ISRAEL (information)

info: Israel Nature National Parks Protection Authority

• $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

in Eilat

I was there in September. The sunshine was strong. For camping, I recommend you to pitch a tent under the shade anyway.

in Mitzpe Ramon

in Ein Boqeq (Dead Sea)

in Ein Gedi (Dead Sea)

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')

in Tel Aviv (Jaffa)

in Haifa

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)

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

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)

route & track;

• Mediterranean (Cairo - Damiette - Ismailia, north of EGYPT)
• Sinai peninsula (EGYPT)
• Eilat - Jerusalem
• Jerusalem (ISRAEL) - CYPRUS - Tasucu (TURKEY)