Ice cream

The situation in Hong Kong is out of control. All sense and reason is lost. There is no turning back. What a pity. Here's a good and accurate article on the role of the Church and its future in view of this protest.  https://bitterwinter.org/hong-kong-protests-the-catholic-factor/?fbclid=IwAR12hh3S3s67nUCxpCN9Wv6NuWyX41hcoIKgh1uolEMYb-M6XH-t9sCApTQ

Spider

This morning while watering the flowers, I saw a small white spider breaking out from its old exoskeleton. New life. Made me think of Hong Kong and what it'll have to go through ... slough of the old and start anew.

Here we're in a quiet tense situation ... everyone is expecting Lebanon to bomb Israel but not on a large scale. It'll be a symbolic strike ... but no one can guarantee that there will be no casualties. It's a waiting game. The lull before a storm.

Ice cream seller

Police presence remains on high alert in and around the Old City. It's not very comfortable to be walking in the streets while half a dozen police and military police stare at you. It's quite intimidating. Only once ... this morning when I was coming back from the ethiopic Mass ... did a soldier smile and said "hi". I was shocked and surprise ... I did manage to say hi back but only after I had walked some distance away. By the way I love the ethiopic hymns and chants ... it's enchanting and mesmerising. The choir of 4 persons led in singing the Our Father, Santus and other parts of the Mass in ancient Geez. I want to record them the next time I celebrate Mass for them.

After lunch today I was out at our courtyard to send my old classmate Sr. Gabriella out and stopped to chat with some of the shop owners in front of poor house. The guy who sells homemade ice-cream "booza ruqeb"passed by and we bought a stick each. I had cherry flavour. Nice and refreshing in this hot humid weather.  

Hot and humid yet again

Enjoying the evening cool

I cannot repeat it enough .... the humidity is killing me. Today like yesterday has a 90% humidity. Walking outdoors is quite a toil. But once evening sets in, it cools down very much and the wind is refreshing, Lots of people come out to enjoy the change of weather after dinner. Hawkers who avoid the day heat come out to set up stalls. Mornings see a lot of dew on the ground ... and like I said previously ... everyone says it's unusual for this phenomenon to occur in August. Late October would be the norm.

But in the midst of this evening revelry, the police presence cannot be missed. With the tensions at our borders, Israeli security is not letting up on possible problems in and around the Old City ... the traditional flashpoint of violence and conflict. Yet despite all these, there is relative quiet because of the internal conflicts within Gaza and Syria. A blessing in disguise.

Harpist busker

My food poisoning bouts have ended and I am eating better these days. The docs have told me to avoid all red meats and if possible also white meats. That practically makes me a vegetarian. I do occasionally eat fish and chicken when I feel bored with vegetables. All in all I guess this new diet is good for me.  

I can't imagine summer vacation is almost over. I always felt I'm busier during the holidays than during the school term ... which is true. without students and profs around, we can do a lot more work. And of course there's supply work to do ... substituting priests who are on holidays. That means sometimes celebrating 2 or 3 Masses a day in various cities.

As I tire very easily nowadays, I've decided to cut back on my teaching schedule. I'll be cancelling several courses. I'm no longer able to juggle different classes at different institutes in one day. So expect a new schedule this coming new academic year.

Humid day

Typical arched street

The humidity today was unbelievably high. It was hot and sweaty ... I had to change clothes thrice going and coming back from work. It's not just being uncomfortable in the sweat ... it's the oppressive  atmosphere which makes one very tired easily. Everyone feels listless and unable to work. Everyone was indoors or inside cars that are air-conditioned. I was at Mian restaurant to collect chinese herbal soup that Linda had boiled ... and the restaurant was empty .... no one on a Thursday evening. Unheard of. Restaurants all along the road were empty of customers. Nobody was out in the streets. That was how dreadful the weather was today.

This morning as I walked to the Ivrea convent for Mass at 5.45am, the streets were wet with dew. This humidity is unusual at this time of the year ... the peak of summer. It should come only after October .... after the Feast of Tabernacles. The weather has changed so much.

I had lots of work to do this morning so by 1pm I was exhausted ... both by work and the weather. Tried to rest for half an hour before going to the MC sisters for weekly bible talk and confessions. Now it's evening and I thought of going out to walk and see the weekend happenings in the streets. There're usually night markets, buskers, concerts, light shows .... but I'm feeling too tired to go out.

The heat and humidity must be affecting the region as well because the sudden tension and talk of war all but disappeared from the news. I guess no one is in the mood to fight in this weather. Instead the spotlight is on the coming elections ... parties negotiating with other parties to form a coalition ... promises, compromises. I guess the locals all know by now its all pre-election rhetoric ... and after the elections things will remain the same ... with the ultra-orthodox wielding the greatest power even though its the smallest party.

Evening walk

Evening traffic

The sabre rattling in the northern border diminished substantially when Lebanon declared that it doesn't want a war with Israel .... however some form of military response was necessary to show that Israeli bombing of Beirut was not acceptable .... so a "calculated" attack ( meaning symbolic) will be launched. Israel is ready for it and has put the army and airforce on standby. Also in the south, Gaza is torn by internal struggles as 3 policemen were killed by bombs of rival islamic rebels. The Gaza govt has started mass arrests of its citizens believed to be linked these rival groups. With this internal struggle, Gaza has no time to engage Israel in a war. And all that works for us.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5576952,00.html?fbclid=IwAR02yFIITvZpuPWHDR0warqfaFCmxhuQEE9Ydhs8T27BmLw4Eeq9ZK8p7RU

Sunset at Ecce Homo

Last night I had to go visit a korean group guided by my former classmate from 30 yrs back. The wind was strong and cold ... and I walked out to the convent where they lived. It was very refreshing having the wind blow in my face ... I had locked myself in my room all afternoon because I had a terrible headache and nausea. So I slept for almost 6 hours. I had to stop at Palm Plaza to rest as I was too dizzy and nauseous. But meeting my classmate, a korean nun who's almost 80 yrs old, was great. She brought a lot of ginseng and korean seaweed, insisting that it's good for my health.

As the school year begins, already a storm has stirred in the Israeli teacup. A school book teaching jewish kids about freedom and democracy spoke about freedom to choose to travel on Sabbath ... and the book was immediately recalled. The ultra-orthodox will have nothing of that ... all travel is forbidden and they're making sure everyone else is going to obey the law.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-schoolbook-recalled-for-reference-to-traveling-on-sabbath-1.7761528?fbclid=IwAR0smBG9UvZ20G9iAVTDQDqZQXF0YWNsqpKgOM2-QIU0cIQLnb3dZu8QkZM

And the super-hyped move of the US embassy to Jerusalem just fizzled out .... no one notices it anymore, totally forgotten and no one talks about it .... until today. The embassy wants to build a massive 15 foot wall around it's property for security ... but it will block the magnificent view of the Dead Sea for the high class residents of that neighbourhood. They've now gathering to stop that wall. So instead of the rave the US and Israeli PM thought about the move ... they've got enemies now. And they're not arabs.

Jitters

Sunrise seen from Herod's Gate

The Amazon is not the only place burning. Greece is also scourged by mountain fires .... and here in the Holy Land we too have massive forest fires. The daytime heat is overwhelming and very dry ... perfect for dry kindle to catch fire. However the nights are cold and humid ... so a heavy fall of dew could put out the forest fires.

And a different type of fire is building up at our northern and southern borders. Lebanon's leaders are whipping up rhetoric to start a war because of the alleged drone attack by Israel in Beirut. Syria too is silently gathering the army at the border. Israel yesterday had already mobilised the army to the border. It won't be a conventional war as promises of an all drone attack is being tossed around in the newspapers. It's star wars in real life. An it'll be very scary. Read these articles:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-armies-of-drones-are-being-set-up-all-over-the-world-and-israel-isn-t-prepared-1.7758575? fbclid=IwAR1X4833zWRZNu6ciOSI65fbLGl9_Lyz1bzoTPsYDg5zpLd-PhMSyo1I7yY
and
https://www.timesofisrael.com/troops-in-north-gird-for-possible-reprisal-attack-after-hezbollah-threat/?fbclid=IwAR2-GX6hFkJLSr71dJGBDVcJipqnVchEIEyye8QLjpfpHoe27oi3Q3RAQWc
and
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-believes-nasrallah-s-threats-over-lebanon-strikes-braces-for-retaliation-1.7758770?fbclid=IwAR2SBqhRO8QuHekRuivGINI9N_fTh44DUX-Ud1chHU-q8OYebOLvih6XUBQ
and
https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Netanyahu-calls-for-intl-community-to-act-as-tensions-near-boiling-point-599787?fbclid=IwAR1CmhGO2V2-pLzW-i8pVAEAnGqJVeGHNQl6rMuxCVCztWnjK3AW30S4kG0

Boy carries bread
trays

Last Sunday the Greek Orthodox celebrated the sleeping/dormition of the Virgin Mary. They held their early 5am procession of the silver icon of the dead Mary form the HolySepulchre down to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley. This morning there was another solemn procession down to the Tomb but I'm not sure why. The bells of the Holy Sepulchre were clanging from 5am while the noisy crowd made its way pass our house.

School may have started for most students ... but not all are so fortunate. Poorer families need their children to work. The cost of living here is very high and many families are in debt regarding rent, school fees, electric and water bills. You can help a child attend school by sponsoring them.

Back to school

Off to school

Tensions are high as Israel bombed Gaza after the enclave fired missiles into Israel 4 times yesterday .... sending a summer concert into chaos and panic. The PM has ordered fuel supplies to gaza be cut in half as punishment. That's bad news for hospitals and schools and other emergency institutions. Israel does not shy from collective punishment. All these plus the expected retaliation from Syria, Lebanon and Iraq for the other days' bombings .... it's not at all what we want in summer.

By the way the drone that exploded in Lebanon was not israeli but iranian ... as photos prove. Yet lebanese reports are hitching on this fake news to blow hate against Israel and whip up a war. The real fear is not so much Lebanon's threat of an attack but rather that Iran is capable of high-tech drone killers and is exporting them to neighbouring states. This is our greatest fear ... and it was the aim of the other day's bombing in Iraq by Israel because the target was a drone centre.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-slashes-gaza-fuel-imports-in-half-after-fourth-rocket-attack-this-month-1.7740939?fbclid=IwAR2hGzE69daQhmlcucZ5FmciejIx_W5H7JDCdaxLni9k5N75UtxN7nZaMxE

It's the first day of school for many students in Palestine. it should be noted that there is no unity in the opening and closing of the academic year ... each school decides on its own. But majority have decided the new school year should begin within this week or next. Some israeli schools also start the new year this week. Almost immediately a contentious issue came to a head ... religious schools wanted to impose sex segregation but parents are fighting it. It was brought to court and the decision overthrew the segregation rule.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5575817,00.html?fbclid=IwAR21hGNTIh4xZFEIAPQ64fOoyPbXBYrgGrR3ul1F6nAn0WRoROBFnwYqCog

Just in case you think all the kids are busy going back to school ... a group of ultra-orthodox youths who don't attend regular school ... out of boredom, set fire to 70 spots in forests around the country. All for fun. In any case this is arson and if committed by an arab, it's not just jail term but also destruction of his house. But being ultra-orthodox jews ... we can expect only a slap in the wrist. After all the all powerful rabbis will be protecting these culprits.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/preteens-suspected-of-setting-70-fires-around-beit-shemesh/?fbclid=IwAR15wPSurO5fGe4NAZu5Nq3bNy2FPHrh7J0waH_2HrZ8Aq1-k4kkdObHWXw

Well sex segregation has been imposed in many aspects of life ... now that the ultra-orthodox hold a lot of power under the current government. Concerts, buses, beaches, trains ... everything is game. Secular jews are fighting this and nearly always it's brought to court. One example was yesterday when the court inf Haifa banned a men-only concert for ultra-orthodox.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/judge-shuts-down-men-only-concert-in-haifa/?fbclid=IwAR0U9s29o7jqV4H9W0KetvC5AKIegW4-YATWzcISZyrhDpNwPjTOwukYSAE

Weekend

Tensions have reached a new high when news report that Israel has been bombing Iranian military targets inside Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Of course all this was done with the tacit agreement of US and Russia. In fact both countries have come out to say Israel has a right to protect itself. Well we're just waiting for the consequence now ... not that it will start a war. Like I said in the previous post ... an all out regional war is unlikely. But skirmishes are enough to jolt our relatively peaceful lives and cause lots of inconveniences such as curfews, road blocks and work strikes.

Chapel at Netanya

Yesterday evening I had to travel to Netanya, a city by the Mediterranean Sea 102km away form Jerusalem for Mass ... technically it should take only 1 hr 20 mins to get there. But it doesn't take into consideration the walk to the bus stop, waiting for the bus to be full, traffic jams along the way, then a change of bus at Tel Aviv station, another wait, then another walk from the station to the chapel. Reality is a 3 hr journey. A nightmare especially when I need to use the toilet because of my IBS. Anyway I came home at 11pm .... that's 40 mins earlier than the previous night when I came home from Herzliya. It's been an exhausting 2 days ... celebrating Masses all over the country because of shortage of priests.

Night market at Musrara

The walk home at night brings me pass the Musrara night market. Quite an event each weekend as jews, christians and muslims come to buy fruit and veggies at a whole sale price. Well this coexistence will come to an end when regional wars spill into our country.