tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20515207219136460012024-03-05T10:10:35.092-08:00The RayveTel Aviv in a BlogshellRay Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-81322577667592437262014-03-16T11:54:00.001-07:002014-03-16T11:58:28.914-07:00Best Costume Ever: Purim 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowsjNal2wSgYKvxC5XAwQR6tasK5JhpK9QkjRKlEA1LSdsMA5pKya_fTd5HQGdcVanGysYOdnLXXOCdZHX4yVo83IylEA8ddJKQBWHMdqDcQBAESJlv9GYnYbKkb_tK3rPkQYGQ56baU/s1600/picasso_costume_purim_2014_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" Picasso Costume Purim 2014" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowsjNal2wSgYKvxC5XAwQR6tasK5JhpK9QkjRKlEA1LSdsMA5pKya_fTd5HQGdcVanGysYOdnLXXOCdZHX4yVo83IylEA8ddJKQBWHMdqDcQBAESJlv9GYnYbKkb_tK3rPkQYGQ56baU/s1600/picasso_costume_purim_2014_.JPG" height="640" title="My Picasso Costume Purim 2014" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know, my living room is about as messy and disjointed as my face here.</td></tr>
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Alright, so I admit it. This post is 100% self-promotion.
But after a snap-shot of my Purim costume this year went<b> viral</b>, I realized it was time to write about it!
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<a name='more'></a>Okay- I'll prove the viralness, and then we can get on with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lRWvKxqSpcfiWS25TjxfZw3reSrBL12ddo36PZ3H_aQsKv3ZjAlnaZtAqtPofEYq8l4TKyvqiP7PRlnR8rCzOThGp-GcG_rwxgZszPTvbdrB8wIzXiJgAWzyZ7K7IvauKzB0y-XFSdQ/s1600/viral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lRWvKxqSpcfiWS25TjxfZw3reSrBL12ddo36PZ3H_aQsKv3ZjAlnaZtAqtPofEYq8l4TKyvqiP7PRlnR8rCzOThGp-GcG_rwxgZszPTvbdrB8wIzXiJgAWzyZ7K7IvauKzB0y-XFSdQ/s1600/viral.JPG" height="400" width="325" /></a></div>
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That's right, the photo you see to the left (or above, if you've entered the full-post) is me in my Picasso costume.<br />
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Now, let me give credit where it's due:<br />
<b>Facepaint</b>: Me (mirrors are amazing! and, yes- I went to work like this)<br />
<b>Clothing Design</b>: Me (handsewn at late hours of the evening)<br />
<b>Total Price</b>: $20 (70 NIS) for costume materials including 2 shirts that I sewed together, 1-meter square of felt, leggings, and plastic necklace.<br />
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How did I do it? Where did I get my inspiration?<br />
Well, let me start from the beginning.<br />
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<b>Rachel Gets Creative</b><br />
My love for all things costumed began at a very young age, probably before I could really walk properly. I remember playing dress-up with my mothers old clothing, and I loved watching my mother "put her face on" - what she used to call doing her makeup. (For some of my earliest works, see fig.1 and fig 3).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kd2KQKMxJIsk44SCtupkQ9ELfq45w3TnfXbkq5r7moendtRQlUwCL93NOg_uBf6mKce3bJA-kE3dNelWnWnfvXMvtDMIk4sOJLlOJBjrrWG-_Hx_N3cze1IL2OcETi67HOxoRHW9g5c/s1600/rachel_inspector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="inspector rachel" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kd2KQKMxJIsk44SCtupkQ9ELfq45w3TnfXbkq5r7moendtRQlUwCL93NOg_uBf6mKce3bJA-kE3dNelWnWnfvXMvtDMIk4sOJLlOJBjrrWG-_Hx_N3cze1IL2OcETi67HOxoRHW9g5c/s1600/rachel_inspector.jpg" height="320" title="inspector costume" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">figure 1: Inspector Rachel, age 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7JtCnG5VuJGOy3fAV6Atcc6CoiujnqZS6vD_9aA0Bj2h0ft5BgHVr046ENt2ENq2G9UJPl8wAbYNijj04Y1IMiI3iEY2rlhIT0mBup_f9h7jHNPPrT7NL4fZPdJ7k5_gOCW22x7MXh4/s1600/fairy_queen_rachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="fairy princess rachel" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7JtCnG5VuJGOy3fAV6Atcc6CoiujnqZS6vD_9aA0Bj2h0ft5BgHVr046ENt2ENq2G9UJPl8wAbYNijj04Y1IMiI3iEY2rlhIT0mBup_f9h7jHNPPrT7NL4fZPdJ7k5_gOCW22x7MXh4/s1600/fairy_queen_rachel.jpg" height="320" title="fairy princess costume" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">figure 3: Fairy Princess Rachel, age 3 1/2</td></tr>
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<b>Rachel Moves to Tel Aviv- Inspiration Abounds!</b><br />
But while I always loved costumes, I only started to take it seriously after I moved to Tel Aviv at the ripe age of 24 and was exposed to the magic of Purim in Israel. I've posted about <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2011/03/video-tel-aviv-purim-madness-2011.html?showComment=1369251240589" target="_blank">Purim in Israel</a> before and even uploaded some videos of the street-parties, but I still don't think that it completely captures the fun and excitement of the holiday. Purim isn't just a day of celebrations- somehow, here, it's turned into 1-2 weeks of parties:<br />
Street Parties<br />
Nature Parties<br />
House Parties<br />
Parties in Bars<br />
Parties in Clubs<br />
Parties in Restaurants<br />
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On Purim, the entire city of <b>Tel Aviv</b> becomes one big party. And the party is powered by a vibe of carefree fun- something that most other holidays in Israel, and around the world, don't really have.<br />
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It's a holiday that isn't political, isn't terribly religious, and what's more, those who are observant follow the "today, it's not only okay to get drunk, but you're commanded to get drunk" rule!<br />
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It's a wonderland for creativity. There's no limitations. Unlike Halloween, there's no scare-factor, and unlike Carnival, there's no real theme. It's just, dress up however you like as much as you like, and enjoy yourself. And that's what really inspired me to take things as far as I could. Because you can- and you can really have fun with it!<br />
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<b>Rachel's Purim Costumes: A History!</b><br />
I decided to put together a short history of purim costumes from the first year after I moved. <br />
Keep in mind, I usually have more than one costume each year...and I added a few other costumes in here for the fun of it :)<br />
#1: Mario, #2: Stairway to Heaven, #3: Bottle-Opening Super hero (great for parties, where no one has a bottle opener!), #4: Baby Jesus by the Christmas tree, #5: Goldfinger's dead golden girl from James Bond, #6: Green, fuzzy monster!, #7: Fun festival facepaint, #8: Pixel Pixie, #9: Day of the Dead, #10: Medusa, #11: Picasso!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="293" scrolling="no" src="http://slide.ly/embed/9156a347bcf270d30cd77d217ae6cecc/autoplay/0" width="520"></iframe><br />
Rachel's Purim Costumes by <a href="http://slide.ly/?utm_source=embed_link" target="_blank" title="Go to Rachel's Purim Costumes">Slidely Slideshow</a><br />
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So, there you have it.<br />
And here's a final picasso snapshot for your enjoyment!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa0wduKrliVNVrVIlLf1YTazyu92BrRnReziF8aOc76pDvuZkKHbYzjPs6QoxWAMz4iyLe_crWYE6kITSo20vXxm5RitPIaktIVv6u5Grxv6mXfMhSz5uHXa9tqn6kUbEKe12yPHTUYI/s1600/picasso_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa0wduKrliVNVrVIlLf1YTazyu92BrRnReziF8aOc76pDvuZkKHbYzjPs6QoxWAMz4iyLe_crWYE6kITSo20vXxm5RitPIaktIVv6u5Grxv6mXfMhSz5uHXa9tqn6kUbEKe12yPHTUYI/s1600/picasso_costume.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our Purim work event</td></tr>
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<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-86390924218791531102012-06-16T04:07:00.000-07:002012-06-16T04:07:38.297-07:00Tel Aviv Labeled "Best Looking City" by Traveler's Digest<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin01XXx-cOgx52mRln98DGMSBA8io75-w_kz4UGL9HuH7Ye0EucA_c9NpxmLNJXWwVf3wbiFA9ovHVTuAMF07uuRQFvpMPb6p5RgmjSlH3pD0l-WYiWDw_-jaq-2MKCOaPaM7UOj73ws8/s1600/Bar+Rafaeli.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin01XXx-cOgx52mRln98DGMSBA8io75-w_kz4UGL9HuH7Ye0EucA_c9NpxmLNJXWwVf3wbiFA9ovHVTuAMF07uuRQFvpMPb6p5RgmjSlH3pD0l-WYiWDw_-jaq-2MKCOaPaM7UOj73ws8/s320/Bar+Rafaeli.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Israeli Supermodel Bar Rafaeli</td></tr>
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Tel Aviv is known for plenty of things: <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2010/08/national-geographic-top-ten-beach.html" target="_blank">great beaches</a>, <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2012/05/tel-aviv-start-up-city.html" target="_blank">booming start-ups</a>, <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2012/03/shenkar-haaretz-newspaper-team-up-to-do.html" target="_blank">arty</a> <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2011/01/israeli-art-shines-on-omanootcom.html" target="_blank">vibes</a> and <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/p/tel-aviv-hot-spots.html" target="_blank">great night-life</a>. But, it's also filled with some of the most beautiful people in the world. <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.co.il/2011/07/how-tel-aviv-women-stay-so-thin.html" target="_blank">Tel Aviv women</a> and men are tan, fit and stylish, and it's not just me who thinks so.<br />
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Traveler's Digest has made it official, ranking Tel Aviv No. 10 on its 2012<a href="http://www.travelersdigest.com/267-best-looking-men/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> list</a> of Cities with the Best-Looking Men, and No. 7 on it's<a href="http://www.travelersdigest.com/228-beautiful-women/4/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> list</a> of Cities with the Best-Looking Women.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>"Tel Aviv has become a hot spot for trendsetters worldwide. Local cuties flaunt their fit bodies -- made all the better by their year-round tans -- at any of the numerous beaches and cafés found on the 10-mile seaside strip," journalist Jessica Benavides Canepa wrote.<br />
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AskMen.com is on board, with Tel Aviv at No 9 for "<a href="http://www.askmen.com/top_10/travel_top_ten/20_travel_top_ten.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cities with Beautiful Women</a>." And Maxim seems to agree too. In their 2012 list of the <a href="http://www.maxim.com/hot-100/2012" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">100 hottest women alive</a>, they picked Israeli Supermodel Bar Rafaeli as the <a href="http://www.maxim.com/slideshow/hot-100/43451?slide=99#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No. 1 hottest of all</a>. Claiming that "she puts the 'promise' in promised-land", Maxim sung the praises of this Israeli wonder, hailing from the norther Tel Aviv suburbs.<br />
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Everyone seems to have their own theory as to how/why Telavivians are so attractive. I personally think it's a combination of mixed genes, great outdoor weather, beach-culture, balanced vegetable-rich diet and fashion-sense. For your pure viewing pleasure, here's a fun video by Israel 21c with some other theories:<br />
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<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-41084624790353125022012-06-10T22:58:00.001-07:002012-06-10T22:59:51.356-07:00Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdcomtC4j9y3h4blsjLJc9eMYAccHWOTeyJQlGqxvI3D76ipRhEpJCx1Xo82SkCDtr63_WY30qHeo0LJr5ZOT4DamY47VEXuHEzyGvJZT2lIEnAweifwj2ykwNjgluL16br6Tm7Z-Qcs/s1600/gaypridetyp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdcomtC4j9y3h4blsjLJc9eMYAccHWOTeyJQlGqxvI3D76ipRhEpJCx1Xo82SkCDtr63_WY30qHeo0LJr5ZOT4DamY47VEXuHEzyGvJZT2lIEnAweifwj2ykwNjgluL16br6Tm7Z-Qcs/s400/gaypridetyp.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tel Aviv's Gay Pride Parade is known across the world as being one of the biggest most exciting gay parades of all. Declared the World's Best Gay Travel Destination of 2011 by GayCities.com, it's no surprise that Tel Aviv did not disappoint in 2012!<br />
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Thousands of people flocked to the white city this past Friday, June 8th to march in the 14th annual parade and enjoy the colorful spectacle. Streets were packed with drag queens, scantily clad men, women in leather, and everything in between.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xurTxxp5qrSpF05oqvC6IQMmlIt2T0oOOjQFUaKLiZrYkFS046fAMAS0I7_2HMDSarmA1GO9WyWtwAbbi3icCxtm7PnDeJmcOLI_RYa_k3wrfxp61lXB8921dAILHAMkKF0lCHT3uI0/s1600/IMG_4352_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xurTxxp5qrSpF05oqvC6IQMmlIt2T0oOOjQFUaKLiZrYkFS046fAMAS0I7_2HMDSarmA1GO9WyWtwAbbi3icCxtm7PnDeJmcOLI_RYa_k3wrfxp61lXB8921dAILHAMkKF0lCHT3uI0/s400/IMG_4352_edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Tel Aviv municipality has been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.443066999039808.120863.149159521763892&type=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gearing up for the 2012 gay pride parade</a> with lots of hype. Main streets were flanked by rainbow flags, and the municipality churned out photos, posters and promotional videos on facebook and twitter. Successful Israeli pop duo "The Young Professionals", also known as "<a href="http://www.typband.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TYP</a>" went as far as to do a promotional photo shoot inspired by The Beatles' "Abby Road" seen above. (Check out one of their fun, provocative music videos <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcZnRz7WujA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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Despite the hype, or possibly thanks to it, this year's Pride parade was a massive success. This year drew the biggest gathering yet: more than 30,000 people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVHCgZfe90J7eGIlJqPIn2_7XGPwa7iOSencQHrT7SrMVc1G0It-tRnxaThXi17Zcy3fa3IcbqpzN1bcvnFVuDKxn4oVETB5Q0pTvgfSJ1Vs21hF0u2cIVnYxepY2hSDS4YchQCBgRtk/s1600/IMG_4359_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVHCgZfe90J7eGIlJqPIn2_7XGPwa7iOSencQHrT7SrMVc1G0It-tRnxaThXi17Zcy3fa3IcbqpzN1bcvnFVuDKxn4oVETB5Q0pTvgfSJ1Vs21hF0u2cIVnYxepY2hSDS4YchQCBgRtk/s400/IMG_4359_edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Parade, which wound through the heart of Tel Aviv, culminated at Gordon beach with a massive public party. Food stands, clothing stands and tents were set up all along the sand around a central dance tent. Visitors grooved to beats of well known Israeli DJs including <a href="http://www.offernissim.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ofer Nissim</a> and Eliot (Forever Tel Aviv), <a href="http://www.myspace.com/275122932" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tal Cohen</a> (FFF), Avihai Partok (PAG), the band TYP, and singer Dikla with the debut of a special song written just for this year's Pride week.</div>
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That's right, the Parade was the culmination of an entire week of pride events including music performances, parties at some of the hottest bars and clubs, and film screenings. Check out the full list of events <a href="http://here./">here</a> in the Municipality's fantastic digital magazine. </div>
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If you missed the festivities, don't worry. I've put together a collection of some of my favorite snap-shots of the parade right here. Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-30088783399786802592012-05-22T11:45:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:45:04.662-07:00Israelis: Getting a US Visa May Get Easier!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In another move to strengthen ties between Israel and the US, Californian Democratic Senator Brad Sherman introduced a new bill that, if passes, will add Israel to the US Visa Waiver Program, <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4232526,00.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ynet news reported</a>.<div>
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The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens from specified countries to enter the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without needing to obtain a visa from a US consulate abroad.</div>
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If the bill passes, Israel will join the likes of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore as number 37 on the list. </div>
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Right now any Israeli who wants to visit the States has to deal with the lengthy business of visa approval, which is almost as frustrating as dealing with Israeli bureaucracy. </div>
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While bills like this one have been introduced in the past, but were rejected, I'm still crossing my fingers!</div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-45225328222527094132012-05-09T23:51:00.003-07:002012-05-09T23:51:34.515-07:00Lag Ba'Omer 2012- A City in Flames<br />
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Lag BaOmer is one of the most fascinating holidays celebrated here in Israel. It typically involves field day sports and pyromaniacal activities, with a dash of sensible tradition and ceremony on the side.<br />
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<b>History of the Holiday:</b> In the bible, God commands the people of Israel to count the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. This span of time is called the "Omer". Lag Ba'Omer or לג נעומר <a href="http://www.enotes.com/topic/Lag_BaOmer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">literally refers to</a> the 33rd day in the counting of the Omer.<br />
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What exactly is this Omer and why do we count?<br />
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Well, Passover is the holiday during which the Jews tell the story of slavery and Exodus from Egypt. Shavuot celebrates the reception of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The act of counting the days between the two holidays, the more religious abiding by various living restrictions during this time, reminds the Jews of the difficult journey through the desert before God gave them the Torah.<br />
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There's no general consensus on why the 33rd day was chosen for celebration, but many Rabbis have offered their opinions throughout the ages. The most popular explanation refers to a plague during Talmudic times, which ended exactly on this 33rd day of the Omer.<br />
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<b>History of the Celebration: </b>How is it that Lag Ba'Omer became associated with field day sports and massive bond-fires if it's in essence about the journey through the desert toward receiving the Torah? I know, I was baffled by this too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xFiJADpnGbSgzQUUSqk5fB81yAkDEoAGr7MFvjfkR4WW07VCPHBoo4ctyZogOfM3rkKrV5ki_xCZCV72GxrdAA7KkLeY5ohzVO6VHyvwgdccgTrpZxP6EdQFtdb1Jg4ij5AEKkj3ltE/s1600/IMG_4135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="bonfires on LagBaOmer" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xFiJADpnGbSgzQUUSqk5fB81yAkDEoAGr7MFvjfkR4WW07VCPHBoo4ctyZogOfM3rkKrV5ki_xCZCV72GxrdAA7KkLeY5ohzVO6VHyvwgdccgTrpZxP6EdQFtdb1Jg4ij5AEKkj3ltE/s320/IMG_4135.JPG" title="Children play near bonfires on LagBaOmer" width="320" /></a>It turns out that there are various important Rabbis associated with this date including Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Bar Yochai. I won't go into the detailed stories, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_BaOmer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> it to learn more on your own, but suffice it to say that in the Middle Ages, Lag Ba'Omer became a special day for Rabbinical students.<br />
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They soon called it "Scholar's Day" and celebrated by participating in outdoor sports. (I still don't get how outdoor sports are related to rabbis or scholars, but that's what the history books say!)<br />
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These outdoor sports are what I recall from our celebration of the holiday in the US. It was a day for color wars and Israeli dance, which I always thought was a real exultation of the end of spring and the nearing of summer.<br />
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<b>Lag Ba'Omer in Israel: </b>So, why is it that Lag Ba'Omer in Israel is about burning as much as you can in a massive bonfire that evokes some strange pagan ritual? Again dead Rabbis. As the day became associated with a celebration of Rabbis and Rabinical students, the evening became a memorial time when groups of <a href="http://midnightabbi1eligoldsmith.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/getting-ready-for-lag-bomer-2012-meron-on-lag-bomer-defies-description/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jews would gather by the graves of various Rabbis</a> (Rabbi Akiba, Rabbi Bar Yochai, and Rabbi Shimon among others.) At these memorials/celebrations, Jews would light fires in their memory, hold torches, and feast late into the night.<br />
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According to Wikipidia, '<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The bonfires are also said to represent signal fires that the Bar Kokhba rebels lit on the mountaintops to relay messages,</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Knesset_Website_12-0" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_BaOmer#cite_note-Knesset_Website-12" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[13]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> or are in remembrance of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans, who had forbidden the kindling of fires that signaled the start of Jewish holidays.</span></span></span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_BaOmer#cite_note-13" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[14]</a>" </sup><br />
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<b>The Day In Flames: </b>Today, the whole fire thing has become quite a site to see, especially in an urban metropolis such as Tel Aviv. Parks are filled with people BBQing, and stoking their bonfires, and the sky goes gray with ash and smoke.<br />
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For your viewing pleasure, take a look at first hand pics of the holiday, shot by the talented Yotam Asscher. Lag BaOmer is truly a site to see- fires are everywhere, with children throwing fuel into the fire- fuel of all kinds: wood, alcohol, twigs, paper- you name it. Families sit, munching on pita, hummus and kabab in the background, some stirring a massive pot of Poyke (stew), incelebration.<br />
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<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-52360256953570438892012-05-01T13:09:00.000-07:002012-05-01T13:11:10.406-07:00Tel Aviv: The Start Up City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Tel Aviv</b> has always been known for the beaches, the beautiful women and the great weather, but recently it's made its way into the lime-light as a start-up capital of the world. <br />
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By 2010, Wired magazine had labeled Tel Aviv as <a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/09/european-startups/tel-aviv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">one of the "Hottest Start Up Capitals"</a>, pooling it with top European picks rather than Asian picks. Why? Well, because "Tel Aviv is a hotbed of innovation, and so is included in our European Startups list to interpret Europe in a broad, Eurovision-type way."<br />
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What a compliment! And, well, its true. As Wired says, the combination of chutzpa, military innovation, education and easy networking, all key ingredients to a great start up, are what keep the start-ups multiplying.<br />
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And Wired isn't the only one tooting our horn. Recently the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-worlds-most-creative-cities/article2286363/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Globe and Mail ranked Tel Aviv</a> the most creative city in the world. That's right, TLV landed <a href="http://israelseen.com/2012/01/10/tel-aviv-israel-the-worlds-most-creative-city/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the #1 prize</a>.
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What is <i>their</i> reasoning? Well, they boiled it down to stats and sums using what they refer to as a "Global Creativity Index" to measure technology, talent and tolerance. And Tel Aviv happened to win out everyone. As Israelity.com notes in <a href="http://israelity.com/2012/01/05/tel-aviv-named-one-of-the-worlds-most-creative-cities/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">their write-up about the Globe and Mail article</a>, "The article itself is a whopping 21 pages; Israel takes up the first four." Yeah, that's right. Israel freakin' ate everyone else for breakfast and then licked the plate.
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But what I loved more than all is this adorable video directed by Oded Eliasi highlighting the creativity and opportunity in Tel Aviv.
Check it out!
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9tkZPyhT0Ok" width="560"></iframe></div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-84647409608269401322012-03-20T05:35:00.000-07:002012-03-20T05:35:59.561-07:00Tel Aviv Turns To Dust on The First Day of Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is what it looks like outside.
Seriously.
Today, the first day of spring, and Tel Aviv looks like a truly white city. The entire sky is white. The air smells like sand. And sinuses all over the city are suffering. Lets hope the second day of spring brings some proper spring weather!
PS. Happy <a href="http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=262560&R=R2">International Good Deeds Day</a>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-73364410963485649242012-03-17T10:13:00.002-07:002012-03-17T11:33:20.713-07:00St. Patrick's Day in Tel Aviv!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like all commercialized holidays, St. Patrick's Day has made it to some of the most unlikely countries.And Israel is one of them. Along with Valentine's Day and Silvester (NYE), St. Patrick's Day has become another excuse to party. Of course, Tel Aviv-ians would never let such a party opportunity pass them by.<br />
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To be frank, I don't mind the commercialization. In fact, St. Paddy's day can be pretty fun: I usually return home from the pubs with a belly full of free whiskey, and a handful of promotional paraphernalia. Take this hat I got last year for free at the Irish Pub "Leo Blooms". (Ignore the deer-in-headlights expression. I'm actually very happy about this hat! )<br />
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So, without further ado, here are some of the best things to do in Tel Aviv on St. Patrick's Day if you're looking for a good time (shout-out to one of my blog-readers, Jim, for asking me, and prompting me to put together this list!)<br />
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<b>1) Hit Up the Irish Pubs in Tel Aviv!</b><br />
you'd be surprised, but there are a handful of pretty nice Irish pubs in tel Aviv. They've got Guinness and Kilkenny beer on tap, a nice selection of whiskeys too. They'll be crowded, but they'll have fun specials and live shows.<br />
Here are the better-known Irish pubs:<br />
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<li> <a href="http://www.molly-blooms.com/home.yecms/index">Molly Blooms</a>: Molly Blooms is one of the first really successful Irish pubs in Tel Aviv. They have live Irish music once a week (sometimes more) and they've got a really nice decor- dark wood walls make it intimate, but fun outdoor seating fits the Tel Aviv appeal. It'll probably be one of the more popular places to celebrate St. Patrick's day in Tel Aviv, so that means crowds...but it can still be lots of fun. Address: Corner of Hayarkon & Frishman. </li>
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<li><a href="http://www.leoblooms.com/home.yecms/index">Leoblooms</a>: Leo Blooms is Molly Bloom's brother bar. It's younger and less-central than Molly Blooms, but it's also got great specials and nice hot fried food. There's sure to be a live band, and waiters dressed up as leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day. Also, there'll probably be some nice specials. Address: Ziv Towers, Raul Wallenberg 24, Ramat HaChayal Neighborhood. </li>
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<li><a href="http://www.mash.co.il/english.htm">Mash</a>: There are two Mash bars in Tel Aviv, and while they aren't exactly Irish (their decor is more like a less-refined American sports bar) they always have St. Paddy's specials and a fun vibe. Mash Diezengoff address: Diezengoff 277/ Mash central address: Allenby 38</li>
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2)<b> Book a table at one of Tel Aviv's Restaurant Pubs</b>: If you want a calmer evening and want a nice hearty meal rather than fried snacks, consider spending your St. Patricks day in Tel Aviv at a Restaurant pub. Order some great beers and a dish of nice sausages or tasty burgers. (Definitely call in advance to- reserve a table).<br />
Recommended restaurant pubs:<br />
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<li> <a href="http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=10911">Porter and Sons</a> : This place is classy, tasty, and surprisingly affordable. that's not to say that it's cheap, but for what you get, the price is good. Dishes are generous and well-done, and there is a fantastic selection of international beers on tap
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<li><a href="http://www.mikesplacebars.com/">Mikes Place</a>: This is your token American Bar in Tel Aviv. I know, St. Paddy's Day is Irish. But, as the American Bar, it has also become the "Anglo" bar; a haven for any English speaking ex-pat. the food isn't anything to write home about - think buffalo wings, jalapeno poppers, burgers and fries - it's fun on holidays. They almost always have live music, they've got really good specials and they usually have the most authentic crowd. There are three Mike's Place bars in Tel Aviv, meaning there is definitely one near you: On the Boardwalk, On Diezengoff, and in Ramat Hachayal. Check their website for more details.</li>
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<li> <a href="http://brasserie.co.il/">Brasserie</a>- Get ready for long lines since the Brasserie is almost always hoppin. This restaurant is open 24/7 right on one of the busiest streets of TLV, Ibn Gvirol. they are known for their high-end French cuisine and great service at all hours of the day or night! If you sit outside, it will be a bit chilly, but you'll get nice tasty dishes and even better people watching. (But, don't go there fore the beers). Address: Ibn Gvirol 70, Tel: 03-6967111 </li>
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3) <b>Florentine -for the party animal in you.</b><br />
Florentine is a young, alternative neighborhood filled with pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. While the vibe there is arty, St. Patrick's day (like all holidays) brings the crowds. I would recommend starting early with a great sausage and stout at <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.com/2011/03/tel-aviv-hot-spot-stern1-bar.html">Stern 1 Bar</a> on Frenkel street, and then heading to Vital street. Vital is the main bar strip. By around 10pm you'll probably run into kids dressed as leprechauns trying to pour free whisky down your throat. You'll also head home with free shirts, hats, and/or plastic blow-up toys plastered with the Guinness logo.<br />
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As a P.S., check out Time Out. While their suggestions frequently fall flat, sometimes they do know what's up.<br />
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<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-38602204271734897422012-03-16T09:54:00.001-07:002012-03-16T09:55:39.946-07:00Shenkar & Haaretz Newspaper Team Up To Do ArtShekar College of Art & Design teamed up with Haaretz Newspaper to do some interesting art. The recent exhibit, which juuuuust ended, is entitled "The Materials From Which The Words Are Made". It showcases an array of exciting design and visual art, all fashioned from Haaretz newspapers in an exploration of the relevance of the 'paper' in newspaper and it's material value. It also delves deep into the evolution of the news media today.<br />
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For those who didn't make it to the show, here are some sweet shots!<br />
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</div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-19899735974049687812012-03-15T11:06:00.001-07:002012-03-16T09:56:54.370-07:00Bike Theft in Tel Aviv Runs Rampant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The best way to get around Tel Aviv is, hands down, by bike.<br />
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To begin with, the city has a relatively flat and even topography. Plus, with the sea to the west, it's always easy to navigate. If you know where the sea is, you can orient your self in a jiffy.<br />
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It's also really awful to drive in the white city. People drive like maniacs, and traffic jams and bottlenecks are the norm. Moreover, in Tel Aviv, coming upon a legal left-turn is like winning the lottery. </div>
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And, then, parking. There's no where to park unless you want to pay an arm and a leg. The search for parking doubles the length of any trip, and once you find a spot and read the fine-print on the sign nearby, you realize that parking there is illegal and you have to move the car anyway.</div>
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All of this, plus the sky-high gas prices, the terribly long and uncomfortable bus rides, and the totally unreliable trains, makes traveling by bike by far the fastest, healthiest and most affordable way to get around the city.<br />
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Even in the rain! Look!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq9VfFZnamZ7AkKxxLr09bDT2w2jpfnH7XivG0-tcCd8yJZRq7VBts2fAT_vXGTBjP45kYaHeJ9a6GwUKLZ2TbOOEqctoBcSvJKhhGtcYLQiyjnMPM4LKkB36gJPE87IVfn4sg1Jvsko/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq9VfFZnamZ7AkKxxLr09bDT2w2jpfnH7XivG0-tcCd8yJZRq7VBts2fAT_vXGTBjP45kYaHeJ9a6GwUKLZ2TbOOEqctoBcSvJKhhGtcYLQiyjnMPM4LKkB36gJPE87IVfn4sg1Jvsko/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. Those are plastic bags on my feet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The big but in the room is bike theft.</b> I know it happens everywhere - but in Tel Aviv it bike theft is an industry. In my 4 years as a TelAvivian, I have had 4 bikes stolen and 2 seats stolen. For those of you math geeks out there, with seat-thefts that breaks down to more than 1 bike a year!<br />
<br />
Tel Aviv bike theft is such a well known phenomenon that there are <a href="http://www.telavivguide.net/Tel_Aviv_Overview/Getting_Around/Riding_a_Bicycle_20051018118/">blog posts about it</a> everywhere.<a href="http://lockyourbike.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/bike-theft-warning-tel-aviv-style/">This one</a>, by<a href="http://lockyourbike.wordpress.com/"> lock your bike</a> blog, is one of my favorites.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, most people spend minimal money on their bikes, paint them ugly and invest in a good lock.<br />
<br />
So, why am I writing about it now? Because it seems like the thieves have taken a new approach to theft. They're no longer cutting locks out in the open. No. Now they have developed strategy!<br />
<br />
The newest approach is to steal your bike seat, and then use their lock to lock your bike again. When you arrive you have no way of cutting their lock off. You have to leave your bike there, take your bike apart, or find your own cutter to destroy their lock.<br />
<br />
They then return later, usually at night, with a cutter to steal your bike when no one is around.<br />
<br />
<b>Moral of the story?</b><br />
1) always take your seat.<br />
2) consider getting a subscription to <a href="https://www.tel-o-fun.co.il/en/">Tel-O-Fun</a> (The green bikes in Tel Aviv- "ofan" means wheel in hebrew, and "ofanaim" means bicycle.)<br />
<br />
Here's a photo of the pretty green bikes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2SPu0JImiVY_v5D2ldoNl89jSHZBOZg-8gPW3I-tN1C_DUiHXgKP4mUhwga9qc0HSdxBEIZBgz_28ug0wlczcLIPlIiRjYhnwZOoXh7oGVVlj-WLG7BbQ9q527HQyB0jHS3xriJNAUw/s1600/telofanrothchild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2SPu0JImiVY_v5D2ldoNl89jSHZBOZg-8gPW3I-tN1C_DUiHXgKP4mUhwga9qc0HSdxBEIZBgz_28ug0wlczcLIPlIiRjYhnwZOoXh7oGVVlj-WLG7BbQ9q527HQyB0jHS3xriJNAUw/s1600/telofanrothchild.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While they aren't the most convenient, they can be a good way to get around the city. And they don't get stolen. Plus, if you're not living in the stone-age like me and you have a smartphone, there's a nice <a href="http://www.appbrain.com/app/ofan/com.hammocksoftware.ofan">Ofan app</a> that shows you where the closest Tel-O-Fun station is with available bikes!<br />
<br />
Check out the app:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXMUSfPW0Y__20-dhMeD5CI02x11seHNt4TZOMhhnNzRgZDJmbvxYDEmMh7lCl2ulagNSqOkVIMWF_dhtONstu5dijL_c0SBZUvlpoRItYj4xiGknfJIDDOz0tfGjvzJLB4l8LA9n3do/s1600/ofan+app.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXMUSfPW0Y__20-dhMeD5CI02x11seHNt4TZOMhhnNzRgZDJmbvxYDEmMh7lCl2ulagNSqOkVIMWF_dhtONstu5dijL_c0SBZUvlpoRItYj4xiGknfJIDDOz0tfGjvzJLB4l8LA9n3do/s400/ofan+app.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HxxVK-gkKLhM9NGgaIT5PxrWpvEAWEslmP_LSdhpcbZ3G5_y18Uokqg34Gn9riy9MMj-MyGDR2ilfMAZ3w5xtVYcuicqOIrikEBgk8sH6Te11k2wZubaPYfDbMa9mG7MK5aTYcutyRs/s1600/ofan2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HxxVK-gkKLhM9NGgaIT5PxrWpvEAWEslmP_LSdhpcbZ3G5_y18Uokqg34Gn9riy9MMj-MyGDR2ilfMAZ3w5xtVYcuicqOIrikEBgk8sH6Te11k2wZubaPYfDbMa9mG7MK5aTYcutyRs/s400/ofan2.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
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</div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-72416124864832184932012-03-13T11:32:00.000-07:002012-03-13T11:32:20.237-07:00Back to Blogging After Long Haitus<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2SZIpNEfTkEEHkEW89aoUEe_Hjt7Sk6XeZjygeNfUN8KGkW8GytfuBAZ5HWc7vIl8nptg8VcvUOSXmb4c-099xj0RprFzRa-ouhgp0GAiHr-oQBs1gbldsVBKjmHcT3eNisZ5WjwD4A/s1600/facebook2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2SZIpNEfTkEEHkEW89aoUEe_Hjt7Sk6XeZjygeNfUN8KGkW8GytfuBAZ5HWc7vIl8nptg8VcvUOSXmb4c-099xj0RprFzRa-ouhgp0GAiHr-oQBs1gbldsVBKjmHcT3eNisZ5WjwD4A/s320/facebook2.PNG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.bethrobynphotography.com/index2.php">beth robyn photography</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hey everyone!<br />
<br />
After a long, silent summer, fall and winter, I'm back.<br />
<br />
I've finally made the effort with my no-longer-new job and busy schedule to carve out some blogging time so this doesn't get pushed aside.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all my followers and those who have stumbled upon my blog who have contacting me with the hope that I'll keep writing.<br />
<br />
So, here's my first post now that I've thawed out of hibernation.<br />
<br />
Get ready for some serious updates since, as you all know, life here is never without some real excitement.<br />
<br />
<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-14200321483164910952011-07-27T13:07:00.000-07:002012-03-16T09:57:09.007-07:00Israeli Writer Etgar Keret to Live in Tiny Capsule<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehairpin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/keret-house1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://thehairpin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/keret-house1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/07/is-the-thin-house-too-thin">Thehairpin</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It has been designed and decided.<br />
Famous Israeli writer, Etgar Keret is going to live in a tiny white capsule art installation that doubles as a house in Warsaw. They're calling it Keret house.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The entire thing looks like the epitome of style and fashion-<br />
unequivocally cool, but terribly uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
Take a look at the design below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311256576-0001oo-528x372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311256576-0001oo-528x372.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos via <a href="http://www.archdaily.com/152505/keret-house-centrala/">Architecturedaily</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yup, if you read the blueprint closely enough, you'll have noticed that this already thin house is a freakin 28.3 inches at its thinnest! That's like what I like to pretend my waistline is.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Apparently the house will feature a remote control operated staircase as seen above and sewage mechanisms inspired by boat designs, while all of the electricity will be routed from one of the adjacent buildings.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311256558-erm-snap2-563x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311256558-erm-snap2-563x1000.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house will live right there, in that little cranny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
They start building the steel-frame body with concrete cloth before draping it with white paint inside and out in September. Let's make sure that Mr. Keret starts his no-carb diet as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
via <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5824640/the-thinnest-house-in-the-world/gallery/1">gizmodo </a>and the<a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/07/is-the-thin-house-too-thin"> hairpin</a>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-19121243864602241112011-07-26T12:53:00.000-07:002012-03-16T09:57:28.158-07:00Tel Aviv in the Top 10 Again!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251326_10150286106233336_630468335_9054166_7556419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251326_10150286106233336_630468335_9054166_7556419_n.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: Via TimeOutTelAviv English Edition, by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ronsho/">Ronsho</a></td></tr>
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<br />
Tel Aviv has been making it into the Top Ten of so many lists, it's no surprise that Forbes blogger Beth Greenfield awarded it the <b>#2 City in the World</b> for "<a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/bethgreenfield/2011/07/25/the-worlds-most-appreciated-beach-sunsets/">Most Celebrated Sunsets</a>".<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The sunsets here seriously breathtaking- spreading pinks, oranges and deep yellows across the skies and waves of the Mediterranean, and welcoming the moonrise's silvery rays.<br />
<br />
<b>Tel Aviv sunsets</b> are so beautiful that when I first moved here I decided it was worth it to working my ass off like a mad-women as a hostess and waitress at an unbelievably busy restaurant on the Tel Aviv port, because it gave me the chance to watch the sunset and sunrise over the shore every day. And it really was worth it.<br />
<br />
So while I'm boasting Tel Aviv's awesomeness to all ya'll like a drunk, child-obsessed soccer-mom, let me hang Tel Aviv's most recent awards on the refrigerator wall of my blog:<br />
Drumroll.....<br />
<ul>
<li>"<a href="http://therayve.blogspot.com/2010/08/national-geographic-top-ten-beach.html">Top Ten Beach Cities</a>" by National Geographic. <b><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/beach-cities-photos/#/beaches-tel-aviv-cities_22323_600x450.jpg">9th place</a>.</b></li>
<li>"<a href="http://press.hotelscombined.com/Press-Releases/HotelsCombined-Names-Top-10-Hottest-Summer-Party-Spots-2011.php">Top Ten Hottest Summer Party Spots</a>" by HotelsCombined.com, <b>9th place</b>.</li>
<li>"<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2051520721913646001#editor/target=post;postID=1912124386460224111">Top Ten Cities 2011</a>" by the Lonely Planet, <b>3rd place</b>.</li>
<li>"<a href="http://therayve.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-tel-aviv-women-stay-so-thin.html">Top 10 Most Beautiful Women</a>" by <a href="http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/92900/6425151.html">English People Daily</a>, <b>2nd place</b>.</li>
</ul>
And, if we're talking about how Tel Aviv ranks in comparison to the rest of Israel, its north-most beach ranked as <a href="http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=227034">one of the best in the country</a>!<br />
<br />
Take a look at the sweet shot of a Tel Aviv Sunset below and tell me Ms. Greenfield isn't spot on!<br />
<br />
<iframe align="center" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oZ-ZHlgpTsI" width="500"></iframe>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-73980954348953546312011-07-25T14:05:00.000-07:002012-03-16T09:57:39.475-07:00Tel Aviv Tent City is Bigger News than Amy Weinhouse<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeaYsYhP5CQ9IAauEoxiCYQ0csIcqC8BORrQLj08JDRZ8SFH8T2jx8PlahL19t9GNHlT6yd3oLdo9DOWlQfKNuE_nAWSwgFFYbkhNb7YlBUC2ymtpX3R3lrFZnFP7FV1-Ij3YJ-OfaWA/s1600/associated+press%252C+photo+Oded+Bality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeaYsYhP5CQ9IAauEoxiCYQ0csIcqC8BORrQLj08JDRZ8SFH8T2jx8PlahL19t9GNHlT6yd3oLdo9DOWlQfKNuE_nAWSwgFFYbkhNb7YlBUC2ymtpX3R3lrFZnFP7FV1-Ij3YJ-OfaWA/s400/associated+press%252C+photo+Oded+Bality.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5j7bTxeKHxCmChFw6Z2DTl8KLrixA?docId=41083384c1e247f8b4b47c639f965e27&index=0">AP/Oded Balilty</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <b>tent city </b>protests in <b>Tel Aviv</b> have become international news within the past two weeks as residents from all over the city have left their apartments and moved themselves and their tents to camp out on Rothchild Boulevard in protest of unbearably high rent prices.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Photos, videos and blogs about the tents, and news of tents sprouting up everywhere from Netanya and BeerSheva to Modiin are giving people something to talk about.<br />
<br />
It has officially become cool again to be politically active.<br />
<br />
That is, long as it has nothing to do with the <b>Arab-Israeli conflict</b> or Israeli democracy.<br />
<br />
That's because this time, we all seem to agree. We seem to be able to come together in favor of one main goal, despite the fact that no one really knows or cares how we're gonna get there. <b>Tel Aviv rent </b>prices are too high, as are rent prices in all of Israel for that matter. So it's been agreed that the time has come for the people of Israel to unite against the Likud-Labor government to demand they lower our rent.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt1nmI_iik7VT9V9YY4cF_R1FHqN6bOs9Pb7F-bGRoZRIqkhvpgiSvbvhRZdcu2JbJp0ZC-qJ1zdr8fF7W2_-h9gI5fUYf73LMtrGN1DUBW3JTljK97jyfLfI62fIaxOmzEIn3T5QAoQ/s1600/Israeli+tent+cities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt1nmI_iik7VT9V9YY4cF_R1FHqN6bOs9Pb7F-bGRoZRIqkhvpgiSvbvhRZdcu2JbJp0ZC-qJ1zdr8fF7W2_-h9gI5fUYf73LMtrGN1DUBW3JTljK97jyfLfI62fIaxOmzEIn3T5QAoQ/s400/Israeli+tent+cities.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images via <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/young-israelis-in-tentcity-protests-over-rising-prices-2318502.html">the Independant</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Rothchild tent city really is quite a site to see, turning a typically bustling avenue into an exciting tent-riddled festival complete with food stands, workshops, artistic wooden statues, topical discussions and musical performances throughout.<br />
<br />
The first organized protest this past Saturday Night was slightly more forceful in nature, blocking main streets, leading to over 50 arrests, and drawing a massive crowd of over 4,000 despite the stifling heat. <br />
<br />
On the one hand, I want to join in, play my guitar in the streets and stand arm in arm in protest against the high rent prices. Because, it is true. The rent is freakin high. And, more than that, because I've noticed that its got people talking. Suddenly, people in Tel Aviv are talking about the government. I've received more facebook invitations to join in the protest than I have for some of the biggest concerts - many invitations being from people who never spoke about rights or political action. There is a buzz in the air, and it's a good buzz.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuQhCkud9mYA8JhTiXibwvnjiPhtv3Yso_nSATxSHSv4myZh2H8C4-qnw_iofQqxxOq7MM6-ZwFmgvZurLI9Pw3I8BMkgNpbSc1Q4RwoTVOmtcOQxQVN5ZGkE4jxyxh7R0Jb0z-wBdns/s1600/tents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuQhCkud9mYA8JhTiXibwvnjiPhtv3Yso_nSATxSHSv4myZh2H8C4-qnw_iofQqxxOq7MM6-ZwFmgvZurLI9Pw3I8BMkgNpbSc1Q4RwoTVOmtcOQxQVN5ZGkE4jxyxh7R0Jb0z-wBdns/s400/tents.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://mushon.com/blog/2011/07/21/tel-aviv-is-on-fire-whats-cooking/">Mushon</a> Zer-Aviv</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As quoted from <a href="http://972mag.com/tent-city-politics-really-is-a-dirty-word-lets-try-revolution/">+972 magazine</a>, an inspired blog by Dimitri Reider about Israel and the Palestinian territories, he says,<br />
<blockquote>
The entire thing feels, strangely, organic, open-ended, and effective; the recurring theme is not just the rent, but that the whole system is rotten, the parliament is out of touch, the ministers are unrepresentative, the sovereign people has very little idea of how and by whom fateful decisions are actually being made.</blockquote>
But unlike Dimitri, I'm unsure of its effectiveness, doubtful of its influence and wary of the possibility that it has enough focus to make a difference. Moreover, I choose to live in Tel Aviv. I choose to live here because I love this city the same way my parents choose to live in Manhattan because they love NYC --- and both them and I see most of our salaries go towards rent. And, while statistics show that rent in Israel is disproportionately high to the salaries here, this country is constantly stuck in a vacillation between socialism and capitalism that is consistently moving towards capitalism.<br />
<br />
Maybe, though, I'm just too jaded. Maybe I need to look at the bigger picture and join in what could be the beginning of a real active left-wing movement, a movement that the Right takes seriously so it can take the <b>tent city</b> and rent issue and run with it. Because, as <a href="http://972mag.com/understanding-the-tent-protest/">+972mag</a> says:<br />
<blockquote>
In this country, it’s all about real-estate. Every political controversy has to do with land, every social battle, and obviously, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict itself. If you understand real estate here, you understand it all.</blockquote>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-5434506085532162842011-07-20T13:19:00.000-07:002011-07-20T13:19:39.961-07:00Tel Aviv Adopts The Worst Advertisement Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS7yjF6n1v8hMQQBnawlpez-CNI7gZzaPu2pCld7PROGRkaMCkoBxp5zbVV2lcWHJwXyArZiEChZHGIeXZzdQ39SOGLzXupHvL-TD2QpuEQf73_6IxNNMQUnVDbjSnwO0xcMMO3MVkOU/s1600/neslefucked+up.axd" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxS7yjF6n1v8hMQQBnawlpez-CNI7gZzaPu2pCld7PROGRkaMCkoBxp5zbVV2lcWHJwXyArZiEChZHGIeXZzdQ39SOGLzXupHvL-TD2QpuEQf73_6IxNNMQUnVDbjSnwO0xcMMO3MVkOU/s1600/neslefucked+up.axd" /></a></div>
Holy Cow, Tel Aviv bus stations are plastered with the worst adverts ever. I don't know how long these ads have been out in America/the rest of the world, but they've some how <a href="http://food.walla.co.il/?w=/905/1835778">made it to Israel</a> and they make me ill.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFhejaakErZi1ZenUylP41uij5dm_iuWr18MKYeAiU1xdRMVSsO-4ivsWnc7zkW1Fg6q_mlm81MAetpAhQPHIa9YR-X58mvF4t2GFyxwHHvZ-ZWM17Aeev9pkmQsWECQLanEhMIlBgmw/s1600/fucked+up+skinny+cow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFhejaakErZi1ZenUylP41uij5dm_iuWr18MKYeAiU1xdRMVSsO-4ivsWnc7zkW1Fg6q_mlm81MAetpAhQPHIa9YR-X58mvF4t2GFyxwHHvZ-ZWM17Aeev9pkmQsWECQLanEhMIlBgmw/s320/fucked+up+skinny+cow.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Subtext:<br />
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Oh, hi there. I'm a cow. That's right, Nestle and Kelloggs chose me to represent WOMAN.<br />
That's because all women are cows- naturally fat and ugly and smelly.<br />
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But, look cows! There's hope! - with<a href="http://www.skinnycow.com/"> Nestle Skinny Cow</a> , you can trick nature by eating something totally unnatural that makes you look like you're dying.<br />
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You can be skinny!<br />
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And if you wear eye-lash extensions on your cow eyes and lipstick on your cow lips then people might actually mistake you for an attractive woman.<br />
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So attractive, in fact, that I feel confident enough to sprawl myself over this pink banner without any clothes on and lay my hoof gently upon my hairy butt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AFGJnDPJa_xVeo2ZC8Eq-VUfsTV82k6Xg4AUaCzv-rsM31110CWO7j6jG-9usw2J6NdYx5b86WNU5pl0oD_qZZRctb5tRmosAu_X0xnkHIwg09mwn0h_H_TD_9LMswh0Qk9qIX59jcA/s1600/skinny+cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AFGJnDPJa_xVeo2ZC8Eq-VUfsTV82k6Xg4AUaCzv-rsM31110CWO7j6jG-9usw2J6NdYx5b86WNU5pl0oD_qZZRctb5tRmosAu_X0xnkHIwg09mwn0h_H_TD_9LMswh0Qk9qIX59jcA/s1600/skinny+cow.jpg" /></a></div>
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How did these <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4090566,00.html">Nestle Skinny Cow ads ma</a><a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4090566,00.html">ke it to Israel</a>?!<br />
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Ugh.<br />
Gag me.<br />
<br />Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-60774821484961659902011-07-18T14:33:00.000-07:002011-07-18T14:34:44.751-07:00Tel Aviv Rent Sparks Tent City<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=170030" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=170030" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=229641">Ben Hartman, Jpost</a></td></tr>
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<b>Tel Aviv rent</b> has been exploding for years now - some say its even through the roof - and Tel Avivians have come together to put their foot down. Over the weekend of July 15th and 16th, hundreds of citizens, most of them young students and couples, erected a tent-city in the center of Rothchild Boulevard to protest the rising housing costs.<br />
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Whether or not the choice to set up camp on Rothchild was part of the original plan, it created a poignant contrast as Rothchild Boulevard is one of the most central, renovated and affluent streets in Tel Aviv.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWV4qwMFyTVORG8U8sG9F1_PKj7OQ40IcmTs2aeB_ch4VbsS9V6eH5q89WlCU1Ty6iEvNDF5pH2JZDp9sHR07vlPzNlpo4tcZ8fn45qA414XrF1ckCgVyJYbKhCDt3PzSoAZBtC5XZ5E/s1600/Israelirent.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWV4qwMFyTVORG8U8sG9F1_PKj7OQ40IcmTs2aeB_ch4VbsS9V6eH5q89WlCU1Ty6iEvNDF5pH2JZDp9sHR07vlPzNlpo4tcZ8fn45qA414XrF1ckCgVyJYbKhCDt3PzSoAZBtC5XZ5E/s320/Israelirent.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/spirit-of-revolution-starts-in-tel-aviv-sweeps-across-israel-1.373613">Motti Kimchi, Haaretz.com</a></td></tr>
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The protest proved to be a great success with protesters uniting in pleasant uprising accompanied by performances from pop singer Efrat Gosh and Hemi Rudner. By Sunday evening, the protests had spread to Beersheva and Jerusalem where rent is also rising steeply and no roof is in place to provide any sort of rent-control.<br />
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Protests are expected to continue to spread to Haifa, Netanya and other cities even after Netanyahu lamely addressed the demonstrators, acknowledging the truth of the general housing issue in <b>Israel real estate</b> and asking protesters to come to Jerusalem to help him pass real estate reforms. (Since apparently he is too helpless to do anything on his own).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u1SS0BOpch8DbTvIJz2BFaVQgsgYkNKvHeMYuvNq6uZudVeqLsTwRGlx6z7EkAxP94fir_zrYnJZZhF3bp8Dx6QagvnqopJUMMt_meJ3cQD_Bl4GlnYprOTjIPatMAzNZ-Gfqg-kdRk/s1600/13.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u1SS0BOpch8DbTvIJz2BFaVQgsgYkNKvHeMYuvNq6uZudVeqLsTwRGlx6z7EkAxP94fir_zrYnJZZhF3bp8Dx6QagvnqopJUMMt_meJ3cQD_Bl4GlnYprOTjIPatMAzNZ-Gfqg-kdRk/s320/13.PNG" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ArtCredit: <a href="http://www.omanoot.com/VisualArtsArtist-3705-Victor-Enrich.aspx">Victor Enrich</a></td></tr>
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The truth of the housing situation is obvious. We all feel it, especially in <b>Tel Aviv</b>. Even those who make a good paycheck typically find that approximately 50% of it goes to their landlord and city living taxes. Students who are doing their best to find the cheapest <b>Tel Aviv accommodation</b> can barely get by. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4096649,00.html">Ynet </a>interviewed Tal, a 25 year old student who said:<br />
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<blockquote>
"Housing is a basic right, but there is currently no supervision over housing prices… This is the business of each and every one of us."</blockquote>
And <a href="http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=229641">Dafni Leef spoke with<i> The Jerusalem Post</i></a> on Saturday evening saying that she started the movement by opening a Facebook page because:<br />
<blockquote>
“I didn’t see any reason to continue spending more than half of my paycheck on rent each month."</blockquote>
I've personally been moving south ever since I came to Tel Aviv, teetering out of the center of the city where prices shot up, to the southern slums where prices are considered to be reasonable. But after our landlord upped our rent this year by over 15%, I'm starting to think that I might be better off in a tent.<br />
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Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-70310894457259643412011-07-17T13:04:00.000-07:002011-07-17T13:06:04.326-07:00How Tel Aviv Women Stay So Thin!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhUOOeQFiBgliuwesMKx0DlI2YcJ6XabXBg6DsKXU2-5L6ALD7zN2XBclSATHSv0cHIkob2LfEBkoYSIw8RyyMa5uJi4MkfwrFJ5YOospDqH6BRQEHrSQgJIZdnNmlLD33FR2bZu-g_A/s1600/banotrazot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhUOOeQFiBgliuwesMKx0DlI2YcJ6XabXBg6DsKXU2-5L6ALD7zN2XBclSATHSv0cHIkob2LfEBkoYSIw8RyyMa5uJi4MkfwrFJ5YOospDqH6BRQEHrSQgJIZdnNmlLD33FR2bZu-g_A/s320/banotrazot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit:<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_346485373"> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Arial, David, 'Courier New'; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3732270,00.html">ג'קי יעק</a>ב</span> </td></tr>
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Tel Aviv has been<a href="http://www.travelersdigest.com/beautiful_women.htm"> labled</a> one of the <a href="http://www.cityguidetelaviv.com/new/city.htm">top cities</a> with the <a href="http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/92900/6425151.html">most beautiful people</a> by <a href="http://www.karemar.com/blog/top-ten-10-cities-world-most-beautiful-women">travel magazines</a> and <a href="http://travel.ca.msn.com/international/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=25080719&page=5">travel blogs</a> everywhere. Beaches are filled with beautiful bikini-clad women and nightclubs and cafes brim with trim girls. When it comes to good looks, Tel Avivians just seem to "have it". They are tan 75% of the year, they live life mainly outdoors, and they are known for being fashion-conscious and fashion-forward.<br />
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But how do Tel Avivians maintain their svelte figure!?</div>
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While I'm still trying to figure out how Tel Aviv is overflowing with so many gorgeous people, I think I've done my best to whittle down a list of the top 4 reasons Tel Aviv Women stay so thin! So here we go:</div>
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<b>Fresh Produce</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/699677861_fdaa8b14de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/699677861_fdaa8b14de.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/a-salad-palette/">Smitten Kitchen</a></td></tr>
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Israel has some of the most affordable and tastiest <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.com/2010/11/follow-my-blog-with-bloglovin-its.html">local fruits</a> and vegetables. Fresh produce stands abound as do larger open-air markets. The <a href="http://therayve.blogspot.com/2010/08/carmel-market-in-tel-aviv.html">Carmel market</a> in the center of Tel Aviv is the most popular, but the Tikvah market is a close second. Fresh juice stands are littered throughout the city with seasonal fruit switching up their shake menus. People know when the local vegetables are in season because nearly all is locally grown and produced. And this means that the Israeli salad- whether it be fruit salad or vegetable salad or a mix- is a staple in the Israeli <b>Mediterranean diet</b>.</div>
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<b>Walking/Biking Culture</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hibino.co.il/sites/default/files/TEl-O-FUN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://hibino.co.il/sites/default/files/TEl-O-FUN.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://hibino.co.il/blog/201105/rent-bicycle">Hibino</a></td></tr>
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Unlike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is pretty flat making it a fantastic city to walk or bike. Combine that with the terrible traffic and high gas prices, and all Tel Avivians seem to have strong incentive to choose waking or biking over driving. What's more, the Tel Aviv municipality has introduced a brand new<a href="http://www.tel-o-fun.co.il/en/"> rent-a-bike system</a> this past May and it's already seen tons of success. This means people are moving around most of the time in the city, if not out of the city on a hike or walk through nature ( another practice deeply ingrained in Israeli culture).<br />
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<b>Coffee and Cigarettes</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nrg.co.il/images/archive/300x225/858/915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.nrg.co.il/images/archive/300x225/858/915.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART1/901/331.html">Maariv</a></td></tr>
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Yes, it's true. Just like the French, the Israelis love their coffee and cigarettes. Their coffee, by the way, is absolutely fantastic- so I definitely give them that one. But, they love their cigarettes so much, that even after a law was passed banning smoking in bars, the people are still smoking everywhere: indoors and out. Why this smoke-affair exists is a topic for another time, but as we all know, coffee and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_smoking_for_weight_loss">cigarettes</a> have long been known to help people <a href="http://www.ehow.com/about_5465593_cigarettes-weight-loss.html">control their weight </a>and as terribly unhealthy both can be- it can't be overlooked. And <i>no</i>, I am not condoning cigarette smoke as an effective or practical weight-loss method in any way!<br />
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<b>Year-Round Beach Season</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://msc.walla.co.il/w/w-224/795799-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://msc.walla.co.il/w/w-224/795799-18.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: <a href="http://zone.walla.co.il/?w=/2716/1828419">Walla</a></td></tr>
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Right now it's early July and Tel Aviv beach season is at its peak, but in Tel Aviv, the beach is <b><i>always</i></b> the place to be. In fact, The Environmental Protection Ministry rated <a href="http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=227034">Tel Aviv and Herzliya beaches the best in all of Israel</a>. Now this not only means that nearly year-round it's hot-hot-hot- a factor that typically suppresses the apatite- but it also means that the Tel Avivian is in bikini-season year-round. And with such a youthful population, its no surprise that beach-goers do their best to look their best. That's not to say that Tel Avivians never indulge in junk food. One look at the multitude of falafel stands and ice-cream shopswill put that myth to rest. It simply means that Tel Avivians are aware of eating healthy and staying fit.<br />
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Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-64744936615094864852011-06-26T13:45:00.000-07:002011-06-26T13:45:09.577-07:00Looking for a Hotel in Tel Aviv? Why not Boutique it?!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWATws45AY21C9w__dQ_lIzr1X_rmS3NMkemHbiFVWpgzihwlPyGxFV0BpsDSL30K5cxlKThmW3AX5XWRoPPG0AvsbIc3_UlaUdu0FzjvxDdnfJRxLJUgh-3HJ5JbQkCA1cAsCiU79Yf0/s1600/Diaghlev+hotel.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWATws45AY21C9w__dQ_lIzr1X_rmS3NMkemHbiFVWpgzihwlPyGxFV0BpsDSL30K5cxlKThmW3AX5XWRoPPG0AvsbIc3_UlaUdu0FzjvxDdnfJRxLJUgh-3HJ5JbQkCA1cAsCiU79Yf0/s400/Diaghlev+hotel.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.diaghilev.co.il/">The Diaghilev Live Art Boutique Hotel</a> in Tel Aviv, Photo Courtesy of their website. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Looking for hotels in in Tel Aviv? I'm not surprised. The tourist season and summer heat are on in full force. June 21st has come and gone, bringing with it buses of birthright groups, throngs of tourists, long summer days and notorious Tel Aviv humidity. <br />
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So if you're planning on heading to the white city this summer, you might want to consider upgrading from a hostel or basic hotel in Tel Aviv to one of the clean, cool and comfortable <b>Tel Aviv boutique hotels</b> just featured in yesterday's Ynet travel section. Now I can't even afford air conditioning in my dinky apartment in south Tel Aviv. But you tourists are on vacation and I don't know anything that tourists like more than the <i>feeling</i> that they are <i>really</i> on vacation. <br />
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This feeling is usually catalyzed by careless spending on totally awesome but absolutely unnecessary amenities which I am telling you you should definitely do because that feeling I'm talking about, that vacation feeling...it's fleeting and incredibly difficult to attain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SklzVwSWYHqPsB2GAmq3yHcrYc5AckFpLE1iEgt5zGXfe-GAyAGGjwHIoFnJtn5m4DE1XBShDRfreH_fELdth7mK7ncUAkpGgfr3oEuM-Lu2vMQF9KR6VL3iELcg3y0FstPt6tXRZtY/s1600/hotels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SklzVwSWYHqPsB2GAmq3yHcrYc5AckFpLE1iEgt5zGXfe-GAyAGGjwHIoFnJtn5m4DE1XBShDRfreH_fELdth7mK7ncUAkpGgfr3oEuM-Lu2vMQF9KR6VL3iELcg3y0FstPt6tXRZtY/s400/hotels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A montage of some of the fabulous Tel Aviv hotels you'll read about if you don't get bored and stop here</td></tr>
</tbody></table> To help you out, <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4082986,00.html">Ynet's article</a> highlighted the ritziest of the ritzy Tel Aviv boutique hotels with personalized service and an intimate feel, but bemoans the high prices. Their review of what they call the "Tel Aviv's best boutique hotels" includes rooms which can cost guests up to $560 for two per night.<br />
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Sadly, I have not been lucky enough to set foot in even one of the boutique hotels mentioned on their list which includes:<br />
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<ul><li> The <a href="http://www.nevetzedekhotel.com/index.html">Neve Tzedek Hotel</a> situated in the heart of Tel Aviv's oldest now turned artsy-chic neighborhood</li>
<li> The <a href="http://www.gordontlv.com/">Gordon Hotel & Lounge</a> situated right Tel Aviv's most popular coast</li>
<li> The <a href="http://www.browntlv.com/">Brown Hotel TLV</a> located smack in the TLV center</li>
<li> The<a href="http://varsano.co.il/">Varsano Hotel</a> which is more like a swanky Bed and Breakfast</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.hotelmontefiore.co.il/">Hotel Montefiore</a> known for Tel Avivians for its beautiful architectural facade and fantastic restaurant</li>
<li>and <a href="http://www.alexander.co.il/?gclid=CJDpiMCq1KkCFVRTfAod_j_ROA">The Alexander Suites Hotel </a>which I don't really know why they included since it has more than sixty rooms, which makes it significantly less intimate, and also a surprisingly crappy website. But I guess their "<a href="http://www.alexander.co.il/Diamond%20Suite.html">Diamond Suite</a>" which is actually the <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4027869,00.html">biggest hotel suite in Israel</a> boosted it to the top. </li>
</ul><div>While the article did a good job of instilling in me an almost <b>visceral desire to be filthy rich</b>, I did feel a pinch of surprise when I reached the end and realized that they left out one of the most exciting, most unique and trendiest boutique hotels I know of: <a href="http://www.diaghilev.co.il/">The Diaghilev Live Art Boutique Hote</a>l. The Diaghilev is one of two well known Art boutique hotel s in TLV, the second being the aptly named <a href="http://www.atlas.co.il/art-hotel-tel-aviv/">Artplus Hotel</a> which comes up first on a google search for Tel Aviv art hotel. But really, it shouldn't, since the Diaghilev is way cooler and offers way more interesting exhibitions.</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzELiGw7_oI1ChPjSLlGytwNakN5DBpok-pUNmq6llMQn2VXdp_ZzG9YQGH0tZEYIqNfedIFfH-qSRNLbDjGv6NTGxvXJb3P-gdyhMk2FpPUFGq_cRKiHWXS-EYiZIbgqcZFp24sc0-9w/s1600/dimensions+of+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzELiGw7_oI1ChPjSLlGytwNakN5DBpok-pUNmq6llMQn2VXdp_ZzG9YQGH0tZEYIqNfedIFfH-qSRNLbDjGv6NTGxvXJb3P-gdyhMk2FpPUFGq_cRKiHWXS-EYiZIbgqcZFp24sc0-9w/s400/dimensions+of+design.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=221280811223960&set=a.221280767890631.64854.161996463819062&type=1">the Diaghilev Facebook Page</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcUeWJ-zPlanUr6HrdDb8Hb0HiA8TOOfEqC-5wzDhAITpQ8c23liMCLhIJd4ZA3r6MGGeYnHE-DRW8NK73mz2IWn_M3dxEw2irCQbbYS_YeFNkY37MwSmMiZttDo-4zdEb6S0ZUhSxCw/s1600/man+staring+at+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcUeWJ-zPlanUr6HrdDb8Hb0HiA8TOOfEqC-5wzDhAITpQ8c23liMCLhIJd4ZA3r6MGGeYnHE-DRW8NK73mz2IWn_M3dxEw2irCQbbYS_YeFNkY37MwSmMiZttDo-4zdEb6S0ZUhSxCw/s400/man+staring+at+chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Photo Courtesy of the<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=221281457890562&set=a.221280767890631.64854.161996463819062&type=1"> Diaghilev Facebook Page</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>You'll get a better idea of what I'm talking about if you take a look at the<a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheDiaghilev?sk=wall"> Diaghilev Facebook page</a>. Some of their more recent exhibits have been promoted by the <a href="http://www.goethe.de/ins/il/tel/ver/he7714947v.htm">Goethe Institue</a> including the most recent German Vitra Design Museum exhibit "100 miniatures of classical seats". Check out some more photos of the exhibit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.221280767890631.64854.161996463819062">here</a>.<br />
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In short, there are some fantastic places to stay if you are looking to spend some money on a luxury suite.<br />
If not, you'll have to wait till my next post outlining the best hostels for tourists on a budget! Stay tuned, there's more to come....</div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-90198746029026653852011-06-15T16:13:00.000-07:002011-06-15T16:30:11.734-07:00Kutiman's 'Thru Jerusalem' Goes Viral and Then Some<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="314" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mHglfyQOd2s" width="500"></iframe><br />
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<span id="goog_283210694"></span>Israeli music<span id="goog_283210695"></span> video producer and international youtube phenomenon Kutiman has gone a step further with his most recent release, bringing beautiful audio and visual together with his newest youtube montage release of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHglfyQOd2s">Thru Jerusalem</a>". This music video montage of film snippets of Jerusalem musicians, artists, shots of local scenery both intimate and public, brings together the sounds, vibes colors and motion of Jerusalem.<br />
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In an <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/06/kutiman-thru-jerusalem/">interview with wired.com</a>, Kutiman said:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“I just tried to be a tourist and make the video regardless of race or religion... My only goal was to show the beauty of the city.”</span><br />
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And he succeeded in doing just this. Born Ophir Kutiel, the 29 year old "Yerushalmi", or Jeruslaem nativehas been known for his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vch-Z9ccHTk&feature=relmfu">youtube mixes/collages</a> of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIl4LkHYRkg&feature=relmfu">musical home-video</a> which he found by scouring youtube on his own for interesting sampling material, as well as mixes of some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0F1ydmee1w&feature=related">popular music </a>riffs. With his newest release, Kutiman decided to go original this time around and cut and paste together his own footage of local talents.<br />
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Apparently he specifically requested that all musicians keep their Middle-Eastern improvisations around the key of D.<br />
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The video went viral within hours- posted and reposted on facebook by countless fans, and picked up by news sites and blogs such as <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-20071370-10391705.html">CBS</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/06/15/kutiman-jerusalem/">Mashable</a> (selected as their June 14th video of the day) and more. His newest work is being referred to as a "musical journey", an "epitomization of the sounds of the city", a "beautiful tour" and a "beautiful song."<br />
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Named the <a href="http://www.jerusalemseason.com/">Artist of the Season</a> by <a href="http://www.jerusalemseason.com/system-page/season-program">Jerusalem's Season of Culture</a>, Kutiman released "Thru Jerusalem" during the <a href="http://www.roicommunity.org/">ROI Community Summi</a>t for young Jewish leaders and innovators. According to the <a href="http://www.jerusalemseason.com/event/kutiman-%E2%80%93-artist-season">Jerusalem Season of Culture</a> website:<br />
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<div style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kutiman's former work, Thru-you, a visual composition that is considered to be one of the most significant musical breakthroughs of recent years; brought together a series of unconnected YouTube videos to form a new viral sensation. His work was described by Time Magazine as one of the most important inventions in the world in 2009. His work has been exhibited all over the world including the Guggenheim Museum in New York. </div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
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I agree that "Thru Jerusalem" it's not only an artistic feat (as I think all nearly all of Kutiman's compositions are) but also a unique, modern and exciting way to express the allure of <a href="http://www.omanoot.com/">Israel through art</a> and music.Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-61398466222209097132011-06-13T15:26:00.000-07:002011-06-13T15:26:55.467-07:00Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade 2011<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbrmSePSwb42FD6NamhJdaNJU6xI_UlzYwgM9OFS2DOFYOuwrvh-g6IXaDC9U8fmmf7_k3C7XRUFvA5AyY89mcdqm0tbqe2E6chfG4pj3yUpqjn6zi885TmncQbgYmg4p1gKAJxBlgTg/s1600/Tel+Aviv+Pride+1+By+burghard+Mannhofer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbrmSePSwb42FD6NamhJdaNJU6xI_UlzYwgM9OFS2DOFYOuwrvh-g6IXaDC9U8fmmf7_k3C7XRUFvA5AyY89mcdqm0tbqe2E6chfG4pj3yUpqjn6zi885TmncQbgYmg4p1gKAJxBlgTg/s400/Tel+Aviv+Pride+1+By+burghard+Mannhofer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150218173017384.336587.640062383">Burghard Mannhofer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The <b>Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade</b> has flaunted its rainbow colors yet again and filled the streets and beaches with gorgeous drag queens, bikini-clad lesbians, proud supporters of gay rights and everyone in between. The parade somehow seems to get bigger and better every year, drawing larger crowds and higher numbers of tourists.<br />
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This year statisticians estimate that more than <b>100,000 Israelis </b>and an added <b>5,000 tourists</b> took part in the parade entitled "It's good to be gay – marching for social equality."<br />
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"I have come to say that being part of the gay community, to be gay or lesbian or any other member of the community, is not a political choice as is the choice to protect the gay community and its right for social equality," opposition leader Tzippi Livni told <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/thousands-turn-out-for-tel-aviv-s-annual-gay-pride-parade-1.366979"><i>Haaretz.com</i></a>, adding "we are here to fight together against any phenomenon of hate, to fight for Israel's values."<br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj0UrKAbNEnz_sMtGovlrMQd6GMXKP4riekHgdnHnbIr2xWAUl9ZYOgw2YGI116yam1cxIaiuwGUQN0-cy_njCPhduYdgnJtUNPAYIWfKpvFxJyeXaGxaiMeK4IrHvY1UZvrAeYxnfIQ/s1600/Tel+Aviv+Pride+by+Burghard+Manhofer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj0UrKAbNEnz_sMtGovlrMQd6GMXKP4riekHgdnHnbIr2xWAUl9ZYOgw2YGI116yam1cxIaiuwGUQN0-cy_njCPhduYdgnJtUNPAYIWfKpvFxJyeXaGxaiMeK4IrHvY1UZvrAeYxnfIQ/s400/Tel+Aviv+Pride+by+Burghard+Manhofer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150218173017384.336587.640062383">Burghard Mannhofer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>What I love about the <b>Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade </b>is first and foremost the fact that it dominates the entire city, but with such welcoming energy that it's easy to participate. In fact, if you are in the White City on the day of the parade, its nearly impossible to avoid joining in the festivities.<br />
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Throughout the course of the day roads are closed down, colorfully costumed people pour through the streets and the biggest beach, Gordon beach, is turned into a huge performance stage and outdoor bar. The parties continue on through the evening, the rest of the weekend and the rest of the month- as June is designated as <b>Gay Pride month</b>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxkH18yDWSXmEcrlUbZFopn4BIjSVQHCYJEC1Suk-rSZYWqZ4hlMw0Yk-PL0dgLTWPGqT-kG8P-vZ0fLptul3_D17oL7MsokmDr3imRROzQdRg-B1q9l0Uo-enV9rtLansWcWs1bRQbY/s1600/tel+aviv+pride+by+burghard+mannhofer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxkH18yDWSXmEcrlUbZFopn4BIjSVQHCYJEC1Suk-rSZYWqZ4hlMw0Yk-PL0dgLTWPGqT-kG8P-vZ0fLptul3_D17oL7MsokmDr3imRROzQdRg-B1q9l0Uo-enV9rtLansWcWs1bRQbY/s400/tel+aviv+pride+by+burghard+mannhofer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150218173017384.336587.640062383">Burghard Mannhofer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
People come from all over the world to participate or simply observe Tel Aviv's annual Gay Pride Parade as Tel Aviv boast one of the largest and most active gay communities in the world. In fact, according to Tel Aviv's deputy mayor, Asaf Zamir,<b> nearly17% of the city's population is gay</b>.<br />
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"It's a very strong community here, a comfortable arena for the gay community. Two men walking hand in hand is a very normal thing," he told UK newspaper, <i><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/10/tel-aviv-gay-pride-parade">The Guardian</a>.</i><br />
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This year's 2011 Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade got <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/10/tel-aviv-gay-pride-parade">tons of international press </a> from newspapers such as<i> The Guardian</i>,<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iAn0ReXAZ0SdrAeXnq1574X-Go8Q?docId=CNG.ec83f852b2779083383ca297b1deae77.181"> the AFP</a>, <i>el Mundo</i> and <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/over-the-rainbow-as-gays-party-hard-in-the-holy-land-20110611-1fy74.html"><i>The Sydney Morning Herald</i></a>, and rightly so.<br />
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To give you a taste, I put together a small slideshow of the events calendar for the entire month, including the parade itself, as well as some snapshots by a great Israeli Photographer, Gadi Gilon. Hopefully this will help you get an idea of the extravagance and exuberance of this year's 2011 Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="286" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qUx1kOMFbJ4" width="450"></iframe>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-87150826950679897122011-06-08T04:52:00.000-07:002011-06-08T04:53:38.900-07:00Leaving Tel Aviv: Day Trip to Masada and the Dead Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz9KsFsv6ilT3Yll6cgYvYBQMt3nTJSFJZEuwO7z43G6dkNajL0J6-8uYK3wSRUlyGojo7X8bVJ3Ss9K9qGrfl7uK02WxUsfVDcsPQnO6iSuemODYCcsVwwlyuiKF8YwoPQyRQu1Zwu8/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz9KsFsv6ilT3Yll6cgYvYBQMt3nTJSFJZEuwO7z43G6dkNajL0J6-8uYK3wSRUlyGojo7X8bVJ3Ss9K9qGrfl7uK02WxUsfVDcsPQnO6iSuemODYCcsVwwlyuiKF8YwoPQyRQu1Zwu8/s400/IMG_0677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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One of the things I do love about <b>Israel</b> is how varied it is in topography in such a small area. This means that getting from the dry desert plateaus to the lush northern mountains is only a drive or bus ride away. Israel's size also makes it easy to get out of any metropolis, including <b>Tel Aviv</b>, to quickly reach a destination flush with natural beauty.<br />
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So, when my friend's from the states swung by for a, Israeli wedding and invited me for a "day trip" to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada">Masada</a> and the <a href="http://www.deadsea.co.il/index.php?page_id=1&lang_action=change_lang&to_lang=he&geo_action=done">Dead Sea</a>, I simply could not refuse. We decided to leave Tel Aviv at night (~12:45am), and arrived at the foot of <a href="http://www.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~20~~736559308~Card12~&ru=&SiteName=parks&Clt=&Bur=87938426">Masada</a> by around 2:30am. We pulled into the parking lot at the eastern entrance where there are picnic tables, garbage cans, and restrooms close by. We then had time to drink some coffee, eat some snacks and get organized before heading up the snake path at around 4:00am to catch the sunrise.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYQrhIZoUnqPpc8CzautabvrDj62ZVumuFWNfjzS7-uJgntDn5Y_GJDp44AoMGBJRYIvnJ9v2fo76Pl2aouG03SfLcQ7MiZxPNGsY75WMPpGxTXGZ2z3HSBac-r5gyG4i_Du-ESFc_LU/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYQrhIZoUnqPpc8CzautabvrDj62ZVumuFWNfjzS7-uJgntDn5Y_GJDp44AoMGBJRYIvnJ9v2fo76Pl2aouG03SfLcQ7MiZxPNGsY75WMPpGxTXGZ2z3HSBac-r5gyG4i_Du-ESFc_LU/s400/IMG_0682.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, during our walk up and after we arrived at the top, we encountered a hefty number of tourists, mostly <a href="http://www.birthrightisrael.com/">Birthright </a>participants. So, I elbowed my way through towards the rising sun to try and snag some iconic shots of the sunrise over <b>Masada</b>. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkGUaI7bRjY0zqW2tsffORKYAImJHOSIQPuGSI5Uy1ZWs7a6yZwrdp0SVzkswq17IikMmz4qiQiG5laOmK-rNLe56LIixZudbe_G1HC2O8GxzsbCSHI2cyhKMB6fF9EADZJHCZjFGTlA/s1600/IMG_0684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkGUaI7bRjY0zqW2tsffORKYAImJHOSIQPuGSI5Uy1ZWs7a6yZwrdp0SVzkswq17IikMmz4qiQiG5laOmK-rNLe56LIixZudbe_G1HC2O8GxzsbCSHI2cyhKMB6fF9EADZJHCZjFGTlA/s400/IMG_0684.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZb_Wug1OAjJPJS1NO096nHjbzJGNjL5xo4MDGBcaMXrZB_u4_C2onhuONuJfP73LGitMPYQ8s9-JRBwWdQ8wuIYtjisOwD5oZMw-fg8-lDkR3WmnfPb3LY4S1pjm5ojMWkulrKB7HsI/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZb_Wug1OAjJPJS1NO096nHjbzJGNjL5xo4MDGBcaMXrZB_u4_C2onhuONuJfP73LGitMPYQ8s9-JRBwWdQ8wuIYtjisOwD5oZMw-fg8-lDkR3WmnfPb3LY4S1pjm5ojMWkulrKB7HsI/s400/IMG_0685.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizFX7kAOGNRTMYwSdYA9f1XSJbpyDkAjxREgAFJshh8Ar9sPHx61z_6CYGyvZ5dy4-IybqPaZXlVfecp6aGNJETNl6eqWUcu5F-5pciKxzoj7j3CU1AnrOrIdQJAUblLg5kbRECEcCE8/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizFX7kAOGNRTMYwSdYA9f1XSJbpyDkAjxREgAFJshh8Ar9sPHx61z_6CYGyvZ5dy4-IybqPaZXlVfecp6aGNJETNl6eqWUcu5F-5pciKxzoj7j3CU1AnrOrIdQJAUblLg5kbRECEcCE8/s400/IMG_0687.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, harnessing the power of the sun between my fingertips! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>In addition to the countless <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthright_Israel">Birthright</a> teens and post-teens that dotted the face of the desert plateau, we also encountered a well-attended bar-mitzvah which I assume had commenced in darkness. If you take a look at the photo below, you can see their congregation in the far back.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_tAq0sKMA3_YvLhkepbXkAwVYl7stZ1vzLhDyXx7g12eMMCqq4VD6rDDhHHr5uidLpjsGkByF6bJuK7BrbxrwrQwEaOomW1jah1FXzY-XXevkGvRyvfXzQN32_Cbqyt_debLJsUQxfk/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_tAq0sKMA3_YvLhkepbXkAwVYl7stZ1vzLhDyXx7g12eMMCqq4VD6rDDhHHr5uidLpjsGkByF6bJuK7BrbxrwrQwEaOomW1jah1FXzY-XXevkGvRyvfXzQN32_Cbqyt_debLJsUQxfk/s400/IMG_0676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We wandered around checking out the main attractions: the synagogue, the baths, the water storage and well-preserved frescos and mosaics from <b>Herod's palace</b>. We tried our best to creep close-enough towards the Birthright groups on their 10-day <b>trip to Israel </b>so we could overhear the guides explain various anecdotes and historical <b>Israel facts</b>, but once the sun started getting hotter, we decided it was time to head back down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we stumbled back down the snake path and back to our car, pulled out a map, and headed towards the nearest accessible dead-sea beach that provides dead-sea mud. We ended up at the <a href="http://62.90.240.156/ngedi-new/website/products/ein-gedi-spa/index.html">Ein Gedi Spa</a> which offers tourists access to their beach, their spa, their showers and their mud. They have a variety of different packages depending on the level of luxury you are looking for. We, of course, took the cheapest package and proceeded to pull on our bathing suits and head to take a dip in the salty sea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div> We bathed in the sulfurous water until our skin started burning. Then we headed towards the hot salt-water springs, the wet mud, and their lovely chlorinated swimming pool before showering off and heading home.<br />
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Some shots of the dead sea on the way back:<br />
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Definitely a fantastic day/night trip that I highly recommend to anyone in <b>Israel</b>: tourist or resident alike.<br />
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If you have questions, or need more info about the trip, e-mail me or leave your comment here!Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-90654765845146004902011-06-01T10:28:00.000-07:002011-06-01T10:28:37.743-07:00Tel Aviv Park Darom: A Hidden Gem<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoR4glSKun0C3I6mwfXS1mOt2SNk_WEAa4gdYZ4rj0aFb-uaygI2unUkBcFp039-rbGfhx5tatkPaRavWdvUzbx38-iJm9utcSIDWlzL2ii0chUTgh3LGy18gRTOwLlTYxAtrkaITqHo/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoR4glSKun0C3I6mwfXS1mOt2SNk_WEAa4gdYZ4rj0aFb-uaygI2unUkBcFp039-rbGfhx5tatkPaRavWdvUzbx38-iJm9utcSIDWlzL2ii0chUTgh3LGy18gRTOwLlTYxAtrkaITqHo/s400/IMG_3105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park Darom, also known as Manachem Begin Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Some people lament the fact that The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarkon_Park">Yarkon Park</a> which runs along the tiny Yarkon River is the only real Park in Tel Aviv. Yes, <a href="http://www.tel-aviv-insider.com/park-hayarkon.php">Park HaYarkon</a> is large and sprawling, yes it's great for cycling, and I definitely do enjoy all of the attractions there - but it just doesn't keep out the city like the great city parks do. You still hear the traffic, see the tall buildings tower over most of the trees and you definitely feel the "dinkiness" of it. Plus, its SO far from so much of the city!<br />
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Most visitors write this off to the fact that the city's entire western border of Tel Aviv is the beach- a public park in and of itself, making it unnecessary to ensure that the <a href="http://www.telavivguide.net/Attractions/Outdoors/Tel_Aviv_Hayarkon_Park_20051104175/">Yarkon Park</a> is something truly spectacular. But what most people, even Tel Aviv residents, don't know is that there is another a large, grassy <b>Tel Aviv park</b> that is super-awesome- it's just not smack dab in the center. </div><div><div><br />
</div><div>This is <a href="http://kinderland.xnet.co.il/aindex/720.php">Park Darom</a> (פארק דרום also known as <a href="http://www.park-begin.co.il/">Park Menachim Begin</a>) and it is one of the hidden gems of Tel Aviv. The park is extremely well kempt, with the grass always mowed and watered, and the paths always safe and clean. In fact, the park even has its own website that you can check out <a href="http://www.park-begin.co.il/">here</a> which showcases all of the activities, attractions and great things about the park. Don't worry, since the site is all in Hebrew I won't leave you hanging. Here are the awesome features in random order:<br />
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</div><div><b>1) Huge Lake</b></div><div>There is a massive lake in the center of the park. This is a shocker to anyone who knows Israel's relationship with water at all. As it turns out, the lake is quite shallow, but it is still full of fish, and a nice, hefty layer of water.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXiA3nczERaOmuktp1LEPSuuF6EdeKCt5G1dkj5SRvQ6IOylsr6-BFLOpj19N8YKJ_lxOCcwE4Gcjh78R2EHjcpidBYIu1hT_zw7RllEDoy8itbZHybsGZyGM_G0vyh7P0mHYkJOmx0c/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXiA3nczERaOmuktp1LEPSuuF6EdeKCt5G1dkj5SRvQ6IOylsr6-BFLOpj19N8YKJ_lxOCcwE4Gcjh78R2EHjcpidBYIu1hT_zw7RllEDoy8itbZHybsGZyGM_G0vyh7P0mHYkJOmx0c/s400/IMG_3107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? The lake is quite large</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>2) Water Ski</b></div><div>The huge lake is home to a water-ski, wake-boarding arena for kids, teens and adults. On most warm weekends the line is long and the fun is unending. You get an hour worth of wake-boarding for 90 shekels with options for water-skiing too. Some skaters and surfers (especially beginners) use the park for weekly or monthly practice, and it makes a great activity for celebratory events as well.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU50xoUBeDoAxO_Ug-h0co20yYBMvTnj_7WrHPCP_s5hRC5G779mYy2qVJSZw0zwToyprdPBYCguXQL1vY0USUzb-1rdBZwcQy4jSkNCJT0XXKVHlrrNnecRwRIWaFmnYLnAfFcYbXDE/s1600/IMG_3109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU50xoUBeDoAxO_Ug-h0co20yYBMvTnj_7WrHPCP_s5hRC5G779mYy2qVJSZw0zwToyprdPBYCguXQL1vY0USUzb-1rdBZwcQy4jSkNCJT0XXKVHlrrNnecRwRIWaFmnYLnAfFcYbXDE/s400/IMG_3109.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1B8n8jdW9vnAap9CvukRyWwkFJ-sb3UK3zfRdcdLqsgX5FjEfZc99Ch2xvY1sfDN8YX7jFhUod6m9kw51k3rRJ534CxtyMXfvfUltM4c9vlAKqRCX082diW3qnrL00Jm192SY_oueVI/s1600/IMG_3111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1B8n8jdW9vnAap9CvukRyWwkFJ-sb3UK3zfRdcdLqsgX5FjEfZc99Ch2xvY1sfDN8YX7jFhUod6m9kw51k3rRJ534CxtyMXfvfUltM4c9vlAKqRCX082diW3qnrL00Jm192SY_oueVI/s400/IMG_3111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3) Boating</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you don't like extreme sports, but you do enjoy gliding gently across the water, you might be more interested in their boating. You can rent a small old-school paddle boat, a sweet race-car-style paddle boat, a canue, or even a small boat specially designed for little kids for 55-65 shekels . Paddle around by yourself or with friends while feeding the ducks some stale pita bread. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.f-static.com/image/users/141167/departAlbum/141167/normal/1221160.jpg?p=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://cdn1.f-static.com/image/users/141167/departAlbum/141167/normal/1221160.jpg?p=" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.park-begin.co.il/141167/%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%AA%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7-%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7-%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%90%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A3">Park Menachem Begin Photo Gallery</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiIQkl0WA9XVCmZYjT_SWuBenxKBK2JsfcN2PcklaPpsKzXXVYi6rXmL3YmHWeeYrK4WsaoUj4RW88V51pCCDI6UAroA-uT9WOdH3-PruyYQiYKYkQhL5P0YT30D9-dOz6w-WgAaGBDw/s1600/IMG_3115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiIQkl0WA9XVCmZYjT_SWuBenxKBK2JsfcN2PcklaPpsKzXXVYi6rXmL3YmHWeeYrK4WsaoUj4RW88V51pCCDI6UAroA-uT9WOdH3-PruyYQiYKYkQhL5P0YT30D9-dOz6w-WgAaGBDw/s400/IMG_3115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmCkaC6r0o2EYB8dhSiBbD3_ak2n_1TGCxROBItvsHuhdBIsl6sY001c9mQ_OGEuzcGQItNeG1SiRxa65JV2Zz6AQ3S7M43DPtDbfmXvtag3ic-NEzLX7ywPT-8AnFYWiIeztK6NMWCw/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmCkaC6r0o2EYB8dhSiBbD3_ak2n_1TGCxROBItvsHuhdBIsl6sY001c9mQ_OGEuzcGQItNeG1SiRxa65JV2Zz6AQ3S7M43DPtDbfmXvtag3ic-NEzLX7ywPT-8AnFYWiIeztK6NMWCw/s400/IMG_3117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4) Carting & Bike Rentals</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a carting park, which helps put on carting races several times a year. The carting park is small, but cool, and the carts look like lots of fun for kids. There are also bicycle rentals if you want to bike around the park with friends or family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0RLfPpM5SpdE9mH8ewaJ6tumdAfYvM8nXtCqMhojLALQIm204iNWF0SnSeCB7KV6knZks7i9-HiPu1H3qyUDpuH0CRyNIWOiqSCIC4hZBrThXP2f1CVD0wr7TYlcPBxlFgdSvvvqgy4/s1600/Karting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0RLfPpM5SpdE9mH8ewaJ6tumdAfYvM8nXtCqMhojLALQIm204iNWF0SnSeCB7KV6knZks7i9-HiPu1H3qyUDpuH0CRyNIWOiqSCIC4hZBrThXP2f1CVD0wr7TYlcPBxlFgdSvvvqgy4/s400/Karting.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.park-begin.co.il/141167/%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%AA%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7-%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7-%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%90%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%99%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A3">Park Menachem Begin Photo Gallery</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5) Petting Zoo</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, I'm not really an animal lover, nor do I like the general smell of petting zoos, but I know it's an attraction and there is something cute, strange, bizarre and entertaining about a petting zoo with reindeer in Israel. The zoo also cages-in ostriches, peacocks, chickens and roosters (hope I'm not leaving anything out!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6) Special Rentals: Celebratory Events</b></div>You can actually rent, specially, a wide variety of things including ponies, horses, inflatable amusement moonwalk-type stuff, small "trains" and more for your kid's birthday party at the Park. I know, it sounds totally weird and crazy, but really, it's AWESOME.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Ponies!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>7) Work-Out Areas</b></div>You've seen these all around Tel Aviv (since about two years ago when the municipality installed them all over the city) and they are in Park Darom too! They are intended for adults to use to stay fit and to enhance their regular work out sessions. But, whadda you know, they have since been seen used mostly by kids who defy the large signs saying "For use by persons 14 years of age or older." I don't mind either way, as long as they help me keep my abs like steel for free.<br />
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<b>8) BBQ Stations</b><br />
Looking for a great place to have a BBQ outdoors? Well look no further. Tel Aviv Park Darom is built for the BBQ. Sadly, I have no photos of this. But, with tables, nice soft grass, garbage cans and designated BBQ areas, you are well equipped.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cmvvWXzi_kGEf9g42a2-YoK9v8bZwCP3hxXw2IqchmbS_S-zeQHsKzZZnhd3kputeOdf3aMKHHDG-nwSqIiR8qJnIPVPV3_KTEm0ofEsRr7d8P6n5tPScE4upvnOBVi5eLWbpt9qyU4/s1600/IMG_3122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cmvvWXzi_kGEf9g42a2-YoK9v8bZwCP3hxXw2IqchmbS_S-zeQHsKzZZnhd3kputeOdf3aMKHHDG-nwSqIiR8qJnIPVPV3_KTEm0ofEsRr7d8P6n5tPScE4upvnOBVi5eLWbpt9qyU4/s400/IMG_3122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can kind of see the garbage cans and picnic tables in the background here. <br />
Right there in the upper left-hand corner?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>9) Public Restrooms</b><br />
Accessible public restrooms. Yes, they are gross, but they are easy to get to and they make life so much easier when you are in the middle of a long run and desperately have to pee. So, now, even though I don't have an iPhone, I know that there is a place nearby where I can to relieve myself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sorrythatusernameistaken.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/have2pee-restroom-locator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://www.sorrythatusernameistaken.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/have2pee-restroom-locator.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.sorrythatusernameistaken.com/2010/01/29/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-that-cost-7/">SorryThatUserNameIsTaken</a> Blog</td></tr>
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<b>10) Tons of Other Awesome Stuff</b><br />
There are basketball courts, endless lengths of unused grassy-ness, trees, and even a nice stream that runs along the south-west side of the park. (I've actually been to rock concerts held on just along the river which were fun and intimate). So, if you haven't been to <a href="http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A5:TLV-Com-Sud.png">Park Darom</a>, or if you are looking for a place to hang, ahve a bbq or take your family/friends to chill, head down south and check it out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Operating Hours:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Open all day every day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Office Hours: 9am-10:30pm, Sun-Thurs, Fri: Open until two hours before the beginning of Shabbat, Sat: Closed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Phone: 03-7303471</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Address: Birnit Street, Menachem Begin Park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=iw&geocode=&q=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D,+%D7%AA%D7%9C+%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%91+%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95,+%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.005754,78.662109&ie=UTF8&hq=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D&hnear=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D,+%D7%AA%D7%9C+%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%91+%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95,+%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C&ll=32.04235,34.802027&spn=0.023282,0.038409&z=15">Map</a>: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?source=embed&hl=iw&geocode=&q=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D,+%D7%AA%D7%9C+%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%91+%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95,+%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.005754,78.662109&ie=UTF8&hq=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D&hnear=%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9D+%D7%91%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A7+%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D,+%D7%AA%D7%9C+%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%91+%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95,+%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C&ll=32.04235,34.802027&spn=0.036923,0.070167&z=15" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">הצג מפה גדולה יותר</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;">More Details Here</span><br />
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</div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-70960141526201217202011-05-31T00:15:00.000-07:002011-05-31T00:15:01.869-07:00Tel Aviv's Boardwalk Expansion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kGRWZhy7oShM1y5DA4c0wQH2yZze1N_vZB8Hdbi4Qxven4eEjdRIdlwJGL1qAMBnWP2On805Q7whk4A3G99nNWX5hrGSo7EJi96KgVu6Gf1hsWGgESBP0YktjiDPajpkzmfFYjXfGc4/s1600/tel-aviv-promenade-public-participation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kGRWZhy7oShM1y5DA4c0wQH2yZze1N_vZB8Hdbi4Qxven4eEjdRIdlwJGL1qAMBnWP2On805Q7whk4A3G99nNWX5hrGSo7EJi96KgVu6Gf1hsWGgESBP0YktjiDPajpkzmfFYjXfGc4/s400/tel-aviv-promenade-public-participation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PhotoCredit: Jesse Fox for the <a href="http://www.sustainablecityblog.com/2010/04/tel-aviv-invites-public-to-help-redesign-boardwalk/">Sustainable City Blog</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last year, the <a href="http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/Index.htm">Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality</a> put <a href="http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/Documents/Areas_to_Visit%20_2_.pdf">a lot of work</a> into lengthening and expanding one of the most fun and iconic stretches of Tel Aviv- the boardwalk. The work they did extended the boardwalk southward past the newly renovated Yafo Port down to Bat Yam and northward past the Tel Aviv Port up to Hertzliya. <br />
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This extension not only creates a unifying force between the north and south of Tel Aviv-Yafo, but it also looks fantastic and is surprisingly practical.<br />
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The new extended stretches of boardwalk feature green, landscaped grass, <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3971803,00.html">wood-laid bridges</a> and walkways and beautiful views of the city. Most importantly, they have constructed <b>well marked bicycle lanes</b>, and opened up spaces which were previously closed off to the public such as the Tel Aviv Marina by the Gordon Beach.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yotam and I bike along the boardwalk: view from the boardwalk bridge just north of the Tel Aviv Port</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So, if you are looking for something to do during a free morning, evening or afternoon in Tel Aviv, take your bike out and ride from Bat Yam or Yaffo all the way up to Hertzliya. Bring your bathing suit and take a dip in the water on one of Hertzliya's beautiful beaches. Dry off in the sun, and then head back home for a cool relaxing shower.<br />
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There is still <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/under_the_boardwalk.php">more work planned for the Tel Aviv boardwalk</a>, but plans have <a href="http://www.sustainablecityblog.com/2010/04/tel-aviv-invites-public-to-help-redesign-boardwalk/">yet to be solidified</a>. And until the next wave of construction is underway, I really think the most recent modifications have been significant and more than welcome.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Port from the Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herzliya at Sunset</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-46045667490920767022011-05-29T07:52:00.000-07:002011-05-29T07:52:31.105-07:00Ramat Gan Safari Night Tours: Great Way to Spend A Summer Evening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAv_gr6ogNLIjkvqckR8hv6HiTpPCVVsIc7aW0XvK5Aj3Tr9aioxFSeMXt18fdmKPSIPKCnQPL3ldAajuMIBPZ4ZOS3CHnktegL3aXXl1THwM6p9Gp6xTAloymoXPS8t3tstbwj-FGHA/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAv_gr6ogNLIjkvqckR8hv6HiTpPCVVsIc7aW0XvK5Aj3Tr9aioxFSeMXt18fdmKPSIPKCnQPL3ldAajuMIBPZ4ZOS3CHnktegL3aXXl1THwM6p9Gp6xTAloymoXPS8t3tstbwj-FGHA/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was nearly a year ago that I discovered there was a <a href="http://www.safari.co.il/">Safari </a>not too far from where I live. In fact, its only a bike ride away from my apartment in Schunat Ha Tikva, being located in Ramat Gan's "National Park" or "Park HaLeumi".<br />
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The Safari has normal daytime hours during which you can enter and wander the car by foot, or drive your own car and watch animals from the window. Bus tours are also available, but I have heard that they leave something to be desired.<br />
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At the very center of the Safari there is an enclosed Zoo with chimps and elephants, and just beyond is the Lion territory.<br />
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Now, I'd thought about going during the day, until I heard that the Safari runs guided night time tours of the park of two kinds: <a href="http://www.safari.co.il/article.php?id=26">Safari Layla (Night Safari)</a> and <a href="http://www.safari.co.il/article.php?id=292">Safari Chatzot ( Midnight Safari)</a>.<br />
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Both tours are approximately two hours long, with the Night Safari being slightly more tame, oriented towards families and visitors of all ages (5 and up) while the Midnight Safari is specifically geared towards young couples and groups of friends, with Sex and Reproduction being the main topics of discussion.<br />
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While I don't think they offer either of these tours<a href="http://www.safari.co.il/content.php?id=3"> in English</a>, I still think the experience is exciting and entertaining even if you don't understand what the guide is talking about. I mean, we're talking about catching glimpses Zebras, Antelopes, Giraffes, Lions, Elephants, wide varieties of birds and even Hippos.<br />
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So, when Yotam and I decided it was time to check out the tours ourselves, we naturally went for the romantic, young-people's sex and reproduction tour. I mean, it sounded the most.... unique.<br />
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The only way to order tickets is over the phone (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4d4f3a; font-family: Arial;"><strong>03-6305328)</strong></span> . When you call, note that the Midnight <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Israel/Tel_Aviv_District/Ramat_Gan-1708287/Things_To_Do-Ramat_Gan-TG-C-1.html">Safari </a>runs during months of good weather only- September- October, April-May, and June-July and the starting time changes depending on the season. Keep in mind, though that tours typically begin around 10:00pm- 10:30pm.<br />
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We ordered two tickets (each ticket is 89 shekels- a bit pricey, but we decided to spoil ourselves) and headed over at around 9:30pm. <br />
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The tour was absolutely delightful. We sat most of the time on a long, tractor-pulled train, and our guides drove us through the park shining night-vision light on most of the animals so as not to disturb them. Look at the Giraffe below!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">This was our awesome train that looked like a tractor-train-zebra all morphed into one</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girraffe right by our train!</td></tr>
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Then they took us to the Lion's den where there were lions sleeping on on top of the other, petting one another and playing around:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute is this lioness?</td></tr>
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And finally they took us into a unique taxidermy room filled with animals who died on their safari from natural causes. The animals were unbelievably well preserved, and we were able to explore the room (which is not otherwise open to the public) while they told us all kinds of crazy things about the anatomy and reproductive instincts of all different animals displayed there. Check out the pics below:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IO8K_9292aLNwo0HkbTFOC2vGthfHNEwqUaSUQNGiV-pHDJ4rfE8G8mojKQ54KpetYVaJkw1pNwBpTtMEk88QC7ccV47LQVD2Ejvzj6KgLaCZcUp1XtVN1lelt0OHkR3wyb5V0Pe5G8/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IO8K_9292aLNwo0HkbTFOC2vGthfHNEwqUaSUQNGiV-pHDJ4rfE8G8mojKQ54KpetYVaJkw1pNwBpTtMEk88QC7ccV47LQVD2Ejvzj6KgLaCZcUp1XtVN1lelt0OHkR3wyb5V0Pe5G8/s400/IMG_1187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheetas and Leopards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U_8s5sdHENrx3bQ9kg1q596nuSQbxfV39Frgt3ULh3nZm8cEQZf3C3UOQWbwpyh4q4EyXAKyOynYeT69gs88nhkdUr61yezY5Sx7C3pwJ3vvaJzpk2u-6FGEeAeMRqMTRC97UR8fTnc/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U_8s5sdHENrx3bQ9kg1q596nuSQbxfV39Frgt3ULh3nZm8cEQZf3C3UOQWbwpyh4q4EyXAKyOynYeT69gs88nhkdUr61yezY5Sx7C3pwJ3vvaJzpk2u-6FGEeAeMRqMTRC97UR8fTnc/s400/IMG_1188.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bears! Oh My!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFZGKpC_yP0HfVvgnJpqPl9cun0HjEjsB3OltiMx3L_WgBQ9mkHXhrfRkwKLKeXjrqrOk2VTP0-C3ANWnRsgh5lrV7f4tzcDFrnNeFHF6-8_bc2CE840hD5jrA59CyHsKLm8aNri4T1w/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFZGKpC_yP0HfVvgnJpqPl9cun0HjEjsB3OltiMx3L_WgBQ9mkHXhrfRkwKLKeXjrqrOk2VTP0-C3ANWnRsgh5lrV7f4tzcDFrnNeFHF6-8_bc2CE840hD5jrA59CyHsKLm8aNri4T1w/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangaroos</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXCE9PpFL4W0MPvgZ22iQITpt6MJ0tzvA76i_nhO5u7gcKlET_pYVJ1ErzkVGENIv3lek5uC__ri6qeYYZoFsZnZH8F5n0Sd2SUZvar7nTxpN__kYA4chTLFNMl2XSxbmGZRD9XUP0Ec/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXCE9PpFL4W0MPvgZ22iQITpt6MJ0tzvA76i_nhO5u7gcKlET_pYVJ1ErzkVGENIv3lek5uC__ri6qeYYZoFsZnZH8F5n0Sd2SUZvar7nTxpN__kYA4chTLFNMl2XSxbmGZRD9XUP0Ec/s400/IMG_1194.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And even chimps. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now that the weather is warm, its really the perfect time to go. <a href="http://www.yourway.co.il/Safari_Ramat_Gan.html">The mornings and afternoons are getting hot and crowded</a>, so reserve yourself a fun, cool evening to wander around the awesome Ramat Gan Safari!<br />
<div><br />
<div style="align: center; background: #000 url(http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00ab-0542-c02c/e/24de25af5e/bg)0 0 no-repeat; border: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 420px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="http://images.travelpod.com/bin/tripwow/flash/" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="xmlPath=http%3A%2F%2Ftripwow.tripadvisor.com%2Ftripwow%2Fta-00ab-0542-c02c%2Fapxml%3Fed%3D24de25af5e%26ref%3D" height="272" name="TripWow" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://images.travelpod.com/bin/tripwow/flash/tripwow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />
<div style="background: #fff; border: none; color: #999999; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 9px; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: justify; width: 420px;"><a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00ab-0542-c02c" style="color: #cc6600;">Safari Slideshow</a>: Oksana’s trip to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g297761-Ramat_Gan-Vacations.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Ramat Gan</a>, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293977-Israel-Vacations.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Israel</a> was created by <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/" style="color: #cc6600;">TripAdvisor</a>. See another <a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/slideshow/israel/ramat-gan.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Ramat Gan slideshow</a>. Create your own stunning <a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/" style="color: #cc6600;">free slideshow</a> from your travel photos.</div></div><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ExLj8Otu_fs" width="425"></iframe>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051520721913646001.post-57284715428879427882011-05-25T01:01:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:01:01.571-07:00Leaving Tel Aviv: Hiking Yehudia and Nahal ZavitanSpringtime is the perfect time to get out of the city and go hiking. The weather isn't too hot yet, but the sun is out and the flowers are in bloom. So, about a month and a half ago (early April), my boyfriend Yotam and I grabbed our packs and drove up to Ramat Ha Golan to hike Nahal Yehudiah.<br />
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Like many hiking trails in Israel, <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134532">Yehudiah</a> is tended by Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael (KKL or קקל). They are responsible for keeping the trains clean and hike-able, providing information to hikers and, of course, taking your money for all of their hard work. But as much as I hate paying for hiking, they do provide an invaluable service and keep the areas safe for visitors.<br />
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It was when we arrived that the rangers there informed us that the <a href="http://israeltours.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/nahal-yehudia/">Yehudiah hike </a>was closed until further notice. Apparently the only true season for this water-filled hike is the summer when the sun is out and it is hot hot hot, and the water is no longer dangerously cold. While this did put a slight damper on our plan, we were allowed to make our way down to the beginning of the trail (the <a href="http://www.nir-vana.com/photosite/Rappelling/Yehudia2002/">yehudiah waterfall</a>) which is really a beauty.<br />
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We decided afterwards to pick up the hike across the street at <a href="http://www.tiuli.com/track_info.asp?lng=eng&track_id=98">Nahal Zavitan</a>. The route we took is about a -5 hour hike and begins at the parking lot of the Yehudiah trail, going up to the top of the stream.<br />
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The most impressive thing about the Zavitan hike are the areas where you can see exciting <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zavitan_River">hexagonal rock formations</a> (Meshushim- משושים= hexagons). These vertical hexagons of rock were formed when molten lava cooled extremely quickly. This quick cooling caused the lave to naturally form into hexagons of solid rock are a stunning sight.<br />
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Here was our basic route (follow the purple from starting at bottom right):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedytjO1NJqTp8TOvnU-AEo6fMCj0fFtEwZIgHXfQiBb_5LsSrImds-0qz10YYamHEufkcLWGEb33__kxCYPYX16ZdyioZtXtveTBsqcWSdzMSlb2OuhAWOOLoflzTDknuLaBL1OCDxh8/s1600/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedytjO1NJqTp8TOvnU-AEo6fMCj0fFtEwZIgHXfQiBb_5LsSrImds-0qz10YYamHEufkcLWGEb33__kxCYPYX16ZdyioZtXtveTBsqcWSdzMSlb2OuhAWOOLoflzTDknuLaBL1OCDxh8/s400/map.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And it looked mostly like this along the way:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meshushim- hexagonal rock, visible all along the stream</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidEF62JKipDH6tx4tS_n4j99_g7fLu4q8NTOARi-9lry206_IIAn1OsMUPx96R9pZEvB_OynQI2uhNII4TZsXPjxsNWPGiuHECAisbFRn-h9yX3_YPvfdqXFSzwlrGMAVzS_6wNmmOEs/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidEF62JKipDH6tx4tS_n4j99_g7fLu4q8NTOARi-9lry206_IIAn1OsMUPx96R9pZEvB_OynQI2uhNII4TZsXPjxsNWPGiuHECAisbFRn-h9yX3_YPvfdqXFSzwlrGMAVzS_6wNmmOEs/s400/IMG_3054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Rakafot flowers (Cyclamen persicum)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkja1BQz4ZdJxYKygg1VVRxxmN2xkf3Sp0mUwiTnet7eWu9izxBGFOtKFpgv2-PToBaFRauQVso9ddTgiS700xSY_XQUPqHmnJX0wFjaJq4OaWSMJYZcanRxycH0zURD2Snyi9bxsmYE/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkja1BQz4ZdJxYKygg1VVRxxmN2xkf3Sp0mUwiTnet7eWu9izxBGFOtKFpgv2-PToBaFRauQVso9ddTgiS700xSY_XQUPqHmnJX0wFjaJq4OaWSMJYZcanRxycH0zURD2Snyi9bxsmYE/s400/IMG_3059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Meshushim!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a hike I highly recommend to all, firstly because it is so easily accessible, secondly because it is very well tended, and third because the water and the foliage there is just breathtaking. It's probably best in the early or late summer -especially Yehudia which is a hike made for swimming/ wading through cool pools. So, hopefully, we'll find the time to make it back there before September and I'll keep you posted!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Ray Rowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17301257344314331776noreply@blogger.com0