, once i found my way around ...
Mittwoch, 15. Oktober 2008
Russian Camels from Carmel Market
Today i again visited the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv. I recorded parts of my walk, here is the video:
I happened to purchase a pack of Camel Filter Cigarettes obviously produced for the rusian market, made in Switzerland. The price was 13 NIS, while you usually have to pay 16 NIS for a Soft Pack of Israeli Camels ...
I happened to purchase a pack of Camel Filter Cigarettes obviously produced for the rusian market, made in Switzerland. The price was 13 NIS, while you usually have to pay 16 NIS for a Soft Pack of Israeli Camels ...
The Bad Boy and the Magic Mezuzah
I finally made some time to write about the happenings of last night.
The story from my point of view starts in the afternoon. I entered the room and found a new guy sleeping on one of the top bunk beds.
No luggage visible, dirty feet, red face.
I let him sleep and also took a nap. The temperature was around 29 centigrade with very high humidity the weather report spoke of "felt 31 centigrades" ...
After getting up and enjoying a cup of coffee on our balcony, i realized as i walked back into the room, that the stranger also woke up and greeted him with a calm "Hi" and a smile. oh, no reaction. He just stared at me. I went to the lavatory and as i was just out of the door, i hear him jumping out of his bed and making some expression, that i could not understand but sounded like swearing or cursing. "At me ??" I thought, but did not pay any further attention, as in a hostel there are permanently people moving in or out, some very tired because of traveling or other reasons, my policy is to just let them be until a moment arrives to maybe have some conversation.
A while later i met James, the friendly guy from Australia in the lobby that also stays in our room and asked him if he already met our new roommate, which he denied. He wanted to get up early to reach the Jordanian border before noon.
I went to bed after a nice walk at around 23:00, James already was asleep.
I woke up at 2:50 by this new guy standing in the room talkig rubbish, obviously to himself. As i set myself up and looked at him silently, somehow expecting him to say an apology or at least a "hello" of some sort, he just made a confused to aggressive impression. I felt a strong wave of negative energy, which i partly blamed on the full moon and my high protein intake the day before.
Wordless i got up and went down to the reception to make sure, this guy is not some kind of stranger that smuggled himself into the hostel and they are in posession of his identity details - for all cases.
Avi, the receptionist of duty was very undestanding and went upstairs to tell him to be quiet.
I waited some minutes, in the lobby where only one Japanese guy was sitting with his laptop unable to light the cigarette i had brought with me.
As i returned to the room, Avi was on his way downstairs saying all is cool, the stranger whose name was Simon will be quiet now.
Good. But i was on max alert as being disturbed in my sleep is something that really pisses me off, as some of you may know.
So i went to the balcony to finally smoke a Camel in order to relax and sleep afterwards.
Simon came out as well asking for a lite. I asked where he came from, He said "Belgium" so i said, "Dont you greet people in Belgium", "Sure we do" he replied.
While we had a small conversation, him apologizing me explaining, that all is cool as long as there is some kind of communication and respect, he extinguished his one third smoked cigarette just to ask for it to be lit again.
Patiently i lit it, but already got a little tense and made sure he understands, that there is no messing around with me, although i tried to be friendly.
We decided to go to sleep, and as i was lying down, trying to relax, he jumped up again, cursing and starting to "look for something" with his hands among my stuff.
I jumped out of bed again. By that time James also was up and Simon left the room, saying "Ok, i leave ...".
On the balcony, smoking, James said he had locked the door the only possible way : from inside .
Not being sure if this would solve our problem for the rest of the night, we decided to go downstairs and consult Avi about this misbehaviour.
Avi said that Simon apparently left and he will not let him in again.
At this moment, something dropped just in front of the hostels main entrance.
We thought, now Simon is pissed and throws things against the glass door.
As i looked closer i saw that nobody threw anything.
It was the MEZUZAH, that had jumped off the door post.
Avi went out and fixed it again, murmuring "I will not let him in again." .
James and I went upstairs and after some time fell a sleep knowing that Avi would by no means let the guy in again, specially not after the mezuzah "speaking".
I woke up by hearing James saying "That guy, he took my camera ..." !
We found the empty bread box used to stash James' 2000 USD Camera later in an empty neigbouring room.
Simon who had left his sandals behind returned in the early afternoon with a bandaged arm, that was supposedly broken in a fight near Mugraby Hostel on Allenby as James found out while searching for traces of Simon and/or the Camera.
He claimed his passport was stolen, picked up his sandals and was made to leave immediately by the managment.
We tried to follow him, but being both unexperienced with close observation lost him quite fast.
I am pretty sure that he has something like a base in the close neighbourhood, maybe an abandoned building.
After having lost his track, we decided to examine one of the possible houses, that looked like they were easy to enter, although most doors and windows had been closed with bricks.
We went up an outdoor stairway, found a hallway cluttered with empty water bottles. I decided to go up front to take a glance at the room that appeared to be at the end.
As i made it to there, not without making some noises, i saw a scared lady sitting in a somewhat furnished room, aged maybe 45-50.
I quickly apologized and we left the ground as quick as possible.
Now James is a real cool, friendly and positive guy and decided not to be worried about the Camera and the lost Data, but to be happy nobody was injured except this weirdo himself and he already thinks of buying a better camera once back to Australia ...
Despite the negative energy i immediately felt emerging from Simon, we cannot be sure that he HAS taken the camera as there are other people around and James did NOT lock it up as suggested, which sureley WAS a mistake.
So remember when traveling and when residing in a fixed place, that it is YOUR responsibility to protect your belongings and your friends and family, as there are negative energies around all over and Murphy's Law is valid even in this beautiful country of Israel...
The story from my point of view starts in the afternoon. I entered the room and found a new guy sleeping on one of the top bunk beds.
No luggage visible, dirty feet, red face.
I let him sleep and also took a nap. The temperature was around 29 centigrade with very high humidity the weather report spoke of "felt 31 centigrades" ...
After getting up and enjoying a cup of coffee on our balcony, i realized as i walked back into the room, that the stranger also woke up and greeted him with a calm "Hi" and a smile. oh, no reaction. He just stared at me. I went to the lavatory and as i was just out of the door, i hear him jumping out of his bed and making some expression, that i could not understand but sounded like swearing or cursing. "At me ??" I thought, but did not pay any further attention, as in a hostel there are permanently people moving in or out, some very tired because of traveling or other reasons, my policy is to just let them be until a moment arrives to maybe have some conversation.
A while later i met James, the friendly guy from Australia in the lobby that also stays in our room and asked him if he already met our new roommate, which he denied. He wanted to get up early to reach the Jordanian border before noon.
I went to bed after a nice walk at around 23:00, James already was asleep.
I woke up at 2:50 by this new guy standing in the room talkig rubbish, obviously to himself. As i set myself up and looked at him silently, somehow expecting him to say an apology or at least a "hello" of some sort, he just made a confused to aggressive impression. I felt a strong wave of negative energy, which i partly blamed on the full moon and my high protein intake the day before.
Wordless i got up and went down to the reception to make sure, this guy is not some kind of stranger that smuggled himself into the hostel and they are in posession of his identity details - for all cases.
Avi, the receptionist of duty was very undestanding and went upstairs to tell him to be quiet.
I waited some minutes, in the lobby where only one Japanese guy was sitting with his laptop unable to light the cigarette i had brought with me.
As i returned to the room, Avi was on his way downstairs saying all is cool, the stranger whose name was Simon will be quiet now.
Good. But i was on max alert as being disturbed in my sleep is something that really pisses me off, as some of you may know.
So i went to the balcony to finally smoke a Camel in order to relax and sleep afterwards.
Simon came out as well asking for a lite. I asked where he came from, He said "Belgium" so i said, "Dont you greet people in Belgium", "Sure we do" he replied.
While we had a small conversation, him apologizing me explaining, that all is cool as long as there is some kind of communication and respect, he extinguished his one third smoked cigarette just to ask for it to be lit again.
Patiently i lit it, but already got a little tense and made sure he understands, that there is no messing around with me, although i tried to be friendly.
We decided to go to sleep, and as i was lying down, trying to relax, he jumped up again, cursing and starting to "look for something" with his hands among my stuff.
I jumped out of bed again. By that time James also was up and Simon left the room, saying "Ok, i leave ...".
On the balcony, smoking, James said he had locked the door the only possible way : from inside .
Not being sure if this would solve our problem for the rest of the night, we decided to go downstairs and consult Avi about this misbehaviour.
Avi said that Simon apparently left and he will not let him in again.
At this moment, something dropped just in front of the hostels main entrance.
We thought, now Simon is pissed and throws things against the glass door.
As i looked closer i saw that nobody threw anything.
It was the MEZUZAH, that had jumped off the door post.
Avi went out and fixed it again, murmuring "I will not let him in again." .
James and I went upstairs and after some time fell a sleep knowing that Avi would by no means let the guy in again, specially not after the mezuzah "speaking".
I woke up by hearing James saying "That guy, he took my camera ..." !
We found the empty bread box used to stash James' 2000 USD Camera later in an empty neigbouring room.
Simon who had left his sandals behind returned in the early afternoon with a bandaged arm, that was supposedly broken in a fight near Mugraby Hostel on Allenby as James found out while searching for traces of Simon and/or the Camera.
He claimed his passport was stolen, picked up his sandals and was made to leave immediately by the managment.
We tried to follow him, but being both unexperienced with close observation lost him quite fast.
I am pretty sure that he has something like a base in the close neighbourhood, maybe an abandoned building.
After having lost his track, we decided to examine one of the possible houses, that looked like they were easy to enter, although most doors and windows had been closed with bricks.
We went up an outdoor stairway, found a hallway cluttered with empty water bottles. I decided to go up front to take a glance at the room that appeared to be at the end.
As i made it to there, not without making some noises, i saw a scared lady sitting in a somewhat furnished room, aged maybe 45-50.
I quickly apologized and we left the ground as quick as possible.
Now James is a real cool, friendly and positive guy and decided not to be worried about the Camera and the lost Data, but to be happy nobody was injured except this weirdo himself and he already thinks of buying a better camera once back to Australia ...
Despite the negative energy i immediately felt emerging from Simon, we cannot be sure that he HAS taken the camera as there are other people around and James did NOT lock it up as suggested, which sureley WAS a mistake.
So remember when traveling and when residing in a fixed place, that it is YOUR responsibility to protect your belongings and your friends and family, as there are negative energies around all over and Murphy's Law is valid even in this beautiful country of Israel...
Dienstag, 14. Oktober 2008
Holidays and travelers stories ...
Today was the first day of Sukkoth, the annual celebration of the 40 years the children of Israel spent in the desert in temporary huts after escaping slavery in egypt.
Many people spend their time outdoors or in nicely decorated ritual huts with a loose roof, built specially for this purpose. Most restaurants and supermarkets are open though.
I myself plan to go to the Negev at least for a night while this week long celebration. Let us see if i can make up my mind, life in Tel Aviv is so relaxed and cool ...
Today i had a longer chat with James, a guy from Australia. We met three weeks ago here at momoshostel.com in Tel Aviv and he actually told me about the Hebron Hostel in Jerusalem, that i spent a week in.
He has been traveling for almost a year now with a special Around the World Ticket, that would cost him 1800 USD per continent, providing 5 Flights in each continent - any distance.
He spent most of his time in South America though and i had to ask why, what was so fascinating about that part of the world, to spend 8 months out of 12 there ...
He showed me a couple of breathtaking Panorama Pictures he took while hiking in the nature there and i was quite impressed by the sheer beauty i saw. Beyond description, i immediately understood why this part of the world can take some time if you enjoy nature !
Ok, he is 23, so walking with donkeys for a couple of days, to finally climb 10 hours up a mountain, take a picture and climb down 6 more hours and all that several thousand meters above sea level is still more easily manageable ...
He also told me stories about the Carneval in Rio, and Macchu Picchu and that he would not have had time for the Amazonas or its delta ...
But, the maybe most exotic part of our conversation may still be the story of the San Pedro Prison in La Paz.
I will not go into details here, a book has been written about this institution and i heard a first hand report from someone who was there a few months ago and said it is common use even for tourists to bribe the guards and sort of visit the prison and its inmates ...
Here is the link to the site of the book : http://www.marchingpowder.com/
Get an impression yourself ...
Apart from that, i enjoy the kosher food here and the gym equipment and the beauties and the beach ....
Many people spend their time outdoors or in nicely decorated ritual huts with a loose roof, built specially for this purpose. Most restaurants and supermarkets are open though.
I myself plan to go to the Negev at least for a night while this week long celebration. Let us see if i can make up my mind, life in Tel Aviv is so relaxed and cool ...
Today i had a longer chat with James, a guy from Australia. We met three weeks ago here at momoshostel.com in Tel Aviv and he actually told me about the Hebron Hostel in Jerusalem, that i spent a week in.
He has been traveling for almost a year now with a special Around the World Ticket, that would cost him 1800 USD per continent, providing 5 Flights in each continent - any distance.
He spent most of his time in South America though and i had to ask why, what was so fascinating about that part of the world, to spend 8 months out of 12 there ...
He showed me a couple of breathtaking Panorama Pictures he took while hiking in the nature there and i was quite impressed by the sheer beauty i saw. Beyond description, i immediately understood why this part of the world can take some time if you enjoy nature !
Ok, he is 23, so walking with donkeys for a couple of days, to finally climb 10 hours up a mountain, take a picture and climb down 6 more hours and all that several thousand meters above sea level is still more easily manageable ...
He also told me stories about the Carneval in Rio, and Macchu Picchu and that he would not have had time for the Amazonas or its delta ...
But, the maybe most exotic part of our conversation may still be the story of the San Pedro Prison in La Paz.
I will not go into details here, a book has been written about this institution and i heard a first hand report from someone who was there a few months ago and said it is common use even for tourists to bribe the guards and sort of visit the prison and its inmates ...
Here is the link to the site of the book : http://www.marchingpowder.com/
Get an impression yourself ...
Apart from that, i enjoy the kosher food here and the gym equipment and the beauties and the beach ....
Samstag, 11. Oktober 2008
News from Home ...
Although this blog was not meant to comment on media news, i cannot but write a few sentences on the major subject of the headlines i get from my country of origin: Austria.
The life journey of the worst inciter, the father of the austrian extreme-right abruptly ended last night in a car crash.
I think that any jubilation at the death of a human being is inappropriate, but apart from feeling sorry for his family, i do not exactly feel sad either. everything has its purpose, has its reason ...
There will be no more praising of the Third Reichs methods, no hidden antisemitic clues that excite the old and young Nazis coming from this mouth anymore. Not that i felt like celebrating, it just came to my mind tonight, that i did not bring any of the Cuban Cigars (Cohiba Siglo VI) i saved for special occasions and also did not buy one although i passed by an open Cigar Shop on Ben Yehuda Street.
But, i really had to laugh at peoples reactions. His followers speaking of "Weltuntergang" (the end of the world) and Assassination and Conspiracies ...
Oh my, they lost their "Fuehrer" and it seems he simply lost control of his car on a pretty straight road while driving more than twice as fast as allowed ...
In fact one has to worry that the extreme right which was split into two parties and together earned 28% of all votes in the last elections a few weaks ago, now will reunite ...
So i made an extra round of exercises on the great free Gym equipment on Gordon Beach and took this image of a grafitti which reads "Am Israel hai"="The people of Israel LIVE":
The life journey of the worst inciter, the father of the austrian extreme-right abruptly ended last night in a car crash.
I think that any jubilation at the death of a human being is inappropriate, but apart from feeling sorry for his family, i do not exactly feel sad either. everything has its purpose, has its reason ...
There will be no more praising of the Third Reichs methods, no hidden antisemitic clues that excite the old and young Nazis coming from this mouth anymore. Not that i felt like celebrating, it just came to my mind tonight, that i did not bring any of the Cuban Cigars (Cohiba Siglo VI) i saved for special occasions and also did not buy one although i passed by an open Cigar Shop on Ben Yehuda Street.
But, i really had to laugh at peoples reactions. His followers speaking of "Weltuntergang" (the end of the world) and Assassination and Conspiracies ...
Oh my, they lost their "Fuehrer" and it seems he simply lost control of his car on a pretty straight road while driving more than twice as fast as allowed ...
In fact one has to worry that the extreme right which was split into two parties and together earned 28% of all votes in the last elections a few weaks ago, now will reunite ...
So i made an extra round of exercises on the great free Gym equipment on Gordon Beach and took this image of a grafitti which reads "Am Israel hai"="The people of Israel LIVE":
Freitag, 10. Oktober 2008
Yom Kippur
Yesterday was Yom Kippur, the highest and most observed jewish holiday.
It starts like all holidays the evening before at sunset. Yom Kippur ends the 10 days of repentance that started with Rosh haShanah (New Year). Observant Jews do not eat nor drink nor use cosmetics until after sunset the next day.
Here in Tel Aviv, where most AM:PM shops are open 24 hours even on Shabat, everything was closed, and for 25 hours there was no car in the street, no taxi, no bus.
The evening of Yom Kippur i walked through Dizengoff Blvd and was amazed to see the usually so busy street filled with people, most dressed in white, cheerfully singing, smiling, children playing, youths on roller blades, songs could be heard from the synagogues.
Nobody dared to smoke.
The only traffic were ambulances and occasional police cars, without horns and very slow...
I never before experienced such a general feeling of spirituality, joy and peacefulness.
I also was fasting and not smoking cigarettes for the whole period, meditating most of the time in my bunk bed.
After sunset i went to my favorite Showarma place on Allenby Street and overate of course ...
Everybody probably did so as i was not the only one with a broad smile holding my belly and joyfully smoking one after the other on the street...
Reading of the riots in Akko today really makes me sad and leaves a bitter taste after this beautiful experience of this Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv ...
It starts like all holidays the evening before at sunset. Yom Kippur ends the 10 days of repentance that started with Rosh haShanah (New Year). Observant Jews do not eat nor drink nor use cosmetics until after sunset the next day.
Here in Tel Aviv, where most AM:PM shops are open 24 hours even on Shabat, everything was closed, and for 25 hours there was no car in the street, no taxi, no bus.
The evening of Yom Kippur i walked through Dizengoff Blvd and was amazed to see the usually so busy street filled with people, most dressed in white, cheerfully singing, smiling, children playing, youths on roller blades, songs could be heard from the synagogues.
Nobody dared to smoke.
The only traffic were ambulances and occasional police cars, without horns and very slow...
I never before experienced such a general feeling of spirituality, joy and peacefulness.
I also was fasting and not smoking cigarettes for the whole period, meditating most of the time in my bunk bed.
After sunset i went to my favorite Showarma place on Allenby Street and overate of course ...
Everybody probably did so as i was not the only one with a broad smile holding my belly and joyfully smoking one after the other on the street...
Reading of the riots in Akko today really makes me sad and leaves a bitter taste after this beautiful experience of this Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv ...
Donnerstag, 9. Oktober 2008
It is Pomegranate Season Now !
It is pomegranate season and the freshly squeezed juice is available virtually everywhere.
The taste and effect is beyond description ...
This alone is a reason to visit this beautiful land:
A small glass (0.33 Liter) is between 10 and 15 NIS, so you can really afford drinking it ...
And the effect :
The taste and effect is beyond description ...
This alone is a reason to visit this beautiful land:
A small glass (0.33 Liter) is between 10 and 15 NIS, so you can really afford drinking it ...
And the effect :
Dienstag, 7. Oktober 2008
Back in Tel Aviv
So now i am in Tel Aviv again, back to Momos Hostel in Ben Yehuda street 28.
I have to admit, i do not remember feeling so nice and well anytime or anyplace before in my life.
I moved into room 22 on he second floor, which also has a balcony and is in fact right above room 17 that i spent my first days in Israel in.
The showers and facilities are in a much better condition and there is what seems to be a permanent resident, that is very calm.
I plan to stay here at least over Yom Kippur and maybe Succoth.
I picked up some tourist Information today and see very interresting events coming up, like Folk dancing, Simhat torah celebrations, markets, fairs and Museums.
And there is the also the beach.
Today i discovered some public training equipment, that i really enjoy to use ...
The weather is not as hot right now but still lovely ...
I could rent an accordion in the shop down the street for 250 NIS a month and play some on Dizengoff Blvd. ... Maybe after Yom Kippur, but i still do not know what to do with it in case i should decide to travel.
I also do not know if I like to go to Galilea at all, or will just make one more move to Eilat.
The experience of jerusalem reduced my appetite for areas with too many Arabs.
I love Tel Aviv, it is really cool ....
I have to admit, i do not remember feeling so nice and well anytime or anyplace before in my life.
I moved into room 22 on he second floor, which also has a balcony and is in fact right above room 17 that i spent my first days in Israel in.
The showers and facilities are in a much better condition and there is what seems to be a permanent resident, that is very calm.
I plan to stay here at least over Yom Kippur and maybe Succoth.
I picked up some tourist Information today and see very interresting events coming up, like Folk dancing, Simhat torah celebrations, markets, fairs and Museums.
And there is the also the beach.
Today i discovered some public training equipment, that i really enjoy to use ...
The weather is not as hot right now but still lovely ...
I could rent an accordion in the shop down the street for 250 NIS a month and play some on Dizengoff Blvd. ... Maybe after Yom Kippur, but i still do not know what to do with it in case i should decide to travel.
I also do not know if I like to go to Galilea at all, or will just make one more move to Eilat.
The experience of jerusalem reduced my appetite for areas with too many Arabs.
I love Tel Aviv, it is really cool ....
Out of Jerusalem
It seems like a long time i posted the last time. What happened in this time ?
Jerusalem is a very spiritual city in some ways. All over there are people faithful and believing, praying, singing, chanting. Also there is another side, there is a secular scene as well, just not as visible at the surface and i am not talking of arab businessmen that try to sell their stuff to innocent tourists at outrageous prices.
It was on the last shabbat, that i had decided to go to a place called Birman to attend the Jam Session that was supposed to take place there.
In the hostel I was woken up rather early by roomates, the obligatory churchbells and the singing prayers of some christians passing by. I went out as there was no sense in staying and watch Ash and his crew cleaning the place (they really keep it tidy and proper). Now on Shabbat in West Jerusalem Everything is really closed. No people on the street except obvious tourists, like me.
I hung out in the area around the King George-Jaffa Road-Ben Yeahuda Triangle close to Birman waiting for the place to open.
As soon as the sun would set, life came back, seats were moved back in front of the cafes, shops opened one after the other, and people began to fill the street...
More and more and more, suddenly there were street musicians, and good ones !
I met Brinda the nice lady from London that volunteered in the hostel and a friend of hers, Raphael, a Jew from India who became a member of the Messianic movement.
Those messianic Jews believe that Jesus of Nazareth WAS the messiah, but are leading a jewish lifestyle apart from that. They keep clean and kosher, observe Shabbat and other jewish holidays and so on ...
He just came from his congregation and said that some of his fellow believers will soon come out and sing. Messianic Jews sing and pray in Hebrew ...
I was amazed to see like 20 Koreans stand in the pedestrian zone of Jerusalem and enthusiastically sing about Jesus in Hebrew.
I left the next day.
Also the Jam Session at Birmans turned out to feature very young and very well trained locals that played some kind of intellectual Jazz that had a somewhat tiring effect on me.
As i walked back to the hostel, the crowd on the street had even grown bigger.
There was even a Djembe group of some 12 people drumming their heart out on the street.
Cafes were packed with people.
Jerusalem is suc an intense place with that many extreme contrasts, and i have not visited most of the places ...
I may return at a later time ...
Jerusalem is a very spiritual city in some ways. All over there are people faithful and believing, praying, singing, chanting. Also there is another side, there is a secular scene as well, just not as visible at the surface and i am not talking of arab businessmen that try to sell their stuff to innocent tourists at outrageous prices.
It was on the last shabbat, that i had decided to go to a place called Birman to attend the Jam Session that was supposed to take place there.
In the hostel I was woken up rather early by roomates, the obligatory churchbells and the singing prayers of some christians passing by. I went out as there was no sense in staying and watch Ash and his crew cleaning the place (they really keep it tidy and proper). Now on Shabbat in West Jerusalem Everything is really closed. No people on the street except obvious tourists, like me.
I hung out in the area around the King George-Jaffa Road-Ben Yeahuda Triangle close to Birman waiting for the place to open.
As soon as the sun would set, life came back, seats were moved back in front of the cafes, shops opened one after the other, and people began to fill the street...
More and more and more, suddenly there were street musicians, and good ones !
I met Brinda the nice lady from London that volunteered in the hostel and a friend of hers, Raphael, a Jew from India who became a member of the Messianic movement.
Those messianic Jews believe that Jesus of Nazareth WAS the messiah, but are leading a jewish lifestyle apart from that. They keep clean and kosher, observe Shabbat and other jewish holidays and so on ...
He just came from his congregation and said that some of his fellow believers will soon come out and sing. Messianic Jews sing and pray in Hebrew ...
I was amazed to see like 20 Koreans stand in the pedestrian zone of Jerusalem and enthusiastically sing about Jesus in Hebrew.
I left the next day.
Also the Jam Session at Birmans turned out to feature very young and very well trained locals that played some kind of intellectual Jazz that had a somewhat tiring effect on me.
As i walked back to the hostel, the crowd on the street had even grown bigger.
There was even a Djembe group of some 12 people drumming their heart out on the street.
Cafes were packed with people.
Jerusalem is suc an intense place with that many extreme contrasts, and i have not visited most of the places ...
I may return at a later time ...
Donnerstag, 2. Oktober 2008
Roots Vibrations in Jerusalem
Last night i went to the "EMOTION" Club in Jerusalem to attend a concert of Kwesi Selassie ...
I had to spend 70 NIS at the door but thought it might be worth it to get connections and have an impression how the Afro Music scene is in like in Israel.
This was around 08:30 PM and they were still checking sound.
I got the number of the tour manager from DJ Rasta Zion and also a hint for a local cafe with a piano.
The group was great with sax and trumpet and the crowd was cheering.
Good sound, good vibe, some african brethren - I felt at home.
Unfortunately the Hebron Hostel closes its doors at 01:00 AM so i had to leave even before the first set was finished.
The coffeeshops in central Jerusalem were filled with people as they were open agian after two days of closing because of Rosh haShanah celebration.
It is a shame, i thought as i had to walk back into the Old City Walls.
As i approached Masses of people were getting out of several Buses and moved through Jaffa Gate. They made a left on Christian Quarter Street and i continued eastward but also turned left later to reach my hostel, crossing a smelly and filthy neighbourhood compared to central Jerusalem ...
I had to spend 70 NIS at the door but thought it might be worth it to get connections and have an impression how the Afro Music scene is in like in Israel.This was around 08:30 PM and they were still checking sound.
I got the number of the tour manager from DJ Rasta Zion and also a hint for a local cafe with a piano.
The group was great with sax and trumpet and the crowd was cheering.
Good sound, good vibe, some african brethren - I felt at home.
Unfortunately the Hebron Hostel closes its doors at 01:00 AM so i had to leave even before the first set was finished.
The coffeeshops in central Jerusalem were filled with people as they were open agian after two days of closing because of Rosh haShanah celebration.
It is a shame, i thought as i had to walk back into the Old City Walls.
As i approached Masses of people were getting out of several Buses and moved through Jaffa Gate. They made a left on Christian Quarter Street and i continued eastward but also turned left later to reach my hostel, crossing a smelly and filthy neighbourhood compared to central Jerusalem ...
Abonnieren
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