Below you will find pages that utilize the taxonomy term “Ps”
Palestinians protest in Berlin
December 10, 2017
The US’ recent efforts to pour more oil into the Middle East conflict were met by a worldwide outcry. Berlin’s Palestinian community too raised its voice.
By the looks of it, very few Germans were among the protesters. I guess most of them don’t care much. Or automatically hate everything with a headscarf anyway.
Nakba Day
May 13, 2017
Nakba is an Arabic word, translating to “Catastrophe”. It refers to the begin of the occupation of Palestine in 1948 and “Nakba Day” commemorates that event every year.
Earlier today I joined a demonstration that had been organised by the local Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) chapter and a couple of other groups. The participants gathered on Richardplatz, surrounded by heavy police presence.
A handful of counter-protesters showed their blue-white apartheid colours, but stayed behind when the march started.
Out
October 17, 2015
It’s 18:30 last night and the clashes have subsided. We head out to meet others for dinner in the city. A few metres down the road our eyes are watering and the noses are burning from tear gas that is drifting over from the 500m away conflict area.
We jump into the next taxi and tell the driver to take a detour around the affected Ras Al Jour area. No no he says, is fine, and rolls up the windows and stops the ventilation.
Still following the News
October 17, 2015
In pretty much every country on earth, security forces are being attacked by members of the general public. Usually the assailant is brought under control, disarmed and arrested. In rare cases, the assailant is shot in self defence.
In Palestine, it goes the other way around. In rare cases (alleged) attackers survive the encounter with the Israeli military, while most are killed on the spot. The numbers alone should give a good idea of how little Israel values Palestinian/Muslim/Non-Jewish life.
The Teach
October 16, 2015
Friday prayers have finished and a lot of Palestinian flags and Keffiyehs can be seen in the streets. It’s the traditional time for clashes between Palestinians and Israelis, which means some parts of Hebron are better avoided.
The area around my accommodation is calm as always and people are hanging out in the streets. From what I’ve been told, it’s not much different in areas with clashes, though. Tear gas and rocks have become so prevalent, that people just don’t bother any more.
Around the City
October 14, 2015
Southeast Asia is a dangerous place. Lots of people, including visitors, get killed in traffic accidents. That’s not really on peoples’ minds though and when westerners are going to any country in the region, they are usually more afraid of Malaria.
Palestine is probably a much safer place, especially for visitors. The Israeli occupation kills countless people each year, but the violence of the soldiers and settlers targets Arabs and not foreigners.
Hebron, Take 2
October 13, 2015
The news haven’t been pretty but when I decided to go to the Middle East, I knew it wouldn’t all be roses and chocolate. Despite what is going on, I still believe that I’ll be save and hence decided to stick with my travel plans.
The late night departure from Barcelona was a bit messy and the plane was the filthiest and shabbiest in a long time. Seat out of order - never saw that before.
Going to Palestine
October 12, 2015
Two questions I got a lot over the past couple of weeks: “Why do you have a painted toe nail?” and “Why do you want to go to Palestine and teach English?”.
While the former could only be replied to in a rather vague and obscure way, the latter has a much more straight forward answer (albeit a long one).
1. I had a really good experience the last time I was there.
Bethlehem
June 11, 2015
Tuesday was supposed to be my lazy day. I had extended my 3-night stay in Ramallah to a 5-day one and wanted to spend my last day with doing nothing besides some writing and drinking coffee.
Fellow traveller Nigel got in the way though. He’s working as a journalist and mentioned that he’d join an anthropology student to interview a farmer who’s land is about to be taken away.
His initial invitation I tiredly refused. However came mid-day, my curiosity got the better of me and I told him I’d join him for the trip. Plus Bethlehem is less than an hour away.
Our local contact ran late and so we went on the tourist trail instead. First stop: church of nativity. It’s built on the site were baby Jesus was born. It’s a tourist drag but the locals don’t get much from it as most tours are organised by companies in Jerusalem.
[caption id=“attachment_3089” align=“aligncenter” width=“450”]
Stable yesterday, Church today[/caption]
Not having had a religious upbringing, the whole of Bethlehem didn’t have any spiritual appeal for me. It was more of a “let’s have a look around”.
One thing to have a look at in Bethlehem
Nablus
June 10, 2015
Time for a delayed trip report! On Monday I followed Hiba’s invitation for a tour around Nablus. The town is about an hour from Ramallah on the shared taxi. I managed to arrive half an hour late by first forgetting my passport (had to return to get it) and then taking the one taxi that got rear-ended on the way.
Hiba showed understanding though and we jumped right into the tour with a visit to an old soap factory right next to the bus station. In Palestine, fresh olive oil is used for food and the old (after a year) left-overs are turned into soap. It’s a handicraft.
We continued with a visit of the old city, which is much bigger and charming than that of Ramallah. It has a lot of
Through the Checkpoint
June 10, 2015
I felt a little sad about having to leave Palestine. In a very short time I had met a lot of amazing people. It wasn’t just the incredibly friendly and hospitable locals but also the travellers who had made their way into the West Bank.
After a last Arabic coffee (cardamom flavoured), I got onto the local bus to Jerusalem. It is always a somewhat cramped experience, especially with a full size backpack between my legs.
Fellow travellers had told me that security checks at Qalandia are arbitrary and can take from five minutes to an hour (more if you’re Palestinian). At the checkpoint military police boarded the bus and checked IDs.
The woman examining my passport told me “you are too young, you can’t stay on the bus”. Well thank you for the compliment, but…???
Palestine Impressions
June 9, 2015
Great Day in Nablus yesterday, short trip to Bethlehem today. Too tired to write more at the moment.
Pictures say more than words anyway.
[caption id=“attachment_3056” align=“aligncenter” width=“450”] Graffiti in Nablus[/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_3063” align=“aligncenter” width=“450”] Herbs and Spices at a Shop in Nablus[/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_3057” align=“aligncenter” width=“450”] Something very sweet and yummy - forgot the name[/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_3058” align=“aligncenter” width=“300”] Fit Guy in Bethlehem[/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_3059” align=“aligncenter” width=“450”] Landscape east of Jerusalem[/caption]
Taking the Red Pill
June 8, 2015
In the movie Matrix, the protagonist is offered a choice of two pills. Blue will make him forget all he uncovered, while red will show him the world as it really is.
That analogy was given by the hostel owner when I told him how my pre-defined image of Palestine was shaken up by reality. Or as he put it: he doesn’t know any other place on earth were portrayed image and reality go as far apart as in Palestine.
Hebron
June 7, 2015
Day trip to the south. Will write more in detail another day. But boy is that a messed up city!
Trip to Nablus tomorrow and after that I’m ready for a day off.
More local Experiences
June 7, 2015
On day 2 of my Palestine adventure I met up with another local couchsurfer, Hiba. We walked around the city a little and she gave me a bit of a background about herself. Being a pharmacist and having studied foreign languages (German) at the local Goethe Institute, she certainly is part of the educated population.
One of the sights we visited was a traditional Palestinian house that is now a museum.
Ramallah relaxed
June 6, 2015
After the initial shock of the noisy market in front of the hostel, I found Ramallah to be a very relaxed and calm city. People in the streets are friendly and I get a lot of “Welcome” and “Hello”. Not a lot of tourists around here.
Later in the day I met up with a local couchsurfer, Mohammad, who showed me a few parts of the city and shared a lot of his opinions and views on the current situation.
Into the West Bank
June 5, 2015
Left the hostel in Jerusalem in the late morning and took the local bus to Ramallah. Good deal, 8 NIS / 2 EUR for the 40 minute ride. Crossed the wall at one of the checkpoints - fortified like the inner-German border in the 80s.
Arrived at the hostel in Ramallah not much later. Everybody on the way has been friendly and welcoming. It’ll take me a while to get adjusted to the noise level in the streets, everybody is shouting.