Traveling adventures

San Diego Zoo

2011-11-26T18:56:00.000-06:00

As I took a stroll down memory lane in Southern California, I decided to revisit the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. I had been to the San Diego Zoo as a child, but I was too young to remember.

Just after the entrance, I decided to start off on the left by the Skyfari East lift. I have to admit, the Meerkats sure are a cute animal. I remember a show on the Discovery Channel a while back, showing Meerkats and I think it was quite popular.

Just around from the Meercats were the Macaws, very colorful birds:

Just beside the Macaws was a medium sized pond with Spot-necked Otters. I tried to get a photo, but the Otters were quite playful this day. Also, this day the Zoo was very busy.

After watching the Otters, I walked over to the Fossa. I thought back for a minute. Most of these animals I had never heard of in my life. Some of them had interesting names, some looked a little funny, but sure enjoyed viewing them in their natural habitat.

After looking at the animals around the entrance, I decided to take a rest and take the Skyfari Lift to the back of the park. I knew that Balboa Park was a gem in downtown. I never knew that there was such a great view from the Skyfari Lift.

All through out the Zoo (except for the Polar areas) there were nice waterfall's or small island displays. Honestly, I wish I had something this nice in my yard.

I noticed a good size group of people around the Koala (which are not bears, they are marsupials.) These Koala's have a great idea, sleeping! I know they are nocturnal marsupials.

Giraffes have been a second favorite animal. I like the color patterns on their skin. This giraffe was a young one, but still tall enough. If I could have some as pets, that would be great.

When ever I see a camel, I always think of my friends in Israel. This camel, bless him, was going through a shedding phase.

The last area to visit was the Elephant Odyssey. I watched the elephant's walk around the area. I am amazed a how a huge animal could walk around so gracefuly.

A small look at home.

2011-11-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

As I looked through my photo albums, I debated as to my next blog post topic. I realized that I travel more often than I thought I had. I finally found one album to focus on. I took this trip in May 2010. I had decided to go back and see home again. I have been back home to Southern California 3 times since my family moved away in the early 1980's.

I had left the hotel in La Mesa, Ca and drove up I-15 to Escondido.

As I drove northward, I enjoyed my view. Since this trip was my first alone, I made sure I knew where I was going. I wanted to stay north of the border at all costs. As I drove eastward on CA-78, I knew that I was close to the Wild Animal Park. I was delighted to see this wonderful sign:

Just after the entrance, you are in front of the Aviary:

As I walked onward, I came to some wonderful ponds with some magnificent animals. If I am not mistaken, this is the Chilean Flamingo Lagoon and African Marsh:

Just over from the African Marsh are the Meerkat. Such fascinating animals:

After I watched the Meerkat play for a while, I turned to the Southern Pudu. I have to admit I had never hear of the Pudu before hand, and thought it was a strange name. But I also admit the Pudu is a nice looking animal almost like a short deer:

Just south of the Pudu, there was a nice Lagoon. There were all types of birds and fish to look at. Here is the view of the Lagoon:

After walking through the section with all types of birds, I noticed a huge balloon in the distance. I was curious as to what it was. I made my way down to the Balloon Safari (a new part since I last visited.)

After exiting the Balloon Safari, I moved onto the Heart of Africa. This is a new expansion since I last visited in 1981. Thankfully there was a tram ride, which made the viewing easier.

City Of David

2011-11-03T22:11:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, visiting the City of David was the most exciting part of the trip. I had read about it when I was growing up in church. The opportunity to walk through one of the oldest cities in the world was amazing. In a sad way, I was given some courage to visit the City of David after watching a 60 Minutes news piece when reporter Leslie Stahl bashed they Mayor of Jerusalem and Mr. Speilman (sp?) from the City of David. Leslie Stahl internationally proved she had no clue as to what she was doing in this "news piece." The clip can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4QjFMwotg . OK, enough about my ranting, on to the tour.

The tour began with a great view point of the valleys around the City of David. This is stop #1 on the map:

You can see the Old City walls from the Beit Hatzofeh Lookout.

Here is the neighborhood of Silwan.

Here is a great view of the Mt. of Olives.

Next we walked down the spiral staircase to Station #2, the Large Stone Structure:

Next stop is #3, called The Royal Quarter (Area G.)

(I am told that this was the first bathroom in Israel.)

Next we moved onto the 4th stop, Ancient Tombs Lookout:

"Thus said my Lord God of Hosts: Go in to see that steward, that Shebna,

in charge of the palace:What have you here, and whom have you here, That

you have hewn out a tomb for yourself here? O you who have hewn your

tomb on high; O you who have hollowed out for yourself an abode in the cliff!"

Isaiah 22:15-16

Next we moved onto stop #5, the Entrance to Warren's Shaft:

Here are ceramic oil lamps from the 8th century BCE, about 2,800 years old.

Here are some holemouth jars from the 7-8th century BCE, over 2,700 years old.

Here is a plaque talking about Warren's Shaft and the water source.

Here are Martin and I walking down into Warren's Shaft, stop #6 The Secret Tunnel.

Here is stop #7 The Canaanite Pool and Fortifications of the Spring House and stop #8 Gihon Spring:

Martin and I proceeded to the Canaanite Tunnel (dry tunnel) and skipped Hezekiah's Tunnel (wet tunnel):

To the left is the Canaanite Tunnel.

Above is the entrance to Hezakiah's Tunnel (about a 45 mintue walk.)

Walking through the Canaanite Tunnel takes about 10 minutes.

Next we moved onto stop #11, the Walls of Ancient Jerusalem (Area E):

(This is one of my favorite views.)

After a long walk along the fenced path along the wall's (in the upper right in the above photo,) we moved along to stop #12, The Weill Excavations (Tombs of the House of David:)

I found this very interesting:

After Martin and I left the above inscription, we came cross this house, stop #13. I stood and looked at it, and thought I recognized it. I could not remember where I had seen it, and about a few weeks ago finally remembered. On the 60 Minutes news piece "City of David" by Leslie Stahl. Leslie Stahl had interviewed the family that live in this house (you can view it in the YouTube link listed at the beginning of this blog post.)

We turned past the above house and had a great view of stop #14, Three Valleys Lookout:

After leaving this area, we exited the gated section. I have to admit, I did feel a little uneasy leaving the gate. Knowing that a Jew and goyim (Gentile) were walking in a largely Arab neighborhood was unerving. We walked down a very steep road towards stop #15, The Shiloah (Siloam Pool):

The above picture shows what the Shiloah (Siloam) Pool area looked like.

Next was the longest 500 meters of my life. I have another admission: I am claustrophobic. Walking through this tight space. Here is stop #16, Entrance tot he Western Steped Street:

Looking back down where we had just entered.

I knew being tall has disadvantages.

This oppertunity to stand up and strech was very short lived.

AH! Fresh air and light!

After Martin and I exited the Western Stepped Street, we came into an opening and saw some recent excivations. This dig was not marked that I saw, so I do not know what this is:

Tower of David.

2011-11-02T21:41:00.000-05:00

Today's post covers the Tower of David Museum. I found many exhibits in the museum very interesting. Sadly I could not take photos in any of the inside exhibits, about half of the visit to the museum. I like when a museum will give an illustration with a color coded explanation covering the time periods. This helps me understand an exhibit.

We start off just inside the Citadel:

Next, I walked to the first station which is at the top of a tower giving you a great view of the inside of the Citadel:

On to the next station. Here I am on top of a tower, giving a great view of the Old City. This plaque give you some well known sights around the Citadel:

Here is the first picture of the great panoramic view:

The two grey domes in the middle of the photo are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On the middle right side, you can see the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum and Hebrew University.

The tall tower in the center is the Church of the Redeemer. Just to the right, you can barely see the Agusta Victoria (what ever that is...). Sadly, the Dome of the Rock (I call it the Shack off Ill Repute) is very visible. Just to the right, you can see the Russian Church A-Tur.

I like this view the best. Just to the left you can see the Mt. of Olives. The small white dome in the middle is the Hurva Synagogue, a very beautiful building.

Here is a elevated view from another tower at the Citadel:

As I walked through the exhibits, I was able to get a great view of the inside. I am amazed that the age of the buildings, still standing hundreds of years after they were built.

I like when there is an exhibit that gives detailed views of the different time periods of the area. This was a great way for me to see how history has happened:

Here is a beautifully carved stone that was used in the vaulted tunnels in the Huldah Gates:

Here is another great exhibit showing the Old City during the Byzantine Period:

Here is a large water cistern from the Roman-Byzantine period (4th and 5th centuries CE):

A little further on, I came across some ruins from the Hasmonean (1st century BCE) and the Herodian Period (2nd century BCE):

Here are two great views just before I left the museum.:

Jerusalem Archeological Park

2011-11-01T20:03:00.001-05:00

This post has to be my favorite so far. My visit to the Jerusalem Archeological Park was much enjoyed. I tried to take my time, seeing as much as I could. I recommend the book "The Complete Guide to the Temple Mount Excavations" by Eilat Mazar for a detailed look of today's post.

Above picture shows different artifacts from the archeological dig (l to r):

1. Ornamental fragment from the Huldah Gate (2nd Temple Period)
2. A stone from the royal stoa built by King Harod in the Temple Mount.
3. Byzantine capital.
4. Capitol from the Umayyd palace.
5. Pillar bearing an inscription, mentioning Emperor Vespesian and his son Titus.

Here is the open area just after I entered the park:

I entered the building you see on the right hand side (in the picture above) and enjoyed the exhibits that showed different coins that had been found, showing the commercial importance Jerusalem is:

After I looked through the exhibits, I exited the building to walk around the exivations. To the left (where the 4 door ways are), there were shops in the arch structure. Also, there were shops to the right hand side abutting the western walls. Here is the Herodian Street that was below what is called Robinson's Arch (that led up to the Temp Mount):

Here is what is left of the impressive arch stairway that led from the Herodian Stree to the Temple Mount:

Here are the massive stones that were pushed from the Temple Mount walls onto the the Herodian Street below. With the massive weight of the stones falling, the street below (I found out there were vaulted rooms below the Herodian Street) was severly damaged.

Here is a great shot showing the size of the archeological dig:

A little further on, I was able to take a great shot of the Robinson Arch (with a plaque showing what it origionaly looked like.) On the right hand side of the top of the stone wall was where the Priest would blow the trumpet announcing the beginning and end of the Sabbath.

Next I walked to the Huldah Gates. The Gates were named after the Phrophetess Huldah in II Kings 22:4,11; 25:15-20 and II Chronicles 34:22. There are 2 sets of Huldah Gates. The first is called the Western Huldah Gate (also called the Double Gate) was build in the Second Temple period. They were rebuilt in the Umayyda period (7th-8th centry CE). There is an inverted incription in Latin just above the lintel from the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian (2nd century CE).

The second set of Huldah Gates (also called The Tripple Gate) were built in the Second Temple period (1st century BCE to 1 century CE.)

The Huldah Gates, with the aid of a broad staircase, led you through tunnels to the Temple Mount. Here is a rendering of what the Huldah Gates looked like:

Just before I left the Archeological Park, I came across the Umayyad Palace:

Trains, Haifa and Gilad Shalit.

2011-10-31T21:35:00.001-05:00

I had thought about adding the Jerusalem Archelogical Park, but that might be a post all in its self.

Martin and I wanted to see Haifa. We debated about taking the bus or the train. Since I have a facination with trains, the train decision was obvious. We took the train to Savidor Center in Tel Aviv. When Martin and I left Israel, we had not figured out which platform to be at for the correct train. I will have to find a time table book (which I saw different people looking at.)

I like the open layout of the stations. Here is the Savidor Center:

Martin and I sat back for the long ride ahead. The countryside was amazing. I have traveled across the United States many times, but nothing compares to Israel. This picture was taken just south of Haifa (not the best photo):

Martin and I took the bus up to The Colony Hotel (thanks Sheli for the sugguestion) not far from the Haifa HaShmona station. I was very impressed with the neighborhood around The Colony. Should I ever have a house built, I would like it to look similar to The Colony. Here is a front view of The Colony:

Here is a view looking out of the room:

Martin sure enjoyed the room as well:

Here is the view looking (north) towards the Port of Haifa:

Although I am not fond of the Bahai Shrine, I still found it amazing to look at:

Martin took a tour of the of the Bahai Shrine the next morning. I sat near the train station waiting for him afterwards. We boarded the train for the long ride back to Jerusalem. I was not used to having security check at a train station, but then I remembered where I was. The view from the train (again) was priceless. Here is a view of the Mediteranian Sea:

Living in the United States, media coverage of issues in the Middle East are spotty at best. I had hear about the situation with Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit. The majority of the news that I heard from was through my friend Uri Gobey and his Israel Muse News blog on FaceBook. I was a bit angered at times, becase what happens in the Middle East effects the Western World. Martin and I passed by this tent vigal for Gilead Shalit many times while we stayed in Jerusalem:

I continued to follow Gilead Shalit through the Israel Muse News blog, and was finally happy to learn that he was finally released.

Yafo Rd, Yad Vashem and Jerusalem views.

2011-10-30T16:56:00.002-05:00

Martin and I had debated for a while about going to Yad VaShem, with Martin being Jewish and me having a lot of German ancestry. We finally decided to go. We took the bus into town, and then took the light rail the rest of the way. Here is the the light rail station at King George St and Yafo Rd.:

The ride on the light rail was amazing. Martin and I enjoyed the oppertunity to sit back and see Jerusalem. I recomend using the light rail if you are ever in town. As the light rail came to the end of the line at Har Herzl (Mt. Herzl), Martin and I had a great view of western Jerusalem, near Ein Kerem. Here is a great view from the last stop:

Here was a plaque (of couse in Hebrew...) giving the names of the mountains and attractions:

Next, Martin and I started walking towards Yad VaShem. I have to admit, I like the fact that the signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English. I have yet to understand Hebrew very well:

Here is a photo looking westward showing Ein Kerem and John the Baptist Church:

The path slowly meandered towards Yad VaShem, giving one a great view of western Jerusalem. The name Yad VaShem ( יד ושם ) is taken from the Bible:

"Even unto them will I give in mine house and within

my walls a place and a name better than of sons and

daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that

shall not be cut off."

Isaiah 56:5

I took these pictures just before we entered Yad VaShem:

I did not see the notice not to take photos while in Yad VaShem.

Here is the view looking outside of Yad VaShem:

Next, I made my way to the Childrens Memorial. I have to admit, this is the most sobering Memorial I have ever been to.

After I exited the Childrens Memorial, I came to the Education Department. Yad VaShem has an impressive educational department. Not one bit of information is left unstudied in the Holocaust. Here is new construction on Yad VaShem:

After our mind opening visit to Yad VaShem, Martin and I decided to return back our aparment for the day. We took the light rail back to the city:

Here is a view of the Old City near the Old City Hall (I will never get old of looking at the Old City):

The light rail (called City Pass) opened up the friday before Martin and I flew in. Fare was suspended the first 2 weeks of operation. Despite collecting no fare, the light rail was packed the entire time:

This photo was taken along Yafo Rd near where Martin and I would disembark:

Dung Gate, Mt. of Olives and Ophel

2011-10-29T23:27:00.000-05:00

As the tour of the Old City ended, Uri, Tali, Martin and I walked our way to the Dung Gate. Here is a great view of Eastern Jerusalem:

As we came closer to the Dung Gate, we paused for a view of the Mt. of Olives. The view was amazing. A majority of the Mount is the resting place for Jewish people.

The four of us walked our way out of the Dung Gate, to find the police clearing the area ouside the Dung Gate and an empty bus in the road. I took a picture of the bus, and noticed a back pack still on the bus (more on this in a bit):

Next we walked south of the Dung Gate, towards the Ophel. The Ophel is known as the Inner Citadel and included the palace and royal administrative center (this is covered in the book "The Complete Guide to the Temple Mount Excavations" by Eilat Mazar).

The Ophel is located 3 times in the Bible:

"He (King Jotham) built the high (upper) gate

of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of

Ophel he built much"

II Chronicles 27:3

"Now after this he (King Manasseh) built a wall

outside the city of David, on the west side of

Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the

fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised

it up a very great height, and put captains of war

in all the fenced (fortified) cities of Judah."

II Chronicles 33:14

"More over the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the

place over against the water gate toward the east,

and the tower that lieth out.

"After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over

against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the

wall of Ophel."

Nehemiah 3:26-27

As we walked north along the Eastern Wall of the Old City, we came closer to the Mt. of Olives. To see the resting place of many Jewish people was amazing. There must be 10's of thousands of graves.

I believe this is the tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter (which Pharaoh I do not know:)

We continued to walk north along the Eastern Wall, taking in the view. We came to the Golden Gate and the Gate of Mercy:

We stood here for a minute looking at the great view of the eastern side of Jerusalem. Here is the Church of All Nations:

Here is a great view looking eastward of the Eastern Wall towards Mt. Scopus:

As we walked back towards the Dung Gate for a bit of a rest, we noticed that the bus was still sitting in the road. All the buses were empty and the bomb squad was on location. After a few minutes the back pack was detonated. That will teach someone to leave their back pack on a bus in Israel.

As the tour slowly came to an end, we walked along Ma'ale Ha-Shalom St to Mt. Zion (where Oskar Schindler is laid to rest.) Again, we had another great view of the southern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. This photo is looking south towards Giv'at Khananya:

Just before we headed to the parking deck, we came across this building:

In the bottom center of this photo, you will see a box on a thin wire. This building and box was used to send supplies to the Israeli soldiers during the 1948 War (if I remember correctly.)

Old City Jerusalem.

2011-10-28T19:01:00.000-05:00

Martin and I woke up early to be ready for our friends to pick us up. Uri and Tali were taking us on a tour of Old City Jerusalem.

Left, is the photo of Tali taken around Ashkenazi Square. Right, the photo of Martin, myself and Uri at the Jaffa Gate.

Tali and Uri gave Martin and I a great tour of the Old City. Below is a little fuzzy photo of a typical market street:

As we slowly made our way around the Old City, looking at all the things that I could stuff my suitcase with. I decided to not buy much, knowing that I would drive security crazy at Ben Gurion. We found our self in the Muslim Quarter. I was not 100% comfortable, but being with friends I was "grinin' and bearing" where I was. We steped outside of the Damascus Gate:

Next, Tali and Uri took Martin and I up to the roof of the old Austrian Hospice. The only drawback was the elevator in the Hospice was not working. That ment climbing a few flight of stairs. I am not fond of climbing stairs at the moment, but I knew it was worth it.

Tali and Uri tried to see if we could walk up on the Temple Mount, but I guess we came on the "wrong day." I was upset, but tried not to show it. I was not happy being at the whim of a Muslim, I wanted to walk on the Temple Mount. This was as close as we could go:

As we made our way around the Old City, we just had to take a trip back to the Western Wall. No trip to Jerusalem is complete with out a trip to the Western Wall. Here is Martin, Uri and Tali in the Western Wall Plaza:

Here is another great shot to show you how large the stones of the Western Wall are:

Martin celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall (could not think of a better location.)

Here is a small synagogue located on the Western Wall Plaza. I was impressed to see how many people were there praying. Uri told me that the large wooden structure was the Ark of The Torah:

Next, Uri and Tali took Martin and I to a great observation point that gave us a great view of the Western Wall Plaza and the archeological dig underneath:

Next we toured the Roman Cardo (street) near the Western Wall. In the first picture is how the Cardo looked:

Here is a view of a synagogue that was originally destroyed in the 1948 War, and recently rebuilt:

Jerusalem, capitol of Israel.

2011-10-27T17:21:00.001-05:00

After a few days in Tel Aviv, Martin and I borded a train and made the great ride to Jerusalem.

As the train rode eastward, we were taken through the most remarkable landscape on earth. To see Biblical prophecy fulfilled (where the Jews come back home and make Israel bloom.)

More pictures of crops growing:

Just as the train approached the western hills of Jerusalem, this interesting military (?) tower appeared:

Here is the apartment flat rental Martin and I shared in the Shikun Rasko neighborhood of Jerusalem:

Martin and I hade a great view northwest from our apartment. The air was crisp and clear. We would wash our clothes in the shower and then dry them on the fence you see.

Martin and I then took the bus to the Old City later that night. As we walked through the Old City, it was great to walk where the Prophets, common people and Jesus from the Bible were not that long ago.

Above is the Cardo (Roman street) near Ashkenazi Square. To walk through the city with the richest history was an experience that can not be seen anywhere in the world.

Pictured here is a giant Menorah (made of solid gold and will be used in the 3rd Temple), which overlooks the Mount of Olives:

As Martin and slowly made our way through the Old City, I could see the Western Wall come closer. Growing up I would see the Western Wall on tv and in pictures, not quite understanding the meaning to the Jews. Standing in the Western Wall Plaza, I could see the imense size of the Wall. Surprisingly, what you see right now is just a small fraction of the entire Western Wall. Approaching the Western Wall I was in awe of how large each stone is.

Here is Martin, the first time "home" and the first of his family to see "home:"

Israel, around Tel Aviv.

2011-10-26T18:25:00.000-05:00

I recently traveled to Israel. A trip of a lifetime to say the least. I had planed this trip for a while. I wish I had studied Hebrew a little better than I did.

Above is the arrival hall in Ben Gurion International (actually in the city of Lod). I like the open layout, easy to navigate through.

My friend Uri took me on a short tour of Tel Aviv and Old Jafa. Here is the Old Jafa area showing Tel Aviv in the distance:

The Mediterainian Sea was the clearest blue that I have seen. I did not swim this time, but I always have next time.

Uri droped me off at the apartment rental, which was great. My sence of direction is scary bad! I waited in the apartment, actually took a nap. I took the train to Ben Gurion to pick up my friend Martin. This was his first time in Israel, and the first in his family to see "home." Martin and I went out to dinner on the beach. Watching the sea while eating is priceless. After dinner (about 1 am) we crashed at the apartment. We finally woke up (no idea what time), we took a stroll along the Pramenade. The beach was amazing. Here are Martin and I at the beach:

Later that night Martin and I took a stroll around the apartment. I tell you, I travel around the world and look at what I find:

Uri and his friend Tali joined us for dinner this night, but not at Pizza Hut. All 4 of us had a great dinner and took the time to know more about each other.

This was about all of Tel Aviv that Martin and I saw.

Next blog entry, the arrival of Jerusalem.

2011-10-24T17:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a video of Jerusalem just outside the Jaffa Gate. Sort of boring, but I like it.

If you want to view my videos of travels, please check out my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/1979RoadFan.

First entry...

2011-10-24T17:29:00.000-05:00

Ok folks, this is my first entry into my blog. I was never good at keeping a blog for long. If you see my name out there on many different blogs, that means I never lasted...lol. So, this is my latest attempt to share with the world about my life.

This is a picture of me rencetly in Tel Aviv:

I had so much fun in Israel, I will go back soon.

Here is another of me at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:

I am the one in the middle. Oh, to finally touch the Wall that many Biblical Prophets were at. There is no other place in the world that compares to Jerusalem.