More anti-christian vandalism

Graffiti on car

This morning saw another vandal attack at the Dormition Abbey on Mt. Zion. The door and car were sprayed with nasty hebrew slogans expressing the vilest anti-christian attitudes. It's a hate crime by any international standards ... but not here in Israel. The neighbouring Last Supper Room was attacked several months ago ... and so far no culprit has been caught even though the streets there are filled with security cameras. For that matter, no culprit has been arrested for all the other attacks ... in Latrun monastery, and other christian villages and churches.  And the worse thing is ... no one else in the world gives a damn .... you won't find this attack on your newspapers that's for sure. None of you will be going to the Israeli embassy to protest. It's all a crying shame.

Full moon

Unbelievably May is coming to an end. The summer exams are round the corner and soon it's the holidays. Well for everyone else except me ... I have to supervise the construction of another floor to the library. That means another summer lost. And I still have lots to read and write.

Full moon peeking through the
trees above the City Wall

The full moon has been brilliant these few nights. I managed to catch it shining between the trees while it stood just above the City Walls. Really beautiful. The days are still excruciatingly hot but the nights get chilly. Lots of families come out for walks in the evenings as it's breezy and balmy. It's a nice relaxing moment ... I might just take a walk around that time ... it helps to relax from the tensions.

Police were in full force today in the City. They were going around the shops to catch owners who have not paid up their taxes for several months. Fines are also issued. The local economy is so bad this is one way the govt. hopes to rake in some money. The same goes for traffic police. More cars are being stopped now more than ever. Too much tensions .... I think everyone should just chill out, take a walk this evening and see the beautiful full moon.

Hot day

Onions stuffed with lamb
(foreground)

The Missile Attack sirens wailed throughout the country at 12.30pm today. Nothing to panic. It was a drill.  http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Sirens-sound-as-nation-drills-simulated-attack-314493  I was at Herzl's for lunch with an old feiend, Beverly. She's been transferred to another mission and happened to be in Jerusalem to buy souvenirs before leaving in a month's time. We decided to have lunch at Herzl's and it was very  nice. They have this starter - onion stuffed with lamb ... which was excellent. But anyway Beverly is leaving and I guess she'll have lots of goodbyes to say.

Another extremely hot day above 30 degrees. Thankfully there's a cold breeze blowing. I had to rush out early for several errands but as I went to the shop to pay a bill, I discovered I forgot to bring the money. It's the exhaustion that's making me forget so many things. Beverly said I should really go and take a couple of days off in Jaffa. I think so too. But will I ever find the time?

The air raid sirens will sound again tonight at 7.30pm ... it's meant to be a preparation when families at home. The afternoon siren was a drill for working hours. Well maybe the warning bells are also ringing for me to take a rest ....

"You've got splinters in the windmill of your mind!"

Msahan for lunch

Had lunch at my friend's house today. His mum cooked msahan (which is one of my favourite arab dishes) and frikeh. Msahan is the thick whole-meal bread with fried onions and sour-spice sumac with baked chicken. Frikeh is wheat harvested while still green, and roasted and sun-dried. It's cooked like rice ... but for lunch today it was served with pine nuts and minced lamb. Very nice.  I had a bit of each and loved it all ... except I had a terrible stomach reaction within 10 mins. My stomach is still as weak as ever, though the food is great.

Delicious friker

But I think it was also a reaction because I hadn't slept a wink the whole night. Too hot. Too much worries. Too much thoughts. Too much work. Yesterday I worked flat from 5am to 11pm with only 15 mins shut-eye in between. Incessant phone-calls, people demanding time, people demanding attention, no cook the whole week, no kitchen helper the whole week so I helped out in the kitchen during lunchtime ... I was awake a full 24 hours and only managed to sleep for another 20 mins before it was another day of non-stop work. Today got back at 5pm ... so I worked 12 hours flat with a half hour lunch at Firas' house. So that makes 35 mins of sleep in 36 hours. I'm at the point of collapse right now.

But I have some good friends around to support me - jewish, christian and muslim. They're the best things in my life right now. If I've got splinters in the windmill of my mind (to quote the Carol Burnett Show), these guys will be there to keep it turning nonetheless .....

Catch 22

The last few days have been utterly exhausting. Moving 10,000 books from one part of the library to another. Had several volunteers from Italy to help ... but it was still exhausting. And the evenings are not free ... as I had to give talks to several groups from China who requested. Had to travel out of town for these talks as their hotels were outside the City. And of course there were many other jobs to do as well studies. I'm a nervous wreck right now.

And the weather has been overheating - everyone's remarking how exceptionally hot it is for May ... given that this winter was really cold and snowed twice. August would be unbearable. 7 baby canaries have died so far ... too hot now and the mother birds are not sitting in the nests nor feeding the babies. I tried handfeeding one but it was too late. It died the day after.

Everyone's been telling me to go for a break before the summer holidays ... that's when reconstruction work in the library begins and I'll have the full load of work all by myself ... no one to help me as everyone is going home for the holidays. Well a break sounds nice ... only that I still have so much to do I can't just leave. Catch 22.

Luminous green is in .... 

It's times like this that a sense of humour helps. Been looking at the funny side of life, and there's no shortage of it in this crazy City. One really ridiculous fashion this summer for the arabs - besides the mohawk hairstyle - is wearing luminous green clothes. It's very loud, very kitsch ... but the arabs like it. I need to wear sunglasses so I don't get blinded by these garish glows.

Hot summer days

Pigeons hiding from the heat

The weather has been ridiculously hot again ... around 32 degrees with a relentless sun beating down. Once in a while a cool breeze blows but it's not enough to take the temp. down. Some poor pigeons even hid under a bus to get away from the heat.

There was a dreadful bank robbery in the desert city of Beer Sheva. 4 died including one robber who shot himself when he could not escape. Now the govt is putting up a new gun law to prevent further such events.

The other day I got a shock when I realised how expensive it is living in this country. No wonder the locals are demonstrating. I bought a carton of eggs (30x) and was charged US$7.40. Prices of flour, bread, milk, cheese and yoghurt are all up. Even cigarettes have gone up by US$1. People are now looking for night jobs. More pressure.

Exams have started in most institutes. Students are pressurized. And the heat is not helping. I can't imagine how hot it will be in August. Maybe we should just all join the pigeons and hide under a bus.

Saturday of more discontent

Another day of demonstrations ... and again not what you think. This time it's thousands of Israelis against their own government over economic changes. From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to Beer Sheva, Jews gathered to protest the rise in taxes over everything.   http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Across-Israel-hundreds-protest-against-new-budget-313568

I've been working non-stop since 5am this morning. Got home at 5.30pm, took a shower and fell asleep by 6pm. Woke up now at 11.30pm because my phone was ringing. I've been having attacks of asthma these few days now that I'm off Pred. It's a terrible steroid to use to control my asthma but it's the most effective. As I just had finished a course, I can't retake it again immediately.

Tea-seller in the streets

While things in and around seem out of control, a sense of normalcy is assured when the itinerant tea-seller shows up in the streets. A common sight since the Ottoman era, these tea-sellers offer tamarind or carob drinks popularly drunk in summer. But as time changes, I think even the itinerant tea-seller will also soon disappear just like many other aspects of local life ... a sad transition into a rootless future. The next generation will only see photos of it ... but never experience the smell and taste of drinking carob tea from a copper dispenser on a hot, stiffling summer day. But will the future generations protest and demonstrate in the streets for a past they lost? Unlikely. Money talks louder.

Surprise riot

Ultra-orthodox jews riot against
mandatory military draft
(courtesy of JPost)

Yesterday saw more riots ... but not what you think! This time the rioting was done by ultra-orthodox Jews against the Israeli government for drafting them into military service.  Goaded by rabbis, young ultra-orthodox Jews threw stones and bottles at the police and soldiers. Several injuries reported on both sides.   http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Thousands-of-haredim-protest-IDF-enlistment-legislation-313416    

So this is Israel ... things swing from one end of the pendulum to the other in 12 hours. You would have expected the ultra-orthodox Jews to protest against the arabs for the attacks the day before ... but suddenly thousands showed up to fight against the Israeli govt. instead. Welcome to the Holyland ... anything can happen and it usually does!

Riots

Tense confrontation between arabs
and riot police at Damascus Gate
roundabout

Yesterday saw demonstrations and riots throughout the Occupied Territories. It was Nakba Day whereby palestinians recall the lost of their land back in 1948 when Israel was created. My friend called me out to Damascus Gate to speak to me but he warned that there was violence out there. I wanted to see what was happening so I went out. It was huge. Arab crowds jeering and chanting slogans, riot police charging several times. Water canons fired, stun grenades and tear gas used to disperse the crowds. Several arrests were made. Some Jews who were exiting Damascus Gate were jeered and attacked. I was fired twice by water canons. At the shot, the crowd of youths around fled, pushing me to the ground. Got trampled, wet but no major damage. Had to wash my clothes, take a bath (they say it's chemical water which smelled foul) and dress some wounds. I managed to urge my friend to go home before things got rough ... which he did. Smart move. Met several other friends out there as well and all decided to go home before the shootings began. I stayed for 2 hours, taking photos.

Medics remove a wounded guy
who was arrested

It was not the first time I got caught in a riot. But it was certainly the first time I got shot by a water canon and trampled by a crowd. And as usual, tourists continue to walk on totally unaware of the rioting around them. Until some got shot by the water canon ... hahahaha. It was all very surreal. Tourists live in their own world, and see what they want to see and understand what they want to know ... oblivious to reality.

Mounted police charging at us

Anyway the weather has gone all crazy again. Dark gloomy skies, temp staying around 16 degrees. If it were hotter, less people would have come out into the streets to cause trouble. Anyway today is back to normal. Shops reopen, streets cleaned up .... and police begin arresting people from films and photos they took yesterday. As for me, I need to rest a little as I'm not feeling well, not from yesterday's excitement but from recovering from the meds I'm taking. Daily nausea.

Shavuot

Shavuot lunch ... not kosher but
I'm still enjoying it

Today is the Jewish Feast of Shavuot of Pentecost. It's the wheat harvest festival and the beginning of summer. Israelis celebrate by having family outings in the fields and of course, with barbecue. Flowers and wheat ears are woven into crowns and worn by girls. Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews make their way to the Wailing Wall for prayers. However the sky is dark and wind is cold. It rained several times ... scattered showers that come and go ... but surprising nonetheless as it has not rained in May for well over a decade. Traditionally Israelis eat cheesecake on this feast ... which I'd really like. But I'd better eat any ... afraid of new allergies. So it's har gao and siu mai instead.

Arab arrested by soldiers
last evening at Damascus
Gate

But it is also Nakba Day .. the day when palestinians commemorate the lost of their land when they were displaced as refugees because Israel became a Jewish state in 1948. There were minor scuffles in various parts of East Jerusalem. Last evening I witnessed an attack at Damascus Gate. The arab was quickly arrested by soldiers. This morning there were more violent scuffles in front of my house. Groups of jews tried to enter the mosque and muslims came to block the way. Ended up in a fight. Soldiers had to step in. Roads around teh City are closed off. City Gates are closed to arabs below 40 yrs old. Streets inside the City are also blocked off with security checkpoints. But the rest of us continue life as usual.

Two surprise but happy encounters to balance the tense situation. The previous day my former student from 15 years back came on pilgrimage with his family. They're from Beijing. He found out I was here when their guide mentioned me. So we met for lunch and had a alot of catch up. This morning on my way home form the Holy Sepulchre, I met Sr Maria Ko and her group of Salesian sisters on ongoing formation course here. She was my professor some 20 years ago. We managed to chat for a while.

All greek to me

Yesterday and today is dark and rainy. Temperatures have fallen by 5 degrees. Suddenly it's cold again after last week's heatwave.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/thunderstorms-and-lightning-herald-a-wet-shavuot-holiday.premium-1.523894 

So the Chinese govt is blaming "moral regression" for the teen who hired hitmen to kill his father and sister because they "pressured him to study". Well if it's "moral regression", it's only because there's no religion in the country. That's the fruit of atheistic communism. Remove God, and you remove "human" from "humanity".  http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1236765/teen-held-after-hiring-hitmen-kill-father-and-sister-who-pressured-him

So yesterday I went back to see my doc in Tel Aviv side. It was as usual a long tiring ride. From Tel Aviv I needed to switch to a taxi to get to my destination. The taxi driver was a large middle-aged man who was cursing the govt., cursing America, cursing the migrants, cursing the economy ... I thought sooner or later he'd be cursing me too. So I asked him if he was born in Israel and he answered no, he was born in Greece but made aliyah when he was a teenager. Greek? wow so I started speaking in modern greek with him and he was very very surprised and started speaking greek back. Then he started laughing, joking and stopped cursing. He hasn't spoken greek since he migrated, and said it's such a small world to find a chinese speaking greek to him in Israel. Speaking the language brought back memories of his youth and family again. So I guess I did my good deed for the day - made a homesick, grouchy old man happy again.

Mothers' Day

The neighbour's noisy
macaw who speaks
garbled arabic

So I left Mr Bird in the large canary cage for the past 2 weeks. He's not happy. He threw an awful tantrum last night. He's a people  bird and loves to stay near people. But he bites if anyone tries to touch him. Well 2 weeks was getting to him as the canaries ignore him. So last night he knocked over 2 branches in the cage and was crossly staring at me this morning when I came to clean the cage. I put him out on the lemon tree and gave him a lettuce to chew. But he wasn't happy and flew back to the large cage. Well what else to do but let him stay inside sulking. I can't put him in my room because when I'm not around, he shreds my curtains to pieces as well as my books and notes. His owner will be back only in October ... so I'll have the whole summer to babysit him. One consolation is Mr. Bird's just a small problem compared to the neighbour's noisy macaw - his bite is worse, his clamour is louder and he eats a ton more food than Mr. Bird.

Meantime the country is in social-economic unrest. Citizens are up in arms over the new Finance Minister's drastic measures to avoid an economic collapse. New taxes on everything. VAT is raised to 18% and tourists will be made to pay taxes as well on everything from hotels to food to souvenirs to entrance fees. People carried the Greek flag in protest yesterday saying "We're not going to become like Greece". Now tyhe newspapers report that there will even be a tax on burial plots .... even the dead get taxed.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-treasury-seeks-to-tax-residents-over-burial-plots-as-part-of-new-budget.premium-1.523572  Looks like this summer is going to be very hot and contentious.  http://www.haaretz.com/business/lapid-s-budget-israel-s-poor-stay-poor-while-its-rich-get-rich.premium-1.523483

And so it's Mother's Day. While everyone else is thanking their mothers, I'm thinking of those who have no mothers to thank ... the orphans, the children from broken families, those separated by war ... in Gaza, Syria ....

Jews divided

Another Friday, another day of rioting. But not what you think - it's not between jews and arabs. This time it's jews against jews, ultra-orthodox versus liberals. It took place at the Wailing Wall at 7am when the Women of the Wall, a group of mostly american jewish women who hold equality of worship with men, gathered to pray as they usually do every month. But by insisting on wearing the prayer shawl, phylacteries and carrying the Torah Scroll - all which conservative Judaism allows only to men - they drew the ire of the ultra-orthodox crowd. The High Court upheld the women's case and this morning eve a group of progressive jewish men came to support them. But urged by rabbis, thousands of ultra-orthodox school girls left school to gather and block the women from reaching the Wailing Wall. Ultra-orthodox men threw rocks, stones, chairs, bottles at the women. Police had to protect the women. What a scene!  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/protesters-hurl-rocks-in-clashes-over-women-of-the-wall-prayer-service-at-kotel.premium-1.523333  Now reform and conservative leaders are urging the Attorney General to investigate if the rabbis had instigated this rioting at the Wall.

On the academic side of Israel, there's alot of fuming because reknown scientist Stephen Hawking has decided to boycott the President's Conference in Jerusalem ... the highest profile boycott yet. Jewish calls of hypocrisy and other accusations against him however are having an opposite effect - it only proves how nasty the bite and bully can be if you do not do Israel's bidding ... and hence justifying the boycott. Read the article ... there were calls from academic and technology circles to end Hawking's life because of his boycott. How very very awful and sad that these intellectuals feel so threatened by a boycott; it only shows that there's truth behind it.   http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/targeting-stephen-hawking-and-dustin-hoffman-right-wing-pro-israel-advocacy-as-hate-speech.premium-1.523189

Village women selling
mint, sage, mulberries
and vine leaves

So the last worry the military had today was the arabs. It was so hot, no one was in the mood to carry out trouble. The heat just made everyone sluggish ... at least on our eastern side of the City. Being a market day, bedouin and village women came by the droves to sell the produce of the land. Vine leaves are in abundance. But also the first mulberries, peaches and apricots are out on sale. Mint and other herbs are also in abundance. I found it very delightful to walk down Damascus Gate and see the wares being hawked. I even went to Rami's animal "shop" - actually a couple of makeshift tables on his truck where he sells pet food and accessories. He sells the stuff cheap so I got canary food and nesting material. It was good chatting with him and he was very happy as well to catch up with me.

Ascension Day

The Mt of Olives was buzzing with people ... everyone was going up to the Imbomon for the Vigil of the Ascension. Strange name "Imbomon" ... it's the octagonal area where once stood an octagonal church but the muslims have taken it over and made it into a mosque. However the ancient name "Imbomon" remains although modern tourists know it as the "Chapel of the Ascension". From Byzantine times, the Imbomon was the gathering place for all processions on feastdays. No one knows why but the early christians always gathered there to start a procession. Well Ascension Vigils was chanted up there at midnight and then masses celebrated all through the night till morning. Very crowded affair. But it's the Ascension so everyone had their fun up on the Imbomon.

Jerusalem Day yesterday saw concerts in every Square and street corner of West Jerusalem. But in East Jerusalem there were demonstrations and scuffles. Massive military presence throughout the City. In the evening Damascus Gate was closed as Israelis marched down the Gate and El Wad street to the Wailing Wall. All the arab shops were closed and not an arab in sight. They're afraid even though they make a big bravado show not to be.

Nadia putting the
chicken pieces on the
tahboun

One good thing about Ascension Day is it's a holiday - no school, no library. I was totally lost as usual. Got up early, did my chores and then opened the library. Then found out it was not meant to be opened. Wanted to go back to sleep but my asthma came back. I'm off Pred now but the asthma immediately returned. Awful. Anyway I thought I'd treat myself by making a "sort of" msahan. Bought one tahboun (thick grainy round bread) which was not fresh ... kept crumbling. Didn't have time to roast a chicken so used a leftover cold chicken from the fridge. Didn't know how to bake the onions so decided to have it fresh. Only thing original in the recipe was the sumac (red sour spice). Enjoyed it though. Had an awful diarrhea and nausea afterwards ... which is usual for me whenever I eat ... especially after a course of Pred too.

Jerusalem Day

The streets in West Jerusalem are festive with buntings and lights. School children are coming into the City by busloads on excursion to learn how Israeli forces captured East Jerusalem and united the City. Unfortunately the arabs living in the East don't see it that way. There were clashes in the Al Aqsa area, demonstrations in Damascus Gate and Lions' Gate. Surveillance helicopters fly overhead. Soldiers amassing in the streets.

I wasn't feeling well as usual. tried to clean my room but only managed to do abit as I was too weak. So I watched youtube while correcting a paper ... and by chance came across the film "The Syrian Bride". It was so sad, but so real in this conflict world. Then "Lemon Tree" was lined up next, something which I wanted to see for a long time,  ... very upsetting viewing but again so very real. I can feel every pain and grief in the movies ... because it's so very real around me. I see it again and again everyday.

It's been an upsetting day ... but that's the reality check. Welcome to the real world of the Holyland.

Still sick

I'm just so exhausted. No energy at all. Can't eat due to the severe diarrhea and nausea. Wish I could just go to my Jaffa community and sleep there the whole day with no class or work to do. I need to get away.

Mounted police at
Damascus Gate

Well this lousy feeling is on a bigger scale throughout the country today. Israel's alleged bombing of Syria yesterday is drawing tensions in the streets ... everyone is afraid a war may start in the north soon. But frankly I don't think it'll happen. Israel would be too foolish to draw Syria into a war right now as Israel needs Assad more than a new Islamic govt. at its borders. Some reports say that Israel fired the missiles in order to force America to make a move, knowing full well that Syria is in no position to start a war right now.

On the homefront there's been a series of tit-for-tat attacks between jewish settlers and arabs. It's been tense at the borders. And we hear there were problems in the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday between the orthodox as well. There were hundreds of soldiers marching out of Jaffa Gate after the "Holy Fire" "descended".

If you have any patience, watch the Youtube below on the Holy Fire. It actually is passed out from the Tomb at about 38.00

Orthodox Easter Sunday

Well it's not much of a celebration like us ... the Orthodox put all their attention on the Holy Fire yesterday and Easter Sunday is very very quiet. In fact all the pilgrims were rushing into their buses to get to the airport and home. Such an anticlimax.

The weather is terribly hot. In fact the last few nights I could not sleep as the room was boiling hot ... like in August. Tried to rest in the afternoon after a morning's shopping for the week's needs. Exhausted. But the phone kept ringing. Had to go out for this and that. Drove me mad as I still have severe diarrhea and nausea. And the depression is equally awful. I hate this withdrawal symptoms from Pred. I still have several more days of weaning but the symptoms will linger a little longer. And I must wake up at 3am (solar time) for class. Aaaggghhhh how can I ever recover from my sickness if I don't have a minute's rest?

Sushi at new Sakura

Anyway as part of my chores I had to bring a friend out. Walked around in the City and went to Sakura's (reopened under a new management) for some sushi as I had nothing to eat the whole day. Good to eat some simple food. Then Ah Ling form Mandarin's called to say she cooked chicken porridge and asked me over. So I had chicken porridge as well. Good for my tummy but had a severe diarrhea reaction. So much for a Happy Easter.

Orthodox Holy Saturday of Fire

Ethiopic monk on the
streets

The entire Old City except for the Jewish Quarter was closed off. All streets leading to the Holy Sepulchre were blocked off. Roads surrounding the Old City from the outside were also closed to traffic. The crowds of orthodox christians coming into the City was overwhelming ... waves and waves of white. That's because the vast majority of them are Ethiopic christians ... a very rare sight in Easter because the Russians and Greeks usually outnumber everyone else. But due to the economic crisis, Greeks and Cypriots have virtually disappeared, Russians and slavs were also very few this year. The Ethiopics were the largest number, followed by the Copts of Egypt.

Today is the Easter Vigil or rather for the Orthodox it's the Holy Fire. It's a weird devotion among all the Orthodox in the HolyLand because it actually becomes more important than the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. They believe that in the Empty Tomb darkened with no light, the Holy Fire suddenly appears and flickers about. Problem is only the Greek, Armenian and Coptic patriarchs are inside the Tomb to witness this and they're keeping mum about what actually happens. This "divine" fire is then shared among the people who bring it home or to their parishes. I guess it's the Orthodox version of our "Blessing of Fire" ritual on Holy Saturday. They do not have this tradition liturgically so this "miracle" of the Holy Fire takes its place. Mind you our Latin Rite in the Holy Sepulchre also has this "Holy Fire" moment ... but it is so low key that no one ever notices it. It's when the candles of the Tomb's Main Altar are lit just before the Gospel reading. The sacristan comes out of the Empty darkened Tomb with a lighted candle and lights all the candles and lamps around the Altar and Tomb.

Spinach Porridge

Ah Ling from the Chinese Restaurant cooked me some spinach porridge yesterday evening. It was simple, cleansing and nourishing. It was good to eat something warm again. My severe diarrhea, cramps and nausea are reactions to the medication I'm taking. And the depression caused by withdrawal from Prednesone is hitting me hard. Am just feeling so very sick. Not even the Holy Fire today could pick me up. Luckily I don't have live as long as the famous death of King Farouk's Tortoise, reportedly between 217 - 280 years old. It is a living lesson that despite all the political, economic and social upheavel from the Ottoman Empire through the World Wars, Bristiah Mandate, Nasser's presidency ... the tortoise survived till its reported death last week .... a true survivor and symbol of hope. Until that is, it's death ... people are saying it died of a broken heart, seeing it's country overcome by the Muslim Brtherhood. But that's what I got from the newspapers, of course.  http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/neri-livneh/mourning-king-farouk-s-ancient-beloved-turtle.premium-1.518802

Orthodox Good Friday

Israeli soldiers surround the Stone of
the Unction in the Holy Sepulchre
for fear of fighting among the Orthodox

The heatwave still lingers ... but we had an unexpected shower during the evening several days back. It was a relief. Huge drops of rain fell and sent everyone scurrying for cover, shopkeepers rushed to keep their outdoor chairs and tables ... it was quite a sight. But just as the rains suddenly came, it also stopped suddenly. As Good Friday begins for Orthodox today, the bell of the Holy Sepulchre is tolling the death knell.

A lot of happenings in the local scene. Here's a list of tit-for-tat attacks between settlers and arabs this week  http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Shots-fired-at-Israelis-east-of-Jlem-none-hurt-311899  And the cheek of it all is when victims of a racist arson attack are told to pay the bill to fire-fighters. The govt is also going to make tourists pay taxes (VAT) for hotels and services which so far have been exempted. That will make visiting the Holyland more expensive by 16%. Palestinians will of course be very happy because this means more groups will chose to stay in Palestinian hotels and eat in Palestinian restaurants because VAT does not apply in Palestine. A new strain of SARS has killed 5 Saudis in the kingdom and with the start of Ramadan in July, fear is that muslim pilgrims to Mecca will be spreading the virus worldwide.

Ethiopics crowding into
the Flagellation

Healthwise I'm getting the withdrawal symptoms from using prednesone. I hate it but it does efficiently stop my asthma and in this case, to stop the breathing difficulty due to the peanut allergy I developed. Pred is used for SARS, avian flu, swine flu and other such drastic viral attacks. Am weaned to 10mg now. Another week to go before I'm off pred totally ... but the withdrawal symptoms are absolutely awful.

Feast of St Joseph

Massive cactus blossoms this
morning in the courtyard

Another dreadful heatwave day ... 30 degrees or so. Everything is wilting ... people included. Someone passed out at the Municipality Light Rail station. Police on bikes sped along the rail tracks to get there ... then ambulances arrived. If this is anything to go back, the summer will be even hotter. Not very nice if you're stuck here in summer. Only the cacti are enjoying this heat. An explosion of blossoms surprised us all this morning in the courtyard ... 13 blossoms in full glory. But by 2pm the heat withered them to a jelly mess. But it provided a moment of awe and wonder ... everyone enjoyed the show and of course they took photos and posted it up on facebook.

Yesterday was a typical "Prophet of Doom" day ... newspapers reporting Jewish students beating up some arabs only to find out they were undercover police. An arab shot and killed an Israeli north of Jerusalem. Israel bombed Gaza and killed a Gazan. Gaza fired rockets into Israel. Massive military exercise suddenly called up at the Lebanese border ... but the Minister of Defense was not informed. Ultra orthodox Jews are up at arms over the secular zionist new govt over compulsory drafting to the army/cutting of finance to orthodox institutes/allowing liberal jewish women to pray at the Wailing Wall .... and despite all these, the pope has accepted President Peres' invitation to come visit the Holyland. A scenario collage of apocalyptic dimensions. St Joseph should have alot of interceding to do.

I on the otherhand have no class yesterday and today. What a relief!! I could finally rest .. or so I thought. Had lots to do as usual but was really fatigued and the heat did not help. Managed to sleep for half and hour yesterday ... which is quite a success. Am still going for my medical checkups and injections ... my arms are still blue and black from the injections but at least I'm breathing better. And am very very careful with the food I eat. Otherwise St Joseph will be busy preparing for another good death.