gozgoz
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Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 1:28:51 GMT 1, For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah.
The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them.
so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought.
thank god they stayed away from my anus.
that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine.
but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again.
Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane.
On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room.
For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah.
The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them.
so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought.
thank god they stayed away from my anus.
that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine.
but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again.
Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane.
On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
Likes โข 7
September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 1:37:30 GMT 1, My other advice are this:
(1) TELL THE TRUTH. Tell the truth unless u are like leonardo di caprio in that catch me if you can movie and can lie through anything. I shudder to think what they would have done to me at customs if i didnt tell them bethlehem and they found kaffiyah, santas ghetto brochures, bethelehem sovernirs and postcards in my bag.
(2) BRING A NEWSPAPER CUTTING OR A BBC/CNN PRINTOUT OR SOMETHING ABOUT SANTAS GHETTO. No one believed me when i told them about santas ghetto. Its even harder to prove u have been to one when u have no artwork to prove for it and the receipt u get for the banksy print is a bubblejet print out a competent 8 year old paraplegic could churn out. Its EVEN harder when the receipt says GOLD FLAG and they look at the price list of the originals and they ask why isnt GOLD FLAG on it. I had to give a 3 minute summary of the difference between prints and OG and the concept of bidding. I felt I was back in law school.
(3) BRING SOME WORK ID IF YOU ARE WORKING. Maybe cos i look like im 18 but no one believed I was working and where I was working. They kept asking me for proof of where i worked to which i could only shrug.
(4) IF YOU DONT WANT TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT ITS OK. JUST TELL THE CUSTOMS PERSON. My customs woman didnt even have a separate card to stamp on. So essentially i was walking around with no stamp anywhere in my passport. When they askeed why i didnt want a stamp, i just said "i wanna go see the pyramids in eygpt one day".
(5) CROSSING THE WALL TO BETHEHEM - this was really easy for me so i cant give any advice. It was painfully easy. I strolled up at 7am. walked into the customs, showed them my passport, and it was over in 2 mins.
hmm.... nothing else i can add now.
My other advice are this:
(1) TELL THE TRUTH. Tell the truth unless u are like leonardo di caprio in that catch me if you can movie and can lie through anything. I shudder to think what they would have done to me at customs if i didnt tell them bethlehem and they found kaffiyah, santas ghetto brochures, bethelehem sovernirs and postcards in my bag.
(2) BRING A NEWSPAPER CUTTING OR A BBC/CNN PRINTOUT OR SOMETHING ABOUT SANTAS GHETTO. No one believed me when i told them about santas ghetto. Its even harder to prove u have been to one when u have no artwork to prove for it and the receipt u get for the banksy print is a bubblejet print out a competent 8 year old paraplegic could churn out. Its EVEN harder when the receipt says GOLD FLAG and they look at the price list of the originals and they ask why isnt GOLD FLAG on it. I had to give a 3 minute summary of the difference between prints and OG and the concept of bidding. I felt I was back in law school.
(3) BRING SOME WORK ID IF YOU ARE WORKING. Maybe cos i look like im 18 but no one believed I was working and where I was working. They kept asking me for proof of where i worked to which i could only shrug.
(4) IF YOU DONT WANT TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT ITS OK. JUST TELL THE CUSTOMS PERSON. My customs woman didnt even have a separate card to stamp on. So essentially i was walking around with no stamp anywhere in my passport. When they askeed why i didnt want a stamp, i just said "i wanna go see the pyramids in eygpt one day".
(5) CROSSING THE WALL TO BETHEHEM - this was really easy for me so i cant give any advice. It was painfully easy. I strolled up at 7am. walked into the customs, showed them my passport, and it was over in 2 mins.
hmm.... nothing else i can add now.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 1:50:00 GMT 1, Getting around
I left on Saturday night. Didnt sleep on the flight. Sat nex to this Israeli guy who was being deported and had some crazy storyes to tell so we chatted throughout the flight. Arrived Sunday at 5am.
Im telling u this because it explains how i got around and why i chose my mode of transport.
At 6am i reached the hotel in tel aviv.
At 6am, after not having slept saturday night and friday night i only slept for 3 hours, i decided that it was too much for me to find the central bus station, take a bus to jerusalem, find my way to bethelehem. So i took a cab all the way to the wall. It costs about 40 quid and i tried to sleep all the way.
In bethelehem, u will be mobbed by 500000 taxi drivers ( i was and i dont think it was cos im so hot right now. ). I randomly chose one in my sleep deprived state. And paid him 40 USD and he stayed with me for the next 6 hours to be my personal driver. He drove me to the desert, drove me to see all the art work, brought me to his local kebab joint, went to see this church in the desert and the refugee camp, shpeards field, etc etc. his name is NAYEF - mobile 052-2244962. Spoke to me about his life here, his day to day living, his anger and hisfears and the history of the situation.
He even went to find a bottle of glue for me because i wanted to paste something up on the wall.
Yeah so thats how i travelled around.
Cos i was so deadbeat... that night i slept for 16 hours....
Getting around
I left on Saturday night. Didnt sleep on the flight. Sat nex to this Israeli guy who was being deported and had some crazy storyes to tell so we chatted throughout the flight. Arrived Sunday at 5am.
Im telling u this because it explains how i got around and why i chose my mode of transport.
At 6am i reached the hotel in tel aviv.
At 6am, after not having slept saturday night and friday night i only slept for 3 hours, i decided that it was too much for me to find the central bus station, take a bus to jerusalem, find my way to bethelehem. So i took a cab all the way to the wall. It costs about 40 quid and i tried to sleep all the way.
In bethelehem, u will be mobbed by 500000 taxi drivers ( i was and i dont think it was cos im so hot right now. ). I randomly chose one in my sleep deprived state. And paid him 40 USD and he stayed with me for the next 6 hours to be my personal driver. He drove me to the desert, drove me to see all the art work, brought me to his local kebab joint, went to see this church in the desert and the refugee camp, shpeards field, etc etc. his name is NAYEF - mobile 052-2244962. Spoke to me about his life here, his day to day living, his anger and hisfears and the history of the situation.
He even went to find a bottle of glue for me because i wanted to paste something up on the wall.
Yeah so thats how i travelled around.
Cos i was so deadbeat... that night i slept for 16 hours....
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by leehambly on Dec 11, 2007 1:52:24 GMT 1, but what is a "kaffiyah"? Palastian gutra/head-dress?
but what is a "kaffiyah"? Palastian gutra/head-dress?
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 1:55:10 GMT 1, Other costs/transport issues:
(1) Airport to Tel Avivi - Cab - about 125 NIS
(2) Bethlehem to Jerusalem - about 25 shenkels (by bus 21 from bus station in bethelehem, ask around, i cant give u directions, Nayef brought me there)
(3) Jerusalem to Tel Aviv - you could try to wait around fro a sherat at Damascus Gates but i waited 30 mins and none around. I gave up and was on verge of tears. I swear i could have curled up there and then on the roadside and slept forever. So i hailed a cab and bargained and it cost about 30 pounds.
Other costs/transport issues:
(1) Airport to Tel Avivi - Cab - about 125 NIS
(2) Bethlehem to Jerusalem - about 25 shenkels (by bus 21 from bus station in bethelehem, ask around, i cant give u directions, Nayef brought me there)
(3) Jerusalem to Tel Aviv - you could try to wait around fro a sherat at Damascus Gates but i waited 30 mins and none around. I gave up and was on verge of tears. I swear i could have curled up there and then on the roadside and slept forever. So i hailed a cab and bargained and it cost about 30 pounds.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 1:55:38 GMT 1, yeah
but what is a "kaffiyah"? Palastian gutra/head-dress?
yeah but what is a "kaffiyah"? Palastian gutra/head-dress? |
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by leehambly on Dec 11, 2007 1:59:39 GMT 1, sounds like you had fun and no harm, no foul - probably wouldn't have been as memorable without the little hassles, even if they seem more sinister at the time.
+1, would have loved to have gotten the chance to go out there, but too many things against it right now... awful timing for me.
sounds like you had fun and no harm, no foul - probably wouldn't have been as memorable without the little hassles, even if they seem more sinister at the time.
+1, would have loved to have gotten the chance to go out there, but too many things against it right now... awful timing for me.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 2:09:43 GMT 1, yeah u are probably right. i was actually thinkiong of letting my Gold Flags go when i got it. but now, i guess im keeping it. everytime i look at it, i think of my lucky anus.
yeah u are probably right. i was actually thinkiong of letting my Gold Flags go when i got it. but now, i guess im keeping it. everytime i look at it, i think of my lucky anus.
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by leehambly on Dec 11, 2007 2:18:04 GMT 1, Amen to that!
Amen to that!
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 2:29:09 GMT 1, OK BEFORE I GOT FLOODED WITH PMS ABOUT SELliNG MY PRINT.
I am not selling it.
And even if i do, there's already one dude in the wings who i had agreed to sell it for cost to.
OK BEFORE I GOT FLOODED WITH PMS ABOUT SELliNG MY PRINT.
I am not selling it.
And even if i do, there's already one dude in the wings who i had agreed to sell it for cost to.
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nombei
New Member
Posts โข 355
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September 2006
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by nombei on Dec 11, 2007 8:10:05 GMT 1, aiya! sounds like a fun day at the airport.
when i have to go there for work, my company gives us a letter (the "get out of jail free" letter) that we show to airport security and then we get to skip part of the process. i haven't ever had to go off to the interrogation room, but i have had to answer the same question asked 14 different ways on a few occasions.
glad you were able to deal with all of it fairly well and that your ass stayed finger free.
aiya! sounds like a fun day at the airport.
when i have to go there for work, my company gives us a letter (the "get out of jail free" letter) that we show to airport security and then we get to skip part of the process. i haven't ever had to go off to the interrogation room, but i have had to answer the same question asked 14 different ways on a few occasions.
glad you were able to deal with all of it fairly well and that your ass stayed finger free.
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Harveyn
Forum Guardian
Full Member
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July 2007
Staff Member
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by Harveyn on Dec 11, 2007 8:14:09 GMT 1, +1 for the write up and the effort made in going.
+1 for the write up and the effort made in going.
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by cannaebefannied on Dec 11, 2007 10:10:13 GMT 1, Excellent advice, I'm heading on on Friday and can't wait. Looks like I won't have to smear my ring piece in vaseline after all too !
Excellent advice, I'm heading on on Friday and can't wait. Looks like I won't have to smear my ring piece in vaseline after all too !
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kiy
New Member
Posts โข 240
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August 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by kiy on Dec 11, 2007 10:16:38 GMT 1, Good Post +1 from me....
Its heat breaking to think Palestinians go through much worse every day without a smile on the face of the person questioning them.
Good Post +1 from me....
Its heat breaking to think Palestinians go through much worse every day without a smile on the face of the person questioning them.
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jerometurner
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August 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by jerometurner on Dec 11, 2007 10:47:37 GMT 1, OK BEFORE I GOT FLOODED WITH PMS ABOUT SELliNG MY PRINT. I am not selling it. And even if i do, there's already one dude in the wings who i had agreed to sell it for cost to.
+1 for the stories and advice and massive props to you if you do sell the gold flags for cost. stand up guy in my book. 
OK BEFORE I GOT FLOODED WITH PMS ABOUT SELliNG MY PRINT. I am not selling it. And even if i do, there's already one dude in the wings who i had agreed to sell it for cost to. +1 for the stories and advice and massive props to you if you do sell the gold flags for cost. stand up guy in my book. |
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 11:02:58 GMT 1, ONE MORE THING.
im getting asked how many FLAGS are left.
WHEN I LEFT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50.
ONE MORE THING.
im getting asked how many FLAGS are left.
WHEN I LEFT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50.
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pezlow
Junior Member
Posts โข 5,388
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January 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by pezlow on Dec 11, 2007 11:07:26 GMT 1, Really great posts gozgoz
Really great posts gozgoz
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BONGO
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,004
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February 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by BONGO on Dec 11, 2007 11:15:59 GMT 1, My other advice are this: (1) TELL THE TRUTH. Tell the truth unless u are like leonardo di caprio in that catch me if you can movie and can lie through anything. I shudder to think what they would have done to me at customs if i didnt tell them bethlehem and they found kaffiyah, santas ghetto brochures, bethelehem sovernirs and postcards in my bag. (2) BRING A NEWSPAPER CUTTING OR A BBC/CNN PRINTOUT OR SOMETHING ABOUT SANTAS GHETTO. No one believed me when i told them about santas ghetto. Its even harder to prove u have been to one when u have no artwork to prove for it and the receipt u get for the banksy print is a bubblejet print out a competent 8 year old paraplegic could churn out. Its EVEN harder when the receipt says GOLD FLAG and they look at the price list of the originals and they ask why isnt GOLD FLAG on it. I had to give a 3 minute summary of the difference between prints and OG and the concept of bidding. I felt I was back in law school. (3) BRING SOME WORK ID IF YOU ARE WORKING. Maybe cos i look like im 18 but no one believed I was working and where I was working. They kept asking me for proof of where i worked to which i could only shrug. (4) IF YOU DONT WANT TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT ITS OK. JUST TELL THE CUSTOMS PERSON. My customs woman didnt even have a separate card to stamp on. So essentially i was walking around with no stamp anywhere in my passport. When they askeed why i didnt want a stamp, i just said "i wanna go see the pyramids in eygpt one day". (5) CROSSING THE WALL TO BETHEHEM - this was really easy for me so i cant give any advice. It was painfully easy. I strolled up at 7am. walked into the customs, showed them my passport, and it was over in 2 mins. hmm.... nothing else i can add now.
BONGO AGREES.
My other advice are this: (1) TELL THE TRUTH. Tell the truth unless u are like leonardo di caprio in that catch me if you can movie and can lie through anything. I shudder to think what they would have done to me at customs if i didnt tell them bethlehem and they found kaffiyah, santas ghetto brochures, bethelehem sovernirs and postcards in my bag. (2) BRING A NEWSPAPER CUTTING OR A BBC/CNN PRINTOUT OR SOMETHING ABOUT SANTAS GHETTO. No one believed me when i told them about santas ghetto. Its even harder to prove u have been to one when u have no artwork to prove for it and the receipt u get for the banksy print is a bubblejet print out a competent 8 year old paraplegic could churn out. Its EVEN harder when the receipt says GOLD FLAG and they look at the price list of the originals and they ask why isnt GOLD FLAG on it. I had to give a 3 minute summary of the difference between prints and OG and the concept of bidding. I felt I was back in law school. (3) BRING SOME WORK ID IF YOU ARE WORKING. Maybe cos i look like im 18 but no one believed I was working and where I was working. They kept asking me for proof of where i worked to which i could only shrug. (4) IF YOU DONT WANT TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT ITS OK. JUST TELL THE CUSTOMS PERSON. My customs woman didnt even have a separate card to stamp on. So essentially i was walking around with no stamp anywhere in my passport. When they askeed why i didnt want a stamp, i just said "i wanna go see the pyramids in eygpt one day". (5) CROSSING THE WALL TO BETHEHEM - this was really easy for me so i cant give any advice. It was painfully easy. I strolled up at 7am. walked into the customs, showed them my passport, and it was over in 2 mins. hmm.... nothing else i can add now. BONGO AGREES. |
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by cannaebefannied on Dec 11, 2007 12:50:25 GMT 1, Was gonna +1 Goz & Bongo there but the option aint there ? The thought was though gents.
Was gonna +1 Goz & Bongo there but the option aint there ? The thought was though gents.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
Likes โข 7
September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 13:08:10 GMT 1, thanks guys... but i really dont wish what i went thru upon any of you guys... geez...
The interrogated and seqarched but they were suprisingly courteous and kind and cooperative but yeah, only one officer was a real dick. He kept sayin, 'in all my five years, I've never heard of someone doing what u did. Suspicious no? U think? No? No? What u think? Come here for art exhibiton? Bethlehem? No? Then why u need kaffiyah? Why? Suspicious no? Come from london to here. For one day? Only one day?'
So honestly, if u put yourself in his shoes, it was darn suspicious.
Before i left the rubberglove room, i told the israel dudes that over the next couple of weeks, dont be surprised if u get tonnes of dudes coming over for the same reason.
thanks guys... but i really dont wish what i went thru upon any of you guys... geez...
The interrogated and seqarched but they were suprisingly courteous and kind and cooperative but yeah, only one officer was a real dick. He kept sayin, 'in all my five years, I've never heard of someone doing what u did. Suspicious no? U think? No? No? What u think? Come here for art exhibiton? Bethlehem? No? Then why u need kaffiyah? Why? Suspicious no? Come from london to here. For one day? Only one day?'
So honestly, if u put yourself in his shoes, it was darn suspicious.
Before i left the rubberglove room, i told the israel dudes that over the next couple of weeks, dont be surprised if u get tonnes of dudes coming over for the same reason.
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by cannaebefannied on Dec 11, 2007 13:22:52 GMT 1, The vaseline is back in the bag !
The vaseline is back in the bag !
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 13:27:38 GMT 1, Hehe! JUST DONT TAKE ANY BETHLEHEM PROPAGANDA WHICH HAS ARABIC WORDS YOU DONT UNDERSTAND.
Im tryying to ask around what the words mean on that piece of sticker i picked up and landed me in all this trouble.
it could be just an advert for yummy biscuits.
Hehe! JUST DONT TAKE ANY BETHLEHEM PROPAGANDA WHICH HAS ARABIC WORDS YOU DONT UNDERSTAND.
Im tryying to ask around what the words mean on that piece of sticker i picked up and landed me in all this trouble.
it could be just an advert for yummy biscuits.
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
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September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 13:28:50 GMT 1, This is a shameless plug but if anyone goes to check out the wall with the foot sticking out, look down the wall from Sam3's gigantic camel and see if my print of me and my friends is still stuck on the wall!
This is a shameless plug but if anyone goes to check out the wall with the foot sticking out, look down the wall from Sam3's gigantic camel and see if my print of me and my friends is still stuck on the wall!
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BunnyBoiler
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December 2006
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by BunnyBoiler on Dec 11, 2007 13:30:14 GMT 1, For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah. The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them. so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought. thank god they stayed away from my anus. that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine. but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again. Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane. On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room.
Do you have photos of the sticker? I know Arabic and can tell you what it means.
For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah. The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them. so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought. thank god they stayed away from my anus. that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine. but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again. Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane. On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room. Do you have photos of the sticker? I know Arabic and can tell you what it means. |
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BONGO
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,004
Likes โข 11
February 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by BONGO on Dec 11, 2007 13:33:07 GMT 1, BONGO REITERATE THAT THE SITUATION IN THAT AREA IS COMPLEX AND HEARTFELT ON BOTH SIDES
BONGO THINKS FOR HASSLE FREE TRIP IT MAY NOT BE BEST TO OVERTLY ALIGN YOURSELF TO EITHER SIDE WHILST IN ISRAEL/ PALESTINE.
BONGO REMIND THAT MOST OF US ARE SHORT TERM VISITORS TO A WRETCHED SPECTACLE
BONGO REITERATE THAT THE SITUATION IN THAT AREA IS COMPLEX AND HEARTFELT ON BOTH SIDES
BONGO THINKS FOR HASSLE FREE TRIP IT MAY NOT BE BEST TO OVERTLY ALIGN YOURSELF TO EITHER SIDE WHILST IN ISRAEL/ PALESTINE.
BONGO REMIND THAT MOST OF US ARE SHORT TERM VISITORS TO A WRETCHED SPECTACLE
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by ejvaze on Dec 11, 2007 13:48:53 GMT 1, Gozgoz reading your posts today you seemed to have coped with the situation really well.
Being on your own it must have been frightening at the time.
The others who went through a similar experience were in a group as far as I am aware.
So you were VERY brave I think. 
I just think when I went through they knew nothing about the Ghetto and so were not suspicious of the fact that we were there for a short stay.
Having said all that on the opening night of the show as I stood out side talking to Simon some shady lot, I hate to think who they were, cruised around the square and went VERY slowly passed the show. It was feared by some that trouble was about to happen and the place might be raided or closed down.
Also I had experienced the Hamas rally in the square earlier in the day with live ammunition being fired into the air.
Thats a scary as it got for me at the time.
When I look back on our trip I think we were very lucky especially as we wandered around the back streets near the
back entrance to the boarder  before hailing a passing taxi which thankfully appeared.
What was strange on reflection was why that taxi we saw in Jerusalem with 2 blokes in the front followed our taxi all the way from Jerusalem to the boarder and watched us being dropped off in the back streets of this unofficial entrance into Palestine before driving past us slowly and turning round. Very strange that.
So I think we were very lucky it must have looked strange too when we left as there was no reference of us having entered the place.
We were very lucky I think
Gozgoz reading your posts today you seemed to have coped with the situation really well. Being on your own it must have been frightening at the time. The others who went through a similar experience were in a group as far as I am aware. So you were VERY brave I think. I just think when I went through they knew nothing about the Ghetto and so were not suspicious of the fact that we were there for a short stay. Having said all that on the opening night of the show as I stood out side talking to Simon some shady lot, I hate to think who they were, cruised around the square and went VERY slowly passed the show. It was feared by some that trouble was about to happen and the place might be raided or closed down. Also I had experienced the Hamas rally in the square earlier in the day with live ammunition being fired into the air. Thats a scary as it got for me at the time. When I look back on our trip I think we were very lucky especially as we wandered around the back streets near the back entrance to the boarder before hailing a passing taxi which thankfully appeared. What was strange on reflection was why that taxi we saw in Jerusalem with 2 blokes in the front followed our taxi all the way from Jerusalem to the boarder and watched us being dropped off in the back streets of this unofficial entrance into Palestine before driving past us slowly and turning round. Very strange that. So I think we were very lucky it must have looked strange too when we left as there was no reference of us having entered the place. We were very lucky I think |
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by ejvaze on Dec 11, 2007 14:02:02 GMT 1, Oh I have just remembered 
If my things had been looked through I WOULD have been in trouble.
NO I didn't have any souvenirs BUT I did have and do have the little invite to the after show party which was written in Arabic and English and named the place we were to meet up in.
Ooh I was lucky they didn't look through my things if they had found this and my print receipt maybe I would have been in the back room
I have been told a Lady was interrogated for 5 hrs on her way IN at the airport she may have inadvertently said she was going to Bethlehem 
You get treated the same whether male or female it seems and rightly so too as there have been women terrorists . 
gozgoz keep your Flags you deserve it. What a nice thing to look at and remind you of the GOOD and interesting times you had
Oh I have just remembered If my things had been looked through I WOULD have been in trouble. NO I didn't have any souvenirs BUT I did have and do have the little invite to the after show party which was written in Arabic and English and named the place we were to meet up in. Ooh I was lucky they didn't look through my things if they had found this and my print receipt maybe I would have been in the back room I have been told a Lady was interrogated for 5 hrs on her way IN at the airport she may have inadvertently said she was going to Bethlehem You get treated the same whether male or female it seems and rightly so too as there have been women terrorists . gozgoz keep your Flags you deserve it. What a nice thing to look at and remind you of the GOOD and interesting times you had |
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gozgoz
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,617
Likes โข 7
September 2007
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by gozgoz on Dec 11, 2007 14:07:32 GMT 1, For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah. The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them. so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought. thank god they stayed away from my anus. that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine. but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again. Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane. On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room. Do you have photos of the sticker? I know Arabic and can tell you what it means.
Yeah lemme take ap ohto of it
For the love of God. Dont buy a kaffiyah and/or pick up that sticker from SG which has arabic words on it and the face of a girl in a kaffiyah. The officers at Tel Aviv airport searched my bag and found those two items and immediately raised eyebrows, they kept asking if i understood those words and why i had a kaffiyah and "erm... i dunno what those words mean and the kaffiyah is just a meomento" didnt work for them. so they escorted me to a room, questioned me, stripped search me, emptied my bag, went through every item in there, swabbed every holy nougat i bought, sniffed every bottle of shampoo i took from my hotel, opened every shoe polish i took from the hotel, went thru my ipod playlist, checked my blackberry, took my phone apart, x-rayed the bag of M&S fruit and nuts i had, and proded the little nativity scene i bought. thank god they stayed away from my anus. that took about 45 mins in total. So yeah, get to the airport early if u desperately want to buy a kaffiyah and a little propoganda about palestine. but yeah, the good thing i have to say about this was that they were pretty nice about it all. i mean, there were no punching, goodcopbadcop , " U ARE LIAR! LIAR! " style hollywood-tommy lee jones/al pacino style interrogation, they just asked the same questions again and again and again. Also, they were very courterous and kept telling me its just procedure. They also reassureed me I will not miss my flight and even helped me check in and rushed me thru to the plane. On the briyghter note, they had a mean cuppa coffee in the room. Do you have photos of the sticker? I know Arabic and can tell you what it means. Yeah lemme take ap ohto of it |
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ยฎat
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,273
Likes โข 146
October 2006
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by ยฎat on Dec 12, 2007 1:18:18 GMT 1, No trouble entering the country for me... not a word. just said 'tourism' and that was that.
Leaving...well... we were honest, showed receipt, ghetto photos, etc and explained why we had gone to bethlehem.
Took about 10 mins of intense questioning and they let us through.
I think all the US stamps in my passport helped... as some of the entry stamps into NY are only a week or so apart-kind of proving I only go places for a few days sometimes.
But after the grilling they gave us, i felt like a cheeseburger.
Understand they are just doing their job..
Makes US immigration look like disney!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a shameless plug but if anyone goes to check out the wall with the foot sticking out, look down the wall from Sam3's gigantic camel and see if my print of me and my friends is still stuck on the wall!
yes it is- I saw it yesterday
No trouble entering the country for me... not a word. just said 'tourism' and that was that. Leaving...well... we were honest, showed receipt, ghetto photos, etc and explained why we had gone to bethlehem. Took about 10 mins of intense questioning and they let us through. I think all the US stamps in my passport helped... as some of the entry stamps into NY are only a week or so apart-kind of proving I only go places for a few days sometimes. But after the grilling they gave us, i felt like a cheeseburger. Understand they are just doing their job.. Makes US immigration look like disney!!!!!!!!!!! This is a shameless plug but if anyone goes to check out the wall with the foot sticking out, look down the wall from Sam3's gigantic camel and see if my print of me and my friends is still stuck on the wall! yes it is- I saw it yesterday |
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sputnikeye
New Member
Posts โข 761
Likes โข 29
August 2006
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gozgoz's bethlehem advice (or worst case scenario), by sputnikeye on Dec 12, 2007 9:27:08 GMT 1, Canniebefannied, one look at your dirty ring and you'll be deported...
Canniebefannied, one look at your dirty ring and you'll be deported...
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before hailing a passing taxi which thankfully appeared.
