I began planning our trip to Finland six months in advance. The truth is that I never got to traveled in the winter with snow attractions, and I was very excited by the decision to fly there.

I planned a one-and-a-half-day course in Helsinki for Roman and I, from there on to Saariselka Lapland and Rovaniemi, then back to Helsinki and from there to Israel.

On the way back we had only a few hours in the city and so we stored our suitcases at the Helsinki airport. It is possible to put the suitcase in a locker or luggage storage service and the cost is € 6 per suitcase (for a locker or suitcase storage). This is a very good option for those who want to leave the airport for a few hours and then come back.

Our trip took place in late January and early February. There was cold weather that required advanced preparation, such as warm clothing for the trip. You can also buy clothes and equipment in Helsinki if you’re missing anything.

Tips before traveling to Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland. It is a compact city that can easily be explored on foot. You will find design, architecture, culture and shopping, and there are things to do there all year long. In the winter it is very magical and in summer you can visit its large parks, forests and lakes.

SIM card

The SIM card surprised us. I was sure it would be expensive because Finland is considered an expensive country, but it was really cheap. The card cost 7 euros per week for unlimited internet. We bought it at a convenience store at the airport before leaving it. If you can use an ESIM, I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Attractions in Helsinki

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Helsinki

We slept in a charming Airbnb apartment in a relatively central location (15 minutes walk to the train station and the city center).

You can search for places to stay in Helsinki via Booking.

How to get to Helsinki

We found a flight with a stopover in Amsterdam with KLM. Note: Do not take a flight with too short a stopover in Amsterdam. It is a large airport and you may miss the connecting flight especially if there is some delay.

Getting from Helsinki Airport to the city center

It’s very simple. There is a direct train from the airport to the city center and it arrives every 10 minutes. In the convenience store where we bought the SIM card, we also purchased a train ticket which costs € 5 and is valid for two hours from the moment you first use it. This means that if you also need a bus after train then you can use the same ticket.

The trip to the city center takes about half an hour.

Transportation in the city

Helsinki is considered a relatively small city and you can walk it by foot, but if it’s a winter and very cold like it was during our trip, we ended up using Uber often (through the Uber app). If it is not too cold, buses can also be taken. Public transport in Helsinki is very well developed and easy to use.

Free tip-based tour in the city

One of the things we like best to do in a new city trip is to take a free tour (based on tips) in order to get to know the city better and learn about the city’s and country’s history. We took the tour through the Free Tour company (Link to tour). We booked it in advance, but you can also just come to the meeting point in the main church 10 minutes prior to the tour (the tour does not take place every day so check the site for dates and times). The day we did the tour on was snowy and we thought we would be the only ones on the tour, but we ended up being a large group of about 30 people. We had a charming guide named Kasper, who spoke about the city in English.

The tour of the city in the snow was not simple but it was certainly interesting and worth the effort (tip: if you do a tour in the snow, I recommend bringing heating bags and putting them in the pockets of your coat, it helps).

The tour lasted just over two hours and Casper also gave us some good tips for restaurants and recommended bars along the way.

Temppeliaukio Church (Rock-cut Church)

After a tour of the city, we stopped at a point 10-minutes away from Temppeliaukio church, called Rock church in English. This is one of the most special churches I have ever seen, and I definitely recommend visiting it. Entrance to the church costs 3 euros. The church’s cavity was hewn in granite bedrock, and the rock walls are 5 to 8 meters high.

The church is very peaceful and there were hardly any people in the background, and soothing music was playing. This is the kind of place you can go to and just sit there without doing anything for a while. Map

Local, roofed food market

Finland is a paradise for salmon lovers and an excellent place to taste the salmon is at the Old Market Hall. In this market there are several stalls where you can find local dishes and try different types of salmon and salmon soup which is considered a famous soup in Finland.

We passed through this market on the tour and after visiting Temppeliaukio we returned to it for a late lunch. I ate a delicious salmon sandwich and Roman tried the salmon soup and loved it very much. There is also a wine shop in the market, a home-baked breads shop and other local produce. Map

Helsinki Cathedral

This is the famous cathedral in Helsinki and there’s no chance you’ll miss it. It is also the meeting point for the tour.

This is one of the most impressive cathedrals I have ever seen. Especially on a snowy day when the sky is almost white, and all the stairs are white. The cathedral’s interior is nothing special, but the exterior is stunning. Dedicate some time for photos 🙂 Map

The Orthodox Cathedral of Uspenski

Another really beautiful cathedral worth seeing. Since we did not have much time in the city, we decided to only visit it for a few minutes and photograph it, but if you have more time in the city, you should allocate more than a few minutes towards it. Map

Gourmet restaurant

Before visiting the city, I’ve done some research on recommended restaurants and found Grön, which had great reviews. We decided to have a luxurious dinner on our evening in Helsinki.
We booked a table in advance (Recommended, as the restaurant was full on a Wednesday night, so I assume it’s packed most evenings). They have a structured dinner menu of 4 dishes costing 60 euros a person. You may add additional dishes at a cost (There are three additional options).

The service was flawless and definitely up to the standard of a gourmet restaurant, and the food was unique and varied. The dishes were all made of seasonal, local ingredients. Our favorites were the scallops and dessert. If you’re looking for a good high-quality restaurant, this is an excellent choice. Map.

Boutique café

On our last day of the trip, we returned to Helsinki from Rovaniemi on a flight and had four hours to pass in the city. I looked for a good cafe to visit and found the La Torrefazione coffee shop which got good reviews.

It is a 10-minute walk from the city’s main train station. We came to a cafe to drink coffee, but we were hungry and finally decided to have lunch first. This is a modern boutique café with an excellent atmosphere. It is popular among locals. I ordered pasta Arrabiata and Roman had risotto with Brizola and the two dishes were excellent, served delicately and deliciously. Then we drank coffee that was also high quality. In short, this is a cafe I highly recommend. Map

The National Library of Finland

After the café, we decided to go work in the library which turned out to be one of the most beautiful libraries and a good place to work. If you are looking for a place to sit with your laptop and work quietly, then this library is only a few minutes away from the main railway station. You’re given a wi-fi password (Upon showing ID), there are lockers for storing things (because you cannot bring bags, coats and food inside), and I’d say it’s worth visiting there just because it really is a beautiful library. Map

Saunas

Finland is known as the Queen of Saunas. There are about 5.5 million people in the country and about 3 million saunas!!! Helsinki has many saunas. Since we spent a relatively short time in the city, we did not get to visit any saunas there, but it is something worth trying. There are saunas that have a separation between men and women, and some that don’t, so make sure to check ahead of time. Here’s a link to a post I found detailing the best saunas in town.

Walking around town

The local market is located near the Baltic Sea (Which is frozen during the winter). I recommend going there at sunset (at least in the winter) because it is a very magical place. In the summer, there are also food stalls (They’re closed during the winter). In addition, the entire central area of the city is full of avenues with cafes, restaurants and shops.



Shopping

On the last day of our trip, we went there to look for clothes for Roman, since he’s very tall and Finland is known as a country with many tall people, so we were optimistic to find clothes that would fit him, and indeed we were proven right. We found a shop at good prices and sizes for tall men :)) Dressmann Shop, Map. Finland is considered an expensive country, but it was during end of season sales, and there were great prices.

The first time I visited Delhi was during a trip after the army. I was there in the summer, which isn’t the recommended season as it gets very hot there – over 40 degrees Celsius. I didn’t realize how bad it gets back then, but now that we went back during the winter, when it’s 25 degrees out during the day (Yes, that’s considered winter over there), it was very pleasant, and I enjoyed exploring the city.
So the first thing I recommend about Delhi is visiting during the winter, between December and March (We went in December).

We flew to India for a two-week trip in cooperation with our friend Noam, who plans private trips to India. The trip was to the Rajasthan, Rishikesh and Delhi areas. The trip included a private driver, different guides at every new destination and great hotels.

About Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the craziest cities in India. It is a combination of poverty and luxury, street food and gourmet restaurants, guesthouses and high-class hotels, filth, crazy traffic jams, harsh climate (especially in the summer), eye-catching temples and plenty to see and to do.

Delhi is divided into two areas of Old Delhi and New Delhi. New Delhi is considered the prestigious area where you can also find the luxury hotels. Old Delhi has the largest market in India and is one of the craziest places anywhere. It may cause a bit of a cultural shock to those visiting for the first time.

How to get to Delhi

We arrived on a direct flight from Tel Aviv to Delhi with Air India.

Where to stay in Delhi

We stayed at a crazy five-star hotel with a pool, three restaurants, bar, shops, a café, a spa and excellent service. The Lalit New Delhi Hotel is located in the New Delhi area. A 10-minute walk from a large center with restaurants and shops. There are rickshaws outside the hotel, and you can easily reach anywhere in the city with them (it’s better to take a rickshaw than a taxi because of the many traffic jams). Hotel price comparison.

 

 

Things to do in Delhi

Akshardham Temple

This temple is less familiar among tourists and more among locals because it is forbidden to photograph there. There is less awareness of this impressive place, but it is considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the truth is that it impressed us greatly. We came there with few expectations, but even standing outside it we grew enthusiastic. On the inside, it is simply breathtaking (It’s surrounded by amazing green gardens with fountains).
I think pictures wouldn’t have been able to do it justice anyway, it is definitely a must when visiting Delhi.

The temple’s size awarded it a prestigious spot in the Guinness book of records, as the largest Indian temple in the world. I recommend visiting close to opening or closing hours, and on a weekday, as it gets rather crowded and there can be long waiting lines. Be aware that it’s prohibited to go in with a camera or cellphone and there are very rigorous security checks at the entrance. Map.

 

Terraced temple

There are several such around India, for example Chand Baori between Agra and Jaipur, and another in Delhi – Agrasen ki Baoli. We got to visit the one in Delhi, which is smaller and less renowned. It’s not as impressive as Chand Baori, but really beautiful as well and not as crowded (We visited in the morning on a weekday, and there were a few dozen locals and few tourists). It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Lalit New Delhi hotel we were staying at.
This is also a great place for photos, as it’s really special, but beware of the many pigeons, or you may be in for an unpleasant surprise (It’s said that it brings good luck, at least :)) Map.

 

India’s largest market Chandni Chowk

Chandi Chok Market is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. This is one great cultural shock. This is a huge area with different markets, where you will find a spice market, clothing market, fabric market and more … This market has existed for around three hundred years and is famous not only in India, but all over the world. We traveled on a rickshaw there, because the truth is that there are so many rickshaws that it’s very hard to get around on foot.

 

India gate

Built by the British at the end of the First World War in memory of the Indian fallen, a very impressive gateway. The gate leads to the widest street in India, which is used for a military procession and reaches the parliament (which we also visited and is the largest in the world in terms of territory, also built by the British). Map

 

Gandhi ‘s house

Gandhi Samariti is a museum that was Gandhi‘s home for 114 days when he arrived in Delhi to appease Hindus and Muslims in Delhi and where he was also murdered. His life story is described by puppet shows prepared by school children.

You will see a preserved room there, where Gandhi used to live and the place where he was shot while walking to his speech.

The museum exhibits photographs, sculptures, paintings, murals, inscriptions on rocks and remains from Gandhi’s time. We found the museum very interesting and a great way to learn about Gandhi. It is not obligatory to go there with the instructor because there is a lot of reading material and the puppet show is accompanied by short excerpts.

 

Lotus Temple

The only Bahai temple in India and in the form of a lotus flower. The truth is that we came to the Temple only to take pictures from the outside. Both because we had a busy schedule and also because we read that it wasn’t particularly special from the inside. However, if you are in the area then it is worth going a visit. Map

Delhi Parliament

The House of Parliament is also known as Sansad Bhawan. It is a magnificent curved structure where representatives of Indian democracy meet. Is the largest democracy office in the world. The diameter of the building is 170 m. The entire Parliament House is surrounded by a red ornamental stone wall. You cannot go inside, only see the buildings from the outside.

 

I got to visit India twice in the past, once after the army for a three-month trip in the north and two and a half years ago when my husband and I decided to settle in Bangalore for two months after five months of touring the east. We were both really excited about this country and waited for an opportunity to visit it again.

A custom, personalized trip

Due to other commitments, we realized that we had only two weeks to travel in India and we wondered if it would be enough time to truly enjoy it. We tried to figure out what sort of trip we should do, and in the end, we decided to contact our friend Noam, who plans private trips to India (Noam’s email noam.laish@gmail.com), whom we got to know thanks to the blog. We have collaborated with him to plan and arrange our trip, and together we chose the Rajasthan area (December is a great time for a trip in this area) and built a route that fits our style of travel.

The trip lasted for two weeks, of which 12 days were full days and two days with flights. We flew by a direct flight with Air India from Tel Aviv to Delhi. The trip was a combination of luxury and local experience. There was a private driver with us throughout the trip, high-quality hotels of 4-5 stars and guides at every destination, but, we also experienced the colorful India, with traffic jams, endless sirens, filth in the streets, walking in the streets with cows, monkeys, elephants and camels around us, had amazing street food whenever possible and in fact experienced a third world country for better or worse.

During the trip we kept in touch with Noam and even made changes in the route according to our experience there (for example we canceled some of the things we had planned, because we wanted more rest time) and Noam was available for every question and request. We have never experienced a trip planned by someone else and the truth is that we were really pleased. Noam planned the trip in a great way and the whole trip went smoothly and without any problems. (Which in India is not trivial matter :)).

Unforgettable trip to India - Traveling outside the box

Our India trip itinerary

Landing in Delhi and continuing to Agra

We landed in Delhi in the morning and from there we continued directly to Agra with the driver. There are two sites in Agra that are considered mandatory for those who visit Rajasthan. The first is the Agra fortress. One of the largest fortresses in India and in our opinion one of the most impressive anywhere. The fortress has a very interesting architecture and the place itself is huge and beautiful. Anyone who is looking for a place to take photogenic pictures at, its also a great place to do that (our guide also turned out to have a talent for photography on a cell phone and took a lot of artistic pictures).

The second undisputed site is the Taj Mahal, of course.
For the visit we woke up at six in the morning to arrive at sunrise. Not surprisingly, there were already a lot of people at this hour, but if you wait patiently you can take a picture that looks like there are not many people in the area. At the Taj we hired a private photographer (there are many who wait at the entrance and you can choose one of them). The combination of the photographer and the guide who explained to the photographer what we want and what is important to us helped us take impressive pictures of the Taj Mahal, as well as learn about its history. For a detailed post on the things we did in Agra. In Agra we stayed at the five-star hotel Ramada Plaza Agra.

 

 

Agra to Jaipur and from there to Pushkar

From Agra we were supposed to continue to Pushkar, but since it was a long journey of over eight hours, it was decided that we would travel four hours to Jaipur and spend the night there and from there we would continue to Pushkar in the morning. The hotel we stayed at in Jaipur was Alsisar Haveli. In the evening we managed to go to a Bollywood movie theater and in the morning, we continued to Pushkar.

Pushkar is a kind of mini-Israel. A lot of guys come there to settle down for a few months after the army, which is why you can find lots of signs in Hebrew, Israeli food and Indians who know a little Hebrew there. But it is also a holy and calm place. There we stayed at a luxurious boutique hotel, Brahma Horizon Pushkar. We found an amazing local restaurant with high-quality food at crazy prices of NIS 3-4 for a main course. We toured the temple, the market, and the holy lake (which is very beautiful, but people toss the ashes of their loved ones in it, so my feelings for it are ambivalent). For a detailed post on things to do in Pushkar.

 

 

Pushkar to Jaipur

From Pushkar we returned to Jaipur to a hotel that looked like a palace Alsisar Haveli, a street food tour (the guide took us to small alleys to specific stalls that we would never find alone and everything was so tasty and successful), we visited the Amber Fortress which is also an impressive fortress with beautiful colored doors, well-tended gardens and fancy wall ornaments, and we also visited an astrological astronomical observatory, which is one of six such places in India. For a detailed post on things to do in Jaipur.

 

 

Jaipur to Delhi

From Jaipur we went to Delhi, one of the craziest cities I ever visited. The city is full of traffic, rickshaws, people, markets, temples. A huge dissonance between rich New Delhi and poor old Delhi.

We did a rickshaw tour in the biggest market in India (it could be a cultural shock to those who are visiting a third world country for the first time). We visited a temple that is considered one of the most beautiful in the world (unfortunately I couldn’t take pictures there, but I can tell you that this is a temple that should not be missed if you are in Delhi!)

We visited the place where Gandhi was murdered (this is the house where he spent 114 days when he arrived in Delhi, where he was also murdered during a speech against the violence. The house was turned into a museum that shows Gandhi’s inspirational life story). We visited the gateway of India (A gate which serves as a memorial for the fallen of world war one) and visited the only Bahai temple in India. The hotel we stayed at in Delhi was The Lalit New Delhi. Our detailed post about top things to do in Delhi.

 

 

Delhi to Rishikesh

From Delhi we went for a short visit to Rishikesh. It is a holy and spiritual city with a sort of spiritual peace of feel immediately upon arrival.  We climbed the Neer Garh Waterfall (there are places to stop with tables in the water and you can drink coffee), we were in a spiritual ceremony held every day at five o’clock and lit a candle we sent to the river Ganges. The hotel we stayed at is Rishikesh is Divine Resort.

 

 

Although it was a short trip in terms of days, we managed to experience a lot and see lots of places and actually get some rest and indulge ourselves at hotels in the process. We chose slightly tougher route, but India is so big that anyone can find the areas that are more his style.

As for the food I know there is a concern sometimes regarding eating the street food there, but the truth is that we prefer to eat it, it is really delicious and also has a high turnover of raw materials as there are lots of people eating at street food stalls every day. However, of course, you do not have to eat street food and you can eat in clean and well-maintained restaurants. This trip left us wanting more and I have no doubt that we will return to explore more areas we have not yet seen.

We flew to India for a two-week trip that was mainly in the Rajasthan area. The trip was planned by our friend Noam (Noam’s website) who works planning private trips to India. We cooperated with Noam because we knew that a two-week period was considered short for a trip to India, and we decided that this trip will be in a different style than we’re used to. We were accompanied by a private driver throughout our entire trip, various guides at each destination we reached and high quality, 4-5-star hotels.

The previous two times I had flown to India I brought a backpack, but this time we traveled with suitcases. No doubt this is a very different trip from a backpacking trip to India, but I can tell you that we had an amazing time – Each kind of trip has its own charm.

Information about Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan, northwest India, which is located in the eastern part of the country and is the most populous city in Rajasthan. The city was founded in 1727 and is considered a popular tourist destination and commercial center. Jaipur’s famous arts and crafts include jewelry, stone, marble and ivory carving.

How to reach Jaipur?

We came to Jaipur from Agra, with our private driver, and the ride lasted about 5 hours (Including stops). You can take a train from Agra (A 4-hour ride). You can also come from Pushkar (A 2-hour drive). The ride from Delhi is longer and should take around 6-7 hours by car (Including stops).

Where to stay in Jaipur?

We stayed at the beautiful Alsisar Haveli hotel. It was originally built in 1892 as a Christian house. Today, it has been converted to a legacy hotel. It’s a 5-minute walk away from the pink city, with its surrounding wall, and a 2-minute drive from the highway. Its design is very impressive and is reminiscent of a palace.

It has a well-tended backyard and a pool with tanning beds. There’s a varied buffet breakfast and the option for hotel buffet dinner. The hotels disadvantages: We personally felt that the service there wasn’t as good as at the other hotels on our trip and I recommend asking for a room with a double bed, as we were assigned a room with two beds at first which wasn’t as comfortable.
The room we got was on the third floor with no elevator, so if you’re coming there with children or have difficulty going up the stairs, I suggest letting the hotel know in advance so you can have a room on a lower floor.
Hotel price comparison.

 

 

Recommended things to do in Jaipur

Unlike Agra and Pushkar, in Jaipur I felt there was the most to see and to do. I recommend staying in it for at least three days.

Amber Castle

Also known as Amer fort, it is one of the main attractions in Jaipur. It was built with white marble and red sandstone and attracts attention from far away. Since it is on a hill it is easy to see from a distance (if there is no fog) and offers a panoramic view of the city. The fortress shows the glory of ancient culture with a mixture of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles.

We arrived there in the morning and there were many people there, but not at a level where you could not walk around. We arrived there by car with the guide, but there is also the possibility of going up to the fortress on an elephant (I’m less in favor of it, as it is an industry abusing animals kept there under harsh conditions), and also on foot, organized tour or rickshaw. Here too I recommend taking a guide because the fortress is large with lots of stories behind every building and room.

 

 

City palace

City palace is one of the most beautiful and colorful places in Jaipur. The city palace is the place where you can see fortresses, gardens, palaces, courtyards, etc. This place is an amazing mixture of Mughal architecture and Rajasthan. It is a huge complex built by Sawai Jai Singh II and occupies at least one seventh of the pink city.

We came there with a guide and I recommend you look for a guide or tour there, because this place really is huge, there is a lot to see and tons of interesting history about it.

The royal family now lives there and if the flag is raised – it means that it is there when you visit the palace. There is an area that’s rented out for events and so you may see wedding preparations when you visit there.

There are doors with the most beautiful decorations I have seen. I recommend you come in the morning when it’s less crowded there, so you can take pictures without too many people getting in the way and without having to wait in line. There are also museums that show collections of past dresses and an impressive museum of swords and weapons.

This palace will give you an idea about the time period.

 

 

Galtaji temple

I have to admit I got a bit nervous at this temple. It has a ton of monkeys and they fight and run around, which spooked me a bit. The place also has garbage strewn on the floor and isn’t properly maintained, but… Despite its obvious shortcomings, it is also very special and I have never been to such a temple in the past. The colors are very beautiful, and the truth is that we got great pictures there (if you are a photo enthusiast, this is a good destination for pictures). Admission is free, but you have to pay for every cell phone or camera. The cost is symbolic, so it definitely won’t prevent you from photographing there.

The temple is located 10 km away from the city and we got there with our driver. You can take a taxi or a rickshaw there, as well.

This temple is actually a complex of many temples and one of the special attractions there is a natural stream running down the hill during the spring. The fountain water is considered sacred and pilgrims come there specifically for them.

 

 

Food tour in Jaipur

One of the things we like most on our trips is trying as much local food as possible and usually we do food tours, as they allow us to taste lots of local food and usually on these tours we go through selected places with really good food. In Jaipur, Noam suggested that we take a food tour and we, of course, were enthusiastic about the idea.

Indian food is one of our favorites and we do not shy away from street food, but rather the opposite, for most of the trip we preferred to eat at street stalls or in local small restaurants rather than at touristic restaurants. When the tour guide arrived, he asked us what we wanted to try, and we told him, “Take us to places with the street food you like best and also, we do not like sweets” and so it was. We passed through lots of stalls on foot and in the car. He took us through hidden alleys and we got to places we never would have found on our own.

We booked the tour through Noam, so I have no information about the guide but if you arrive independently and want to do such a tour, I highly recommend searching for recommendations about a good local guide. It’s important to me that you’ll be aware that such an option exists, and Jaipur is an excellent city for such a tour.

 

Jantar Mantar

A lookout built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who was a brilliant astrologer that loved to study philosophy, astrology and architecture.

Jantar Mantar is actually a name given to a series of five great lookouts, built in five different cities of India. We visited the observatory in Jaipur which is the largest and was built in the early 18th century. The Observatory is an example of the scientific progress of medieval India and you will find a number of instruments there, used to measure time, azimuth, solar rejection and more. Most of these devices are actually large structures. The reason they are built on such a large scale is to allow accurate readings. Anyone who is interested in this field will surely find this place very fascinating.

 

 

Floating Palace Jal Mahal

We did not enter the floating palace but stopped where the palace could be photographed. There are people who sell traditional Indian costumes for photographs in front of the palace because a really nice picture can come out of it. I just came wearing a pretty dress in advance ?

By the way, if you’re in the street food section at this location, there was someone who sold a dish consisting of chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, a lot of spices and lemon juice, and it was a great dish!! So definitely worth a try (map).

 

Hawa Mahal, palace of winds

Built in 1799, this is a five-story building in the shape of Lord Krishna’s crown, with 953 windows and reminiscent in shape to a honeycomb.
This palace is visually impressive and the truth is that we just photographed it from the outside and did not go in, because our guide said that there is nothing interesting to see inside, and that it looks like a regular building.

You’ll definitely see it, as it’s next to the city palace.

The pink city

Jaipur is known as the Pink City, and when you get there, you will quickly understand the logic behind the name. Every building in the historical center surrounded by the wall is pink. There are only a few exceptions. Don’t expect to see pink in terms of the rose pink we know, but more of a brown orange shade, it is called terracotta pink and in history – this color represented blessing and hospitality. This color is significant in terms of the city’s heritage and is enforced by local law.

I recommend you just go there and explore the city on foot. Keep in mind that it is full of people and the streets are narrow, so you have to be patient and come when you aren’t short on time.

Within the pink city there is the Palace of the City and the Palace of the Winds. There are many street food stands, restaurants and souvenir sellers. In addition, it is a beautiful area for photographs and it attracts many photographers there.

Bollywood movie

In Jaipur we went to a real Bollywood movie. The cinema hall itself was of a high standard and with all sorts of snacks of popcorn, sweet corn and more. The truth is that I was expecting a movie with Indian dancing and singing, but it was an action film. The film was in Hindi but although it was impossible to understand what the people were saying, it was still possible to follow the plot. We got there exhausted after a long day of travel, so we decided to leave at halftime, but this is definitely an experience worth trying during a visit to India.

Having visited India twice for periods of several months, this time we came for a short trip.

Since two weeks are a short time for a trip to a country like India, we decided to go for a different style of trip than we usually do. We cooperated with our friend Noam, who plans private trips to India (a link to Noam’s website) and he planned our trip from A to Z – Including a private driver, guides to every destination and 4-5-star hotels.

We began our trip in Agra, from where we continued to Pushkar, Jaipur, Delhi, and Rishikesh.

Information about Pushkar

Pushkar is a town in Rajasthan which is a holy city for Hindus and is one of the oldest and most central pilgrimage sites in India. It is a relatively small town and what’s nice about it is that you can reach anywhere in the city by foot or rickshaw, meaning there is no need for public transportation or car.

How to get to Pushkar?

We arrived with the driver who was with us throughout the entire trip. We came from Agra. Since it was a long drive from Agra, we made a stop at Jaipur, where we spent the night and continued to Pushkar the next morning. A direct drive from Agra to Pushkar is around 8 hours. Traveling from Agra to Jaipur is around 4-5 hours and then from Jaipur to Pushkar is another 3-hour drive. There is also the possibility of taking a train from Jaipur to Pushkar cutting the trip down to around two hours.

Where to stay in Pushkar?

We slept in a stunning boutique hotel which was one of our favorites on the trip. Brahma Horizon Pushkar Hotel. A hotel with excellent service, a spacious and clean room with a beautiful view, a fun indoor pool with sun beds, room service with delicious food and breakfast with options of Indian or Western food. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the main street and a 20-minute walk from the market.
Hotel price comparison.

 

 

Things to do in Pushkar

There are many Israelis who come to Pushkar and settle there. You can see signs in Hebrew and Indians who understand a little Hebrew. There is not much to do in terms of attractions, but it is a nice place and relatively quiet.

I think it’s a nice place to visit for a few days.

Street market for tourists – Sadar Bazaar

A long market covering about a kilometer of small shops on both sides, you can find absolutely anything there, souvenirs, jewelry (If you happen to love silver jewelry, Pushkar is known for its cheap prices), clothes and more.

 

 

Brahma Temple

Pushkar Brahma temple  is the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in India, which is why many Indians visit it every year. It commemorates Lord Brahma, who is considered the creator of the universe according to Hinduism. We came there with the guide we had in Pushkar. At first, he took us to a shop by the temple where you can rent a locker and leave your shoes, in case you don’t want to leave them outside the temple (You have to remove your shoes at the entrance, so I recommend you come with shoes and socks and not clogs, to avoid being barefoot inside). The temple itself is relatively simple and not too large, but it is interesting to see the only temple in India dedicated to Brahma that is such a sacred place for the Indians. Map

Lake Pushkar

It is considered one of the most sacred destinations for the Hindus and it turns out that it is in equal status to the Holy River Ganges in India. According to legend, the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, prayed together with Mata Savitri on the banks of this river. According to Hindu mythology, when lotus flower leaves fell on the earth from Brahma’s hands this lake was created. That’s why you’ll find many Indians who’ll try to sell you lotus flowers for good luck along the way. The lake is very beautiful, but before you think of bathing in it for good luck, it is important to know that Indians throw the ashes of the dead into it. Another important thing to know is that because the lake is sacred, it’s forbidden to walk beside it with shoes on. It is only permissible to be with shoes on the upper stairs that surround it.

We went there with the guide who told us about the legend and why this lake is so important.

 

Nice café by the lake

If you want a cup of coffee or tea with a view of the lake, then we found a really nice place with a small outdoor table where you can sit and perhaps order a delicious cookie to snack on (Map).

 

Textile products store

Desert Patch Work & Handicrafts warehouse

The textile at the shop is produced in the desert. Since there is no agriculture in the area, this is the only thing they can make a living from and they work on every product between two months and three years!! The seller there was the most convincing salesman I’ve ever met and so we were tempted into buying an expensive (but high-quality, according to him) bed cover.
Map. The shop is near the café.

Amazing street food restaurant

We really like street food and the truth is that we found it a bit difficult to find restaurants for locals in Pushkar, as it is quite touristic, but somehow, we found an amazing place where we ate twice. There’s someone there who makes food on the spot on a stove by the tables. The food is super delicious and very cheap. If you do not shy away from authentic local restaurants, then I’m sure you’ll be really excited about this place. (Map – adjacent to this stand)

 

 

We flew to India for a two-week trip. A trip that’s considered relatively short for a country like India, but we really felt like visiting there again.

Since we had little time to plan the trip, we decided to use the services of our friend Noam, who works planning private trips to India (Noam’s website) and to cooperate with him on the trip. We chose Rajasthan because December is the ideal month to travel there in terms of weather.

We experienced a high standard trip that included a private driver, 4-5 star hotels and guides at every destination we went through.

We started our trip in Agra and from there we continued to Pushkar, Jaipur Delhi and Rishikesh.

Agra

Agra is famous mainly because of one of the most impressive places in India, and in the world in general – the Taj Mahal. We have come to Agra especially for this site, but we also spent the night there and the truth is that if you have time for a trip, I would recommend spending a night or two in the city because beyond Taj Mahal there are several other attractions worth visiting while staying in Agra.

How to get to Agra?

We flew on a direct flight to Delhi with Air India, which took us seven hours. From the airport, the private driver picked us up and we drove directly to Agra. This is a ride of about 5 hours.

When I was traveling in India after the army, I traveled with a friend on a tourist bus from Delhi to Agra to visit only the Taj Mahal.

I personally think it’s better to get there the night before with a private driver / bus / train from Delhi because it’s better to visit the Taj Mahal early in the morning. We got there at a quarter to seven in the morning and it was a different experience than arriving at noon.

Where to stay in Agra?

We slept in the charming Hotel Ramada Plaza Agra, a 5-star hotel. We did not get to enjoy it much, as we were only there for one night, but this is a high-class hotel, with a clean and comfortable room and a varied and tasty breakfast (Indian and Western options).

A drive from the hotel to the Taj Mahal is around 20 minutes by car. You can reach the hotel the day before and take a taxi or a rickshaw to the Taj Mahal in the morning.

If you’re fans of authentic local food (like we are) then outside the hotel are plenty of local restaurants. Note that these restaurants are mainly local, and you will hardly find any westerners there. The food is relatively spicy, but we personally like the spice and prefer eating street food or at simple local restaurants on there trips. Anyway, we sat at a restaurant on the right side of the hotel. Ramada hotel price comparison.

 

 

Things to do in Agra

We did not get to do too many things in Agra, but it was still really nice there and it is definitely a city to visit if you are going on a trip to Rajasthan.

Taj Mahal

So, as I mentioned before, the Taj Mahal is one of the most famous places in India and every day tens of thousands of people flock there. Since so many people go there, I personally recommend visiting in the early morning hours.

The Taj Mahal is a marvel of Mughal architecture, with influences of Islamic, Iranian, Persian and Indian styles. It was built between 1631 and 1653. The Taj Mahal was able to survive throughout history without suffering damage, which makes it possible to admire it today just like when it was built.

What you are permitted to bring with you

There are many prohibitions on things that can be brought with you when you visit the site. Since this is a long list of prohibitions, I will focus on what is permitted. A cell phone, a camera, glasses and a wallet are allowed. That’s it! So, if you come directly from the hotel leave everything behind and bring only those things with you. If you have more equipment on you, it’s possible to put things in storage, but this is done before entering the site! It is very important to know this, because if you do enter with things on you – after a long queue, security will discover prohibited items on you, and your only options will be to throw them away or leave the queue and put them away in storage and go back to the end of the line (the queue may be very long and there is a comprehensive personal check).

Photographer at the Taj Mahal

In addition, if you are into photography and want to have nice pictures from your visit to the Taj, then the first thing I would recommend is to invest in the clothes you come with and there is also the possibility of renting a photographer at the entrance.

There are many photographers who offer their services, and they all have the same prices and are on about the same level. I will say that they are not at the highest level, but I suggest looking at pictures of others on Instagram in advance to get inspiration for what photos you want, and even show them to the photographer. In addition, we had a personal guide and he served as a mediator between us and the photographer, which really helped. Hiring a photographer costs around 250 NIS or more (depending on how many pictures you want).

If you really want to have a high-quality photographer with you, then you can look for a photographer in advance, but take into account that the prices are much steeper and there are also charlatans (because you need a license to take pictures at the Taj, which he may not have), so make sure you find a photographer with recommendations.

More info about the Taj Mahal

There is a walk of about 10 minutes between the entrance to the site and the main gate. It is possible to get a rickshaw at the cost of a few shekels or simply walk.

We arrived there with a personal guide, which in my opinion improves the experience, since the history of the Taj Mahal is interesting, and this expands the experience. There is also the option of hiring a guide at the entrance. If you do not come with a guide and want to rent one there, talk to him beforehand and make sure that you understand his English and that you have a good connection with him.

 

 

Agra Fort

We went to Agra Fort the day before the Taj Mahal visit and I think this was a good way to round out the experience. From the fortress you can see the Taj Mahal from a distance. The fortress is built of red sandstone and it was built gradually by three rulers of the Mughal Empire. Each ruler had a favorite design style and you will therefore see various styles of architecture and art at the fortress, such as sandstones and colorful tiles, white marble with stone inlays and polished plaster. In 1983 UNESCO granted the citadel the status of a World Heritage Site.

We came to the fortress accompanied by a guide, as well, and again I think it adds to the visit. The fortress is really big and without a guide it is hard to understand what the meaning and the story behind each part of the fortress is.

 

 

Local Market

After the visit to Agra Fort we went to a local market. Since we like eating street food, we wanted to try some local dishes. There are also souvenirs, clothes and shoes at the market, but we mostly went around the local food street and tried a few dishes (Map).

 

Marble Products Store

If you are fans of local art, then this store will surely impress you. This shop makes art pieces and furniture out of marble (Rigorous work in which it takes two people a whole month to make a marble platter the size of one plate, and they import the stones they work with from different places around the world). It is possible to purchase the art there and have them send it to your home. Prices are relatively expensive, but it is a crazy investment in any product and if you are only looking for a souvenir then there are options for smaller items at cheaper prices (Map).

 

I’m making preparations for my third trip to India at the moment (I was there on an after-army trip and a long trip at the age of 30). I’ve tried to decide which medications I should take with me, then remembered all the illnesses I’ve caught in India, which helped me decide what I need with me this time.
Since I’ve got plenty of expertise in the area, I decided to channel it into the blog and write an extended post about things you should bring with you when planning a trip to this wonderous country.
Be warned that this post might be a bit stressful, since I’ve had many problems in India, but…

Looking on the bright side, I’m fine, I’ve survived it all and if I’m returning there for the third time, it means it wasn’t that bad and that India is worth revisiting 🙂

Our trip destinations in India:
Delhi
Jaipur
Pushkar
Agra

Our itinerary :
Amazing two-week itinerary for Rajasthan, Delhi and Rishikesh – A custom, personalized trip

Diseases in India

Scabias

Let’s start with the worst thing (that I had)  – Scabies!

Yes, it’s not a made up disease. It’s a real disease and I wouldn’t wish it for my worst enemies.  It’s an extremely itchy disease and you need to be aware that it might appear while you’re in India.

Fortunately, my disease appeared after I’ve already returned home (it only physically manifests after a month) and the next day I got it treated. Treatment itself is very simple and it’s just a cream you rub over your entire body. This disease is very contagious, so it’s important to identify it quickly or you might infect people around you. You have to wash the clothes and bed sheets you’ve come in contact with.
How to identify scabies? A crazy itch all over your body!! And you see small holes in your skin that look like borrows. How to treat it? A cream spread over your entire body. Treatment is based on a cream which contains Permethrin (Commercial name: Lyclear) at a 5% concentration and kills the mites.

Dysentery

Amoebas in the stomach. This is actually a disease which followed me for three months on the trip. I think most people get it in India and you just need to be prepared that it might happen to you as well. It’s unpleasant and can mess up your trip, so you should bring an antibiotic treatment with you just in case.

How to identify dysentery? The description is quite disgusting, so you’re invited to read about it on Wikipedia.

How to treat it? The first thing is to drink a lot of water (To avoid dehydration), the medicinal treatment is antibiotics, but you need to fit it to the type of bacteria. To treat an infection by the Shigella bacteria you may use several types of antibiotics, like Ciprofloxacin or Azithromycin and to treat amoebic dysentery you may use an antibiotic called Metronidazole.

Asthma attack

When I flew to India after the army, I’ve had some pretty severe asthma attacks. Since we traveled on a very low budget, we mostly stayed at places with a rather low level of sanitation (We’ve even found mold in our rooms a few times). If you have allergies, sensitivities or chronic illnesses – I recommend staying at rooms with a high level of hygiene, even if it costs you a bit more money.

How to identify an asthma attack? Severe shortness of breath
How to treat it? An inhaler, like Ventolin (Salbutamol)

Food poisoning

I’ve suffered of that, too. Honestly, I don’t know how it happened, since Roman and I ate the exact same things, but I guess I’m more prone that he is, and was taking a food supplement at the time which must have been a bad combination with the Indian food.
I’ve had horrid stomach ache like I’ve never felt before.
How to identify food poisoning? A stomach ache you can’t ignore

How to treat it? Go to the ER. I’ve had such terrible pains, we had to call an ambulance. At the ER I received an infusion and had many tests done. After a few hours I was discharged, and everything was fine, but I highly recommend not ignore strong pains. I tried to ignore the pain for a whole day, but as I saw that it kept worsening over time with no improvement to be seen, I had no other choice.

Motorbike accident

Didn’t happen to me, but to a good friend I was traveling with.

She drove on a bike with a local guy who’s been driving his whole life, but sometimes you get unlucky and he slipped on the road. My friend suffered severe injuries to her leg and was hospitalized for a month at a private hospital in Delhi. I don’t have much to say about this type of situation, as accidents may happen (Even if you avoid riding on a motorcycle).

My recommendation is to make sure you have good health insurance. My friend was lucky to have good insurance and it paid for her entire stay at a private hospital, which has really high expenses!! Let’s just say… If you do have an accident in India, it’s better to go to a private hospital. A post I’ve written about my recommendations regarding travel insurance.

As you can see, you need to prepare for an India trip in terms of medicine and insurance. So, I’ve prepared a list of all the medication I recommend for you to have with you, but of course you should visit a travel clinic and consult a doctor for his recommendations, as well as checking which vaccines you should get before the trip, depending on the areas you’ll be traveling in.

I personally recommend bringing many medications despite probably not using most of them. It’s always better to be overly prepared. I do, of course, recommend not taking medication like antibiotics on your own.

Nowadays, most HMOs have the option to correspond with a doctor, and many different insurances allow you to chat with a doctor. What’s important is to consult a doctor and tell him about your symptoms.

List of medications to take to India

Some require a prescription, and some don’t. It is better you get them upfront in your home country and carry it with you:

  1. Antibiotics – A few types (Consult a doctor for recommendation), to treat dysentery, sore throat and more
  2. Scabies cream
  3. If you have a chronic illness, it’s important to bring enough medication for treatment and in case of an episode
  4. Allergy pills – You may encounter allergies in a foreign country which you weren’t very aware of, it’s always good to have allergy pills with you, some don’t require a prescription like Allergy.
  5. Eye drops – Always good to have with you, in case of dryness or scratching
  6. Charcoal pills – Really good pills to treat stomach ache and fever, I don’t personally recommend anti-diarrhea or constipation pills, as they often have bad side-effects. I think it’s better to attempt treatment with charcoal pills and if it gets any worse – contact a doctor or go to the ER
  7. Dexamol cold – In case of a bad cold
  8. Altitude pills – for height sickness. Be aware, this is a pill you really shouldn’t take without good reason, even if you are at quite a high altitude. A friend of mine and I took them while going on Manali mountain and the side effects were unpleasant. I recommend having the pill with you and only taking it if you feel like you need it.
  9. Natural remedies for nausea – The rides inside India can be rough and cause nausea. I recommend having natural remedies to take a day before the ride/during it. It helped me a lot.
  10. Pills for fever and headaches – Always good to have some with you, such as Ibuprofen, Advil or Acamol (Paracetamol). Depending on what you’re used to taking.
  11. Antibiotic cream – Like Synthomycine, for cases of infection
  12. Anti-fungal cream – To treat fungal infections
  13. Malaria pills – They are somewhat expensive, but if a doctor recommends having them with you, you definitely should
  14. Antifungal ointments
  15. Antibacterial ointments
  16. Antiseptic wound cleanser

Update from our last trip to India

Somehow the trip itself went smoothly without any illnesses or accidents 🙂 But when I arrived in Israel I experienced feelings of nausea and lack of appetite for a few weeks, when I went to the doctor he asked if I had recently been to a tropical country and I told him yes in India. He sent me for a stool test and it turned out that I had a parasite in my stomach. I was given an antibiotic that is suitable for this parasite and it really went away after a few days.

List of first aid equipment for India

If you travel in big cities then you will be able to find these things in stores, but if you go on a trip to untouristed villages there is a chance that you will not find this equipment. That’s why it’s better to arrive with it already from the country or to purchase directly when you arrive in India.

List of vaccinations for those going to India

In 2015 we went on a long trip to East Asia and took vaccinations that would suit the countries of Thailand, India, Laos and Vietnam. We knew that we would also travel in less touristic areas and go trekking in nature. India is considered a third world country so we didn’t want to take a risk. Apart from digestive problems we had no other illnesses during the trip.
I took the list of vaccinations from the Rambam Hospital website (in Israel). It is advisable to consult a doctor before the trip and ask for recommended vaccinations for India.

The ones we took are:

One other good source of up-to-date information would be the Centers for Disease Control website where you might find recent updates on the health situation in India where it comes to any outbreaks, like the recent Zika outbreak on August 2024.

In general I think it would make sense to take preventive measures that can minimize illness such as washing your hands or use hand sanitizer, drink bottled or filtered water and avoid raw foods.

Banned medicines in India

Make sure to check online for whether you can bring your prescribed medicine with your to India. Some are not allowed or not sold in India, so make sure to figure what would be the alternative medicine in India and how to get it.

You will find local pharmacies where you can buy medicine and other local alternatives (I didn’t try) such as Cipla and herbal remedies like ginger tablets for nausea. If you do happen to need a prescribed medicine, you’ll have to find a local doctor and get a local prescription which the local pharmacies will honor.

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In early November 2018 I got the chance to visit Kaunas, Lithuania, with Michal – Another travel blogger. We had an interesting and empowering experience. One of the things I found most exciting during the trip and after it was reading comments from blog followers. Many comments stated that their family is originally from Kaunas and that they are glad to get to know the city through my eyes, as they hadn’t had the chance to visit it.

When I returned home from the trip, Dor, a friend of my husband Roman, contacted me and told me his grandmother’s sister used to live in an apartment adjacent to the gallery in the yard I’ve photographed. Today Bella Shirin lives in that apartment (Instead of his grandmother’s sister). I remembered how the tour guide told us about Bella, who’s family survived the holocaust thanks to her father’s watch store. I was very excited to hear about it and asked Dor if he could connect me with Bella (Who had recently been to Israel), and so two weeks after the trip Michal and I drove to Bella’s Son’s house (Where she stayed during her visit), In Rishon Le-Tsiyon and heard her story.

Bella dedicates her life to bridging between the two nations and works hard to create a connection with Kaunas in particular and Lithuania with Israel in general.
She visits Israel twice a year since her son lives here with his daughters.

Bella told us her life story and the turn of events since before she was born and until today. Her story is so touching I had to write about her and our meetings, although it’s not something I’ve done before.

 

Bella’s story

Bella’s parents were born in Kaunas and lived in it until 1963. They had a flourishing watch store there. In 1940 the soviets invaded Kaunas and destroyed her father’s shop. Her parents were supposed to get married, but the second world war broke out and everything went wrong. Her father ran to the woods, where he was caught by a Nazi officer.

He gave the officer the expensive leather gloves he had on him and told him he couldn’t enjoy them anymore, so he’s giving them away as something to remember him by. The officer spared his life and told him to run. That’s how he miraculously survived.
After this, the entire family was sent to the Kaunas ghetto, and on to the extermination camp in Poland. Due to her parents’ professions (Her father was a watch smith and her mother was a tailor), they weren’t sent straight to the incinerators but rather worked at the camps for the Germans. Towards the end of the war they were finally sent to be incinerated, they were naked and about to be burned when suddenly the American began their bombing. The Germans ran for their lives and her parents’ lives were saved.

After the war her parents returned to Kaunas, got married and Bella was born in 1946.

She lived with her parents until 1963, when they decided to come to Israel and fulfil the Zionist dream (Bella was 17 at the time).

The journey to Israel was unbearable, they came by ship from Austria (A journey which left Bella scarred and unable to sail ever since).

Bella got married in Israel at a relatively young age and brought her son into the world. A few years later she divorced her husband after suffering physical abuse and threats to her life (He was suffering from post-trauma after the six-day war and was never treated properly). Bella raised her son alone for all those years.

At a young age her son was diagnosed with heart problems and he went through surgery when he was 8 years old.

Starting with Bella’s divorce and up to her son’s surgery, her mother’s mental condition began deteriorating. She suffered from rough episodes and paranoias, until her suicide during the 80s.
After her mother’s suicide, Bella suffered from metal episodes as well.

She maintained appearances, but wasn’t fine and suffered greatly, including from recurring nightmares.
At some point in her life Bella wanted to return to Kaunas but her father developed cancer and the doctors gave him two years to live. She stayed with him in Israel and took care of him.
He fought the disease for 12 years, and she stayed with him in Israel up to his death.

After her father’s passing, in 2004 at the age of 58 Bella returned to Kaunas. Her son stayed in Israel with his family.
After coming back to Kaunas, Bella’s nightmares and episodes had passed.Her return to Kaunas illuminated Bella’s purpose for her, and her mission became to bridge between the two countries.

 

Bella’s and her family’s story sounds like a movie script. It’s an awfully sad and difficult one but has several optimistic points with a lot of luck and good people along the way (Some are Lithuanian and German) thanks to who a part of Bella’s family survived the holocaust.

About Bella

You have to meet Bella face to face to understand what I’m talking about. She’ll charm you in seconds. Bella does a lot for Kaunas and towards bridging our nations. She works to preserve the legacy and the connection between the peoples and the religions. It’s also notable that recently a committee has discussed choosing Kaunas as a European capital. Bella was the ambassador who spoke in front of the committee members. Kaunas was chosen as the city of European culture for 2020 and one of the reasons for it winning the prestigious title was Bella’s speech.

During her speech she addressed the committee, saying: “To me Kaunas is like sleeping beauty, who needs only a prince to save her, please be the princes to do it”.
Also, Bella was nominated woman of the year in Kaunas last year and won second place.
A film director from Lithuania has written a play about Bella and her Family and their life story. The show has been running in Lithuania for two years, already. Bella arrives at every show and gives a speech to the audience at its end.

I must admit it took me a long time to figure out how I want to write this post, since Bella’s story is so touching.
It was important to me to not simply tell her life story, but to write about my insights from meeting her, as well.
One of the things I told Bella towards the end is that she warmed my heart and strengthened me a lot. I travel a lot and have been to Germany, Poland and Lithuania.

I sometimes get messages from people who think it’s wrong to visit these countries or feel hurt by me traveling there. I know it’s impossible to please everyone, and that it’s ok that I do what makes me feel good, but after meeting someone like Bella whose family has gone through the holocaust and yet she still ended up returning to Kaunas. It all made me realize that everyone chooses to handle his past in his own personal manner.
It’s also alright to understand that you can’t change the past, and only try and work towards and better present and future.

Here are some things I’ve learned following my encounter with Bella:

  1. It’s alright to forgive for the past
  2. I know some of us find it hard to travel to the countries were the holocaust happened. But if you think about it for a moment, how many times a day do you get to think or talk about the holocaust? Most of us don’t. It’s when you visit these countries, go to museums and stop by memorials that you suddenly remember the past, talk and think about it.
  3. We can’t change how other people act, but we can change ourselves and be better people. If everyone tries to be more tolerant, patient, attentive and accepting – Our world will definitely be a better one.
  4. Every one of us can chose how to handle the past, and there is no right or wrong.
  5. The fact that Bella chose to go back to Kaunas despite everything, and that’s where she found her peace and her purpose in life just goes to show you that from the darkest places in our lives we can grow and find happiness.
  6. One person can bring about a big change!

After meeting Bella, I asked her how it was to return to Lithuania and why she loves living there. Here is what she wrote me:

“The Lithuanians in Kaunas embraced me with a warmth and love I couldn’t imagine. When it comes to restoring the Jewish culture, the main activists are the Lithuanian people of culture. The everyday help I get from them, especially during the winter when the streets grow cold, is indescribable.  I get calls and food, so I don’t even have to go shopping on my own. People come to take me, so I won’t accidently fall. They really want to meet and grow closer to Israelis. They swallow every bit of information about the history of the Jewish people. So, please come and together we can build and expand the bridge between more and more nations”.

I wanted to give a giant thanks to the amazing Bella, who agreed to open her house to us and tell us her stories for hours.

I’ve been on several Segway tours in my life, two of which were in Tel Aviv and the other in Paphos, Cyprus, and actually I’ve done the Segway tour in the Yarkon park twice! Once with my cousin, who had just turned 16 (The Segway tour is for 16 and up) and another time two weeks ago, in the middle of November.

I’ve decided to do the tour again to take better pictures for the blog 🙂 I’ve done the tour in the Yarkon park through the Segways company (Link to tour).

The tour was on Saturday, with another blogger named Sahar. Since Saturday is a popular day, we were a group of 13 people. Being that large of a group, we had two guides with us, the lovely Eyal and Daniel.

Segway tour in Tel Aviv

We met Eyal and Daniel by their offices at the Tel Aviv port (Next to the Wertheimer store). We had to sign a form, then each of us had to put on a pair of knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet (Safety should always come first). We then split into two groups, and each guide explained riding on a segway, what to watch out for, how to operate it and what’s important to pay attention to. Then, we each got on the Segway and drove around with the guide, to show we were confident enough and were able to operate the Segway.

 

After each of us received a Segway and practiced riding it, we began the ride towards Yarkon park. Eyal and Daniel were very patient and careful, and each time it got crowded or we had to cross a street or a narrow path, they stood on both sides to make sure we cross safely.

During the tour we stopped at several spots, which gave us the opportunity to take photos. We also asked the guides to take our picture once in a while. Daniel told us a few stats about the Yarkon park and I’ve found out new things I hadn’t previously known about, like the fact that the Yarkon is the largest urban park in the world, even larger than central park!

The ride in the park was really fun, but since it was Saturday it was crowded and there weren’t many places for us to stop and take pictures at. But we did arrive at a beautiful place called The Bird’s head, where there’s a fantastic vantage point over the park.

 

 

 

To summarize, the tour was around an hour and a half and I think it was a great way to see and learn about the park. Daniel and Eyal are great guides, funny and nice as well as very cautious.

Notes about the segway tour

There are many reasons why Tel Aviv is such a fun city, it has great restaurants from different cuisines worldwide and great cafés. It’s a city located on the shore stretch and so you’ll find many beaches in it, each one with its own unique feature.
It has comfortable weather year long, even in the middle of February you may land on a warm day. It has varied markets with excellent street stalls and really good night life.

In Tel Aviv you’ll find bars, dance bars, cocktail bars, clubs and everything of the highest class with happy people who love to have fun.

I decided to write about a few of my favorite spots in the city, here’s that list

Where should you go out to in Tel Aviv?

Stax bar

Stax is a super fun bar with a DJ playing good music, and really good food, too. Honestly, I don’t usually have high expectations when it comes to bar food, but I got to try some delicious dishes (Like the white fish ceviche and the sausage and cabbage Msabbaha). At this bar I had several dishes, it turns out this bar’s chef had worked with some of the biggest names in Israeli cuisine, and that really shows in the quality of the food. In addition to the great service, they also have a happy hour everyday between 18:00 and 21:00 with 1+1 on all food and drinks. In short, I highly recommend this place.

Address: Maze 49

 

 

Sputnik bar

Sputnik is a hangout bar with both outside and inside seating areas and a great atmosphere. I’ve found this bar while doing an amazing pub crawl in Tel Aviv and it was a really fun place.
Address: Allenby 122

 

Kuli Alma

When I feel like dancing, this is the place I go to. Kuli Alma is a cool dance bar with an entire dance floor playing African-American music where you can easily dance for hours. Also, there’s a dance floor where they play 80’s music and a large area where you can just sit with friends.

Address: Mikve Israel 10

 

Cocktail bars in Tel Aviv

A few years ago we’ve discovered the cocktail bar scene in Berlin. We visited really high-class cocktail bars there and feel in love with the concept. To my delight, we found out that Tel Aviv also has an amazing level of cocktail bars and over time discovered more and more of them, some even won international awards for their cocktails.
I decided to write about three such bars that are at the top of my list.

Imperial bar

Imperial bar is inside a hotel, as it is for many cocktail bars around the world. It has a dark, Romantic atmosphere to it. Roman and I always sit at the bar there and I love challenging the bartenders every time, asking them to improvise a spicy, sour cocktail that isn’t on the menu for me. Time and again, I’m pleasantly surprised and they always manage to nail just the kind of cocktail I like. For Roman, their winning cocktail is the bloody Mary.

Additionally, their food menu has some excellent dishes that go well with the cocktails.
They also hold a happy hour everyday from 17:00 to 19:00. It’s highly recommended to book a seat at this bar, as it’s usually crowded.

Address: Ha-Yarkon 66

 

Bellboy

If you’re looking to impress and visuals are important to you, Bellboy is a bar that will blow you away. You won’t find a bar in Israeli that serves its cocktails quite like this. You’ll find cocktails in a king’s mug, or inside a sea-shell or even a cocktail shaped like a bubbling bathtub.

Every dish there is served in the most impressive way possible and beyond everything there being sweet, professional and delicious, it’s a banquet for your senses.
This bar is also inside of a hotel and is one of the most popular cocktail bars. This is another instance where I’d recommend booking in advance.

Address: Berdichevski 14


223 bar

223 is the first cocktail bar I’ve discovered in Israel. A friend of mine told me about it and ever since it’s been on my list of favorite bars to go out to with friends or on a double date with Roman and other couples. The place has a light atmosphere, not as dark as those at the imperial or the Bellboy. The cocktails are really good and there are tasty dishes, too. The feeling at this bar isn’t as lucrative, so I think it’s more appropriate for a light evening with friends.

Address: Dizingoff 223

 

Other hangout spots in Tel Aviv

Besides the bars I’ve mentioned, there are other good places for dancing like the Pasáž and Teder.fm. There are also Port Said and Romano, which while they are categorized as restaurants and even belong to one of Israel’s top chefs, they do still have a lively atmosphere and in Romano you’ll even find people dancing.

There’s also the flea market area, which at night turns into a crowded area and all the bars bring out tables and chairs outside. You can sure have a round of drinking in the area.
The Carmel and Levinsky markets also have good bars and in the Florentin area there are a ton of local bars around Vital and Florentin streets.