Following The Footsteps Of Jesus

Finally I am able to blog about the trip, even though the individual posts have been up in my travel blog. But this will be the exact sequence of events as per our trip itinerary. We went to the airport around five in the evening on Monday 3 June, even though our flight was at eight at night. This is to ensure the entire tour group is around, then we checked in and ensured our luggage was tagged to "Tel Aviv" instead of Bangkok, where we would be transiting.

This trip is organised by World Vision Singapore, their inaugural trip to Israel, part of their "Faith In Action" programme. The tour group coordinating this is Omega Tours and Travels, incorporated under New Creation Church as their revered pastor goes to Israel quite often.

When we reached Bangkok, it was a hassle trying to get up the El Al plane to Israel, because the customs officers asked a lot of questions. Finally, we were able to board the red eye flight and then I just caught up on some snoozing since it would be an eleven-hour flight.

Incidentally the Israeli airline plane is an old-fashioned plane, with only a central screen, no individual screens, and still with ashtrays on the arm rests! How long have I not seen an ashtray on the arm rest? Plus I could not get the window seat I wanted, so I was squeezed in the middle seat of the middle section, hence was rather uncomfortable throughout the flight. In the end, I was not able to sleep that well.

The arrival hall at Ben Gurion Airport

In any case, we reached Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport around half past seven in the morning. After going through customs, we collected our luggage and were then met by the local tour guide and coach driver from Sar El Tours, an Israeli Christian tour agency. We were given caps and backpacks from the agency, how nice!

Our local tour guide is a real mix of cultures. He is descended from Arabs, so the Palestines recognise him as one of them. He was born in Israel, raised in a Greek Orthodox Christian family, attended Hebrew Jewish schools, and able to read the Quran due to his Arabic background. He then married an Armenian Orthodox Christian, and able to speak about seven languages, including Hebrew, Israeli and English. Hence we are really fortunate to have him as our guide, since he is a walking Bible and due to his background, he is also able to grant us access to Palestinian territory which are otherwise out of bounds to the Israelis.

Anyway, we started our tour immediately. Our first stop is Caesarea, where the Caesarea Maritama is. Caesarea Maritama was built by King Herod and the remnants of the fort and dried up moat is still there. We stopped there for breakfast, before proceeding on to our next stop - Mount Carmel, for a paranomic view of the Galilee region. Our next stop is Tel Megiddo before we had lunch there. The details of these can be found here.

After lunch, we went on to Nazareth, the place where Jesus grew up, before going up to Mount of Precipice for a bird's eye view of Nazareth. The details can be found here. After that, we passed by Cana in Galilee (which I did not manage to grab any photos unfortunately since it was only a drive by), where Jesus performed his first miracle changing the water into wine, before reaching our hotel, the Rimonim Mineral Hotel, in Tiberias. Dinner was at the hotel then we had an early rest. End of the first day.

We started the second day after breakfast at the hotel with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, and exploring the Ancient Boat Museum on the opposing shore. After that, we went up to the sites Jesus went to, namely Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Church of St Peter's Primacy, and Capernaum, before stopping for lunch at a restaurant specialising in St Peter's fish.

In case anyone is wondering, this is what St Peter's fish looks like :

After lunch, we went down to the Jordan River baptism site, before going back to Tiberias for the Galilee Experience. Actually the Jordan River and Galilee Experience were not included in the itinerary, but because we managed to finish all the places before lunch, the tour guide kindly gave us extra perks by bringing us to the Jordan River baptism site and then to see the Galilee Experience.

The Galilee Experience is actually a theatre cum gift shop in the heart of Tiberias, facing the Sea of Galilee. In there, one can see the history of Israel and how Jesus went about in Galilee. We were also given free ice cream and coffee, and we could spend some time shopping in the gift shop too.

 A little scroll found in the theatre of the Galilee Experience

After that, some of us, including my mum and I, went shopping around Tiberias city. The city area is popular with both locals and tourists alike, so there are many shops catering to locals, hence most of the signages are in Hebrew. We managed to buy a top and two pairs of slacks. Since the local shops did not prefer to use USD which was what we changed, we paid with card instead.

After the shopping trip, we took a walk back to our hotel for dinner. It was about a half hour walk from the city area to our hotel. Along the way, we passed by little streets, mountains, churches, and even a hole in the cave called "Tomb of Rachel"! Unfortunately, this "Rachel" was just someone famous in Tiberias, and not the Rachel who was Jacob's wife. We even saw the sun setting on the Sea of Galilee. And that ends the second day.

Sun setting on the Sea of Galilee

On the third day, my mum and I woke up early. We wanted to catch the sunrise, but unfortunately, by the time we went down, the sun was already up in the sky. Still, we managed to catch a glimpse of the early morning's sun rays on the Sea of Galilee.

 We came to this bench and sat there for a while, dipping our feet into the cool waters of the Sea!

After breakfast, we went on to Mount Arbel, to trace the route Jesus took from Nazareth to Capernaum, at two ends of the Sea of Galilee. Apparently, Jesus crossed over the hills of Mount Arbel, went on to Magdela, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, where she met him and dropped everything to follow him, and then went on over to Capernaum to stay with Peter and his mother-in-law. The view from the top of Mount Arbel is amazing!

 The cliffs as seen from the top of Mount Arbel

 The village of Magdela, where Mary Magdalene came from

 A Beduoin settlement is on the top of these hills

 The mountain where the Muslims won the Crusaders

After that we stopped a while at Korazim, one of the places cursed by Jesus. It is all in ruins now but we did not go in as the entrance fees were not included. We then proceeded to Mount Hermon, where Caesarea Philippi is. Caesarea Philippi is a ruined city that used to belong to the pagans. The place kind of reminds me of Petra.

 Caesarea Philippi in Mount Hermon

 This is for writing sand verses

 Trying to write sand verses, but too heavy!

Incidentally, Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon is around the Golan Heights region. We were supposed to go up to Golan Heights to check out the border of Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan, but it was cancelled as there was bombing in Syria that day. Thus we went straight to Mount Hermon, and then proceeded to the nearby Banias Falls after that.

Banias Falls reminds me of the Blue Mountains in Sydney. The waters are rushing down, but the waterfall is not as big as some of those I have seen. Apparently we came during the time when the country just finished lots of rain so there are lots of water to gush down.

 Yes, that is all the waterfall!

We went for lunch after that at Hagroshim Kibbutz Resort. We were actually done with the itinerary for the day, but thanks to our guide, he included a trip to a local vineyard for free where we could have Israeli wine and buy bottles of wine back home!

 Entrance of Hagoshrim Kibbutz

 The local vineyard

After that, we went back to the hotel for a rest and dinner. Since there was still time, we decided to go to the spa opposite the hotel for some swim and jacuzzi before dinner. That ended our third day.

Our fourth day in Israel, we came out of Galilee, went down the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea and ended the day in Jerusalem. The day started with my mum and I waking up early again to catch twilight and breaking dawn over the Sea of Galilee, and this time, we were not disappointed!

 Twilight over the Sea of Galilee

 First rays of sun starting to rise

 This guy was camping overnight and he went for an early morning swim. Wonder if he felt cold?

 Sun starting to rise

 Breaking dawn over the Sea of Galilee

After breakfast, we checked our luggage, had them loaded up the coach, then made our way down to the Jordan Valley, where the Mount of Temptations is. This was the place where Jesus was tempted forty days and nights in the Bible, the signifiance of Lent. This is in Bedouin and Palestine terriroty, so there is a souvenir shop selling local produce. I also got to ride a camel! My adventures can be found here.

We then went on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were originally found. Unfortunately, we could not see the scrolls there as the original Scrolls are in the Israel Museum under conducive conditions. We had lunch there and then proceeded to the beach at the Dead Sea for a floating experience, before reaching Jerusalem, where we went to Mount Scopus for a view of Jerusalem city.

 Can you see the icon of Jerusalem?

Part of the Hebrew University

After that we checked into the hotel in Jerusalem - Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, had a rest and dinner. The review of the accommodation we stayed in can be found here. And that concludes the fourth day. On the fifth day, after breakfast, we proceeded to wander around old Jerusalem city. 

We started with Mount of Olives and the Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept for the future fate of Jerusalem. Then we went on to Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations, the place where Jesus prayed for the last time before he was betrayed and arrested.

After that, the tour guide brought us to Church of St Anne and the Pool of Bethesda, but that was closed for graduation of the priest. So we then proceeded to the Via Dolorosa, which was the Stations of the Cross Jesus walked before he was crucified and died. After this, we went for lunch at Bulghourji Armenian Restaurant, before going to the City of David and the Upper Room, which was the site of the Last Supper. Then we went on to Church of St Peter In Gallicantu, which was the site where Jesus told Peter he would betray him three times before the cock crowed. All these can be found in a separate post here.

 Interior of the restaurant

It was in St Peter's church that my mum fell and hit her head. I had a panic attack as she was bleeding! Luckily, there was a husband and wife team consisting of a doctor and a nurse, and they treated her wound and bandaged her up. Luckily, St Peter's Church was the last stop and after dropping everyone off at the hotel, the drive, tour guide and tour leader brought us to the nearby medical centre for treatment.

It was a Saturday, Sabbath day, so not many were working. In fact, even our rooms were not cleaned! Still we managed to be served rather quickly. My mum needed three stitches and she was out of the clinic very fast. Kudos to Israeli clinics! We went back to the hotel for dinner, then she decided to take a rest and skipped going to Ben Yehuda Street for some night shopping with the rest of us.

The next day (sixth day) was a Sunday, and it was time for church service. We made a trip to Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. Bethlehem is in Palestine territory, so we need a special permit to be able to go in. We first stopped at Shepherd's Field, the place where the angels went to the shepherds to tell them that Jesus was born. Then we went to a Palestine Evangelist Church for service.

We wanted to go to Church of Nativity, where Jesus was born, but it was too crowded, so gave that a miss, unfortunately! After church service, we went to the Women's Child Care Society for lunch, before going to the Holocaust Museum which was set up in honour of the victimised Jews during the second World War.

It was in the Holocaust Museum that I can see for myself the entire brutal slaying of the Jews. I have read in books, studied in history and watched shows, but it was in the museum that I was able to see the entire atrocity committed. It is really distressing to see how one person's idiosyncrasies brought about so many deaths. If any of you ever make a trip to Jerusalem, do take some time to visit the Holocaust Museum! It will take about two hours.

We ended the day with a visit to the Haas Promenade, next to the United Nations Building, for another paranomic view of Jerusalem, before going back to the hotel for dinner and a meeting with Palestinian Christians of World Vision Jerusalem, to learn what they are doing for the community in the West Bank.

On the seventh day, we went to explore the other side of the ancient city of Jerusalem. We started off with the Temple Dome and Dome of the Rock on Mount Moriah, the site where Abraham was supposed to sacrifice Issac and God saved Issac's life.

Then we went on to the Church of St Anne's and Pool of Bethesda, which we missed out the other day. It was also the site of the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. The church has the best natural acoustics I have ever heard! Voices singing there just sound so beautiful!

We then went to the Southern Temple Mount, and then the sacred site of the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, where there is a separate men's and women's entrances. The place is so strict that before we go in, there would be a bag check. We are not allowed to bring anything religious with us, ie no crosses, no Bibles, no knives. Women have to cover their legs and shoulders, and also their heads.

The Western Wall is where all the religious people go and pray, so there are little holes in the walls to slot in prayer intentions. I managed to squeeze in all the prayer intentions I brought over, as well as say a little prayer for myself and my friends.

We went on to the Jewish Quarters next, before going for lunch at Notre Dame Institute. After lunch, we went to the Israel Museum to see a model of the Holyland in King Solomon's time, and the room where the Shrine of the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept.

 Notre Dame Institute, where we had lunch

Our final itinerary in Jerusalem was Garden Tomb, the other place where Jesus was buried and believed to have risen. We went there for a little tour and to see the tomb, as well as a communion service. That was our final place on the touring itinerary. After we were done, since we were still early, we decided to go back to Jaffa Gate at the old city and the Via Dolorosa to shop at the little alley shops before going back to the hotel for dinner. All my adventures in Jerusalem can be found here.

On our eighth day (also our last day), we went to the West Bank for social mission, visiting a local kindergarten, see another local makeshift kindergarten, seeing a widow who became self-sustaining through the help of World Vision, and finally having lunch at a local Palestinian community.

We were supposed to go to Hebron Old City as well as Jaffa Gate, but because some people got carried away and took so long at the mission places that we could no longer go to Hebron Old City. So we proceeded direct to Jaffa, but because we got help up at the Israeli-Palestine border, again we did not have enough time to go, so had to give that a miss too. What a pity!

So we had to go direct to the airport to check in, had our dinner, took an overnight flight, back to Bangkok to transit, and finally, I reached home around close to midnight on Wednesday 12 June, ten days after I left!

This had been a really great trip, despite some hiccups here and there. My only regret is that I did not manage to cover all the places I wanted. Maybe next time I can make a trip there again and explore some of the other places more thoroughly!