Tel Aviv isn’t the capital of Israel, but I think its the centre of most things here (apart from the religion side of it all, in that case its the capital, Jerusalem) all the money is here, things are expensive, equaling England in cost. Tel Aviv has the nickname “The Bubble” because its oblivious to all the attrocities going on around the country.
Thats the business district of Tel Aviv, looks pretty god damn modern eh, hands up who thought Israel didn’t have anything like this.
Its the same shots as above but taken at night.
There’s a lot of culture in this city, all types of restaurant to eat, many open minded people, lots of amazing street art (see my next post). There’s many houses that have been decorated in a variety of different ways.
Another cat! There’s so many here in Tel Aviv, so many street cats! And there’s a pretty wall, there’s many decorated houses here in Tel Aviv.
Like I said, there’s many decorated houses here!!
Since being here there have been three one minute silences, one for the holocaust, and two for the soldiers, each silence was marked by an alarm sounded all over the city, I guess its the same alarm that would mark an attack if there is one. On the day of the third alarm which was at 10am parties started at 12 midday, because Israel was celebrating its 60th anniversary, Israel is 60 years old! Young country eh! Its still in this crazy state of flux since its still young, not had time to settle down yet. The Palestinians at the same time mourned 60th year since they lost their home land, but you can’t really talk about this to most people here, its a touchy subject as I find out more and more, you just can’t talk about it!
More modern builds of Tel Aviv, and check out all the Israeli flags in the second picture, something you’ll see more of scattered around all the pictures I’ve taken, good or bad thing? Im not so sure. I know that if I see too many Union Jacks its not a good thing eh, massive patriotism just aint cool, or is it??
Lee works in the mall in the base of this building, the rest of it is offices and an observatory on the top, Im not sure what you observe from up there. And there’s that flag again.
Parts of Tel Aviv are super modern, far more modern than anything in Manchester, which makes sense since the country is only 60 years old, im sure though that most people in England when they think about Israel they think about camels and bible times, it just aint like that!
Orthodox Jews!!!! Such fancy clothes they wear. Lee tells me they wear these clothes to be less provacative, so as not to alure the opposite sex, smart and understated, keeping with tradition, I do like the hats they wear. And see that flag in that window! Someone smashed the window and set fire to the flag! Hmmmmmm…..
See the guy in the first picture with the black thing on his head, thats Teflin, something Jewish men do. Theres a beautiful cat with a large head, looks kinda human doesn’t he?
Im sure most people here if asked would say they are Jewish, almost everyone im sure! But for the most part they don’t really do anything about it, just like me, im a Christian since I was christened but I don’t do shit about it, im an athiest really. But there are more religious people here than there are in England, I see lots of people in the large brimmed hats with peyots (long curly sideburns), and many people in the little skull caps. Whenever I go walking around Tel Aviv I see a group of orthodox guys trying to get people to do Teflin (I think thats the correct way to use the word “do Teflin”). Teflin is a set of 2 little boxes with a prayer in each one, and leather straps to tie one of the boxes to your arm and the other to your forehead, if you get someone to do it then you get some kudos from God, and you help someone (if you believe in it that is). You strap it on when you say your prayers i’ve gathered, it gets you that little bit closer to god, kind of boosts your connection to god, there’s always someone having a go when I see them, they ask everyone they see if they want to have a go, they’ve asked me a few times, I always say “Lo” hebrew for no, I think if they found out I wasn’t Jewish they wouldn’t let me do it 
maybe I should have a go, see how far I get, oh yeah another thing, its just for the men, women have no business doing Teflin.
Sheesh knows what kind of beast that foot belongs too, looks like a large reptile, but I think its a large bird, a bird of prey. That big lump of a building is the InterContinental David Hotel, I think one day i’ll go and check out the lobby, see whats going on in there.
Funny lines on a dog there. And some concrete cats.
There’s a lot of dog lovers in Tel Aviv, lots of pedigree dogs as well, so many people out walking their dogs everyday, im gonna try and get some work as a dog walker, I think ill enjoy it
Another cat!! These guys came out of nowhere and started doing this street performance, it was really funny as well! Lots of interacting with the crowd and being silly.
They started hassling this guy in blue, who had a gun, I think he was a soldier not in his uniform. They started yanking at the strap of the gun and got all tangled up in it, he looked a bit panicked but went along with it…..it was really funny!!
Then one of them climbed on top of that car, denting the roof a hell of a lot! Whilst another climbed to the top of the lampost, I didnt see him get up there but it was pretty quick!
More lampost business. And a hug! The woman getting hugged I got talking to after the show, she wanted a copy of that picture, I directed her to this site so.. Hello if your reading this! And leave a comment at the bottom of the page 
Thats it, thats all I can be bothered writing about Tel Aviv at the moment, im sure i’ve missed out loads of things that have interested me, but I want to move on to some other things, im sure i’ll write more when things come to me. Look forward to hearing from you all here.
Theres one more new post under this one, called “Stories from the End of India” plus two more coming by the end of today (hopefully), so they will be above this one.
8 comments
Rick and LIsa says:
May 15, 2008 at 14:36 (UTC 0)
hey bro, good to hear from you, i am going out of my mind with boredom this broken wrist is doing my head in. send me your email address, speak soon
Rick and LIsa says:
May 15, 2008 at 14:38 (UTC 0)
owe yeah that foot looks creepy, how big was it
Indie says:
May 15, 2008 at 14:39 (UTC 0)
my email is Indie9999@yahoo.com
Annelies Lammers says:
May 18, 2008 at 07:39 (UTC 0)
I like the pic’s of Tel Aviv. Nice insight from the city. All we see of Israel on tv is about the war. Good to know there is a normal city life going on there too; people living their lives.
Enjoy!!!!
xxx
Brian says:
May 18, 2008 at 08:51 (UTC 0)
Hi Indie, you should check out Yafo (Jaffa)which is the oldest (called Joppa in the Bible), most scenic (on a hill with a fort and an old port) and most Arab part of Tel Aviv. Only two or three miles south of the centre.
Have you been to Mike’s Place yet? (a live music bar on the beach, bombed in 2002 by two British Muslims). Give my regards to Asaf, the owner, although he eventually, after I’d been going to the one in Jerusalem for 18 months, threw me out for singing in “tongues”, and to Barry, an English guy he sometimes plays with who does a good version of Eric Clapton’s In The Presence of The Lord (from the Blind Faith album.
Brian says:
May 18, 2008 at 09:14 (UTC 0)
PS See Eric and Stevie Winwood (who was in Blind Faith with him) play the song at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFlgDeA6Wog&feature=related
If the first, slow part bores you, wait for the guitar solo starting at 2min 43sec in.
I was at their inaugural free concert in Hyde Park in 1969 (where they were outperformed by Richie Havens, I have to say!)
PPS Do you your site to be a place for airing the Israel/Palestinian issue? I’ve got plenty to say if you do!
John says:
May 18, 2008 at 20:08 (UTC 0)
Great pictures Ste, that foot thing is fooking nut’s looks like a croc’s foot
Good to see you updated this old place
isn’t teflin some kind of T-Towel
Batty says:
May 27, 2008 at 12:17 (UTC 0)
Looks as though there are Reptilian creatures at work in Isreal (see David Ickes theries)! Creepy foot thing eh!
Tel Aviv looks interesting. Nothing like I thought it would be!
Bet those street performers would’ve been upset if his gun had gone off eh! Ohh err!
Peace!
Batty