TravelStream™ news feed for member stubo on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/stubo en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:15:52 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114964/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114964/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114964/tpod.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:15:52 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

A couple  of amazing days in Ireland!After sleeping in the Airportat Stanstead as there were no good  buses into the airport when I needed I got on the flight with no bagage and headed for Dublin. I found the hostel very luckily without a map and then very unluckily there was no shower for me to use until 3pm - and I feel yucky!So I bought a coffee at McDonnalds and used their bathroom to brush my teath gel my hair etc - it must have looked very weird to the others in the bathroom!Whitney was running late to meet me so I got a bit of lunch, watched the crickett in a pub in the Tembple Bar area with a guiness - perfect.Whitney and her friend Brian came into Dublin at about lunch, Brian had things to do so Whit and I walked all oer Dublkin and probably out of it - we walked for miles and miles and I was SO happy when we got back to the hostel - not that the walk wasnt nice - I Was just exhausted.In the evening Whit and I went out drinking, it was a bank holiday so most places were closing early. It was poring with rain and we managed to find a place with music booming out of it - cheesy music! We walked in to find people doing the moonwalk, putting their T-Shirts above their heads etc - this wasnt the strange part. The strange part was there was only one other person under70 in the whole place!! Some private function for a couple's (Lesbians) aniversery. What was even more strange was he only other under 70 person in the place was also a girl called Whitney also from the states - random!So after a crazy amount of beer we stumbled back for bed.Inthe morning with a killer hangover we just about managed to do everything we needed to do. I drove Bryan and Whitney to the Airport and said goodbye and spent the rest of the day sight seeing, it was lovely and I saw everything I wanted to I LOVE DUBLIN! I fell asleep in the park for a couple of hours and then it was time  for my flight - a brief but amazing time!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114896/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114896/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114896/tpod.html Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:48:37 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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London, England, United Kingdom

The flight was long and very boring, We eventually landed, it took ages to get through customs as the que's were lengthy but I got my bag pretty soon and hopped on a bus to the centre. I was in Manchester at 12 - midnight and got my 1st meal of Pie and chips - Mmmmm - the tea was amazing!!My bus was at 4am to London and it was an effort and seriously cold but I made it through till 4 without sleep, got on the bus and passed out.Now I am at my sisters place, have slept many many hours and feel good again, ready for my trip to Ireland in a couple of days !! :-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114846/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114846/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1249114846/tpod.html Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:45:24 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Olga and I got into Tel Aviv early evening and met her friend Betty whos place I will be staying at for the next 2 nights. The 3 of us spent the evening together, ate some nice food and had a couple of beers by the beach - it was nice.Then it was getting late and time for Olga to drive back which was sad. Betty and I went out to a nice area - a student bohemian area for another beer and then went to sleep in her tiny tiny appartment which you can reach everything from the bed - its a cool place!In the morning I went out to Jaffa which is an ancient subburb of Tel Aviv, it is picturesque and has a load of antiques for sale everywhere, it really had character. BUT it was hot, the humidity was stupid! After 5 minutes you are drenched with sweat - not nice. So it was a relitively quick little trip out there - the nice part of the walk was the walk along the beach on the way.In the evening when Betty had finished work she informed me that tomorrow is going to be a holliday and from tonight - my final night. Everything will be closed!!!We rushed oout and had a coffee in another nice little area but they threw us out at 7pm when they closed. Then we searched and searched and finally found a pizza place open for dinner which was really good! Then we luckily found a small shop open to buy some wine and water, then we went over to 2 of Bettys friends to drink the wine and hang out. They were fantastic people and had a nice flat. They also had a pet cockatoo who could go anywhere as long as the mirror was in front of him - he is scarred without it. He will fly accross the whole room in seconds if the mirror is removed just to be close, I felt pretty sorry for him! It was a great evening of crazy conversation with 3 great people.It felt late when Betty and I left but it wasnt, we went back and chatted and then I eventually fel asleep. In the morning I got up to try and buy shoes - unsuccessful! TOO HOT! Then I grabbed my bag and decided to walk to the train station to take in the few little lights I wanted to see en route so I would have to be outside for less time.I saw the Yemmenite quarter which was busy, then a few little plazas and I eventually found the train station. I had everything searched before they let me into the station - all because they noticed I had been to Egypt - It is rediculous, if I was to plan a bomb in a trainstation I would make sure I didnt have an Eegyptian stamp in my passport!After the search which took 20 mins and made me miss my train I finally jumped on one and was at the airport 15 mins later.Once at the train station I noticed just my flight was from another terminal!! time is running out! I have 30 mins to check in before it closes! Luckily I got to the 2nd floor where there was a bus waiting for me, I got to the right terminal and as expected had all the checks again. I was worried about missing my flight but there was about 5 of us in the same situation, everything was gone through - everything!! I was x-rayed 3 imes, had all the usual questions - it was very funny as the manager guy looked through my passport and asked why I went to Egypt, then he flicked through a few more pages and asked why I had been to Jordan, then a few more pages and Malaysia and hen I see his eyebrows rais even more when he sees I have been to Indonesia!! I guess it is fair enough they checked me. There was a few guys in there - one was being asked why he had traces of 'substances' in his shoes! Oops!!I got through and then was escorted with 4 others to the other terminal and then literally walked onto the plane - security is seriously tight here!!I walked on the plane, sat next to 2 fully dressed authodox guys and we were in the air in seconds - I guess the plane was waithing for us :-) 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775536/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775536/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775536/tpod.html Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:24:11 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Jerusalem, Israel

After 3 hours of buses I was back in Jerusalem. I walked to Olgas place and arived at 4pm. She came back at 5pm but as I hadnt aranged anything I think it was a nice supprise for her.... I hope! We had a nice walk in the evening and I have spent the day being lazy as I had a lot of typing to catch up on. This evening we are off to Tel aviv where I will spend my final 2 days before my flight back to England on Thursday.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775811/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775811/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775811/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:17:05 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Nazareth, Galilee, Israel

I had to go via Tiberias to Nazareth Illit. This meant all in all I have taken 4 busses today and they have all been rediculously long concidering the amount of killometers covered.I eventually got to Nazareth Illit at 7pm - I had to be there at 7.30pm. I spent the evening again with Idit and Aviv at their friends place as they were anouncing that they were getting married.After some tea and cake and eventually sleep I woke up early to go to Akko before I head down to Jerusalem. I got chatting to Idit and then realised I didnt really have time for Akko. Then I decided to see Tel Aviv instead, we were still chatting and then somehow it was 1pm so I had no time to do anything but hop on a bus to afullah and then onto Jerusalem!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775656/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775656/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775656/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:13:58 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Ẕefat, Northern District, Israel

I got a shared taxi to Zefat. I wondered around its lovely windy streets for a couple of hours in the heat. Saw the citidel which had nice views and then decided to go back to Nazareth Illit - Idit invited me back which is nice!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775864/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775864/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775864/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:11:34 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Kefar Szold, Northern District, Israel

It was so hot again! I managed to hitch hike to Tiberias but it was far too hot for hitch hiking, I waited for a bus to the north, I waited and waited for a long time and when it actually arrived I am not sure what happened but I didn't get up - I don't think I quite believed it was the right bus so it just sailed on by! oops!! I took a picture of 3 guys; it could only be in Israel, an Orthodox guy in full gear, a modern looking kid with the Jewish cap which is illuminus yellow and an Army guy - what a contrast, if I could describe Israel in any way that is exactly what it would be. I eventually got on a bus which took ages but I arrived in the northern Galilee area, after another hour there was a bus to Kefar Szold.I walked around Kefar Szold for a very long time; I think it was 45 minutes before I saw anyone! Then I saw someone a long way away and ran in the direction but they disappeared - it is like a ghost town here!! Eventually, after another 15 minutes or so I saw a guy right inside his premises and walked up to him, I could see he had had some kind of accident as his chin and chest were in plaster - nasty. He also understood no English but when I mentioned the name Naomi he knew who she was, he tried describing it to me but it was useless so he got up to take me there. I hadn't noticed but he only had one leg! He reached behind him, screwed on another leg and walked me up 3 doors to Naomi's' place - I felt so bad!!!!!I walked into Naomi's place and her friend was sat at the computer, I had a nice chat with her and Naomi came back about an hour later with her friend Harel.Kefar Szold is beautiful, there are lakes and rivers around which is great in this crazy heat. There are all kinds of fruit growing everywhere and Naomi's place is wonderful - a nice picturesque little place near the lake. Naomi and Harel are both amazing people and although I only spent 3 days with them it seemed like I knew then a lot better than that. On the 1st day we went straight to the river to have a swim which was lovely with a few beers.After the beers Naomi suddenly heard of a gig she really wanted to go to, a band named seven. I said I would go with her so I drove us both (I had drank the least) and it was a really good night, the music was acoustic and very nice and the bar was also great.Our main activity while I was here was walking up the river Zacky. We left early and had a look around Rosh Pinna 1st, and then Harel who is looking to buy a place took us to look at one - a really nice place. then by the time it was time to go to the river Zacky it was already 4pm - we left 5 hours before!!Once we found the river we parked up, I left my camera behind as I was scared it would get wet and of we trekked up the river - it was lovely and cool and there were a lot of fish - it is the only way you can really trek here in the summer! After a while of the water being calf deep there was something that looked more like a lake. We al jumped in and then Harel remembered the immobilizer for her car - oops! I took it off the key ring and put it on my 'lucky' sunglasses so it wouldn't get wet. This time however, they were not so lucky. The keys fell straight off, into the river at its deepest point! Naomi is scared of going under the water and Harel wouldn't so I literally spent 30 minutes diving, holding my breath and searching with my hands for the keys as the water was so murky I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.I was about to give up when suddenly I found them - it was a miracle!!!! Everyone was really happy. Especially harel as she did not have a spare key!! We then walked on for a further hour and eventually got to the end of the walk - it was only 4km but it was so hard as we were constantly walking threw water, and I was wearing flip flops - it was very difficult. We got lost on the walk back; we picked a load of fruit from the mango groves and just about found the car before sunset.Unsurprisingly the immobilizer didn't work, we were so lucky though. We were in the middle of nowhere, no one and nothing around except one guy who was walking his dog - and he was an electrician! He took it apart into loads of pieces and somehow got it to work! Another Miracle!! then we drove back to Kefar Szold - what a day!In the evening we met many more people from the kibbutz - all really great but it was quite a chilled evening.Every time Naomi or Harel drive us anywhere it is SO DANGEROUS! I keep feeling like I had such a great time here in Kefar Szold because every moment in the car felt like it was going to be my last. Any speed bump of gap in the road we fly threw or over it, once Naomi got whiplash and we are all getting flung around the car so often on every journey you could not imagine - it is still very funny though. One time Harel drove us back she parked next to a sprinkler when we got back and got soaked - it was very funny as she had just about dried out from swimming before! AND im not even going to go into the parking - wow!On day 3 a group of us went to the river again and spent the day lazing around by it, after we had a reggae party by another river where there was a crazy praying mantas, the music (I didn't think) was the best so I didn't really get into the spirit, after quite a while I left with Harel and we went back to Naomi's place and she did a test on me, it involved drawing 6 pictures describing a hero and his adventures and she can analyse it and learn a lot about someone - it was pretty deep and really really interesting but it was also 3am and time for sleep.My time in Kefar Szold was full of great times, great people, great vegetarian food and loads of girls! In fact my entire couch surfing trip there have been girls everywhere and nearly no guys - maybe I should move to the North of Israel :-)In the morning the Naomi and Hareal drove me to a nearby town and we said goodbye - its sounds crazy but I will really miss them - only after 3 days with them!Next up Rosh Pina.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775625/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775625/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248775625/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:07:29 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Rosh Pina, Israel

It really was a quick stop here. I arvied in the hot part of the day, wondered around the pictresque streets, ate a nice falafal meal, took a few photos and got on the bus to Zefat. All this took about 3 hours as I could not be botered to walk - it is still so hot. I think I must have sat down on ever shady bench in the town!
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Afiqim, Northern District, Israel

Hitch hiking from Kefar Haruv was difficult. It took me an hour to get anywhere but I dounf some gils sun glasses on the floor, put them on and got picked up straight away! Lucky glasses!!I got piced up by 3 guys and a girl who were driving to Jerusalem, it turned out hey were all brothers and sisters and the girl was just about to do her national service so it was a celebration meal. We drove to get some food and then they drove me onto Kefat Afikim.I couldnt find a phone again to call Rinat but went to the post offioce and they let me use their phone. I met up with Rinat who was a nice lady who works from home. She was busy with work but we had a little chat and then she lent me her bike. I cycled about 40km round trip to Tiberias and it was nice to ride a bike again, it had been a while. When I got back we went to a bar with her friend and I chatted with lioads of people at the bar. There was some pretty good live music and then it was time to go, everyone here uses bikes to get around so I hopped on my bike and with 4 girls we went swimming. There were about 15 people already at the pool so I jumped in, after about 30 mins the manager came and threw us all out!I went back to sleep and then woke up in the morning, said goodbye to Rinat and then left for Kfar Szold.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248776020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248776020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/stubo/3/1248776020/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:03:15 -0400 Middle Eastern Adventures!

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Kefar Haruv, Syria

I walked about 2km to a nice little lake near the Sea of Galilee, here there were turtles and crabs and a lot of birds, I got out my saronge, placed it on all the rocks, just about manage to find somewhere comfortable to sleep and slept through the hot part of the day. It must have been 35oC, this was not the problem, the humidity must have been at 80% - it was crazy and so much effort was required to walk it just wasnt worth it!So after about 5 hours spent kicking around the lake with no water! I mustered up the energy and managed to walk about 4km further to Zemach (and downed a 1.5L of Ice tea folowed by over a litre of water! I asked for a pay phone in a shop and the lady kindly let me use their phone. I called Sylvia whose place I will be staying at tonight and she didnt answer. I chatter with the lady in the shop for a few minutes and tried again and luckily for me she did answer this time, she thought I was coming tomorrow - not today!! Still it wasnt a problem and so I walked to a junction and tried hitch hiking up the massive hill to Kefar Haruv.After 10 mins of dehydrating in the sun I was picked up by a nice lady who gave me a lift to the door of Kefar Haruv! She was very interesting and told me loads of info about the area. The drive took us from the Sea of Galilee up to the Goalan heights which is a massive plateau situated high above the lake - it is amazing the contrast in the scenary.I got into Kefar Haruv and went to the factory where Sylvia works to meet her. She showed me her place and introduced me to her boyfriend Darren who is from England. He was a nice guy but I didnt feel we had so much in common. We chilled out for the day and when Sylvia came back after work we had really nice food and an enjoyable evening as 2 of their friends came over and it was nice to chat to some more cool people.In the morning Darren and I took one of the dogs out of a long walk in the crazy heat, the dog nearly died - really! Its saliva became so thick and the noises coming from her were crazy but she soldiered on and made it back - it was only about 5km and Darren and I were fine, the dog was just in such bad shape! We got her back and she refused to drink so Darren hosed her down which probably helped and then we relaxed again as there is nothing to do while it is so hot!In the evening when Sylvia finished work we got one of the Kibbutz cars and drove all over to Goalan height - it was wonderful.We saw a waterfall, some bunkers which were used relitevly recently in the conflicts with Syria (you can see Syria and Jordan from the Kibbutz), we saw a ruin, some old Syrian comuntities where i bought some sweets which were amazing and then finally a sunset from on top of a mountain - a really nice evening.After all of that Sylvia drove me and Darren to a bar while she went shopping and I chatted with a beautiful bar maid for a while while we tried samples of the beers (it was a microbruary), we both agreed one of them was the best and so had a nice beer with pretzles and olives and then went back for sleep ( I actually got my own room at Sylvias place which was really cool!)In the morning I said goodbye to Sylvia and Darren and tried to hitch hike out of Kefar Haruv.....
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