Tuesday

Free day. We had an early full breakfast then relaxed waiting for peak hour to lessen before braving the stations. It was still busy but we didn't embarrass ourselves too much. We navigated two railway companies as well with lots of walking involved. Ursula was keen to go to a specific museum and I decided I would tag along with the promise of a park and a coffee as well. Unfortunately no coffee shop or convenient park so after Ursula had investigated one floor we went back to the station area for a coffee and I decided to head off back to JR Central station area. I had thought of checking out a specific department store that used to be in Melbourne but although I was able, after catching two trains and crossing under one station platform, to reach JR central I couldn't negotiate the huge complex successfully (I needed to cross from north to south) and as I was now familiar with our train line I decided to go with what I knew. Safely back at the hotel I packed and rested before Ursula returned happy from her arty experience. She also had bought some Japanese memorabilia downstairs. We had previously bought some beautiful cards which turned out to be made in China so we checked everything after that. I ventured out and located the store and happily bought a few items. We had an early night after finalizing our packing. Our last night viewing the city lights as we dozed off. Ursula is going south on a bullet train tomorrow to start the next leg of her journey..........................

Monday

Mt Fuji and Hakoni Tour Full early breakfast as we had a big day ahead. We went down to reception as our message sign was flashing, they wanted us to pick up shopping vouchers because we chose to have no cleaning for three days! We are still amazed at the organization involved for each tour. We feel very spoilt. On the feeder bus from our hotel to the central bus station I sat next to a young Malaysian doctor who just graduated in Auckland. We joined our tour and the guide apologetically explained we may not see Mt Fuji and that was so at the first viewing platform, but at the next two all was revealed!! Lovely. We saw lots of cherry blossoms too which was a bonus. We had a beautiful Japanese lunch with another view of the mountain. The guide was excited that the clouds moved and the sun was out for us. The clouds rolled in and the mountain was not visible from the gondola tower. The boat ride was smooth and so was the bullet train back to Tokyo and our station and hotel. Another wonderful day. We also met up with some lovely folk we had met on the other tour which was a bonus.........................................................

Sunday

Dynamic Tokyo tour. Tokyo tower was first - we can see it from our room too. We couldn't see Mount Fuji from the observation tower because of cloud or fog. We then went on to a beautiful garden which also had a banquet hall and ancient buildings, including a tea room. We went in and sat where directed and listened as the ceremony was explained. The master performed the ceremony and we had our sugar sweet and powdered green tea and wandered out while the next group went in. Bridal parties and guests were everywhere and we practised determining which ladies were married from the way they tied their sashes. Various styles of wedding dresses including white, traditional or a mix. The coloured jumping fish were huge. We had an early lunch of bbq cooked at our table of delicately cut meat and creatively chopped vegetables. Ursula and I chose vegetarian and we had to display a picture of a radish so they didn't serve us the meat. More beautiful gardens then a park outside the emperor's moat for a group walk and more cherry blossom. A lovely cruise to another temple with a huge area for food and souvenirs. Bigger than Alice Springs show. We were then dropped off at a railway station and together we managed to organise ourselves on to the right train. It's amazing how many people surge around our hotel and surrounds and we are now used to both crossing the huge intersection and getting to the right tower in our hotel. A great day.

Saturday tour

Guide lovely but sometimes the accent tricky to catch.... Vegetable stable was actually baseball stadium. Kuriko explained the history of Japan thru various centuries, traditions, wars and religions. Visited temples, gardens and lunch at a posh Chinese restaurant where we chatted some more with some folk from the tour. We met couples from Amsterdam, Denmark and Thailand. Then we moved on to China town and then the lovely Gardens with historic buildings. We also heard that the sunny days we were having were unseasonable and that we had missed the best of the blossom. Also it was mentioned that although the ceremonies celebrating the blossoms are held at a set date the actuality of the flowering could be weeks either side. We were dropped off at Ginza station to catch 2 trains back to hotel. We were impressed by the logistics of the tour company with countless tours leaving from the main depot at the same time. Even numbers on each seat in the bus so we didn't squabble over window seats. Then the organised approach at the station with footprints where to stand or walk. We bought an American coffee in a café and ventured to the subway. Two different people assisted us buy the appropriate tickets at each station. One reluctantly and one volunteered. The latter was a lady with a mask who when she realised we were Australian said G' day. Gratefully arriving at the local 7/11 we bought provisions then a pizza for dinner. All is well.

Reaching Tokyo

Saturday Arrived at Narita Airport around 11.30 am Friday about 4 hours late having a longer stopover than expected. We had many highlights in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday included a golf buggy ride to our luxury hotel. The polite clerk sorted our booking and we had a beautiful twin room. Rested we ventured around the opulent complex and made some purchases, etc. We checked out and waited for a ride back to the airport. A Muslim man gratefully acknowledged Australia's concern and support in the search for the missing plane. As we boarded a lift to to the departure hall two Malayan young men sharing the lift congratulated us on our ability to still travel! At our age... we worked out! Eventually we boarded our plane and after three abortive takeoffs, thankfully only the taxiing. The engineers thought they had fixed it both times then decided that we should be off loaded. some passengers decided to change flights and the rest of the passengers thought it was great to be on another flight which was good. Two stewards were very friendly and chatted occasionally. Upon arrival at Narita Airport on Friday we located our bags easily which was a relief as we last saw them in Alice on Wednesday. Rest of day was spent concentrating on getting settled into our hotel and organising dinner. We were in bed and asleep by 7.30 having missed out on many hours of sleep. Lovely! Going on tour today. ......View at sunrise from bed!

From Tokyo

We safely arrived in Tokyo and are settled in our hotel. Off for a tour soon. All is great.

4 hr delay

unfortunately our plane was taken out of service as they could not repair an engine problem. We all disembarked and are now leaving about 4 hrs late.  All is well, very tired passengers at 2.45 am. All is well.

Resting in KL

Well we are in a luxury hotel resting after a comfortable flight. We had a lovely breakfast and lots of refreshments. I watched a sad movie with subtitles. When we arrived we wandered around trying to establish how to change 2 single rooms in two hotels to a twin room. Finally mission impossible complete.

Planned Itinerary for trip to Japan / Broome / Darwin

Wed. 9 Apr 2014 17.10pm Depart Alice Springs for Darwin
QF 1938 Staying overnight at Rydges Darwin Airport Hotel

Thu.10 Apr 2014 05.40am Depart Darwin
Malaysian Airline MH144 Arrive   09.00am
Depart Kuala Lumpur 23.30 Malaysian Airline MH 88

Fri. 11 Apr 2014 07.40am
Arrive Tokyo Narita
Check In: Takanawa: Minato-ku, Tokyo Accommodation: Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Main Tower)

Sat 12 Apr 2014 Tour: Kamakura, Yokohama & Tokyo Bay Day
ºCruise along ancient cities of Kamakura and Yokohama
ºthe Great Buddha towering at approximately 13 meters (43 feet),
º1,200 year-old Hasedera Temple,
ºTsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine,
ºYokohama Chinatown, Sankeien Japanese Garden
ºsymbolic Yokohama Bay Bridge and Tokyo Bay, - tour bus.

Sun 13 Apr 2014: Dynamic Tokyo Tour
ºpanoramic view from Tokyo Tower
ºtraditional Japanese tea ceremony at Happoen Japanese gardens
ºlunch - former manor, the Chinzanso restaurant,
ºstroll along the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace Plaza.
ºBoard a cruise at Hinode Pier - Sumida River to Asakusa.
ºBrowse the colorful stores lining the Nakamise walkway
ºSensoji Temple,
ºGinza, shopping and entertainment district.

Mon 14 Apr 2014: Mt. Fuji - Hakone 1 Day Tour (Shinkansen)
ºFuji Visitor Center
ºHakone, - cruise boat and travel across Lake Ashi to Hakone-en Garden.
º take the ropeway up Mt. Komagatake
ºspectacular panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and the valley below.
ºreturn to Tokyo by the famous bullet train.
ºTour itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions and or weather.

Wed. 16 Apr 2014 10.30am Depart Tokyo Narita
Malaysian Airline MH89 16.45  Arrive Kuala Lumpur
22.15 Depart Kuala Lumpur MH145 Malaysian Airline

Thur. 17 Apr 2014 04.50am Arrive Darwin
10.50 Depart Darwin for Broome Air North TL332 12.15
Arrive Broome 12.15 Via Kununurra

Tue. 22 Apr 2014 13.10 pm Depart Broome
Air North TL333 Via Kununurra
17.30pm Arrive Darwin

Fri. 25 Apr 2014 14.40pm Depart Darwin
QF1939 16.40pm Arrive Alice Springs

I am now back in Alice and back at work. I had a week catching up with sleep and etc., with some sightseeing and shopping trips in Perth with Phyl. Then it was time for the final pack and say farewell to Phyl after almost a month. This week back in Australia was great as we were able to chat about perceptions, ideas and situations we had shared or had scanty memories of. It seemed odd boarding the plane without Phyl and the others but its finally time to return to Alice, unpack, catch up with friends and reread all the pamphlets and information gathered during this amazing time. Oh and of course checked out all the photos. The trip to Israel and Jordan was such a great opportunity to visit such an ancient and historic land which I have read and heard about for decades! To actually visit some sites recorded both in history books, the Torah and the Bible was mind blowing. It was all memorable but the places that stood out for me were: visiting the Western Wall, the creek where David collected his stones to fight Goliath, the Sea of Galilee, Shiloh where Samuel grew up and the garden tomb. There are heaps more memories too walking on excavated roads 4,000 years old, seeing the sparse wilderness country, the hills of Moab and Samaria. The list goes on! If you can manage a trip to Israel and Jordan I recommend it. Shalom.

......Sunrise from our plane window over Western Australia ....... Perth We are safely back in Australia. The first flight was 10+hours with a 10 hour stopover at Bangkok where we booked a room to shower and had a rest for a few hours. All the airports and border crossings are so security conscious that it's quite disconcerting and daunting as rules can change and no bottles of water can be taken through the checkpoint and purchases can be confiscated. Body pat downs are quite normal if the scan seems to show up something irregular. I saw two patches of “material or thickness” on my scan but knew nothing was there so all was good, I was cleared after the lady security guard patted me down. On the way home at Tel Aviv airport, I had to identify some liquid in my Toiletries bag and stated that none of the contents had been purchased or obtained in Israel or Jordan. I was the only one detained from our group and Mandy and Phyl waited penitently for me to be processed. We organised a quick meal and last minute purchases I had to have a small Israeli flag.and finally bordered the flight. The El Al flight was heaps better than the flight to Israel and the Thai one more uncomfortable but hey we are home safely. I also made duty free purchases on each flight! We were met by Phyl's neighbor after a very quick check by customs we went back to Phyl’s place. The customs chap interviewed the 3 of us intrepid travelers together and just believed us and disposed of the orange peel and seeds I had accidentally packed. What a great adventure! I am ready for the next one!

........ 4. The Jordan Flag across from our hotel in Eilat .........Day 14: Thursday 25 April Departure: Eilat/Bangkok Eilat: Eilat / Timna Park / Wall of Tears / Park of the Australian Soldier Our last day in Israel was spent travelling from one end of Israel to almost the other, well to Tel Aviv where we started from. We headed out from our luxurious hotel early and travelled to Timna Park to watch a movie of how the Egyptians used to mine there and also visit a full size 3. Replica of the Tabernacle. Wow it was great. I kept remembering how hesitant I was in my planning an overseas trip and how my friends encouraged me to go ahead. I am very grateful for all your support. I didn't think I could do everything but I could do more than one chap. The trip has been fabulous and this extension tour is great. We have had some scheduled stops and one spontaneous one. It was at an artist’s property where he has created a wall, 2.The Wall of Tears, which depicts Holocaust victims in various poses in position with a replica of Jesus on the cross (7 panels in all) and its very moving. Then we moved on to the 1.Australian Light Horse memorial at Beer Sheva and we ate Anzac biscuits sitting at the base of the statue. We farewelled the people leaving for various parts of the world and joined the queue back home to Australia via Bangkok.

Day 13: Wednesday 24 April. Petra & Wadi Rum (Valley of Pegs or Valley of the Moon)...... Carvings in rocks of Lawrence of Arabia

The Bedouin Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

Petra - The Transportation

The Canyon into the "City" and the Treasury

Lots of buildings to investigate and lots of activity

The canyon entrance and the guards of the Treasury

Day 12 .. Jordan / Crusader Castle / Mosaic factory

Jabbok river & Mt. Nebo

Jerash and call to worship ... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Day 13: Wednesday 24 April. Petra & Wadi Rum (Valley of Pegs or Valley of the Moon) We had an early morning start and drove the short distance to Petra Visitors Centre where we hired a "chariot" to take Phyl and I to the see all the sites including the Treasury, the carved temples and dwellings. Our driver did drive slower when I asked but it was rough going over the Roman cobble streets. We laughed and screamed at the bumps both ways. The hawkers were continuous and some were more polite than others. Then we drove into town to have lunch and went on to a Bedouin community for more shopping and a jeep ride around the countryside called Wadi Rum. This area is renowned apparently for its extreme sports, but we just did mild jeep rides! The community definitely tried to show us a good time and the sun was quite strong and I opted to stay inside the jeep and not sit in the back where the tourists usually sit! We were shown portraits of Lawrence of Arabia carved into the rock, also it was explained how certain rocks could be used for makeup and certain plants for washing hands. Then we drove to the border to cross back into Israel for our final day. A good but long day, we slept well that night................................................................. Day 12 Tuesday 23 April Jerash, Madaba, Mt Nebo Jordan: Last night we met our Jordanian guide and a driver at the border when we crossed over from Israel and they are both lovely personable people. I realised when we checked into the hotel in Amman I had accidentally left my walking stick in the toilet at the border so I felt quite silly as the main reason I had brought it was for the Petra walk through the canyon. Our room looked luxurious but as we were viewing the sunset we discovered water in the carpet at the outside wall and there was also mold up the wall under the curtains! We decided to ignore it and go to sleep. We realised when chatting to the hotel staff and our tour leader we should have been relocated to another room. Well we will know for next time. We left early ready for our Jordan adventure. Our first stop was Jerash and Hadrian’s Gate a huge Roman excavation site. Unfortunately, during the bus trip north from Amman Phyl had gradually become quite unwell and both the guide and the bus driver showed great care and tenderness. We stopped along the way at Jabbok River the river where Jacob crossed when he went back to Esau. Our tour leader heard some good news too that the rest of our group scheduled to leave Israel last night did managed to leave. The strike and lockdown at the airport was overturned, what a relief for them all. The guide organised us (Phyl and I) to sit in a café/tourist spot until they returned from the walking tour. The staff gave Phyl firstly a herbal drink and after an hour a yoghurt and garlic dish to settle the stomach. I just drank water and chatted to Phyl. The culture in Jordan is quite different from Israel and we didn't see the same amount of tourists. There were lots of school groups walking around the huge area very eager to see the ruins. We passed very lush land as well as very arid. We saw more tent dwellings, including gypsies, than in Israel. We then drove up to Mount Nebo, where Moses had viewed the Promised Land before he died. We saw a Byzantine church (it was built in honour of Moses) being restored and were shown the beautiful mosaics which had been uncovered. After lunch we visited a Mosaic factory / workshop at which handicapped people are employed and they undertake exquisite work. Then we had a long drive down to Petra. Our hotel was plush and was actually a village converted to accommodation - amazing. We all checked in and had dinner, but Phyl went to the army hospital to be checked over and received treatment, a drip for rehydration and antibiotics and came back to sleep. The driver and the guide escorted Phyl and she was relieved to feel a bit better and to come back to our room to sleep

Day 11: Monday 22 April City of David, Garden Tomb, Amman: - Overlooking the City of David

City of David and a Royal Toilet

The Garden Tomb

Golgotha & setup of the Last Supper ............................................... Day 11: Monday 22 April City of David, Garden Tomb, Amman: Monday Early start and we had a full morning including a trip to The Old City of David, which was amazing and I didn't even do the tunnel walk which included a 4,000 year Canaanite excavation. Also I missed seeing a local baptising or cleansing pool of Siloam! Sitting back at the ticket office and souvenir shop we saw an old man in his yellow boxer shorts and slippers and realised he must have been planning to visit the pool, possibly hoping for healing waters. Our next stop was The Garden tomb which is manned by international volunteers who come for a couple of months each year. This was a very peaceful place except for the Arabic bus depot below and the hawkers outside. The traditional site of the‘Place of the Skull’ or ‘Golgotha’ is below the bus depot and the nose area has been cemented over, but the side really does look like a face. We then went on to do more last minute shopping and had a beautiful hot chocolate at the modern shopping mall before having our final lunch, a lovely traditional Passover meal with explanation of reclined eating on low lounges. Some of the group due to leave today checked into the community until flights resume, currently ceased due to industrial action. The Petra group headed off to Jordan in a different bus.

Day 9 Saturday 20 April Mt Scopus, Bethlehem, Herodian

Bethlehem and Shepherds Field On the way the the Herodian and The Church of the Rock ....................................... Day 10: Sunday 21 April Hebron, Shiloh and Samaria. - Driving through Samaria and preparations for the Passover Shilo Inside Hebron Synagogue and view over Samaria Day 10: Sunday 21 April Hebron, Shilo. This day we travelled in an armoured bus and we were subject to security situation, which thankfully was okay that week and thankfully we can see out of the window, we were worried that they would be barred or something. The Sabbath is over and shops are open and all food is available again. We have traversed the land that Abraham and the patriarchs walked. There are guards and fences to protect traffic from rock throwing and the worse. We drove through Jerusalem and then towards Samaria / Judea and the land of the prophets. On our way Stan our guide gave us some sobering news. The airline we are booked on is on strike. For the group who are going on to Petra are not immediately impacted. Hebron was very interesting and impacted me because of the Biblical heroes Abraham and Caleb especially. We walked through a synagogue in which there were both men and women worshipping and again we had to undergo certain protocol and there were security measures before entering. The area had been under Muslim rule a while ago and there was Arabic writing on the walls. Next was 1. Shilo and this was very interesting and impacted me because of the Biblical heroes, Samuel and Eli. Young Samuel was left with Eli the priest at a young age and grew up serving and waiting on God. It was really something standing where the Tabernacle had been house for years and then lost in battle causing Eli to fall off his chair and break his neck. But Samuel went on to be an amazing Priest and Judge to his people: Anointing first Saul and then David as King. We drove up to Samaria and Stan gave us a history lesson. It was raining and unfortunately the whole area was in mourning for their High Priest who had recently died and we could not visit the two museums that we were scheduled to visit. They people were in preparation for the Passover celebrations and we were able to see some of the outdoor preparations. We were entertained by the very narrow streets and the lack of traffic etiquette but somehow there were no volatile tempers or road rage but cars were moved out of the way and the bus was allowed to pass through. A tiring but fulfilling day, but I was glad I went along as it had been an optional day. We returned to our hotel in time to pack before dinner as we are all checking out in the morning. My friend Phyl had decided to have a rest and stayed back at the hotel. I was surprised to see that she had made both our beds and tidied up generally, one can get in a mess when living out of a suitcase and having early starts and latish nights. Day 9 Saturday 20 April Mt Scopus, Bethlehem, Herodian Saturday I had trouble uploading so this is yesterday’s news as well. We could only stop and look at Bethlehem as it isn’t safe to visit and again the Shepherds Field to the right was lit up by sunlight, each time it was pointed out the sun seemed to shine only on this field. We went drove on to the Herodian, one of Herod the Great’s palaces. He built this palace fortress after an invasion by the Parthians which almost resulted in the death of his mother. It’s set on a very high hill with a steep incline which would not be easy for an invading army. It was a wet and cold day so I pulled out my emergency raincoat, hence the look alike garbage bag outfit! Because of the steep steps, long distance and rain I stayed with a few others and climbed up, I think, some of the Mount of Olives to an Arab or Muslim coffee shop filled with men. We bought some take away coffees and sat opposite this colourful church, Church of the Rock, which had what seemed like a continuous service going on despite the hundreds and hundreds of tourists piling through, including us! We are continually having little adventures, one being losing my purse going into a cafe. Thankfully the bus driver found it on the bus. Again we walked in Herod's steps this time we battled the wind and rain. It's amazing all the checkpoints and border crossings we do. Also we noted the contrast between the Arab and the Jewish areas. We saw so many sights and sounds and so many tourists and buses. We had a lecture or chat that night by a pastor who had been injured in a bombing and is working with the Jews.