Off the line...getting in touch

December 2013

The WALL that separates Israel from Palestine. The portrait of Layla, a heroine to the Palestinians.

Tent of Nations, West Bank * Palestine

November to December

I have finally returned home.

The past months in 2013 have been one of the most wonderful moments in my life. I believe it was the prayers and good wishes from my family and friends who had kept me safe. I had met different kinds of people, unexpected changes, delays, walked on quiet streets at night . . .

I had stopped updating my blog since I left Japan and moved on to China.

Partly because I realised most of my friends have not much time and energy left after their hectic day at work, dividing their time and energy among work, family and friends. To have to read so much text in my blog can be tiring and time-consuming.

BUT, people like looking at pictures. As for the stories, probably just the geez of it... but to read the entire blog, phew! It has to do with my writing abilities too but I will improve on it. Yeh!

Deep in my heart, I truly appreciate those few friends and also my sisters to be reading my blog. Thank you for bearing with me!

Technology and gadgets have not helped, rather they have robbed much of one's energy and focus on one task. It saddens me, honestly. But, it is not my way of life.
I shall continue to have no internet connection or what so ever in my mobile smart phone when I am back home. For I believe, I too would be sucked into the world of messaging and online surfing on my mobile while I am commuting or simply just killing time. Without that, I am myself. I can read my book, people watch, and giving my attention to the people who are wtih me without distractions. ~_~

I am most happy that way.
After 3 months WWOOFing in Japan, the next six months I had travelled to :
China, covering crazily crowded and noisy summer Beijing, scenic Guangxi, upbeat Hong Kong and the unforgettable XingJiang.

Crossing overland by the adventurous Toruggart Border from Kashgar into Kyrgyzstan, prolonging my time in this mountainous Central Asian country due to my visa issue into Uzbekistan. That unexpected event led me to a chance to know a very determined Kyrgyz woman who started an autism school out from her own home.

Eastern Europe, which cast an unspoken spell on me, making me felt so at ease and slowing down my heart beat, my foot steps and even my thinking. The charm of Prague with her intriguing mix of political history and later the quaint and charming unknown Olomouc in Czech Republic; city of Krakow in Poland; Bratislava in Slovakia; Budapest in Hungary; and on a bus crossing into Austria...bustling city life in Vienna, a more scenic and quieter Salzburg, peaceful and almost a ghost town, Attersee and the beautiful out-of-fairytale picturesque Hallstatt....

a longing to see my dear friend Shin (while I was in Kyrgyzstan) led me travelling by train and bus ( and yes... the one that went through and underwater train which transported the Euroline bus from Paris to London) and more bussing....to spending bonding time with Shin in her new home in Oxford...

then it is to Slovenia, where I met and build a deep friendship with the Golob family in Vranska, the rural range in Western Slovenia...this is where I WWOOFed in the family farm. A large family all squeezed into a tiny house, along with much warmth, love and kindness.

And then, my last stop. Onto Israel and into West Bank, the occupied territory of Palestine. I spent almost 2 months there, volunteering in a farm called Tent of Nations, building bonds with some volunteers from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, UK, France and Italy. Real hard manual work in a land which is categorised under Zone C (under Israel's control) and hence no electricity, no water supply and the Nassar family fighting in legal and peaceful manners in court with the Israeli government;  travelling to other parts of West Bank, visiting refugee camps, befriending the Palestinians, listening and witnessing their oppressions and their hope...stepping into an Israeli settlement, witnessing how radical settlers in heavily oppressed Hebron city walked through the old market heavily guarded with Israeli soldiers. Settlers are always seen protected with soldiers for they fear the Palestinians will harm them. Despite them being the oppressors. It is such a land full of conflicts and tensions in some towns...

Road Block. The road to Nahilin Village, via the Nassar Family's farm was blocked by huge heavy stones placed by the Israeli settlers. A few years ago, the family was away in Bethlehem for a few days during Christmas and returned to find these stones. Vehicles cannot pass through this way.

Daoud Nassar, the youngest son of the Nassar Family. He is the educated and charismatic one who got connections from people in Europe and America. He was educated in Germany and speaks English, German fluently. His hope is for more people to understand the situations in Palestine, in the Nassar family farm. They believe in non-violence approach to claim back the rights of their farm land.
We folded some origami cranes on his birthday. He left for the Sates the next day to give sharings and talks.

This was really inspiring. Just a few days into my stay, this group of peace-seeking Israelis came to Tent of Nations and volunteered their time, clearing stubborn weeds and moving rocks with us. They are a minority group of Israelis who, like the Nassar Family, believe that forgiveness and acceptance is the way to have peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. A far-stretched dream, but nonetheless, the path of HOPE.

Theo and Ben.
Theo's a Swiss and Ben's a Dutch. Both are very young, in their early 20s but very hardworking and responsible. They impressed me with their maturity in planning and coordinating the work here.
I was inside the 'hole' which was started a few weeks ago. It is a cistern we are digging to collect rain water in the farm. We used a pulley system to carry all the rocks in pails up to ground level.
Lots of digging after some drilling from the guys. Tough manual work.

We WWOOFers came alone, as solo traveller, to Palestine, and became friends in the Nassar Family farm. Days of spending so much time together, working together, cooking and eating together, talking and discussing about the issues in Palestine, listening, disagreeing, sharing...what a way to bond. I love talking to these young WWOOFers. For despite their young age, most of them just finished high school, planning to go college, touched me with their interest and concern in world issues. Just the fact that they travelled to Palestine alone speaks much about their mind and heart.

I often asked myself quietly in my heart, how many young Singaporeans after Junior College or Uni, think beyond their comfort zone, or even take an interest to know what's going on in the world, talk, discuss, debate etc...about the world and environmental issues? 

The plastic pails which we contained rocks dug from 'The Hole' and poured at another near end to make a wall. It can be quite tiring carrying, walk-run with the heavy pails of rocks repetitively. However, we all did it gamely, without complaint. 

Familiar path, from my room in the cave to the compost toilet. A short walk of 2 minutes.
Every night, during my toilet breaks, I looked up at the sky and looked out for the moon, or just paused and ponder on the cold and silence. Such peace in this conflict-filled land.

under the olive tree * Olive harvest!

On a off day with the olive harvest WWOOFers, who came only for 2 weeks. We took a bus and travelled to Ramallah, about 4 hours away from Bethlehem.
Rebecca, the Italian WWOOFer taking a shot at 2 Palestinians selling pillows on the street of Ramallah.

With Daher, the older brother who sees us every day and took care of our needs. Although he is less eloquent than his younger brother Daoud, Daher is very kind, sweet and simple. I grow to appreciate him more and more each day. 

Sage. It grows almost freely everywhere in the farm, amongst the hard rocks.
We plucked some of them to make sage tea every day. This sturdy plant is a medicinal herb.

The cave for the ladies. 

My bed in the cave.

The dining and kitchen room. We spent most of our evenings here. As the weather turned colder, we hid inside the small cosy kitchen, eating, chatting, sharing music, thoughts etc.

Water tanks. They are installed in every Palestinians homes throughout the country. Water supply could be abruptly cut off or with very short notice. Hence, the Palestinians have such tanks with water for their usuage durusagee cut-off. It could last one to two weeks.
I learnt a very precious lesson on how precious water is to the Palestinians.

On the last week of my WWOOFing, there were a few days which there was just Theo and myself. The rest of the WWOOFers had left, some to other destinations in the world, some back home, some exploring other parts of Israel and Palestine. Evenings are often chilly as it is approaching winter. Theo is frying aubergine with olive oil. Umm...

We spent evenings reading our books to each other in our own languages. I read my Chinese book in Chinese to him, while he read a book in French to me. He is really a sweet young man with very interesting ideas and daring attitude too. He is like a young brother to me.

Clearing up stuff , we found this toilet bowl near the horse stable. Theo started posing funny and asked to be photographed.

Theo's Swiss friends came to Tent of Nations on the last week of my stay. Eric on the right, is Irish. He returned for another 2 weeks after the olive harvest. 

My last shot of Tent of Nations. With Daoud, Eric, Theo and his friends sending me off at the gate.

My days in Palestine had impacted me and made me wonder often, 'What can I do for these people?'....

Before flying back to Singapore, I spent a few days in Jerusalem, a place which is like a contained heating pot, with variety of ingredients...simmering with life...threading on the invisible thin line of segregation among the Jews, Muslims and Christians. Especially the Jews and the Palestinians.

In the hostel I stayed, I got to know this elderly lady, an American Jew who is also a radical Zionist. What mind-blowing ideas and beliefs she has! It truly open my mind to know and speak to a Zionist, to see how real and important this promised land of Israel means to them.. to the extreme that to her Palesetine does not exist... Beyond her extremist ideas and beliefs, she is a sweet and kind lady. That's what I choose to see an individual, beyond all religions, beliefs and race, it is another fellow mankind like me, striving to live a life as best as we could.

Going through the most intense airport security checks in TelAviv, repetitive questioning and answering from different officers, luggage checks on items in my backpack... before I can even produce my air ticket to check in at the airline counter.

Simply because of the fact that I had been to West Bank in Palestine.
I hid many truths from them, such as staying and volunteering in Palestinian's homes to avoid even more waiting and checking and questioning.
Israel is real tight in their security, almost to paronoia as they had suffered from extremist suicide attacks since their occupation of Palestine.

Now, I am back in Singapore, witnessed my dear friend Germaine's wedding, spent a few days with my family in Taiwan (first time for me travelling with them) before finally settling in my homeland again. It takes a long time for me to adjust back to normal daily routine in the city again. My mind and heart, they are still conjuring moments and memories in the countries I have travelled, the people I had met...

I am compiling my journey thus far, so that I can share with my family and friends, with the pictures I had taken. So, my friends, allow me time and I will send you soon the pictures with the stories which you are awaiting...

This year's journey has open up my world and embolden me further, as an individual, as a traveller.

There's so much I want to learn in the next year to improve myself... to spend another year working.... before I start to pack my backpack again...to truly live a nomad traveller's life...

I know I will travel again.... without a deadline to return next time.
~_~

Onto the Comrade Land

北京 * 中国  |  Beijing, China * An unexpected stay in Hong Kong

After about 5 months away in Taiwan and Japan, I made the unexpected return back to Singapore. As a last minute decision, I had to cancel my flight from Japan to Beijing, and returned to Singapore to settle some personal issues back home. I decided to stay on 2 weeks instead of one, when I learned how much my mum missed me. The 2 weeks were however, an emotional one for me. I was literally out-of-sorts...depression sips in and I shun going out and crowds.

On the night I left Singapore and embarked on the plane to Beijing, I was still feeling unsettled. The consolation I had was I was moving on with my travel again, and to be away for a while....

Plane was hovering in the sky for a while and not landing in Beijing. The pilot announced after a delayed 20 mins that the plane could not land in Beijing due to very bad weather. The plane will be turning back towards Hong Kong and land. Passengers in the Malaysian Airline stayed in the plane for another 30 minutes as it landed safely in Hong Kong. It was 7am in the morning and I was really hungry. Thank goodness I have this muffin baked by Ching Ling, my sis-in-law, who gave me before I left Singapore.

Hong Kong Airport. View through the glass....

M370, the Malaysian Airline flight. The airline arranged for the passengers rooms in the airport hotel and free meals at the canteen. It was another 10 hours before the night flight arranged to Beijing. I remember being very tired and dreamy as I wandered in the airport, took some naps in the hotel room. 

I arrived at Beijing at about 3am in the morning. I have always resisted taking taxis whenever I travel. This time, I have to as taxis was the only choice of transport for me. I was grateful I arrived at the hostel fine, and a male staff woke up and helped show me my dorm. In darkness, I left my backpack on the ground, climbed up to my upper deck bunk bed and fell asleep quickly without any change of clothes. I was too tired....

Some pictures in Beijing....it was summer and EVERYWHERE in Beijing was crowded with people. It was noise and noise almost everywhere.
Fortunately, the hostel I stayed in was a walking distance from the main subway station, along a long river. It was quieter and every morning, Chinese people will be fishing, doing their morning exercises or dances there.

At Bejing Train Station to get tickets to another destination...I spent one entire morning in the hostel, going through Lonely Planet borrowed from the staff and finally decided my next destination...I had some problem extending my visa to stay for a month in China. Hence I decided to travel southwards and go to Hong Kong at the end of my 15 days free visa entry.
Spend some time in Hong Kong and reenter China again, to Xing Jiang. Xing Jiang was the main reason for my journey to China.