World In My Eyes

Jewish people seem to be very insistent (almost stubborn in a way). I asked the reception about the free bus tour listed on the welcome guide from the hotel this morning, since I had a few hours to kill, thought the bus might show me places where I would not necessarily be able to easily. He told me the details, and said the tour would end in a diamond museum and showroom. I already knew it would not be something I am interested to do. But he insisted that if I don't like, just tell the driver to let me get off. They could give me a free ride to town. So he called to find out if they could take me for the tour since they had already started. I said if not, that's totally fine, I wasn't really interested anyway. But he was like, it will be fine, no problem, you can leave anything time you like. OK, fine, be that way. They supposed to pick me up at the clock tower in Jaffa. What do I found in that little square, a record shop, I did not even have time to go in. I almost tempted to ditch the group and just say I did not see them or something and do my own thing. But before I could make that claim, they found me. The driver waved and signaled me to get across the street to get on. I did, an old Jewish woman was the guide I guess, she gave me this audio guide and headset. Instead of calling it a tour, let's just say it is more like on the road to the diamond store, they generously provide some names of the buildings we passed by. After like 20-30 some minutes, I pretty much had enough of that, I couldn't take picture in that little van, what am I wasting my time here for. So, I walked up to talk to the woman and asked her how long this trip would last and where the destination is, since I had an afternoon flight to catch (my flight was actually at 8pm). Anyway, she would not say how long, I said I have no map I wouldn't know how to get back. She was like, you would not need to worry, we would take you back after the showroom. God had a plan for you already. She didn't say the last sentence. It felt like she did. She still would not tell me how long it would take, if short, I would suck it up and wait. Instead she turned around and asked me when my flight will be, I said 4pm. I lied. She insisted that I had more than enough time. Oh my god, the woman was persistent.


Arrived at the diamond store, she took us to the entrance and let another stuff at the diamond store to lead us in, I was looking around for a taxi, it's now or never to escape I thought. But the old woman caught me looking around, and as she was about walk away back to her van the driver was waiting, she reminded the other stuff not to forget this Chinese kid who thought was wearing nothing fancy and carrying a big backpack, but he must have a ton of money like all Chinese does, he would buy up all the diamonds! Like my backpack was filled of stack of cash, I would just throw at them like roses. You crazy woman. As the diamond lady was busy leading the other tour mates pass the security, I ran! Like a crazy chicken to the taxi nearby. I asked the driver take me to the museum of art tel aviv, and he had no idea where it is, really?! He asked for the address. I had no internet to find that out for you, man! I got out of the taxi, and asked a woman on the street to see if she could help. She kind of talking to the taxi driver, debating whether if it was there, or here... and then before you know it, the whole village of taxi driver all coming over to discuss where the hell is this museum of art. It was not far really, we just passed by it when we were on the golden road to the diamond store. Finally, he got it, and took me there. Meanwhile, I also found a map I downloaded into my phone that has the street name. We confirmed that we were the right direction.


One of the buildings of museum of art was pretty interesting, with a weird shape. But this particular museum closes on Sunday, so I didn't visit. Just took some pictures. From the museum of art, I started walking back to the hotel (that is a good couple of miles), and on the way, I saw the theater building, many street art, a massive market, the beaches and seaside boardwalk, the entire Old Jaffa with some Muslim temples and Jaffa Port, and later before I headed to the airport, I watched the sunset over Jaffa Port and Tel Aviv beaches. I had walked for almost 3 hours plus. So tired, but I think I got some really good shots and have gained a good sense of the directions and have a taste of what Tel Aviv offered. It is indeed a very walkable city. I would not necessary like to take taxi, since they would just slaughter you. But if I will ever get here again, I would like to use more local transportation and spend more time at the coffee shops and enjoy the moments a bit more. This trip to Israel/Jordan has been very packed, I did try to put in all the key stuff I wanted to see in my itinerary but it was indeed very rewarding as well, I have seen a lot of different things, especially the past couple of days in Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan. They were truly precious times, I would remember a lot of things from this trip.


I have given plenty of times to get to the airport and anticipated another round of searches, hopefully the last one. However, actually at the end, the leaving was much easier than coming in, at least they let me bring my laptop and camera in my carry on onto the plane. They did search every single item in both of my bags still but the girls were very polite. I ended up having an hour and half spare to catch up with my blog prior to my flight.

See other photos from Day 10 here.

What a day! What a day! What a day! It's such a maddening day that I have to say it 3 times. I anticipated a tight security for flying to Tel Aviv, but when you were the only one being singled out, interrogated and performed a full body search in a separated room, and you were not allowed to bring any carry on except yourself, your wallet and your phone, it is not as an easy feeling as one may think. In the name of security, I did what needed to be done, I did not complain, I have at last arrived Tel Aviv safely.

At 7:45am, I left the apartment to SXF airport. I could not find the El Al counter when I got there, but my flight was actually by UP (a low-cost brand of El Al). I got to the counter, there was the first level of security interview by the airline stuff. I was welcomed by a girl (trainee) and a guy (her trainer), they explained to me that they would interview me together and would take longer because she was in training. I was happy to comply. But when it turned into a hour and a half of interrogation kind of interview, I had to say I started to worry. They asked me questions from why I picked the locations I visit, to how I paid for my trip, how do take a whole 3.5 weeks off from work, who is doing my works while I am gone, why I do not fly direct from Boston, and it jumped back and fore from other total unrelated stuff, like how do I travel to work in Boston, and how much education I need to do in order to do my work. I understood my route was a little unusual. I answered everything in full details and honestly, I even showed them my 51 page travel planning documents, she were really amazed, and the guy commented "of course, he is from Hong Kong! He would be interested in the details." What is that supposed to mean, I wonder what kind of reputation Hong Kong people have in other country.

The conversation just went on and on, I even had to login to my company email to show that I worked for the company, login to my work timesheet to show that I am on vacation. My flight was scheduled for 10:55am, but almost 10, I have not even checked-in yet. I was the last one standing there with them. The guy had left, since they actually worked for the airline, I guess they had other task to do prior to the flight departure. The girl (trainee) was reporting my status to his boss, the man in tailored suit. He did not seem to be satisfied, and ended up coming over to me, and asked me where I will be staying in Kathmandu, and he wanted me to show him the receipt. I showed. He asked a couple other things, and then he said "ok, you are not allowed to bring anything to the flight, other than your wallet and your phone. We will search your bag and we will search you as well." I was like, "I have a camera, lenses, and computer in my backpack, they will break. Can you at least wrap it up with bubble sheet or something." He said, "I will put it in a box." Stone faced.

And then I had 4 records I purchased in Berlin in a tote on my shoulder. I was almost in a begging tone: "but I have these records, do they need to be checked-in too?" At first, he just said, "Yes, I will put them in a box." But I said, "they are records, they will definitely break." I showed him. He went through them one by one. And he said, "you paid 15 euro for this!" I said, "It's David Bowie!" and then he smiled a little, "Ha.. Ziggy Stardust! OK, you can bring them with you."

Another woman checked me in, I had to bring my bags to the scanner, I still needed to go through the long lines at the German security, that was like 10:15am already. A couple minutes later, I found the Israeli security room, knocked, no one there. A couple minutes later, a guy came and told me to use the bathroom first if I need to and wait for him on the bunch. He told me to go inside, take all the rest of my belonging, money belt, wallet, phone, vinyls, and jacket. He did his scanning, while I was waiting outside on the bunch again. He came back out at 10:30am or so, he said, his boss will search me, but I still had to wait for another 10 mins. I thought, "Oh mine." Was it the same guy who smiled at my David Bowie record?

10 mins later still waiting, I saw the first guy who took my personal belonging, I asked him again whether I would miss my flight. He ensured me that even if the search delayed, I would be on the flight. Still no sign of the "boss." At last, it ended up that another guy who did not look like a boss came with him, and he would perform the search. I was in the room, did the pose he asked me to, the tree branch pose, it got a little tired after a while. They told me to take the shirt off, so I did, the whole thing, but they actually wanted the outer layer out. OK. He deep searched me, I mean deep tissue kind of deep! It felt weird to be searched like that, not felt violated but a little shameful in a way. I did not do anything wrong. I don't look like a terrorist, do I? I complied. DROP TO YOUR KNEES..., I thought I heard, but he actually asked me to drop my pants to my knees. He searched me, and he used this device to take some samples on my jeans. Tested. Nothing.

The search was completed. And he led me to the German passport control, I had not even passed that yet, can you imagine it was 2 mins to the flight departure? The flight was delayed a 15-20 mins I later found out. The German passport control went ok. At last, I was at the gate, you know how it felt when you were the student who did something bad and walked back to the classroom, people looked at you a little bit. I felt a little like that. I was in a middle seat way in the back of the flight, I had nothing but my wallet, phone and 4 records. Not sure how I should feel. I ate a sandwich and was wondering, shit, I did not check the money belt and the money when the guy gave me back the money belt, it was with my records under the chair in front of me right now, did I take it or leave it there? I did get it but did not count.

The frenzy was not over. I found my backpack, but my small carry on bag was nowhere to be found. The guy said it would be in a box, they came out on a different belt, I later noticed. I went over, couldn't find my name or the ticket number. I waited and waited. I checked my big backpack to see if the small carry on was stuff into it as well. What do I find? My computer and the camera lens were there unprotected in between my clothes. Everything was a mess, clothes cleaned, dirty, empty bags, upside down, it was a mess. The carry-on bag was not there even though some contents originally in the carry-on bag I found. My camera! My camera was apparently was still on the carry-on bag, with my toiletry and other stuff. An another hour and half later, I was filling out form at the lost and found. I was pretty beaten up at that point, like I had a dying dog at home, and I needed to go see him one last time. I think the girl saw me at the counter might be thinking. They said they will try to locate it and deliver to me. I did this before. Usually there should be no problem, but with this security level and the shape of the stuff in my backpack, I did not know what to believe. I almost left but I decided to walk back to the belt for oversize luggage and boxes to do one last check. I saw a box opened this time, a box with someone else's tag but I saw my toiletry bag in there. No tears, I was kind of dehydrated at that point, but I shouted inside. I got my stuff, quickly stuffed them into my backpack, and got the hell out of there. It was 6pm and dark out already. I later examined my money, camera, computer, lenses, everything was ok, for the exception of one tiny teeny thing, the receptor for my mouse. So, now I have a mouse and I cannot use.


I mean, I am not feeling angry at all at this point, I am glad I made it, and I have bumped into someone here already, what do I know? I think they did not mean to pick on me or anything like that. But perhaps my travel plan was a little out of the ordinary, and they wanted to put safety first. If this is what it takes to keep people safe, I do it. Though I must say I was quite taken by surprised by this experience. I have never experienced anything like that. Well, one thing I need to do for sure, I will go to the airport earlier next Sunday, just in case, there will be a high level of security check the way out as well.


Sorry post is a bit long and dreary today, and no photos other than the two above I took in Berlin in the morning. But I am looking forward to a beautiful start tomorrow again.