Monday morning at 9 am I was at the Indian Embassy; I handed in my passport and at 3pm my visa was ready. It is a full page visa for 3 month, multiple entries; I paid $30.00 for it.
After I browsed in an artsy part of Amman; books stores, coffees shops, museums.
This evening was the last day of Ramadan. At sun set there were lots of people on the street celebrating. People in my hostel were celebrating too.
It was very interesting to observe Ramadan. At sun set all the places were shut down and everyone was eating. Ramadan didn't inconvenience us at all, there were still plenty of stores, markets, juice bars open for us to get something to eat. People here are very considerate to tourists and they don't get offence if we eat. We tried our best to be discreet and respect people religion and practices.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Israel back to Jordan Amman
I have a very nice and relaxing morning at my friends in Tel Aviv. I had good coffee and breakfast. I would have liked to stay at least one more day, but tomorrow Monday is a holiday in Jordan and Jewish New Year and apparently the border crossing will be a nightmare. As I have to be at Indian Embassy tomorrow at 10:00 am I did not want to take a chance.
I left Tel Aviv at noon and I arrived in Amman at 4:30 pm. Customs formalities at Israeli and Jordanian border were very fast; there were very few people. I had to pay us$50 .00 to exit Israel!
Myself and a Jordanian - American woman got a free ride from the border to Amman by a Jordanian - American guy; very nice of him :
Back to my hostel I read more about Amman and decide what I am going visit tomorrow.
I left Tel Aviv at noon and I arrived in Amman at 4:30 pm. Customs formalities at Israeli and Jordanian border were very fast; there were very few people. I had to pay us$50 .00 to exit Israel!
Myself and a Jordanian - American woman got a free ride from the border to Amman by a Jordanian - American guy; very nice of him :
Back to my hostel I read more about Amman and decide what I am going visit tomorrow.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Isreal -Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
I was a tourist in Israel for a day, so I would call my trip - Isreal in one day.
I the morning I visited Jerusalem. I was with Susan, her husband and son. They took me everywhere.
In the afternoon my cousin Romana and her husband came and pick me up from Susan's place. We went and visit Tel Aviv.
Late in the evening we went to Jaffa.
What a day! At midnight I was really ready to go to bed.
I the morning I visited Jerusalem. I was with Susan, her husband and son. They took me everywhere.
In the afternoon my cousin Romana and her husband came and pick me up from Susan's place. We went and visit Tel Aviv.
Late in the evening we went to Jaffa.
What a day! At midnight I was really ready to go to bed.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Jordan to Israel
Amman is an Ok city but not to much to see and to do; as I am stuck here until I get my Indian visa I decided to go to Israel. I have been told that I have have a Syraian visa on my passport Iwill not be allowed to enter Israel but I was thinking that is worth to try.
I left Amman on a service taxi with 2 Palestinian students that I met in my hostel. At Jordanian border we had to get off the taxi and had to go through customs. There was a huge line up of people. A policeman came up to me and told me that I am in the wrong line up. I am a foreigner and I was supposed to be in a foreigner line up. I went to the other line of the buildings; this line up was long as well; many tourists to visit Israel. After about half an hour I got my Jordanian exit visa.
After we got on a blue bus; only blue buses operates between the border, there are no taxis allowed.
First Israeli check point -an officer got on the bus and checked passports.
Second check point - we all had to get off the bus and have our passports checked.
we arrived at Israeli boder, wwe had to hand in our bags and passports. It was very chaotic, people were coming from everywhere with tones of bags; there iwas lots of shouting and pushing around.
Finally I got my bag and my passport checked again; now I was in line for customs and immigration. I was in line for 3 hours; when my turn I was barely asked any questions; I got my Israelei visa in a few minutes.
On the other side of the border I took the shared taxi to Jerusalem. Susan's husband Uzi came and picked me up.
I spend the evening with Susan's family; it was really good to see her and meet haer family. We had a wonderful traditional Israeli dinner.
I left Amman on a service taxi with 2 Palestinian students that I met in my hostel. At Jordanian border we had to get off the taxi and had to go through customs. There was a huge line up of people. A policeman came up to me and told me that I am in the wrong line up. I am a foreigner and I was supposed to be in a foreigner line up. I went to the other line of the buildings; this line up was long as well; many tourists to visit Israel. After about half an hour I got my Jordanian exit visa.
After we got on a blue bus; only blue buses operates between the border, there are no taxis allowed.
First Israeli check point -an officer got on the bus and checked passports.
Second check point - we all had to get off the bus and have our passports checked.
we arrived at Israeli boder, wwe had to hand in our bags and passports. It was very chaotic, people were coming from everywhere with tones of bags; there iwas lots of shouting and pushing around.
Finally I got my bag and my passport checked again; now I was in line for customs and immigration. I was in line for 3 hours; when my turn I was barely asked any questions; I got my Israelei visa in a few minutes.
On the other side of the border I took the shared taxi to Jerusalem. Susan's husband Uzi came and picked me up.
I spend the evening with Susan's family; it was really good to see her and meet haer family. We had a wonderful traditional Israeli dinner.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Jordan - Amman - bad day
Sept 25 was a very bad day :(
I was supposed to fly to India this morning at 4:00 am. I went to the airport at midnight, and try to check in at 2:00 am. When checking in the guy at the counter asked for my Indian visa. I didn't apply for an Indian visa because for whatever reason I assumed that I could get visa upon arrival in Delhi. Apparently India doesn't issue any visas at any border. So I was declined to board the plane.
At 4:00 am I took a taxi back to Amman. All hotels were closed, it took me a while to find a hotel that will open the door.
At 9:00 am I went to the Indian Embassy; it takes 5 working day for a visa. I filledSept out the application and paid 30 Euros.
After I went to change my flight; I paid 78 Euros, and next available flight out of Amman is Thursday Oct 2.
I paid already for India tour that starts on Sept 27, at this moment it looks that I am not going to make it for the tour.
On the more happier note everyone here has been absolutely wonderful and trying to help; the lady at the Indian Embassy, the hotel manager, the airline reservation agent.
Today I am not happy :( I can't believe that I have created all this mess.
I was supposed to fly to India this morning at 4:00 am. I went to the airport at midnight, and try to check in at 2:00 am. When checking in the guy at the counter asked for my Indian visa. I didn't apply for an Indian visa because for whatever reason I assumed that I could get visa upon arrival in Delhi. Apparently India doesn't issue any visas at any border. So I was declined to board the plane.
At 4:00 am I took a taxi back to Amman. All hotels were closed, it took me a while to find a hotel that will open the door.
At 9:00 am I went to the Indian Embassy; it takes 5 working day for a visa. I filledSept out the application and paid 30 Euros.
After I went to change my flight; I paid 78 Euros, and next available flight out of Amman is Thursday Oct 2.
I paid already for India tour that starts on Sept 27, at this moment it looks that I am not going to make it for the tour.
On the more happier note everyone here has been absolutely wonderful and trying to help; the lady at the Indian Embassy, the hotel manager, the airline reservation agent.
Today I am not happy :( I can't believe that I have created all this mess.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Jordan - Amman
Back in Amman for a day; getting ready for my flight to India.
Too many people on the street; spend most on the day on the Internet.
Too many people on the street; spend most on the day on the Internet.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
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