An Idea for a Backpacking Trip - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**BigE** · 11-10-2007, 09:56 AM

This past summer I lost my backpacking virginity in Scandinavia. It was a learning experience and a lot of fun. Now I have an idea.

This year, a friend of mine and I want to backpack Israel. He is hard of hearing like me and is a real outdoors kind of guy. We are also both Catholics and have wanted to explore the Holy Lands. We also want to experience the local culture and meet others who are Deaf/HoH who also sign.

The problem I have, of course, is everyone is afraid we are going to die. Despite the fact that we are both healthy, smart, and have good jobs doesn't seem to concern anyone. We have some street smarts and know when to get out.

Moreover, I just wanted to let you all know I am alive and doing well. I have had a few issues that needed to be looked at and I think I am finally making heads about what I need to do. Thanks Jake for getting back on the boards!

**LiveFreeorDie** · 11-10-2007, 10:38 AM

Israel is hardly a war zone. There are bominbings now and then, but the odds of you getting caught in one are minimal. For years I worked with a Jewish guy who had family in Israel. He went there all the time. His kids who are now in their 20's went to spend summers over there. He didn't worry much. I wouldn't either. Don't let the hysterical alarmists scare you off. Just do it!

**freespiritz** · 11-10-2007, 11:57 AM

I would totally go to Israel...I say go for it.

**afterlife3** · 11-10-2007, 01:06 PM

My brother lived in Israel for 8 months. He said it was one of the most peaceful experiences he ever had. He said that he never feared for his life. Jews, Christians, and Muslims living together. He even went down to the Gaza Strip and said that it was beautiful. Just dont get stuck out in the middle of the Dead Sea like that little boy did.

**joe7f** · 11-10-2007, 04:53 PM

I think Israel has gotten considerably calmer since they put up the wall. The one thing to watch out for (maybe not you so much) is that if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport just about every Muslim nation, in their infinite collective wisdom/compassion, will bar you entry to their country even a "progressive" place like UAE.

--Joey

**DC_Jessica** · 11-10-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe7f

I think Israel has gotten considerably calmer since they put up the wall. The one thing to watch out for (maybe not you so much) is that if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport just about every Muslim nation, in their infinite collective wisdom/compassion, will bar you entry to their country even a "progressive" place like UAE.

--Joey

Hahahaha, I hope somebody else was outed on that one as well, but I had to put some dinero in a new passport and fast because I didn't bank on the UA friggin' E's vehemently anti-Israel stance. But, you will be fine. I mean, shit happens, but Israel is totally not a war zone. It's weird, and their opinion of security is very different (cool to observe, imo). But it's not like you want to holiday in Baghdad or something ridiculous. (For instance, if your post was headlined "Tips for Pakistan This Month?" or something...yikes!)

What I would do is invest some time in looking for deaf/hoh universities or schools and maybe make contacts before you go. See what subtleties there are between ASL and what people in the ME region might use, if your plan is to go around and interact interculturally with other people who sign.

**BigE** · 11-10-2007, 07:09 PM

Will Lebanon refuse you entry if you have an Israeli stamp?

**joe7f** · 11-10-2007, 07:18 PM

According to Wikitravel, yes you will need to have a 2nd passport

--Joey

**BigE** · 11-10-2007, 07:26 PM

Do you take with you two passports if you are going to Israel and another Muslim country because I have always wanted to see Lebanon.

**DC_Jessica** · 11-10-2007, 07:41 PM

Fly into Lebanon, go to Syria, then maybe Jordan, THEN go to Israel. Be prepared for an interrogation of sorts, but the ban isn't two way.

**joe7f** · 11-10-2007, 07:45 PM

From what I gathered from the Wikitravel article on Israel, Jordan and Egypt recently signed some agreement which allows tourists with an Israeli stamp in their passport to visit. You may want to call their respective embassies.

--Joey

**BigE** · 11-10-2007, 07:49 PM

Awesome! My friend is going to think I am Indiana Jones with all the information I am getting.

**lost in texas** · 11-11-2007, 08:37 AM

Yeah, Egypt and Jordan have normalized relations with Israel, but I think they're the only ones. From what my friend who lives in Amman was telling me, several tour groups in Israel include stops in Jordan now too, because they have so many great sites.

Lebanon and Israel? Not so much.

**maracle** · 11-11-2007, 08:41 AM

This is funny because I was just reading about this yesterday...how to get a second passport. They'll only do it if you can justify why you can't get by with 1, somehow you have to claim it is "impractical" to adjust your itinerary to visit Israel last. But I bet if you just say it doesn't work with your plans that will be enough. You might have to actually go to a passport office to convince them, otherwise you can try just sending in a letter with your second passport app. The second passport is valid for 2 years.

Check out the details in the section 7 FAM 1310 of this: http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/07fam/07m1310.pdf

If you're going to do this I'd leave plenty of time to jump through bueraucratic hoops to get the second one!

**maracle** · 11-11-2007, 08:42 AM

Oops, it's actually 7 FAM 1314.

**BigE** · 11-11-2007, 12:19 PM

Thanks peeps! I think I will keep this simple and just focus on Israel for this trip. There are a lot of interesting things to see and experience in this country.

**florencia9699** · 11-12-2007, 05:51 AM

Israel is fantaaaaaastic!!!!! You guys will love it there. Once you get used to the idea of soldiers sitting down at McDondald's with machine guns accross their backs.... but you'll get used to it. And it's true, there is just so much to do/see in Israel once you get started on all three/four religions.

We went there as a faily when we were living in Syria, and yep, we did need 2 passports, and you can't go from Syria into Israel at all. They just have checkpoints, good for UN staff only.

I think you guys could deffinitely do Israel/Jordan. Which is also an absolutely amazing country, and after crossing it though the Jordan river (a great experience), you'll deffinitely feel like Indiana Jones once you hit Petra!

Of course there are so many places and little towns to hit up in Israel, and it's such a great experience to the soul, you might want to just stick to Israel.

My sister had her First Communion at the Nativity Chappel in Bethlehem. That was just unbelievable!

I hope you love it here as much as aI did!!

(PS: Try not to go in the middle of the summer as the middle of the desert gets HOOOOOT!!!!!)

**BigE** · 11-12-2007, 07:09 AM

Thanks! I think I am going to really focus on this one.

**voyd** · 11-12-2007, 04:38 PM

Blogpacker on Israel...

**BigE** · 11-12-2007, 06:39 PM

Thanks Voyd. That is a great resource and awesome blog.