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From 14th to 21st of Feb. 2010, I had a trip in Israel, this is my first time to middle east, during this trip I had also a two day excursion in Jordan.

About a month ago, I began to prepare this trip.

First about the weather. From a local Chinese, I was told as the country is now in the raining season, temperature could be very varied day to day, so I didn’t prepare summer cloth, and days before departure, as I was busy about the Chinese New Year, I didn’t follow the weather forecast. Once we touch the land at Tel Aviv, I knew that I was in summer.

Something about the flight. This is also my first time to fly with Israel Airline, the security check is much more attentively than any other airlines, after a friendly and brief interview with the airline staff, then we began all the regular procedure, as I took a gift for a local Chinese in Jerusalem, I was invited to a separate room to be checked over. Everything runs smoothly and professionally, but it takes time, that is why we were asked to check-in 4.5 hours before departure.

The Ben Gurion Airport locates in the middle between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, we arrived at about 03:30 AM local time, this flight takes more than 10 hours. An hour later, we found ourselves at a local hotel, but the day was at dawn, hours later we will start the tour in Jerusalem, I was not sleepy at all.

This is my first glance of Jerusalem.

As I said I didn’t prepare summer dress, the morning time tour was hot for me. I didn’t have a big lunch (my stomach was still in China maybe) instead I drunk three big glass of iced water, that made me some trouble in the afternoon tour. In the afternoon, we made a tour through the old area of Jerusalem, the highlight of this trip I think, I prepare my sharpest lens, check the battery and my GPS, I was looking forward to take some really cool pictures, everything seems to be ready, but once we past through the old city gate, we were in the old city alley area, my belly was upside down. We went through some churches and along the road where Jesus past through 2000 years ago, everyone in the group was attentively listening up to the guide, but I was thinking where can I find a nice toilet! I should have taken more photos, if I didn’t drink that much water, but here are some:

Kids in the old city, I don’t know what this gesture means:

Here, you can find a panorama picture of the Wailing Wall.

A close up photo.

2nd day, we had a some more tour around Jerusalem, on top a hill, I took this panorama photo, we didn’t spend much time at Jerusalem this morning, as we need to go Bethlehem in the Palestinian, a local guide and bus were waiting for us at other side of the wall, as I was always the last one in the group, I didn’t catch up much with the guide’s introduction. I was told this is the oldest Orthodox Church in the world, it was very busy with tourist, this is one of the photos that I took here, I hope it will make some sense of history.

After lunch (this time I didn’t drink any water at all), the whole afternoon we were on the bus to Eilat, the summer resort for locals.

This is a snapshot from inside the bus, the wonderful cloud blur the sun, so easy for me to take a photo like this.

3rd day morning, I had a dive in the Red Sea, it was fantastic to see the colorful fishes just below the water, and my only chance to drive away the hot from my body. Eilat is definitely a small town in the eyes of Chinese, beyond the city skyline, everything in your eyes is just sandy hills, it is a little humid even in the night, but the temperature of the sea water is just fine.

Can you see a fish in the center of this photo?

In the afternoon, we entered the border for a two days visit in Jordan, our destination was Petra, along with the King’s way, the local guide told me, just about a week ago, the road was still frozen with snow, but now the sun come up with us, this week it was hot as in summer. I should say, Jordan is even hot in day time, but after sunset, temperature dropped quickly. Our hotel locates perfectly by the canyon.

Next morning, just before dawn, in the coldness of morning I took some photos of the mountain:

In minutes, I took some more of this panorama view here. The Petra was a fantastic place to visit, a more through visit should be around 2 days, but our schedule was just in 3 hours. An early visit is more advantageous, as you can avoid big groups, and take some nice photo without too many tourists.

For the rest of the day, we were rushing for Amman, except a lunch at Madaba, a short visit to the Mosaic Church, and some photos stop at Mount Nebo, we arrived at our hotel in the downtown of Amman by 18:00.

Morning call was set at 6 am, but it was needless, I was waked up by a beautiful song from a local mosque somewhere, a calling for Friday morning ceremony. We started day by a mini city tour in Amman, a city famous for 7 mountains or hills, here is one of them. By the time of lunch, we were back in Israel again, the day was hot as usual, good time for a float in the Dead Sea.

Tel Aviv is a city with a history just about 100 years, different from Jerusalem, it offers much sense of commercial and modern life. This is our last day for this trip. The beach is just 5 minutes walk from our hotel Marina.

Here is Haifa, another port city, just about 1 hours drive in the north.

During the returning flight, I successfully fall into a sleep, next morning, when I waked up, I took this photo, we were already above the Province of Gansu China.

The tour is over, but I am still in the mood to go somewhere else, and in bed, I still hold a book about Jerusalem in hand, maybe trying to make up me my time lost in the old city, or maybe, my real trip is not finished yet.

View Israel and Jordan in a larger map

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