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| Visiting Bethlehem |
| Friday, June 27, 2008 |
Before I forget most of the details, I would like to log another of my trips in this space.
The holiest place, or may be the second holiest place for Christians, after The Church of Holy Scepulcher, where Jesus was crucified, is the Church of Nativity, where Jesus was born, in Bethlehem.
Me and DH finished half a day of Jerusalem tour and in the afternoon, headed towards Bethlehem (Please refer to map from earlier posts). There is a huge wall being built separating Israel and Palestine. Bethlehem is in Palestine although its only 10 kms from Jerusalem. The guide said, Jerusalem is now a bit safer for tourists only because of the wall, else we all wouldnt be visiting Jerusalem. We were to get off our van near the wall, at the checkpoint, go through the checkpoint, show our passports, and into Palestine. Our guide was not allowed inside Palestine. No Israelis are. Another guide and van, from Palestine was waiting for us to take us to the Church of Nativity.
A sense of sadness crept into me as I saw 'Peace be with you' written on the Palestine walls.
The moment we entered Palestine, we were able to sense the poverty. There were little kids trying to sell soveniors and postcards, brushing by you, begging to buy. The place looked rundown.
I had my own doubts of whether we needed Israeli Visa to get back to the other side. We had a Single Entry Visa you see. And it certainly didnt seem like fun to be stranded in Palestine. I found the guide and the driver to be very friendly, with lot of warm smiles, unlike those in Israel.
The Church was not magnificent, or splendid, it was an old simple brick structure and we had to enter through a very small door, called the Door the Humility. we had to bend ourselves to enter the holy place. The Church itself was Greek Orthodox. Inside it was very well decorated. We had to go underground, to see the place where Jesus was born and the manger were Jesus was kept. Most of the places of significance we saw was under normal land. The whole story flashed in front of my eyes.
We came back up to see the architecture of the Church, which itself was built many hundred years ago, and had its own history. I said my prayers, we took some pictures and headed out. Once outside, we heard some 'pat pat pat pat' sounds from faraway like gunshots. Most of us got scared and asked the Guide what that was. He laughed and told us it wasnt anything serious.
Most of the colleagues at work had scared me saying its not safe to visit Bethlehem. I was scared too, but what the heck, I probably wont be visiting these places ever again in my life, and these are places worth visiting atleast once in a life time. I decided to just wait for DH to visit and go there together, so that even if something happens, it will affect both of us. Yes, till death do us apart. ;--)
We stopped at a Souvenior shop, did some shopping. I felt sorry for anyone I saw there. I have read about Palestinians and how much they are suffering, and how much injustice was done to them. And here they were going about their normal lives. This is also another first time for me. First time to be in a place of so much tension and dispute. I wonder how they are able to take it. Suddenly they are thrown out of their own homes, and are restricted to this little piece of land, not allowed to use the facilities of the country, like they are not allowed to use the Ben Gurion Airport apparently. The other border countries, like Lebanon and Jordan have been helping them looks like, but not enough. I dont know much about politics, so I cant comment. But I do feel sad to know that these people are not able to lead a normal life.
I havent read much about the Kashmir issue, but I suppose its similar there as well, between India and Pakistan.
Till I visited Palestine, I was afraid of going to the Arab areas in Israel. I guess the fear was instilled into me by people around me. That its unsafe. Well, what about people living there, in 'unsafe territory' day in and day out, every day of every year.
We headed back to the checkpoint. On this side of the wall, which I missed seeing when we entered, was a drawing of a hand, with five fingers, with GOD written on the palm, and on each finger tip was written, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist.
I dont know, I guess its complicated. I suppose its the play of the politicians for money, as some said, playing with people's lives.
The soldier at the checkpoint let us into Israel, as we showed our Passports, they didnt check for Visa. Our guide was waiting for us, we were glad to be back, although my heart was definitely heavy. We were stopped by some more Israeli soldiers, one of whom got into the Van and asked us all to show our passports. And then we were back on our way to Jerusalem, then towards Tel Aviv. These places looked so much nicer and richer compared to Palestine.
Thus ended yet another journey into history.
After I was back I read some more about Palestine. And I read this news. A shiver went through my spine.
It does hurt to see so much grief and dispute.At work, as I have said earlier, all Isralis are supposed to spend three years in army after their schooling. and army calls people to work on Reserve Duty, like how in US we get Jury Duty calls. I have seen people take off from work for weeks. But I am not sure what kind of tasks they are given, mostly desk jobs? They are also caught between the safety of Israelis and the humiliation of Palestinians I suppose. I have no words to say.
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On a totally different note, today is a special day. SK's budday. What is special about this budday, I realized only now, is SK turns 28 on the 28th of June. And it happens only once. Or who knows, there may be sequels. ;--P |
posted by SK @ 10:59 PM  |
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| 16 Comments: |
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Many happy returns of the day SK :). Hope you had a good time, and then its a matter of a few weeks before you're back...so enjoy the rest of the stay and come back soon
-altoid
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Happy Budday!!! Wish you many many happy returns of the day. Hope you are having a lot of fun with DH around.
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Happy Birthday SK!!! Hope you had a great day! And watch movies like Munich. Really nice depiction of the conflict.
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Haaaapy birthdaaay! Great post btw, i got a virtual tour :D
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Happy budday to youooo..
Happy buddayyyyy to you.....
Happpyy buddaaaaaaaay to you ...
Happy Budday to you :)
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Happy birthday SK ..
Wow u certainly ventured to some of the so called hot spots of the world. Did it feel unreal to step into Palestine after being in Israel I mean did the shift in lifestyle seem very drastic??
I guess i can understand that feeling that hits u when u see that sign "peace be with you".
thank u for showing me a piece of the life that I wud probably never have heard of.
-Ssk
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Huyoooooo! My favorite blogger oda birthday:D. Happy birthday SK!
'Athan' came to your place just for your birthday a? Huyoooooooo! What a man (Abbas style in Padayapa)!
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And ni romba oor suthara!
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HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPy budddddday!come back home soooooooooooooon.. ( i mean the bay area :))..
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Happy Happy Bday! *smears some bavarian cream on SK's pwetty face* :D
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Guysssss,
Arent you all the sweeetest!! Thanks for the wishes, although I kind of fished for it. ;--)
Altoid, thanksoo, 11more days..
Laksh, DH is not around, this was when he was here 3 weeks back.
Gradwolf, I did see Munich, was bored to death. ;--) Now may be I will watch again.
Chutney, Thanks! :--)
Divs, Thanks a lotttt :--)
SSK, thanks. Yes, it did seem very much different. It felt isolated, desolated, the poverty was palpable.
Ok, :--) thanks!! Growing old :--(
Athan didnt come, this happened 3 weeks back, my bday was 2 days back. Ooor sutharena...adapaavi.
Daisy, thanks! soooon! :--)
Wt, hehehehh, thanks! :--)
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nice...wish I could just go to bethlehem once myself...
Scribblers Inc.
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Loads of belated wishes! :-) You're one of the few people I've encountered who's June-born too. It seems we're a rare species. I just know like 2 other June borns besides myself.
And OMG, you went to Bethlehem too! You're visiting all those historical places that I want to see before I die. (Although judging by the situation in that part of the world, I might die there itself. :p)
BTW, the situation in Kashmir is not as disgusting as it's in Palestine. Ok, our Army has definitely done some blunders with civilians but never have Kashmiri kids been bayonetted to death in the streets or shot for a minor offence like throwing stones at the soldiers or making faces at them. I once watched a whole BBC documentary where they showed Israeli soldiers doing that to the Palestinian kids. And there's been no massacre by our Army like the one Ariel Sharon committed in refugee camps during his Army days. Sorry, I can't help getting into a right state when this topic is mentioned. I admire Israel for its strength and for holding its own in such a location but I'm more inclined towards supporting the Palestinian cause than cheering for Israel and its so-called "60th birthday". Are they still celebrating it there, btw? Or will there be massive celebrations in August or something?
Just for curiosity sake, how were the houses on the Palestinian side like? Do a lot of people live in camps and all?
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Happy Birthday SK. Hope you had a great day with your DH.
I am getting to learn more on Palestine and Isreal thanks to your posts.
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Belated Birthday Wishes! :)
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Scribblers,
:--))
Drenched,
Thanks. How much do you weigh now? :--)
Hey yeah, its a difficult situation, pretty delicate I suppose. They did celebrate 60th indep day in May, with much fanfare.
You know the reason right why they are not telling these people in. Its all political.
No they dont live in camps, atleast I dint see. I saw proper houses, buildings, shops, et al.
Joy,
thanks! :--) sure!
Aparna, thank you! :--)
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Many happy returns of the day SK :). Hope you had a good time, and then its a matter of a few weeks before you're back...so enjoy the rest of the stay and come back soon
-altoid