PRAYING AND PLAYING IN ISRAEL
Place this
Middle Eastern country high on your travel bucket list immediately. It has
everything – from gastronomical delights to architectural wonders – that a good
vacation requires
A spiritually inclined
friend’s wish to bring in her birthday in the holy land of Jerusalem brought
Israel up on our bucket list ahead of its time. For three friends who often
travel together, this trip was another adventure, but with new flavours – that
of history and cultural relevance for multiple religions. And of course, there
were also the usual suspects of gastronomy, architecture and play!
This trip was like no
other. It was planned quick (we booked our tickets about 15 days before),
featured passport jitters since there was too much hoo-haa around the visa
process (but we got ours in two days without an express service!), and before
we knew it, we had landed at the slick Ben Gurion Airport and were in front of
a formidable-looking immigration officer. His only question – ‘You are in
Israel for just five days?’ – had our red-eye flight-stricken minds already
questioning the rationale behind this short trip.
THE
TRAILS OF JERUSALEM
We, that’s designers
Shivan and Narresh of the label Shivan & Narresh and me, had signed on for
a guided tour from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and our guide was a blessing! She
drove us to Jerusalem, showed us around the entire ancient city and its
mystical quarters, and filled our minds with historical facts, heightening the
day to another level of importance in our itinerary.
Narresh’s walking wisdom:
Jerusalem is all about the old city. You catch the first glimpse while coming
from Tel Aviv at the Mount of Olives, from where Jesus saw the city first. As
you enter the city from the Jaffa Gate, discover the Armenian quarters and the
stunning church featuring a ceiling of suspended chandeliers. Walk towards the
Jewish quarters and you will be led to the Room of the Last Supper and David’s
Tomb. Do note that the Room of the Last Supper isn’t the actual room; it has
been built over the site where it is believed to have been located. The room is
an intriguing mix of cultures – there are influences of Christianity and
Judaism in the architecture, but there is also an Islamic mihrab in the same
premises!
Walk further and you will
chance upon the columns of the Roman Cardo and finally make your way towards
the legendary Wailing Wall – the site holiest to Judaism. The wall is believed
to have marked the spot of grieving for the Jews for their community – beyond
the wall lay the premises of the Dome of the Rock where the Foundation Stone is
housed. Siddhartth’s soul-stirring trail: The visit to Jerusalem is incomplete
without the chilling walk along the Via Dolorosa, the path walked by Jesus from
his sentencing to his crucifixion. This path is marked with 14 stations where
significant events took place during Jesus’s journey and starts from the Arab
quarters. To walk the same path where these events were believed to have
happened sends a shiver down the soul. The walk culminates at the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.
Historical fact: The keys
to the church are held by two Muslim families who open and close it
respectively and have been doing so for centuries! Shivan’s gastronomic finds:
We found a rather interesting restaurant called Between the Arches. Just off
the Wailing Wall, the restaurant is built in a cavern and offers a curated menu
in an enchanting ambience with a selection of Israeli wines that are not to be
missed!
(NOT)
DEAD SEA
The Dead Sea was on
everyone’s list! Our guide told us that “the sea will be boiling and the sand
will be like lava” at this time of the year, but that did not dampen our
spirits. Making your way towards the Dead Sea is rather interesting – you pass
the point of the sea level (the Dead Sea is 1,412 feet below sea level) amidst
arid topography and feel your ears pop as you descend (make sure to carry some
gum).
Siddhartth’s saline
slips: The Dead Sea is called so because of its extreme salinity, which doesn’t
allow for life in its waters and makes you float even in the shallowest
portions. This salinity is acidic and shouldn’t come in contact with your eyes
or mouth. I was smart enough to try a falling pose for a picture, only to slip
and get a drop in my eye; soon, I was rushing towards the shower, barefoot on
the hot sand.
Narresh’s mud mayhem: The
Dead Sea’s mud is mineral-rich and extremely beneficial for the skin. Scrape
ome of the soft mud from
the floor of the sea and apply all over yourself (save the eyes), and wash off
in the sea. The skin will be left softer than a new born baby’s! Repeat
multiple times, because the range of Dead Sea skin products available on the market
costs a few hundred dollars!
Shivan’s bar tales: One
cannot leave the Dead Sea without a drink (or many) at The Lowest Bar in the
World, which sits at 1,378 feet below the sea level! TELL A TALE OF TEL AVIV
With our souls enriched and skins nourished, we headed back to base camp – Tel
Aviv. The city of Tel Aviv is a piece of art – from the approximately 4,000
Bauhaus-style buildings at every corner (believed to be more than any other
city in the world owing to the migration of German Jews in the 1930s) to the
art galleries. There is so much to absorb visually!
Tel Aviv wears the crown
for one of the best party destinations in the world and has the most evolved
urban systems where cultures, languages and sexuality are equally democratic.
With the compulsion of all men and women in Israel having to serve its national
army, the first thing that hits you is how good-looking the people are: the
partyscapes are thronged with great bodies and spirits, a tribute to their
mental and physical strength.
Narresh’s party tricks:
The city is big on terrace sundowners. Typically starting around 2pm, they peak
around 8pm and finish by 11pm. Going to one around 6pm is a great way to meet
locals. This leads to more parties: while you might find from the locals that
the biggest party tonight is at the bus station, tomorrow’s might be at the
quaint bar down the street. Theme parties? Yes, of course. There’s literally a
party menu for anyone with four limbs to dance with. We found bars and clubs
for women and men separately, and some that allowed people to party only in
briefs!
Pro-tip: Always enter a
party with a good cover charge.
Siddhartth’s Jaffa jig:
Jaffa is one of the oldest port cities in the world (nearly 4,000 years) and is
the most charming part of Tel Aviv. It has a hilly topography but each turn has
a surprise and a story to tell. The city is inhabited by artists, which
explains the numerous art studios and galleries. The Ilana Goor Museum is the
biggest and most eclectic, with a terrace sculpture garden featuring stunning
pieces of art. If you are lucky, you can witness the
locals and the Viennese
waltz in the public square.
Shivan’s food finds: The
Michelin star restaurant HaSalon had our dinner appointment starting with
incredible Hebrew scribbled menus and ending with people dancing on their
chairs and tables. Fancy a beautiful sunset? Head to Old Man & The Sea at
Jaffa Port to see queues waiting to get tables that feature mains with 20
appetisers by default!
With a trip that was the
right mix of culture and urban tourism, Israel shot up to one of the top five
holiday destinations we would recommend. Bidding adieu to this holiday wasn’t
easy, but our minds, bodies and souls departed Israel with a definite plan to
comeback!
Siddhartth
Mahajan
HTBR 18NOV18
No comments:
Post a Comment