The wedding on mount Carmel

One of the well-known mountain ridges here is the Carmel Mountains ridge, and we were invited to a wedding ceremony and party that took place in one of its peaks. This peak is called ‘The Hagana’- 'the Protector'- which was the forerunner to Israel’s defence forces. The area here is a designated as a picnic area and is covered with trees.It has a modern stone memorial sculpture with the military insignia on it, and a round opening through which you can see the surrounding area below. From this peak you can see: from the Mediterranean Sea and the City of Haifa to the valley of Zebulon, where the tribe of Zebulon lived in the days of the tribes, and right into the valley of Izrael. Here you can see the city buildings and industry, as well as the fields of the agricultural settlements that dot this rich land area. As darkness falls the day’s colour change and there are no longer the blues the greys and the green, but the lights, in their various shades of colours, that light in the blackness of night like millions of twinkling stars.What a sight! Arriving close to 8pm, and still light, we found the whole area set up for around 300+ guests, in tables for 10. These were covered with ochre yellow table clothes and set up like in a 5 star hotel. There was a stage for music and a dancing platform on to one side, and about three or four long buffet tables around. But that was not all, there were also two tables cooking pre –sitting food that constantly prepared ‘little bits of heaven’ Israeli style,’ with circulating waiters that served an array of local savouries. A drink counter was set opposite, serving anything you like; from water and soft drinks to pure fruit juices made on the spot to alcoholic beverages and mixes. At one corner, was a platform on which the ‘Chupa”(the traditional canopy under which Jewish weddings are held) was erected. Through which one could see the view below as well. In this beautiful night and site, a young couple vowed their life to each other, with the groom closing the ceremony by saying to his bride; you are the most wonderful, fantastic present I have ever got.I thank you for loving me. As a present, I gave them a digital copy of my 2 pods & white flowers on a dark green background. At the back we wrote, 'We wish your life together would flourish as beautiful as the subjects in the painting.' Renate Artist, poet & the Author of From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

Visiting Israel - feel the place

I am in Israel now and intend staying here for sometime. It’s a fascinating place.Its history, location, situation and problems are unique.They differ greatly from those in other countries because of its position as a holy place to the world’s 3 monotheistic religions; and because its the Jewish people’s only homeland. It is an integral part of their history and beliefs.

The re-establishment of Israel as a state after 2000 years of exile makes the place even more unique. Here antiquity and modernism come together; and a bridge from the past to the present and to the future is constantly being built.

Israel is a very modern country. She is a powerhouse to the High Tech world and a leader in many other fields as well. It’s a democracy, where the democracy has perhaps gone too far: many opinions, far too many political parties, and a very open debate over every issue that comes along.

In less than 100 years, the growing Jewish population has turned the dessert made by the Ottoman Empire (Turkish) in its 400 years rule, to a garden.Trees and flowering shrubs, as well as flowers are everywhere, and the people are keen on planting to such a degree, that many verandas and rooftops are green with a large variety of large plants.

Israel topography makes this place unique as well. In such a small country the landscape changes rapidly: from white sandy beaches to mountain ridges, to valleys, and right down to the lowest spot on earth – The Dead Sea.And by the way, the Dead Sea, which in Hebrew is called – the Salt Sea, is not really ‘Dead’; and it is interesting to note that at its centre, at the very bottom of it, are sweet water springs.

Next post - Wedding on Mount Carmel. Renate Artist, poet & the Author of From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

Singapore stop-over

At long last, I am back on the net.

About ten days ago my husband and I left the rain behind and landed in Singapore. Our carrier, Qantas (Australian’s national carrier), uses Singapore as one of its line feeder bases. Passengers arriving from various Australian centres by smaller aircraft are sorted out and transferred into larger crafts here, for their final destinations. Hence, most Australians, including us, visit this city-nation almost as often as we leave our country.

Our first visit here was over 40 - 50 years ago. In those days, Singapore was a small, poor & smelly backward fishing village, that the only good thing about it was, its cheap tailoring shops. These, lined the main shopping dirt road, with their owners greeting you, their pray, already from a distance. They will lure you by calling you, run after you, beggar you with their reduce prices, and practically lasso you into their domain with the quality of their wares and expertise; till eventually you succumb. And succumb you did, just like I did.

However, I never regretted it; I got the most beautiful ensemble of trousers, skirt and top, made in the local style I was after, coloured in various light tan shades and some mauve here and there, made in pure high quality silk - for the ridiculous price of 50 Australian pounds.

Today, Singapore is a beautiful, clean, modern, and world-renowned city that competes with Hong Kong. It has become a centre for shipping and finance as well as a centre for international conventions; with many shopping centres and a highly developed computer assembly industry and tourism.

Singapore transformation was driven by just one person – by Lee Kuan Yew. Lee Kuan Yew Yu served as Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 till 1990. His philosophy, as I heard him say in a TV interview many years ago, was that he was guided by China’s greatest philosopher, Confucius, in all he did, and in every step he took. AND what a success!

Already as you arrive in Changi airport you can feel the order, the cleanliness and the thoughtful attention to every detail: the beautiful and well-executed terminals AND, the smiling immigration officers with the awaiting candies on their counter; offered free as a welcome gesture.

Leaving the airport, you drive along the wide road that carries you through parks with large tropical trees and shrubs laden flowers to your destination. Everything around is beautifully cared for and spotless, and the humidity, at this time of the year, is very high. However, as all places are air-conditioned, it’s not too bad.

Singapore offers you shopping and more shopping and entertainment as well, and 3 days here, as far as I am concerned, are all one needs. This gives you a break from the long flight you have just finished and the longer one that is in front of you. And by the way, tipping is illegal here…

Renate
Artist, poet & the Author of

From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country

http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

Rain at last

Rain! We have rain at long last and everyone is ecstatic. It is the second day already and it does not seem as if it’s going to stop. Who knows, perhaps we will even get some floods as well? If we do, all this water will unfortunately be lost, as we have no dams where the floods usually occur. However, we hope that the dames we do have –will get some of the water.

In the meantime, the plants are celebrating. They have lifted their heads and leaves have turned to green. Our farmers are celebrating as well, as many of them were already at the verge of bankruptcy, and fruit and vegetable price were going to hit the roof!

All in all, excellent news for all concern.

Renate
Artist, poet & the Author of
 From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country  

http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

Drought - Australia

Hi to all,

Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for reading my blog. I have noticed that several of you are living in Japan - The land of the Rising Sun - and I hope you are enjoying what you read. Please do not hesitate to comment, as I love you to participate.

Australia is at the moment experiencing its 6^th drought year, and our farmers are having a hard time.The land is as dry as can be and water restrictions are everywhere. However, much of the difficulties come, from what I can see, from bad water management that goes back to the time white man first landed in this vast land.

White man has brought with it animals and agriculture foreign to this land, cleared the land of its trees, and instituted monoculture agriculture of annual crops.These inturn, produced vast areas of extended dessert, like the dustbowls of the USA, and in some salt levels rose to render the land unusable.

With much of the crops going to other lands, Australia has/is in fact, exporting much of its water and, there has been little attention given to harnessing water resources.In the area we living in, for example, there are quite often heavy dark clouds hanging overhead, but there is no cloud seeding; and in years where floods are abound, with farm animal up to their necks in water, there are no dams to collect that abundance.

Drought - Australia

In marginal land
no rain in site
the ground is cracked
like shattered glass

Salt has risen
no plant in sight
cattle and sheep
just wander about

They wonder perhaps
a blade of grass -
will stand up right
or semblance of wet
will denote a site

We uprooted the trees
lay waste the terrain
we destroyed all life
in this our land

© Renate 6.4.06

Renate
Artist, poet & the Author of
 From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country  

http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

Jerusalem today

As promised – Jerusalem of today.

Yesterday was ‘Jerusalem day’, an event celebrated each year not only in Israel but also by millions of people all over the world. The city, which has been for over 3,000 years the capital of the Jewish people, also celebrated yesterday its 40 years reunification into one city again.

During Israel’s war of Independence in 1948, the old city of Jerusalem fell into the hands of the Jordanians, and was annexed, together with what is termed ‘The west bank’, into the Heshemite kingdom.

40 years ago, in the 6 days war, Israel recaptured the old city, and reunified both part of Israel’s capital into one again.

Today, Jerusalem is a modern city. It houses the Kneset - Israel’s Parliament, the Hebrew University, Yad vaShem – the Shoah museum, and many others.

It is a city that sprawls over its seven hills, with all its buildings covered with sand stones.

When you take the bus from the central bus station to the train station, you see the city from its best aspect: You see buildings that glitter in the sun, built on beautiful shaped rounded hills that sit away from one another in the most design perfect distances which please the eyes no end.

Having said this, I am reminded of another good spot – the lookout from where the British mandate’s high commissioner used to live. It was not very far away from where my boarding school was when I was 13 years old. Today, it is a beautiful public park, overlooking the whole of the old city. By the way, you may be interested in the following statistics: Jerusalem appears in the Jewish Bible 669 times and Zion (which usually means Jerusalem, sometimes the Land of Israel) 154 times, all in all - 823 The Christian Bible mentions Jerusalem 154 times and Zion 7 times. in the Koran - not at all.

Hope you enjoyed the above

Renate
Artist, poet & the Author of
 From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country 
http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

New - My Web site is in Cyberspace

Hi to all.

I know, I have promised to write about Jerusalem of today, but I was sitting 16 hours at my computer designing my Web Site. It has taken me much longer than I thought it would and I am sorry to have been ‘off the air’ so to speak, for so long time. BUT - I HAVE MADE IT!

At long last, my website is in cyberspace!!!. It was a long learning curve that has not finished yet, but one that gave me a lot of knowledge in a field I never thought I will even think of tackling…and who said life is boring?…

Well, why not go on to the site by clicking one of these links, and even give me some feedback. I’d love that. Here are those links:

http://www.promisedland-renate.com/

http://www.rinavardi.com/

Even though I am over the moon with that, there is still a lot of work to be done that is behind the scene. However, I can take it now little by little and tend to other things as well.

As promised, I will be writing about Jerusalem of today in my next posting

Hope all is well at your end and that your life is full with activities and interests

Renate

Artist, poet & the author of

'From the Promised Land to the Lucky Country'