Don’t believe with what you hear see it yourself

by Fazeela Torabally (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

I didn't expect to find Palestine

In 2016 I visited Jerusalem for the first time via Jordan. Crossing the King Hussein bridge was horrible I was shocked never been in a situation where immigration so serious and very rude staffs. Keeping almost everyone like 5 hrs or so fin investigation. Finally in the city of Jerusalem meeting some being Palestinian offering lots of foods like fresh Dates,Olive and Hummus. The Al Aqsa mosque is stunning big compound welcoming tourists from all over the world. My favourite part of this journey was meeting the Bedouins, staying in tents watching stars, Camel riding during the day got the chance to try camel milk and had some beautifully cooked Falafel, Hummus and a big glass of fresh squeeze Orange, carrots and ginger juices all mixed together to quench the thirst. Accompanied by Some amazing people for trekking , hiking and mountain climbing watching sunsets and sunrises in the green desert,visiting farms feeding the animals and strays Cats and dogs. Beautiful experience with the Bedouins. Spending whole day Floating at the Dead Sea another gorgeous experience. I stood at the edge of the cliff and marvelled at the scenery. It was one of those unforgettable travel moments. A place I’ve read and heard so much about and finally… I’m here at the Dead Sea! Stretching from below me to the distant horizon was its blue expanse, famous the world over for the ‘floating in the Dead Sea’ experience, but also for being the lowest point on Earth (the ‘sea’ is 420m or 1,400ft below sea level), its extraordinarily high level of salination (it’s more than 8 times saltier than the average ocean) and for its numerous mentions in the Bible. One half of its name is misleading: it is technically a lake and not a sea. The other half is spot on: with that much salt in the water, the lake is pretty dead! I stood on the eastern shore of the lake that is part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It was a clear day and I had an amazing panorama of the entire length of this 67km (or 42 mile) lake. It was simply breathtaking. Also visiting tell Aviv definitely couldn’t miss that too. Tel Aviv, with its golden beaches and lively cosmopolitan outlook is Israel's most modern metropolis. Most visitors land here to soak up the sun, shop-until-they-drop in cutesy boutiques, and enjoy some serious foodie action at the city's renowned café and restaurant scene. The beach may be the major tourist attraction, but Tel Aviv has more points of interest than its famous strip of sand. Nicknamed "The White City," the town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2003 in recognition of its fine examples of Bauhaus architecture (an early 20th-century Modernist style of building). The city itself is full of things to do, with plenty of small museums and funky art galleries that provide excellent sightseeing opportunities. Jaffa, just to the south, is a gorgeously well-preserved old city with a port that has been in use for thousands of years and is now revitalized with restaurants and cafés. Tel Aviv is defined by its coastal position. The beaches attract tourists and locals alike. On weekends, Tel Aviv's strips of sand are crowded with sun-worshippers, posers and people just chilling out. The most popular sandy stretches are centrally-located Gordon Beach, Frishman Beach, and Banana Beach where you'll find excellent facilities such as fresh-water showers, sun loungers and sunshades for rent. The Tayelet (paved boardwalk) that runs along the beach between central Tel Aviv and Jaffa is prime evening promenading territory and is lined with plenty of cafés and restaurants allowing an easy entire day at the beach. What a memorable experience in the Middle East. Would definitely recommend anyone to go at any time.