# ISRAEL (information) stay: 20/Sep/2007 ..13/Oct/2007 ## General View --------- Israel people get angry soon. Beautiful women are also there. This country is popular for Russian. There are many security and security control. You should have your passport all the time. In Tel Aviv, there are plenty of motorcycle shops. A certain amount of repair and sourcing are also expectable. We Japanese don't need visa　for 1 month. info: Israel Nature National Parks Protection Authority TOP ## Economy --------- $1= $1=4.21NIL, (T/C)4.24NIL ATM for VISA are many. (At Eilat ATM charges commission for the withdraw. At Haifa there is an ATM which you can withdraw US$ and Euro) T/C was better rate than cash at GPO in Jerusalem accommodation; (dorm)30..(camping)free, petrol; (95)5.1... (99)6.1../L, beer (500ml); 7.., Internet; 5../15..20 min The prices are expensive. Especially Internet is very expensive! Some Internet-cafes have Hebrew mode Windows (OS). You maybe interested in it. TOP ## Food --------- Wine is famous. Sandwich is popular food. TOP ## Accommodations --------- They have parking area as long as there's no note. But the security is your own responsibility. ### in Eilat I was there in September. The sunshine was strong. For camping, I recommend you to pitch a tent under the shade anyway. (Coral Reserve Beach) (near the border between EGYPT) camping free / no toilet & no shower People are pitching tents at the beach and stay. But the big problem is there's no toilet. To find a place something behind is also difficult. Eilat Field Study Center (2.5 km from the EGYPT border, along 'Coral Reserve Beach') C30 (weekend only), room? / shared toilet & shower, plugs at the campsite, credit card available? Camping is only from Thursday to Monday morning. Rooms are expensive. I recommend you to pitch a tent under the roof. There's also plugs, tables and benches. Taba Hostel (near the central bus station, along 'Hanegev st.') D50, S80, W? / kitchen, Air-conditioner You may discount for the long-stay. The Little Prince Motel (near the central bus station, along 'Hanegev st.') D50, S; $8?, W? There was a sign, $8. But I doubt it's a fictional room. Eilat Youth Hostel (near Coral Reserve Beach, along the main road) D80, S190 Spring Hostel (north of 'Red Mountain' hotel, that is along 'Hanegev st.') S160, W? No parking area. (Red Canyon) (Red Canyon parking area, out of the town, sign at route 12) Camping Free / no toilet & no shower, no water, no shade, nothing but the field. ### in Mitzpe Ramon MAKHTESH RAMON NATURE RESERVE Camping Free? / There are some campgrounds. One seems to be an organized campground. You can get the map and detailed info at the Visitor Centre. (refer to 'town') ### in Ein Boqeq (Dead Sea) (public beach) (in front of 'Golden Tulip Hotel') Camping Free / pay toilet, free beach shower, roof, tap water, grills, shops People are pitching tents at the beach and stay. Roofs are at the beach. I recommend you to pitch a tent under the roof. There are free beach showers. But they have no fence. You cannot take the shower without swimsuit. You may use a toilet in a big hotel. There are many shops and restaurants for tourists. The prices are different from each other. I found a grocery along the main road which sells food cheaper than others. ### in Ein Gedi (Dead Sea) (public beach) (there's a sign, at the main road) Camping Free / pay toilet, pay shower, pay fitting room, free beach shower, tap water, rental goods, kiosk This beach is located on a slope, so you may feel uncomfortable. But this is more quiet than Ein Boqeq. They pitch tents in a clump of trees. There is only an kiosk. I recommend you to buy things in advance when you stay here. ### in Jerusalem (capital) There are many cheap hotels in the old city. But you cannot visit most of them by vehicle. The road for vehicle is almost Jaffa Gate - Dung Gate section only. (refer to 'town') Petra Hostel (old city, near 'Jaffa Gate' and 'David's Tower,' at the beginning of 'David st.') roof; $6?, S?, W? (I lost the data, but the cheapest around here. The hotel cost changes with seasons) / shared toilet & hot shower, kitchen (stove, refrigerator), Internet service, TV, beer & beverage service, Credit card available roof; There are mattresses and blankets. Be careful of bedbugs of them. You can sleep there watching stars. Some tourists pitch tents there. In October, it was not cold. I recommend this. From the roof, it's the nice view. TV crews also use the roof for the recording. The problem is parking. A toll car park is out of Jaffa Gate (but expensive!). You may park on the road near the hostel. One is near the bench and dustbin area. Another is near the post office. There is a little wide space for motorcycle parking. But the passengers are there. At least you should cover your motorcycle when you park. In front of the police station, it looks good. But the policeman warned not to park the motorcycle there. Jaffa Gate (old city, near 'Jaffa Gate' and 'David's Tower,' The sign is at the road) D?, S?, W? (I lost the data) (a little expensive than Petra Hostel. the asking price?) You can park your motorcycle inside of the hotel gate, though some steps are there. You should confirm the charge and service at the reception exactly. Because the tout for the hotel tell you different charges and so on. ### in Tel Aviv (Jaffa) (Banana Beach?) (Banana Beach?, grass park) Camping Free / public toilet & beach shower (in the night, the toilet will be close) There is a grass park along the beach. You can pitch a tent there. But no one was camping in the night, and some people (blackguard?) were there all over the night. I felt dangerous. There is a grass park along the beach. You can pitch a tent there. Be careful of the sprinklers. They will work in the early morning. Motorcycle is allowed to drive the walking-road in the grass park. (refer to 'town') ### in Haifa PORT INN Guest House (34 Jaffa Rd) D; $14(63) (+breakfast; $19), S; $47, W; $66, T; $84, Q; $102/ self-contained, breakfast, kitchen (stove, refrigerator), TV, Internet service, beer & beverage service, free tea, info notebook, air-conditioner, terrace The staff are kind. They have a parking area behind the hotel. This is popular among tourists and very clean. Supposing you stay here, please warn about the fraud? ferry agencies (refer to 'CYPRUS Island') to the staff and other tourists. www.portinn.co.il / port_inn@yahoo.com / +972-4-8524401 (beach) (western seaside) Camping free? I found many tents at the beach from the main road. But they might be there only the daytime. When you go to Haifa from Tel Aviv, you can find them beginning or the town. TOP ## Town --------- ### in Eilat This is a resort town. A big supermarket is also there. You see many Russian tourists here. It's just 13.5km between EGYPT border and JORDAN border. petrol; (95)5.190 (99)6.180 /L, Internet; 5/15..20 min, beer; 7.., sandwich; 12, motor oil; 50.. (Mobil 1)100/L Red Canyon (out of the town, sign at route 12) It was a disappointed place. After 20..30 min walking from the parking area, there was like a canyon which was not so great. I turned back from there because there was a sign to turn back. It might not be Red Canyon. #### Information; There are some tourist-information. You can get a street map and a list of accommodations and so on. place; (central bus station), (shopping mall) (There are signs) #### Internet; There are few Internet-cafe, but you can find self-service Internet computer in a pub and so on. Putting your coin in the machine then the computer will work automatically with the timer. URI-TECH (Internet-cafe, at the central bus station) 11/15min, 17/h, (They have many discount rate) / Japanese readable #### Diving Centre; There are many. You can get the list of the diving centre at the Information. The prices are different from each other. Licence courses are popular. You can enjoy table-corals, stinger-ray, wreck and so on. Most diving are shore-in. They also have a diving tour for Jordan and Egypt sea. You have to buy the diving insurance under the law. You can buy it at the each diving centre and it works all ISRAEL (world-wide?) diving insurance; 36 euro/year Red Sea Sports Club (Coral Beach, near 'Coral Sea Divers') refresh dive; 36 euro, fan dive including full equipment and so on; (1 dive)27 (2 dives)45 euro There are many courses and discount rate. Credit card acceptable. www.redseasports.co.il / manta1@netvision.net.il / 00-972-8-6370688 Coral Sea Divers (Coral Beach, near 'Eilat Field Study Center') refresh dive; NIS190..230, fan dive including full equipment and so on; (1 dive)NIS160 (2 dives)NIS245 There are many courses and discount rate. Credit card acceptable. www.coralsea.co.il / info@coralsea.co.il / +972-8-6370337 other diving centres; (most of them have ENGLISH web pages, too) Aqua Sport / Divers Village / Lucky Divers / Meduza / Marina Divers / Snuba / Siam Divers / Dolphin Reef / Eyal Sayag / Aqua Line / Deep ### in Mitzpe Ramon The road is crossing the big rift valley. This is a small town, but there is a supermarket, visitors centre and so on. I recommend you to have a stop here. petrol; (95)5.97 (98)6.95 ALPAKA FARM (the sign is at 2.8 km from the roundabout to the west, from the sign 3.9 km) Mr. AMIT, who is a motorcyclist is there. He will help you. In the farm there are much sheep and so on. You can enjoy the animals. Visitors Center (on the edge of a precipice) admission; (adult)23 (children)12 (student)19 / exhibition, movie, shops, restaurant, nice view of the rift valley #### MAKHTESH RAMON NATURE RESERVE You can know much things at the Visitors Centre. In the reserve, there seems to be some camping-grounds. ### in Ein Boqeq (Dead Sea) Many gorgeous hotels are there. Many gorgeous tourists are also there. Shops for tourists are many. You can buy the powder for muddy-esthetics. I found a grocery along the main road. beer (500ml); 10..15 #### Internet; GARDEN HOTEL (asking at the reception to use the PC room) Free? ### in Ein Gedi (Dead Sea) There were few shops and hotels around the public beach. It was quiet and many shades of trees. I found some signs of other beaches around this public beach. (But they might be private beaches) toilet (public beach); 1 Ein Gedi Spa (along the main road, a little far from the public beach) admission; ? (expensive!) ### in Jericho This is the Palestine Area. The town looks a little poor than other ISRAEL towns. The cars are Palestine number. If your car is ISRAEL number, their eyes might be fixed on your car. But not so dangerous, I felt. This is a gate town to the JORDAN border. Sea Level (along route 1, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea) There is a sign (monument) of Sea Level. But my GPS showed +20m there. ### in Jerusalem (capital) After the death of Jesus Christ, there has been wars and so on. All present-day churches have been rebuilt after the death. The street is also different from those days. So 'Via Dolorosa' does not follow today's street. The stairs in 'St. Peter in Gallicantu Church' are the thing of the Jesus Christ lifetime. There's a possibility that Jesus Christ went up the stairs at that time. Chapel of Christ's Ascension, St. Peter in Gallicantu Church charged the admission, but most churches are free. Via Dolorosa You can follow the way (find the each station) by yourself. It's interesting because it's like an orienteering. At an Information they tell you the way. To buy a route map at a shop is also good. The map shows the way and description in many languages. At the Second Station, you can find the route map on the wall, too. And there are some self-styled guides. Needless to say they expect tips. The Dome of the Rock When I visited (Oct/2006), tourists couldn't enter the dome. To enter 'Temple Mount' was possible. Time Elevator (along 'Ha-'Emeq st.'?) admission; ? (I lost the data) The seats move according to the movie. It was about 30 min. You may get moving-sick. They have 6 languages headsets, though they don't have it for Japanese. #### Information; (Near Jaffa Gate), (In front of David's Tower), The Jewish Student Information Center (Jewish Quarter, near 'Jewish Quarter Rd.') The Information near Jaffa Gate is popular and easy to find. You can get a street map. #### Exchange; GPO (along 'Yafo st.'?) The rate was good. T/C was better than cash! $1(cash)=NIS4.21, $1(T/C)=NIS4.24 (Oct/20006) #### road (in the old city) For car and motorcycle, the section between 'Jaffa Gate' and 'Dung Gate' is possible to drive. But 'Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate' is one-way traffic. So when you enter from 'Dung Gate,' you have to go out at 'Zion Gate.' When I visited, the traffic near 'Dung Gate' was close. So substantially the way was between 'Jaffa Gate' and 'Zion Gate.' ### in Tel Aviv (Jaffa) Along the public beach, there is a grass park. Along the grass park, there are toll car parks. Along the toll car parks, there is a big main road. Sequentially from the sea side, there are a beach, grass parks, toll parkings, and the main road. Motorcycle can drive the walking-road in the grass park. So you don't need to park at the toll car park. It may be a little difficult to find the point to get into the walking-road by motorcycle. (refer to 'GPS') #### Motorcycle shop; There are plenty of shops. You can find parts. STAR CYCLE (121, Hertzel st.) www.starcycle.co.il / info@starcycle.co.il / 972-3-518182, 6838216, 6826814 ### in Haifa There is an ATM which you can withdraw US$ and Euro. There is an cheap kebab stand. Both are near 'Port In (accommodation).' When a current position is not clear anymore, it is good to look for 'Baha'i Gardens.' #### Information; Tourist Board (along 'Ben Grion Ave.,' that is a big slope avenue leading to 'Baha'i Gardens') You can get a street map. Whenever you ask a recommended hotel, they tell you 'Port Inn.' Sunday - Thursday: 900..1700, Friday: 900.. 300, Saturday: 1000..1500 http://www.tour-haifa.co.il / info@tour-haifa.co.il / 1-800-30-50-90 #### Ferry; Tourist Board (Information) didn't know about the ferry. 'Port Inn' (accommodation) knew of it. They can tell you the exactly place of following agencies. There was a rumor that there was no ferry. But the truth was there in October/2006. Air is popular for transportation, so nowadays most boats are for gorgeous cruises. Be careful of the fraud? agency. Caspi Shipping (along 'Ha'azmau't Ave.') Haifa (ISRAEL) - Pinaus (GREECE) (passenger)225 euro, (motorcycle)355 euro, (ISRAEL tax)350NIL Haifa (ISRAEL) - ? (CYPRUS) 10 hours (passenger)150 euro?, (motorcycle)150 euro? every Thursday? There is an office with a big sign. But they said the office is not 'Caspi Shipping.' I couldn't find the true office. When I made a call, they told me the price and so on. TEL. 1700709090 / 04-8654422 / 04-8674485 Mano (along 'HaPalyam Ave.') Their boat is only for passengers. You cannot get on with your vehicle. Rozenfeld Shipping Ltd. (along 'Ha'azmau't Ave.') This is a fraud? agency! They tell you, 'Only today, you can buy a ticket with a special discount price.' And they guaranteed that there was no cost anymore after the arrival. But at the arrival port, another friend agency ('cause they know each other) require another charge. They keep your passport and so on. So you cannot reject it. Totally everything cost so much! (refer to CYPRUS Island) www.rosenfeld.net / reservations@rosenfeld.net / 972-4-8613613 note; If you are looking for a ferry, I suggest you to make a contact 'Caspi Shipping.' On that time, check the ship (company) name, too. If you find a name, 'SALAMIS' or 'TRADER I' somewhere, you should give up the ferry. At the arrival port, they are waiting for you to pluck your money. #### Air Cargo; ELAL CARGO TEL 03-9717511 / 03-9716697 / 03-9771111 TOP ## Government Establishments (visa) --------- No data TOP ## Border --------- #### Eilat (Taba - Eilat) (entry from EGYPT); (ISRAEL side) No money is charged. But the car-insurance is required. You can buy it there, NIS477.60/month for motorcycle. You don't need AIT/FIA carnet. For Japanese tourist, one month stay is free. There are duty-free shops and a forex bureau. $1(cash)=$1(T/C)=NIL4.1872 (no commission) ATM is not there. You need to exchange here when you buy the car-insurance. The inspection is severe. You have to unpack all luggage. You may need much time to pass (if unlucky, several hours). Even if they are satisfactory, they may say, "There is a problem" and may watch your reaction. immigration stamp; I'm not sure you can get the entry (exit) stamp on a paper in stead of your passport. Because the inspection is severe, there's little chance to negotiate with the immigration officer. #### Haifa (Haifa-Lemesos) (leaving for CYPRUS); No money is charged (everything is included in the ferry ticket?). At the port, the agent guided everything until getting on. You should be careful of troubles at the arrival port. (refer to 'town(Haifa)' and CYPRUS Island) TOP ## Road --------- All paved. There are many police controls. TOP ## GPS (download) --------- Read Me First! (for GARMIN 'Map Source' file) cairo-jerusalem.gdb Cairo (EGYPT) - Jerusalem israel-cyp-turkey.gdb Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) (GPS eXchange format file) You need to rename the file! cairo-jerusalem.rtf Cairo (EGYPT) - Jerusalem israel-cyp-turkey.rtf Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) (HTML Plain Text, only the main waypoints) Cairo - Jerusalem Cairo (EGYPT) - Jerusalem Jerusalem - CYPRUS - Tasucu Jerusalem - CYPRUS Island - Tasucu (TURKEY) #### route & track; Mediterranean (Cairo - Damiette - Ismailia, north of EGYPT) Sinai peninsula (EGYPT) Eilat - Jerusalem Jerusalem (ISRAEL) - CYPRUS - Tasucu (TURKEY) ************************************************************ (End) (English Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index2.html / (Japanese Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index.html All Rights Reserved: (c) seagull (seagulljapan@gmail.com) Copying is free as far as my copyright is specified. That's welcome to leave the copy at accommodations.