Chains of St. George

What a few days ... hurricanes, earthquakes ... the earth is rebelling and there is nothing science or technology can do to halt it. The primal energy of earth, wind and water cannot be domesticated for the greed of humans ... it only follows the natural law of God; and whoever breaks this law will face the full force of the primal elements, the defenders of creation.

The chain of St. George

A visit to the church of St. George in El Khader proved interesting: I found the famed "chains" of St. George, supposedly used to bind evil and sickness. Since Medieval times, people have had the chains put around their necks to "arrest" the demons that caused schizophrenia and other sickness. In fact, the lunatic asylum is just next door to this church. St. George is the guy who battled the dragon (a metaphorical representation of fighting evil), the patron saint of England. Too bad I forgot to put it around my neck ... to get rid of my own illness.

It's unlikely the chains of St. George would prove effective in arresting earthquakes and hurricanes.

Stromata

Rocky on his outdoor divan

Paid a visit to Rocky yesterday. He was very excited and couldn't stop jumping.  Brought his qibble and tuna fish that he used to eat, and a couple of pig's ears which he enjoys chewing. He's quite thin but now with the food that he's used to eating, he should be better. And the large garden is good for him as he enjoys running around chasing the numerous cats that come in. He's still a baby - only 6 months. And Sabrine and Faadi are taking good care of him. They love him very much.

Olive harvesting by hand

It's time for the olive harvest. People are out everywhere to collect the fruit that will either be pickled or crushed for oil. It's an important fruit here for the locals. For the villagers near Jewish settlements, it's a bigger problem. Settlers have been burning or destroying arab olive orchards, as the newspapers tell us. The livelihood of many families are now threatened. It's a sad situation but nothing will change till the next elections ... God willing.

Weatherwise the hot dry winds have returned but the nights get very chilly. Easy to fall sick. You never know what to wear when going out.

Of mooncakes and tea

MeiSum mooncake!!

Had a lovely Saturday afternoon tea with myself. Mooncake and Chinese tea (Tie Guan Yin). Thanks to Bernadette and Nicholas for their thoughtfulness. I know ... with the sugar and starch, I'll be paying for it healthwise. But meantime let me enjoy this rare treat. And ... thanks for the TimTams (Auntie Chan!!!). That'll be my next guilty pleasure!!

Weatherwise it's been awfully cloudy but not a drop of rain. Elsewhere in Israel it's still a downpour. The wind is quite chilly and people are going around in jumpers, windbreakers and scarves.

Rain

So it rained cats and dogs over Israel yesterday ... even a boat sank off the Tel Aviv coast. But not a drop in Jerusalem. As the rabbis say ... "God is not happy with Jerusalem". In fact the sun is beating down pretty hard while the rest of Israel is inundated.   http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/boat-sinks-off-tel-aviv-shore-as-stormy-weather-covers-israel-1.472521  and  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=289412

Drummers on the march

Meantime the Eid al Adha celebrations continue. Last night a motley group of 9 muslim drummers marched through the Muslim Quarter in festive mood (love the alliteration). Little children trailed them, skipping and chanting to the beat. Sheep were slaughtered and roasted, families eating their share and the rest distributed to the poor.

Today being Sabbat, numerous jewish groups have entered the Old City to sightsee. It's a phenomenon not seen in the past 20 years. There're special tours tailored for Jewish cultural heritage ... in the muslim quarter. No wonder the muslims are feeling afraid. Just this afternoon there was a stabbing up in the alleys behind the Ecce Homo convent. Crowds were collecting at the crossroad and an ambulance managed to negotiate its way there as well.  I'm staying away from all that by locking myself in the library and doing my research.

Eid al Adha

Bazaar at Damascus Gate packed
with people

Today is the Feast of the Sacrifice ... which according to the muslims is Abraham's sacrifice of Ishmael (not Isaac) on the rock that is inside the Dome of the Rock. Each muslim family kills a sheep and the meat is distributed to the poor. The Old City is full of muslim pilgrims from all over the country as well as from overseas. I hear the Israelis did not close the checkpoint at Bethlehem even though it's also the Jewish celebration of the death of Rachel whose tomb lies directly next to the Bethlehem checkpoint.

So with all my recent sickness, some of the muslim shop owners opposite my house are telling me someone has cast an evil eye on me. They're certain of it.

And now the weather ... cool and breezy as should any autumn day. But we hear next week will bring back the heatwave. Not looking forward to it.

Drizzle

Food!!!!

Drizzle has been on and off since Sunday  .... not like it's a big deal; only a couple of drops and then the sun comes back.  It should have been alot heavier but all our hopes for a rainy winter blew off with the wind. Luckily this meant that our library staff barbeque went ahead without hitches. It was fun. Sr Maria invited us to her garden where Ronza and her family got the barbeque going. The rest of us helped by eating the food. It was a good and relaxing afternoon out of the office.

In the meantime the country was set for 2 Earthquake drills. One was at 11am and the second at 7pm. It's the first emergency drill held on a national level. The govt. is expecting a real big one with 7,000 dead and 17000 injured. There's no hope for those in the Old City because the houses are too many and the streets too narrow. But I still got my earthquake emergency backpack ready: torch, medicine, documents, water, a whistle. I've got only 20 seconds to run for shelter.

Haven't managed to get an appointment with my dentist yet. Must get the implant fixed before the gums close up. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to get simple things done over here.

New Saints today

The ancient olive trees
of Gethsemani

So after a year of research and tests, it's proven that the olive trees in our Garden of Gethsemane are indeed ancient, at least 1000 years old and all coming from the same parent plant.  http://www.jpost.com/Features/MagazineFeatures/Article.aspx?id=288565

This morning at 11am the whole country (Israel, not Palestine) underwent an Earthquake Drill. Later at 7pm in the evening there'll be a second drill. It's to prepare the people for the coming monster mother-of-all earthquakes that Israel has been expecting for the past 2 years. And it's going to come! Israel is expecting 7,000 dead; 70,000 injured and 170,000 homeless. Well I've got my earthquake survival pack ready. Just need to stock up on my medicines now. With the first tremor I've got only 20 seconds to grab and run.

Also this morning we have new saints. One of them is Franciscan sister Marianne, the pioneer nurse in modern medicine in the USA and collaborator of St Peter of Molokai with the lepers in Hawaii.  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/20/health/saint-marianne-cope/index.html?hpt=hp_c3  The other is Tekakwitha the Mohican girl. Pray for us St Marianne and St Tekakwitha. We need it.

Bad weekend ahead

Before - the Tomb of Rachel among
olive groves

Big trouble ahead next weekend. Over 100,000 jewish worshippers are going to the Tomb of Rachel to mark the anniversary of her death ; Rachel being the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph (of the technicolour dreamcoat) and Benjamin. It's in an occupied piece of land in Bethlehem which Israel has surrounded with a huge wall almost like a fortress. The land has been annexed and Palestinians cannot pass by there. Remember even muslims hold Rachel as one of their revered ancestors.   http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=288296

Now - massive walls and guard
tower surrounds the tomb

But on the same day, the muslims are celebrating Eid al Adha - the feast of Abraham's sacrifice of Ishmael (Isaac according to Judaism and Christianity). There's going to be clashes and riots as Israeli military will probably close Bethlehem and the southern Territories to muslims coming to Jerusalem for the feast. Not going to be nice.

Healthwise there's alot less pain now that the tapes are holding the muscles together. But it doesn't prevent the vertebrae from squishing the nerve and so there's still a nagging pain that becomes quite sharp when I turn my head. Also my knee still hurts ... and I can't find my dentist who should replace my implant when it got knocked out when I fainted. Lousy start to the week.

Persimmons and pears

Didn't know what those kinesiology tapes can do when the doc taped me together yesterday ... but it sure relaxed the muscles ... so much that for once I fell into a very very profound sleep yesterday afternoon when I got home. So profound that when Khalil our cook called to see if I was ok, I hadn't the slightest idea where I was or what time or day it was. I answered the phone, but the muezzin was singing and the clock said 6.30 but I wasn't sure if it was morning or evening. Was totally confused for several minutes until I got oriented and found out it was still Thursday and it was evening and I slept through the afternoon. Actually I slept right through the night too ... with minimal pain.

A plate of colours

Yesterday afternoon reaching Tel Aviv by bus, I had to switch to a taxi to get to the doc's. Went up to the first taxi in line and there was a huge old man behind the wheels. He asked for 60 shekels which I said was too expensive. It should only cost between 35-45 shekels. Then the huge driver said in arabic "I know you. You speak arabic. I brought you to hospital last year, remember?" Well I didn't. But he couldn't be wrong ... as no one would have known that I speak arabic, least of all a taxi-driver. Am loosing my memory I realised. So he drove me to my doc's yesterday ... chatting up on everything. Ended up I still had to pay 60 shekels for the trip.

Had pears and persimmons last evening for dinner - for the half hour that I was awake. It's the season for these fruit. Very sweet and juicy. And colourful too. A little comfort food for the weeks of pain I've being going through. Now the guys in the house and school are watching out for me if I'll black out again. Like it's been 2 times now - once in the kitchen and the other day in my room. It's nice to know there're people watching out ... so I won't fall and smash my head or something. Right now the knees still hurt like crazy.

Appointment with doc

So the pain in the neck and shoulders had become so bad I had no choice but call my doc last night. He told me to come over first thing in the morning ... ie 7am. Well ... that's 60 km away plus I have to walk 1.5 km to the bus stop. So woke up at 3am and prepared to make the long trip. On the way, my implant fell out. So now I have to make an appointment with my dental surgeon. Everything bad seems to happen at once.

Anyway made it to see my doc at 7am. Finished with the examinations and all that. He got me wrapped in kinetic tape (not bandages) which hold the muscles together ... as apparently mine are all falling apart. Awful thing is the tape is in pink so I came home with pink tape showing from my collar ... the tapes there are used to hold my neck muscles, got many strange looks from people in the street. Weird looking.

Now I'm waiting for my appointment with my dental surgeon. Am totally stressed. And my knee and arm still hurt alot. I can't possibly walk the 3 km to his clinic so that means taking a taxi. That means 100 shekels or more.

Rocky in his new bed

So I've been thinking alot about Rocky. Nope I haven't forgotten about my beloved Rex. He's always number 1. But these days I'm worried because though I found Rocky a good home, he's not eating and has gone very thin. I wonder if he's missing his former owner or is it because he's not used to the new food. Poor Rocky is suffering. Well we all have our share of it. Only mine seems to be a larger share .....

Stromata

The weather has maintained its heat and humidity. Everyone is crying out for rain. We need it badly. 31 degrees is pretty hot for this period of time ... like the past years when we had the drought. But one good thing about the humidity at least is during the nights it makes dew - sometimes quite heavy - fall and this waters the grass and plants.

Dancing in the streets

The other evening we were greeted at the City Gate by a lovely procession of Ethiopic Orthodox people in procession. It was their feast of the Exultation of the Cross and they were all dressed up in traditional costumes and singing and dancing to the beat of their drum. They then proceeded into the Old City and into their church above the Holy Sepulchre. A lively break from the otherwise tense atmosphere of the City.

So it happened again - I blacked out and fell and scrapped my arm and knees. I think it was due to the crushed nerve in my neck. It happened the last time too. Luckily I was in my room and fell on the carpet, scrapping my arm on the table and not hitting my head on it. Now I've got a swollen knee and hurts when I walk. Time to rest, you say? No time for that.

Cardboard bicycle

Buying water from a truck

While most of us would take water for granted ... just turn on the tap and out it flows ... in Bethlehem and other parts of the Palestinian Territories, the residents get water supply occasionally and it is never announced. So most houses have cisterns to store run-off water and if that goes dry ... well you'll have to buy water from mobile water tanks to fill it up.

Today and tomorrow the temperature is suddenly rising really high. Heatwave almost. One good thing is when it gets so hot, no one goes out to cause trouble. So we get a little peace ... for the moment.

An Israeli inventor has created a bicycle out of cardboard. It's going to be quite a revolution for the poorest countries around the world. http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/an-israeli-cardboard-bicycle-that-could-change-the-world-1.470132

And the ultra-orthodox jews now have to serve military service, something which they have avoided for the past 50 years. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=287899   Bad move since elections are up in 3 months and the ultra-orthodox hold a powerful bloc vote. And the govt. is giving itself a 3% pay rise .... bad timing. The people are still facing a financial crisis. It's going to be one exciting elections.

Trudging the weekend

So I survived Friday ... despite the awful pain. Well I'm not the only one. Jean Paul has the same pain on his right shoulder and neck as well. And I think a couple of other students. Stress and weather ... that's what we all conceded. I'm on pain-killers as I can't get to my doc. No time. It's been hectic ... even today Saturday. And don't expect tomorrow Sunday to be a rest day because it's the day when all backlog homework must be cleared. No fun. In fact I think I'm hating this academic year already. And it's only just begun.

My mood in a pic

Friday passed without incident. Things looked like it's back to normal. Only difference is the muezzin who sings at 3.55am is very loud and wakes everyone up. It's been such a slow and heavy week, I don't even have an interesting pic to upload. So here's a pic of a fork. I thought it was nice - the contrast of cold bright metal on dark severe black napkin. It was taken at Legacy's.

Been missing Rocky. He's such a quite timid dog. Not the rushy barky type. He sits quietly on your lap like forever. No nuisance. Anyway my friend (original owner) misses him even more, so I decided to give him 2 canaries to occupy his attention. Actually it's also part payment for the work he's been helping me do ... like moving six 20 kg 9 feet long bookshelves down 4 floors by hand. Like we were both almost dead by the end of the day. No wonder my shoulder and neck hurts.

And for the weather ... nights are very cold. Winter is really round the corner ... but forecast is heatwave again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Awful fluctuations. Let the new week trudge in .....

Rocky bye bye

The past few days have been abnormally stressful ... mainly due to teaching. Too many courses, poor timetabling ... I think I'll stop teaching all together. Not worth the stress. People who should be helping out only create more problems. I don't need that.

That stress is causing sleepless nights, dreadful pain in the right shoulder and an almighty headache. I don't need that. I even had to cancel my doc's appointment because of the hectic schedule. I don't like that.

bye bye Rocky

And to top it all, my friend had to give away his dog because his family and neighbours being muslims, do not accept dogs. It was a sad day. I helped him give Rocky away to another friend. It was terrible. Rocky wanted to follow me home so I had to make a quick escape when he wasn't looking. I felt terrible. My friend brought Rocky over 2 days ago so we could play with him one last time. Am just over stressed right now. Poor Rocky - hope he's happy in his new home.

And the nights have become so cold, my winter blankets are out. Unbelievable switch of the weather. Very many people are sick as a result. Could be a good thing as sick people don't go out and cause trouble. One less stress.

Drone

As if we don't have enough troubles internally .... so yesterday we had a spy drone entering Israeli airspace. The IDF (Israel Defense Force/army) shot it down. They think it's probably lebanese since the Gazans are not technologically capable of making a drone.   http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/east-side-story/the-immediate-suspect-behind-the-drone-that-penetrated-israel-hezbollah.premium-1.468566

Pic borrowed from JPost

Today life is more or less back to normal. But the streets will be tense again tomorrow as the Sukkot holidays end with the feast of Shmini Atzeret (no work allowed), and then followed by Simchat Torah (Feast of the Torah). Security will be up again and let's hope it won't end like Friday. Here's a pic of riot police firing stun grenades into the Dome of the Rock esplanade on Friday. That's just a few hundred metres from where I live. The sound and shock of the stun grenades still ring in our ears.

School has started officially and the new students are everywhere ... strutting about and feeling smug. Wait till the tests and homework begin ... then reality hits home.

Friday of tensions

Tensions rose today in the Old City. Police and military presence was on high alert ... every street corner is a regiment of police, soldiers and border police in riot gear, M16s loaded and stun grenades strapped to the shoulders. Muslims going into the Dome of the Rock mosque for Friday prayers jostled amidst the tight security. A security helicopter flew very low overhead.

Spanish tourists oblivious
to the explosion of stun
grenades fired 50 meters
away

Then after the noon day prayers, the violence began. The air rocked as volleys of stun grenades were fired in the mosque esplanade ... well over 30 in 2 minutes. The firing continued sporadically for another 20 minutes. Hundreds of muslims threw stones at Israeli soldiers and Jewish worshippers who had entered the mosque precincts ... to try and tear down the mosque and rebuild the Jewish Temple (which they try to do every year during Sukkot). Soldiers fired stun grenades in return. Attackers surged and retreated several times. Old people were trying to get out of the esplanade as quickly as possible ... the crush was terrifying. Everyone tried to get out of the Old City as soon as they could - through Lions Gate, Herod's Gate and Damascus Gate. Literally thousands jammed the city gates. Youths were running and dodging ... presumably they played a role in the stone throwing and were now trying to get away as soldiers moved in.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=286771

Tourists taking photos of the
shootings from inside the Antonia
overlooking the Temple Mount

As tensions rose, tourists continued to walk the streets in total bliss and ignorance, oblivious to the chaos around them. Taking photos, chatting, eating, drinking like nothing was happening. If the shootings reached the streets, these tourists would pay dearly for their ignorance. And their guides are totally responsible for bringing them to danger.

Now things seem to be back to normal. The streets are still quiet though. But we all know it's just the surface. Scratch it and you'll see a seething cauldron of anger and hatred beneath waiting for the next opportunity to boil over.

Feast of St. Francis

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi ... but with heavy hearts. Our communities in Syria are under fire, christians under our care are being kidnapped and the church has to pay ransom for their release. All perpetrators are from the rebel side. We received news from the friars in Syria who say they consumed all the sacred hosts in their churches for fear of desecration by the invading forces. Very sad. Landmines explode along the road, preventing people from fleeing. Snipers shoot at people in the streets. Everyone is in danger ... of being shot dead, blown up or dying of hunger.

And the situation here is not any better. Tensions in the Dome of the Rock plaza yesterday and today. Several clashes between arabs and israeli soldiers. Several arrests were made. I haven't seen my friend Mahmoud today ... I hope he isn't one of those arrested.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=286679  Arab shop-keepers have been telling me this morning not to go out tomorrow Friday because the muslims have vowed to retaliate during prayer times. It's a retaliation against the provocation of jews entering the mosque area these few days for the feast of Sukkot - they always try to symbolically destroy the golden dome mosque and rebuild the jewish Temple; also to retaliate against the vandalism done by jews on our Last Supper church; the muslims hold Jesus as a great prophet.

I wonder what St. Francis would say to all this ....

Last Supper chapel attacked!!!

Last Supper Chapel gates sprayed
with hateful anti-christian graffiti

Another disgusting act of senseless hatred - our Last Supper Chapel was vandalised by Jews. Graffiti at the door says "Jesus is a bastard. Price tag" Our most sacred site ... the place of the first eucharist, the place of the descent of the holy Spirit, the place of the priesthood, the place of the establishment of the sacrament of penance ... all desecrated by anti-christian jews. Mind you, no one will get arrested over this. It'll all be forgotten tomorrow. The people who burnt the Trappist monastery church are not yet caught. But if it were a synagogue ....

Yesterday's thunderstorm blew off many booths (tabernacles), drenched many meals and ruined the Sukkot holiday. Some rabbis think it's a sign of divine displeasure.  Well, why not? after desecrating out Last Supper Room?   http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=286253

Sukkot sunrise

Nevertheless we had a splendid sunrise this morning. It's a sign of hope for us. We may be persecuted but we only get stronger. The sun will rise for us.

I'm still awfully sick with cramps and diarrhea. Got better this morning but after a glass of water, everything came back again. Don't know how long more I can take this.

Sukkot

Sukkot decorations on sale

Sukkot is on. No work allowed today. The City is dead. Jews will be eating their meals in the wooden booths constructed everywhere throughout the week. Plastic fruit and flower decorations on sale everywhere as well ... there're put all over the booths and houses. Sukkot is the autumn harvest festival so fruit and flowers are the theme.

Last night we actually had thunder!!! A light shower as well throughout the whole night. Fantastic! There was a strong east wind as well. Good start to Sukkot!