MAY 17 - AMMAN, JORDON TO JERICHO/BETHLEHEM, ISREAL

MAY 17, FRI: AMMAN, JORDAN TO JERICHO/BETHLEHEM, ISRAEL

We packed and checked out from our hotel early all set to cross over to Israel. It took nearly 2 hours to reach the border, where we had to get out of the bus, carry our luggage across, immigration both in Amman and Israel.  Visa procedure went through smoothly, but problems took place for luggage clearance.  No fruits or vegetable allowed, and Ulf had carried banana and melon across which they did not allow, so instead of throwing Winnie told us to eat and this created commotion and big officer turned up and made us throw all of it into the bin. Then Ulf and Winnie had to open all their luggage and he got to see the 2 boxes of Alphonso mangoes which he confiscated.  We were all rushed out and, in the bargain, Frankie forgot to pick up his backpack and camera and got into bus which the local Guide told us it was waiting for us and we proceeded to Jordan River (original Baptismal site of Jesus by John the Baptist).  By this time, we realised about loss of our luggage and told the Ravi, our tour leader, who said he would investigate it.

River Jordan was divided across into 2 sides by a rope, manned by Jordanian soldiers on one side and Israel soldiers on the other side. Our side was crowded with tourist wanting to dip and getting baptism done with white gown on. All our folks went down to dip themselves and collect the water, which was very muddy.

We were called up and  we were informed that wrong bus picked us up and we had to return to entry base to exchange.  It was our first miracle that we got chance to go back and collect our luggage from the customs, which the officers over there gave it to us after checking our passports.  We got into our new bus, with new Guide, a Palestinian Orthodox Christian, Jacob. Nice jovial  guide who gave us lots of information about our religion and Palestine.

From here we drove off to Jericho to face the hill where Jesus faced the temptations from the Devil..  You can reach the hill by cable cars also. From here we proceeded to see the Sycamore tree, where short Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus from above.

After Lunch, we were told we would be proceeding to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (1305 feet below sea level), where we were cautioned to not allow saltiest water into your eyes or mouth while floating.  We all went and enjoyed floating in the sea and it was an experience to float like a dead body and coating our body with black clay paste from the sea and washing it off.



We checked into Hotel Angel, Bethlehem, were we spent 3 nights.  Lovely hotel with pool in front and the Red Sea across.  In the evening we all went to the Red Sea beach to have a swim but were told to come out fast and not allowed to swim beyond 5 pm.  We then rushed to the swimming pool and again not allowed to swim much, because they said the pools closes at 5pm. At least we got to dip ourselves and refresh with cool water. I wish they had told us about the timings at both the beach and pool, we would have come out early and instead of relaxing inside our cool bedrooms.