Eilat

May 24, 2012

Eilat, Israel

Here's what I've been doing the past few days:

Nadav and I decided to take a trip to the very south of Israel, a town called Eilat.  It is a beach town on the Red Sea, just across the water from Jordan.  The temperature is super hot, 108 degrees Fahrenheit at midday, but it doesn't feel as hot as India because the humidity is very low (desert climate).  Speaking of desert, our AC bus ride took us all the way through the desert on the way here - it was a bit eerie at times, not seeing anything except sand and date palms (for agriculture).  Yesterday night we went to the beach and had a beer while looking out at the water from one of the many restaurants.  It is very touristy, but also fun.  There was a busy market, music playing, rides to go on, and the colorful lights of the town reflecting off the water.  We have been couch surfing with a wonderful family - this is our second night here.  We cooked dinner for our hosts yesterday night.  The mother, Lara, is interested in Shamanism and dreams of taking her whole family (husband and three kids) to India someday for several months.  

Today Nadav and I took a bus to another beach, where we went snorkeling (pronounced "shnorkeling" in Hebrew).  It was great.  I saw bright blue, turquoise, purple, and yellow fish (parrot fish?), what looked like angel fish, urchins, a couple jellyfish, and other brightly colored small fish that I don't know the names of.  Wish I'd had a waterproof fish id card with me.  I loved watching the many kite surfers, with their colorful, parachute-like kites pulling them across the water on their boards, sometimes flying high above the waves for several seconds at a time.  It looks like a lot of fun, a sport I would like to learn someday.

Tomorrow morning we are going back to Tel Aviv, and may attend a drum circle on the beach there just before sunset.  Many Israelis who have been to India like to make music there on Friday nights to bring in the Shabbat (Sabbath). 

Shalom!

Melissa