Growing up as a Jewish boy, I have always aspired to visit the place that was so highly renowned by my friends and family. This is my journey to the Holy Land...

Israel, my dream vacation.

Who would have thought that one of the worlds smallest countries would have so much to offer? Although Israel has a religious significance to me, it is also a spectacular place to visit for anyone. It has everything from beaches, nature hikes, busy street markets, camel rides in the desert, and much more. There are a million reasons why I want to go! So, next year when I graduate from the University of Western Ontario, I am going to make my dream come true and make the “Aliyah”, as it is known, and go to Israel. 

Duration of the Trip:
My trip will begin on May 1^st and I will return home 3 weeks later on May 21, 2013. This will allow me to blow off some steam right after exams and, more importantly, experience the trip I’ve been waiting for. This period also overlaps the holiday Yom ha’atsmaut, which is Israel’s Birthday, and will guarantee a celebration I won’t want to miss. While choosing which airline to take I thought it would be suiting to fly on the airline unique to the country itself, El-Al. My level of excitement and anticipation will immediately elevate boarding this plane because it has just one destination. I will fly out of Pearson International Airport in Toronto and Land 9 hours later in Ben-Gurion Airport, Tel-Aviv.

Flight Path:

Costs Breakdown:
Money saved from working over the previous summers, as well as the sum I made from my Bar-Mitzvah, when I was 13, will be used to fund my trip. It is important to me to be the sole contributor to pay for this trip. Using my own money will make everything mean that much more to me because I know that I had to put my own time and effort into paying for everything and I will want to get as much out of each experience as possible.

The total cost for this trip will be approximately $6,067.89 

Item	Cost (CAD)	Cost (NIS)
Flights	1,467.89	5593.77
Hotels	2,500	9526.90
Transportation	300	1143.23
Food	1,300	4953.99
Spending Money	500	1905.38

Currency Exchange:
1 Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 3.81 New Israel Shekels (NIS)
1 New Israel Shekel = 0.26 Canadian Dollars

6,067.89 Canadian Dollars (CAD)
is approximately equal to
23123.26 New Israel Shekel (NIS)

 

Accommodation Preferences:

• A/C
• Personal shower and toilet 
• Running water
• Cleanliness

Transportation:

Israel is a small country (only about 90 miles form top to bottom) but traveling from city-to-city isn't as easy as simply walking between them. There are many cities I hope to visit during my stay and in order to see them all, I will need to plan my transportation avenues accordingly. There are three common methods of transportation in Israel, like most other countries, available to me are trains, buses and taxis. Depending on which city I will be departing and which city I plan to visit next, will dictate which method would be most cost effective and quickest. I look forward to experiencing the transportation systems of a new country; it is always an adventure. Taxis are known to be far more expensive and it isn't uncommon to share a taxi or "sherut" with other people. I won't expect to be successful at this practice the first time.  

Three examples of each method:

1. Haifa to Jerusalem (by train) - 48 NIS or $12.50
2. Haifa to Jerusalem (by bus) - 20 NIS or $5.25
3. Haifa to Jerusalem (by taxi) - 135 NIS or $35.50

Food:
I am very excited to experiment
with new food dishes and flavours
I've never been exposed to.
I have heard great things about their
shawarma and falafel wraps
and delicious desserts like baklava.

Falafel

Donair

Baklava

Seeing is Believing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TjA_8t5XY

Travel Advisor Recommendations: 

Preparations:

Protection:         

• Travel insurance
• Emergency money
• Research hotels
• Read traveler’s experiences and tips

To Bring:

• Passport and copy of passport
• Camera
• Not too much clothing
• Sunglasses
• My Kipah for religious ceremonies
• SUNSCREEN!

Some Things to Do and Places to Go:

 Tel-Aviv

 Bahai Gardens, Haifa

 Yom Ha'atzmaut

 Jerusalem, Old City

 Climb Masada

 Ein-Gedi Oasis

Bedouin Tribes (camel ride)

The reason I chose these places is based on my motivation to see the whole country and explore as much as it has to offer in the time I have to do so. Each of these places offers a different significance, religious connotation or new cultural experience to me. All of these features are unique to Israel and the people living there. Although I think I know what to expect from what Israel has to offer, I have a feeling that I will be very surprised when I get there. Every one of these are very different from one another and are all experiences that make me more than excited to check off my to-do list.  


Stay Afloat in the Dead Sea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH6YQ6n2rlE&feature=fvwrel

My Expectations: 

Sight:         

I hope to capture all of the unique 

and beautiful sights not just with 

my camera but into my memory forever. 

I want to discover the individual 

places in each space special to me. 

Smell:

They say that every smell has 

the ability to bring you back

to the exact moment where you

first experienced it, I look forward

to the irreplaceable scents I will experience.

Hearing:         

I would like to remove my self and 

my sounds from each location and 

capture the different rhythms and 

cadences exclusive to each place.

Taste:

I will feel each unique taste and 

what it is trying to express to me

as I indulge in the different 

gourmets Israel has to offer.

Touch:         

Each feeling will be so new and

exciting, different from what I am 

used to at home, taking me deeper 

into the country's atmosphere and

describing to me the unique 

surfaces and textures.