Psaug Org » mid east

Filming in Israel – Filming in Jerusalem

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:13:11 +0000

As a producer and provider of production services in Israel, I am always on the lookout for that one ultimate shoot that captures the breathtaking beauty of Jerusalem. No crew leaves Israel without filming in Jerusalem, and through all the years that I have been providing professional production services in Israel, no crew has left untouched by the city’s history, monumental architecture and eternal spirit.

I have compiled a list of locations across the city of Jerusalem, which offers you the best panoramic shots. I regard this list as unfinished – even after many years of producing and filming in Israel, there will always be a new spot with a good angle that offers great light and a stunning view.

Kibbutz Ramat Rachel

At this Kibbutz you can find a lookout point with wonderful views of the city, stretching all the way to Bethlehem, the Herodian, and the Judean hills. When you reach the Kibbutz you make first a left and then a right. From the parking lot you continue to a small amphitheater, and at the edge you will find this enchanting hidden lookout.

The Haaz Promenade

This promenade is located in the Talpiot neighborhood, just ten minutes from the town center. It offers a great lookout point over the old city of Jerusalem, the Hinnom Valley, and the ruins of the City of David. The promenade is also known as Tayelet, and in fact there are three different promenades to discover. Film crews travel here often to catch a good shot in the afternoon sunlight.

The Y.M.C.A.

In the town center on King David street, across from the famous King David Hotel, you find the Y.M.C.A. hostel which offers a remarkable balcony with wonderful views of the old city, the new city and the Mount of Olives. When filming in Israel, film crews often look for symbols of the three religions and this is definitely a location to visit.

The Jerusalem Municipality Building

The building is located right in the center of town in Jaffa Street. If you take the elevator to the sixth floor you will find a wonderful panoramic balcony looking out to the east and the west of the city.

Mount Scopus

On your way to Mount Scopus, every point on the road around the Hebrew University provides you with a view of the old city and the Judean Desert. The lookouts also offer an almost birds eye view of the old city. This is the highest and closest point from where you can observe the old city: 830 meters above sea level.

Mount of Olives

Some say that the view at the Mount of Olives is the most beautiful in the world. The lookout terrace is on top of the mountain under the Seven Arches Hotel and above the large Jewish cemetery. During sunset and sunrise the city is painted in different shades of red, yellow, pink and orange and the Dome of the Rock sends rays of color all over the city. Shooting at the Mount of Olives when filming in Israel helps you to understand where the phrase ‘Jerusalem of Gold’ comes from. It is an unforgettable experience for thousands of filmmakers who travel to the Holy Land every year for filming in Israel.

The Tower of David

The Tower of David is located next to Jaffa Gate, the busiest and most well-known gate of the old city. The top balcony of the Tower of David provides a stunning 360° view of the old city and the new city. Filming at the Tower of David is a great location for film crews coming from overseas for filming in Israel.

As mentioned above, this list is unfinished. Filming in Israel, and especially filming in Jerusalem, is a journey that takes you to surprisingly beautiful locations even after years. For anyone interested in further information about filming in Israel, I recommend our website http://www.biblicalproductions.com/index.htm with a comprehensive location guide to the best filming locations in Israel.

Arab B2b Takes New Direction in North America

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:12:46 +0000

The New York Times conducted an interview with Ms. Janine Jaouni, Director of Business Solutions, an entrepreneurial e-commerce figure in the Middle East; the interview was part of a research and collaborative efforts by Microsoft, Google and eBay to explore markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for introduction of new product lines and services. According to Ms. Jaouni, the e-commerce environment in the Middle East and North Africa faces several obstacles which deprived consumers in the region from commodities which [surprisingly] they can afford.

“The major issue is lack of a free market economy, companies are encouraged to export, yet customs and red-tape are a trade mark of most Arab economies, perhaps with the exception of the Emirates.” Ms. Jaouni continues: “the population of MENA stands at approximately a quarter-billion people, yet the economic boundaries have defeated the purpose when it comes to creating economies of scale.”

Microsoft, Google and eBay realize that MENA is an untapped consumer environment, yet the challenge remains on how to make such fragmented demands make economic sense, after all, the American business model is based on centralized operations of scale, particularly when it comes to the services sector, the challenge is the many borders, each with its own set and often contradictory rules of doing business.

Ms. Jaouni points out that her company Business Solutions has identified three challenges. The first challenge is lack of infrastructure for transportation and speedy delivery and reliable mail services; the second is lack of credit (less than 2% of the population of MENA has credit cards, 5% of those in her estimates have PayPal accounts), and the third is lack of trust – this is due to the fact that prosecuting someone in a different country is very difficult, particularly for consumer size transactions. Ms. Jaouni discounts the challenge of the centralized business model; “the web and e-commerce in particular lend themselves to a decentralized model,” she adds.

Then, how do you do e-business in the Middle East and North Africa, isn’t that what you do?, we asked.

Many young Arab entrepreneurs have realized that they can setup simple e-commerce (business-to-customer, B2C) sites catering to European and American customers. The nature of the products ranges from souvenirs to specialty or traditional items. These businesses, while profitable, require extensive marketing and dedication, something which is not easy to do for a part-time entrepreneur. Ms. Jaouni states: “Our approach and company philosophy is different; we help these and others setup a network of Business-to-Business (B2B), and from there B2C, thus creating a web of tiered network referred to as B2B2C.”

Business Solutions realized the potential of B2B marketing and produced its first EXPO package in 2003. This B2B package is designed for export oriented markets and includes categorized listings of businesses, each business with online catalogs, inquiry baskets, PDF brochures and utilities to export spreadsheets for large scale marketing campaigns. EXPO is most suitable for markets with specialized product sectors, like in Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Morocco. The platform has significantly contributed to exports of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, marble and stone, leather products, textiles and furniture.

Based on the success of EXPO, the company launched the Arab Travel Network (ATN) in 2005. ATN is a site totally administered by travel agents, tour operators and companies which provide related travel and tourism services. For businesses, it functions as a B2B platform creating a travel and tourism marketplace in an area long ignored by Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Tour operators are now capable of organizing tours and selling packages to travel agents world-wide. Travel agents in turn offer travel packages to customers, also online, a very successful B2B2C model. The major tourism sectors benefited by this package are in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. Ms. Jaouni states that Business Solutions has also experimented with hotel reservations and other services related to Hajj and Omra in Saudi Arabia, and is currently looking for local partnership and representation. The Emirates market also has great potential, but requires a unique model which Business Solutions is looking into.

The latest release by Business Solutions is ArabCityUSA.com which is a super-portal targeting the Arab Community in North America. The planned release of ArabCityUSA.com was postponed by six months in order to re-design the site to make full use of the latest AJAX technology. This technology enables vendors and users alike to get results effectively without having to “mine” for information. The site is focused on travel services with airfares and packed offers, and online airfare quotes system to many airports in Arab countries and world-wide destinations. The portal has a comprehensive list of restaurants offering Middle Eastern and traditional Arabic (particularly Lebanese and Moroccan) cuisine, where each restaurant self publishes specialties and menus which appear in a compiled easy to browse pages. The site also offers a comprehensive business directory with categorized listings and online catalogs for products and services. In addition to AJAX, the site utilizes US zip codes to calculate distance to such businesses and sorts results by distance. The site has a social platform which offers a meeting place similar to MySpace.com; among the innovative features is Skype.com online status for members and statistics about who is online using IP-to-Country detection technology. Ms. Jaouni adds that the target Arab communities in the US are primarily in Paterson and Jersey City in New Jersey, New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Washington DC, Houston, Dearborn, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. All services offered through ArabCityUSA.com are free, except for the advertisements, preferred and featured listings.

The future of e-business in the MENA region remains promising, evident by the high number of internet users. “Somehow we need to turn browsing time into a shopping experience”, Ms. Jaouni comments, “I see people taking shopping trips to London, Paris and New York; we need to make the same products available here for the middle-class, it is all products they can afford.”

Jordan travel tips and touroist attractions guide

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:45:05 +0000

We at IRTOURING Offers Cultural Tours to iran , Best Iran tour, iran tours, travel to iran and more

Ajloun: The Islamic castle Ajloun stands on top of the 1123 meter high Jabel Auf and is embedded in a nice environment. It was built in the 12th century by a general of the famous sultan Salah ad-Din to protect the country against the Crusader attacks and to secure the pilgrim routes. Amman:Situated on several hills the capital of Jordan houses almost half of the country’s population. Worth seeing in the so-called white city is the Citadel hill, once an important military and religious site. Here you see for example the remains of the Temple of Hercules. Interesting place are the Roman Theater, the King Abdullah Mosque and the Abu Darweesh Mosque. Aqaba at the Red Sea: The small Red Sea port of Aqaba is famous for its unique coral reefs and so a paradise for diving and snorkeling in clear waters. Many other aquatic activities are possible like sailing, wind surfing or water skiing. The tourist city is also attractive due to its status as Special Economic Zone offering duty free shopping. Azraq Oasis: Azraq is located about 110 kilometers east of Amman. Once a large wetland area, nowadays only 12 square km of parklands and pools are left as a result of the growing water demand of cities like Amman. But still Azraq is the oasis in the eastern desert, home to some water buffalos and important for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Bethany – Baptism Site: On the east bank of the Jordan River not far away from Amman you find Bethany beyond the Jordan, the place where John the Baptist lived and baptized Jesus. Many Christians pilgrimage to this holy place, which is located in a nice surrounding. Besides the Baptism Site of Jesus you see a new golden-roofed church, the remains of Byzantine churches and baptism pools. Dana: The Dana Nature Reserve, composed of mountains and wadis, reaches a total height of more than 1600 meter ranging from the tops of the Rift Valley to desert lowlands. Here you find diversified landscape like green areas with trees, desert and rocks as well as various plants and animal species. Dead Sea: The salt lake between Israel and Jordan is the lowest point on earth with about 400 m below sea level. The Dead Sea is mainly supplied by water from the Jordan River. It is an experience to bath without being able to sink. But the mineral-rich Dead Sea offers more; it was one of the first spas in the world. Herod the Great, king of Judaea already used it in the 1st century BC as health treatment. The water and the special conditions of the area have positive effects on dermatological and rheumatic diseases. Desert Castles: The most remarkable buildings in the eastern Jordanian desert are the palaces built by the Umayyad caliphs in the 7th and 8th century. Most of the castles can be visited within one day in a loop from Amman via Azraq: the originally Roman Qasr al-Hallabat and Qasr al-Kharanah with its high walls and four corner towers. Besides are the large black fortress Qasr al-Azraq and Qasr Amra, the most charming of the desert castles due to its fresco paintings. Jerash: The best example of a Roman provincial city in the Middle East is Jerash, 50 km north of Amman. It was initially built by Alexander the Great in 332 BC and started to prosper after the Roman conquest in 63 BC. The Artemis Temple, the theatres, the Colonnaded Street and many other ancient buildings give you the feeling of the great civilization and the history of the region. Kerak: Situated on the King’s Highway the city was the ancient capital of the Moabites, but the most visitors come to see the Crusader castle on the hilltop. The castle was built in the 12th century and ruled by Payen le Bouteiller, the Lord of Transjordan (Oultrejordain). Madaba: The town Madaba is well known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. Popular is especially the 6th century mosaic map of Palestine in the floor of the orthodox St. George’s Church. Other magnificent mosaic masterpieces from the Madaba area, mostly found in old churches, can be seen in the Archaeological Park. Mount Nebo: Not far from Madaba Mt. Nebo is located, from where Prophet Moses overlooked the Promised Land and died. In 1933 remains of a church from the 4th century and a monastery with magnificent mosaics had been discovered here. From the mountain you have a panorama of the Holy Land; usually Jericho is visible and on clear days also Jerusalem. Pella: Pella is located in the Jordan Valley and in nice surroundings visitors see ancient ruins from Roman and Byzantine period. Pella was like the city of Gadara a member of the Decapolis, a union of cities in Palestine, Jordan and southern Syria which were centers of Greco-Roman culture. Petra: In the south of Jordan, in the mountains of Edom, the famous rock city Petra is located. 2000 years ago the Nabataeans, Arab nomads, carved magnificent temples, tombs and houses in the red-rose sandstone. Since 1985 Petra belongs to the World Heritage Sites and since 2007 it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Salt: In the ex-capital of Jordan you get a feeling for the architecture of the Ottoman period, if you walk through picturesque narrow streets and watch the houses with long-arched windows. In the town exists a Handicraft School where you can see traditional skills of ceramics? Within Jordan Salt is known for its quality of vegetable and fruit harvest. Shaumari Wildlife Reserve: Close to Azraq the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, founded 1975, covers 22 square km and offers home for gazelles, wild donkeys and Arabian oryx. The oryx is also Shaumari’s great success story. This antelope species was almost extinct and by means of breeding programs it recovered again. Shobak (Montreal): The Crusader castle is perched on top of a small hill northeast of the town of Shobak in southern Jordan. Like Kerak it was built by Baldwin I. of Jerusalem. Inside the fortress are two churches, ruins of baths, cisterns, archways, old Islamic inscriptions and brave people can follow over 300 steps down in a well. Umm Quais (Gadara): From the ruined Graeco-Roman city Gadara, today named Umm Quais, visitors have an amazing view over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Still to see are the remains of theatres, temples, a colonnaded street, a basilica and a museum. Wadi al-Mujib: The lowest nature reserve in the world is Wadi al-Mujib near the Dead Sea. The area about 220 square km reaches the highest level in 900 meter, the lowest in 400 meter below sea level and offers a variety in nature and wildlife. The so-called Grand Canyon of Jordan is a good place for adventures. Visitors can hike, swim in pools and rivers and abseil from rocks. Wadi Rum: In Jordan’s south you find this dramatic desert landscape with its beautiful rock formations. Visitors can enjoy a Jeep tour to visit astonishing rock bridges or enjoy silence and pure nature during a hike or on back of a camel. A wonderful experience is to spend a night under the starry sky in the wadi.

Descover Egypt & Jordan Travel Package ( 11 Nights )

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:45:07 +0000

Tour Itinerary

Days 1: Arrival Cairo
Arrival Cairo international airport, meet & assist by our representative who will help you in handling all your procedures through passport control , customs formalities & luggage area, then transfer you to your hotel via air conditioned modern vehicle & overnight in Cairo .

Day 2: Pyramids – Egyptian Museum – Old Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a full day tour to visit the enigmatic Pyramids of Giza of King Cheops , Chefren , Mykernuis , Sphinx , &Valley temple which are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt, you can feel the mysteries surrounding their symbolism , design & purpose have inspired passionate debate, it’s likely that many of these mysteries will never be solved, then proceed your fantastic tour to visit the Egyptian antiquities museum commonly known as the Egyptian Museum which located in the capital city of Cairo, where you can see the most extensive collection of ancient antiquities , & the famous golden mask of Tutankhamun among other amazing pharaonic artifacts , finally continue your tour to visit Old Cairo ( Mary Gerges church , Hanging church , Ben Ezra Synagogue ) , then back to your hotel & overnight in Cairo.

Day 3: Aswan – Felucca
Breakfast at your hotel, Cairo airport for departure to Aswan by flight, arrival Aswan airport, meet & assist by our representative , enjoy a felucca ride on the River Nile around Elephantine Island, overnight in Aswan.

Day 4: High Dam – Unfinished Obelisk & Philae
Breakfast at your hotel, enjoy visiting the High Dam which is one of the world’s largest dams & its lake is the second in the world, spread to Sudan, Unfinished Obelisk which is constructed out of the syenite granite mined in Aswan & Philae temple which dedicated to be the goddess Isis, at night transfer to Aswan train station for departure to Luxor, then arrive Luxor train station, meet & assist by our representative, transfer to your hotel & overnight in Luxor.

Day 5: East Bank – Karnak & Luxor temples
Breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a visit to Karnak temple the largest temple in the world dedicated to Amun, the pharaohs of the middle kingdom built the oldest structures, the latest ones were added during the Ptolemaic period, the most outstanding features are the white Chapel of Sesostris I & the Great Hypo style hall with its 134 huge columns, a long dorms, lined by Sphinx statues, connected Karnak temple to Luxor temple, which is lying 3 km to the south of Karnak & was built for Mut, during the Opet (new year festival) Amun headed the procession starting from Karnak temple & joined his wife Mut in Luxor temple, the main structures were built by Amenophis III and Ramses II, then back to your hotel & overnight .

Day 6: West Bank – Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut temple – Colossi of Memnon
Breakfast at your hotel , enjoy a visit to the west bank which was a magnificent burial ground for the pharaohs, the Valley of Kings was the kingdom of Osiris, god of the underworld, from their grand tombs filled with treasures & decorated with amazing art, the Egyptian pharaohs believed they would embark on a journey in which they would meet the gods in the afterlife & achieve immortality, proceeding to visit the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari & ending by Colossi of Memnon , at evening transfer to Luxor train station for departure back to Cairo by first class sleeping train & overnight (Dinner & Breakfast will be served on board)

Day 7: Arrival Giza – Optional Sound & Light Show
Arrival Giza train station , meet & assist by our representative , transfer to your hotel for refreshment , free day in Cairo or an Optional visit to attend Sound & Light show at pyramids area, it’s an enchanting experience not to be missed , you may never know exactly how the magnificent pyramids were built ,the riddle of Sphinx may remain one of the world’s oldest mysteries, you are visiting the pyramids in the 21st century, thousands of years after they were built & they will continue to endure for generations, back to your hotel & overnight in Cairo .

Day 8: Taba
Breakfast at your hotel, drive via air conditioned modern vehicle to Taba, have a relaxing time, dinner & overnight in Taba.

Day 9: Aqaba Jordan – Wadi Rum
In the morning, transfer to Taba heights marina; take the ferry boat to Aqaba- Arrive Aqaba board. Driving to Wadi Rum we start by Bedouin Jeeps in the village and drive first to Lawrence’s Spring and then to the sand dunes in Wadi Um Ishrin where you can also see some Nabatean inscriptions. Transfer to your hotel in Petra & overnight.

Day 10: Canyon & the High Place of Sacrifice
Breakfast at your hotel, visit the rose red city, the city of the Nabateans. Go through the Siq (canyon), then walk through the canyon and enjoy the beautiful carvings of statues, idols and niches on the way to the treasury. After treasury starting from a point close to the theatre, the Path to the high place of sacrifice. The High Place itself has been carved flat, and drainage channels have been cut into the rock to allow the blood of sacrificial animals to drain away. After that going down along the facades street to the Roman theatre, royal tombs, the Roman colonnaded street. Overnight in Petra.

Day 11: Back to Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel, Free time in Petra. Afternoon,drive to Aqaba port to take the ferry boat to Taba, meet & assist at Taba port, drive back to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo

Day 12: Cairo – Home
Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Cairo international airport for final departure, assistance through formalities by our representative.
Back To Top

Tour Includes
- Meet & assist upon arrival and departure by our representative
- All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation in Cairo for 04 nights including daily breakfast
- Accommodation in Aswan for 01 night including daily breakfast
- Accommodation in Luxor for 02 nights including daily breakfast
- Accommodation for 01 night in first class sleeping train (Luxor – Cairo) including breakfast & dinner
- Accommodation in Taba for 01 night including dinner
- Accommodation in Petra for 02 nights including daily breakfast
- All sightseeing tours in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Petra are (Private tours) according itinerary
- Professional English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to all sites according itinerary
- Lunch meals during tours as per itinerary
- Flight ticket Cairo – Aswan
- Train ticket Aswan – Luxor
- Drive from Cairo to Taba & return by an air conditioned vehicle
- Ferry boat tickets Taba – Aqaba – Taba
- All taxes & services charges

Payment Facilities:

1) Online Payment by Credit card visa or Master via our secure payment page on our website http://www.albaraagroup.com

2 ) Bank transfer:
Albaraa Travel Egypt -bank details:
Account Name: Albaraa Travel
Account No: 566166
Bank: Arab African International Bank
Branch: Hurghada
Swift: ARAIEGCXXX

Payment Plan:
25% down payment required to secure the booking ( by credit cards )
75% balance in pick up from your hotel in the tour day. ( credit card / or / cash )
Tour guide
Egypt guided tours are highly recommended and our guides are knowledgeable Egyptologist guides who have academic qualifications to make your tour to Egypt extra special

Vehicles used
Vehicles are new branded air-conditioned with a professional driver, but drivers in Egypt do not speak English and they cannot act as tour guides for the Egyptian monumental sights

What to bring
Passport valid for 6 months
Comfortable shoes
Cotton clothes in summer
Warm clothes in winter
Sun block
Sunglasses
Hat
Photo/Video Camera
Look forward to hearing from you soon, hope that my offer will meet your approval.
Best regards,

Emails: magdy@egypttravelhotdeals.com
Website: www.egypttravelhotdeals.com

Travel to the Temple Mount

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:45:18 +0000

According to the Bible, King David purchased a threshing floor owned by Aravnah the Jebusite (2 Samuel, 24:18-25) overlooking Jerusalem upon the cessation of a plague, to erect an altar. He wanted to construct a permanent temple there, but as his hands were “bloodied,” he was forbidden to do so himself, so this task was left to his son Solomon, who completed the task c. 950 BC. After standing for 410 years, the First Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Reconstruction of the Temple began after the exile to Babylonia. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman Emperor Titus 420 years later, in 70 CE. The Romans were, however, unable to topple the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.

Upon the destruction of the Temple, the Rabbis revised prayers, and introduced new ones to request the speedy rebuilding of the temple. They also instituted the saying of the portions of the Torah commanding the bringing of the sacrifices in place of the sacrifices themselves.

After the Muslim conquest of this region, the Temple Mount became known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). It is revered by Muslims as the place of longstanding worship of God by the Jewish prophets as well as the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey to heaven. The Temple Mount is regarded by Muslims as the third most important holy site, after Mecca and Medina.

In 690 CE, after the Islamic conquest of Palestine, an octagonal Muslim shrine (but not a mosque) was built around the rock, which became known as the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as-Sakhra). In 715 CE the Umayyads rebuilt the Temple’s Chanuyos into a mosque, which they named al-Masjid al-Aqsa, “the furthest mosque.”

The mosque has been destroyed several times in earthquakes; the current version dates from the first half of the 11th century. Both buildings are considered holy to Muslims and make Jerusalem the third-holiest city, after Mecca and Medina.

The mosque and shrine are currently administered by a Waqf (an Islamic trust) that has been granted almost total autonomy by the State of Israel starting in 1967.

The Temple Mount was open to the general public until September 2000, when Palestinians began throwing stones at Jewish worshipers after then-candidate for prime minister Ariel Sharon visited the area.

Following the onset of violence, the new Sharon government closed the Mount to non-Muslims, using checkpoints to control all pedestrian traffic for fear of further clashes with the Palestinians. The Temple Mount was reopened to non-Muslims in August 2003.

The The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism. According to the Bible, the Talmud, and other sources of Jewish tradition, several important events in the history of Judaism took place on the Temple Mount:

• Here God gathered the earth from which he formed Adam.

• Here Adam, Cain, Abel and Noah offered sacrifices to God.

• Here Abraham passed God’s test by showing his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (the Bible says this is on Mount Moriah, which the Talmud says is another name for the Temple Mount).

• Here Jacob dreamt about angels ascending and descending a ladder while sleeping on a stone (the stone in the Dome of the Rock is believed to be the very stone).

• The Temple Mount is believed to be the site of the threshing floor overlooking Jerusalem that King David purchased from Aravnah the Jebusite (2 Samuel, 24:18-25).

• Here King Solomon built the Temple in 950 BC, which stood for 410 years until it was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.

• Here the Second Temple was built after the Babylonian Exile, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

• During Maimonides’ residence in Jerusalem, a synagogue stood on the Temple Mount alongside other structures and Maimonides prayed there.

The Temple Mount is a relatively minor site for Christians, but is believed to contain the “pinnacle of the Temple” (Matthew 4:5) from which Satan tempted Jesus to jump to prove his status as the Messiah (near Al Aqsa Mosque). The courtyard by the mosques provides an excellent view of surrounding Christian sites, including the Dome of the Ascension (marking the site from which where Jesus ascended into heaven) and the church of Dominus Flevit (commemorating the spot where Jesus wept as he saw a vision of Jerusalem in ruins).

Currently, the Temple Mount is governed by the Waqf, the Supreme Muslim Religious Council. The site has been under Muslim control since the Muslim reconquest of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century. This state of affairs was not changed after the area containing the Temple Mount came under Jewish control after the Six-Day War, and Muslims retain almost complete autonomy over the site. However, the Temple Mount area is of great important to both Judaism and Islam, and ownership of the site continues to be a hotly contested point. Some of the major reasons behind its importance for both faiths are outlined below.

The Temple Mount (Haram esh-Sharif) in Islam

After the Muslim conquest of this region, the Temple Mount became known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). It is regarded by Muslims as the third holiest site after Mecca and Medina.

The main reasons for the Temple Mount’s importance for Muslims are these:

• Islam respects Abraham, David and Solomon as prophets, and regards the Temple as one of the earliest and most noteworthy places of worship of God. (However, some Muslims dispute that the Temple Mount is the site of the Jewish Temple.)

• Verse 17:1 of the Qur’an speaks of the Prophet’s night journey to the “farthest Mosque” (al-masjid al-Aqsa). This is traditionally interpreted to be the site at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on which the mosque of that name now stands.

• Muhammad originally established Jerusalem as the qibla (direction of prayer) before changing it to Mecca.

• According to Arab historians, when Muslims first entered the city of Jerusalem, the ruins of the Temple were being used as a rubbish dump by the Christian inhabitants, in order to humiliate the Jews and fulfill Jesus’ prophecy that not a stone would be left standing on another there. Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab is said to have been horrified at this, ordered it cleaned and performed prayer there at once.

For more details please visit :

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-temple-mount.htm

A Basic Egypt Travel Guide

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:44:54 +0000

Planning a trip to Egypt? If so, it will be of great benefit to read a simple and basic Egypt travel guide before proceeding to make any plans or tour arrangements. Why? Because, like any country, Egypt has its “must see” locations, its visitor requirements and some basic information that is always good to know.

For example, anyone making a visit to Egypt should consider taking the time to tour some of the following popular destinations:

· The Pyramids of Giza

· The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

· Abu Simbel

· Luxor and Karnak temple complexes

· The Valley of the Kings

· Alexandria

· The “Red Sea Riviera”

· The Western Desert and Oases

· Historical areas of the Sinai Peninsula

Additionally, many visitors plan a Nile River cruise of some kind or another and make a point of visiting the larger markets in Cairo, including the famous Khan al-Khalili. Only by reading through a fairly comprehensive Egypt travel guide will a visitor understand the entire area they intend to tour, and be able to plan the best and most enjoyable visit.

Before planning a visit to the country however, a good Egypt travel guide will make a tourist aware of the kinds of documentation and even medical issues they must also be aware of. For example, visas and passports are mandatory for every individual who seeks to enter Egypt, and residents of some nations have far less required of them in order to gain a visa. In fact, there are many people who are able to simply complete their visa paperwork on the plane in which they are travelling to Egypt. A thorough Egypt travel guide will itemize each nation and what its citizens will require in order to enter the country.

There are also some cultural issues that a good Egypt travel guide will discuss, and this includes the proper dress for both men and women as well as standards of behavior that will be required for most visitors. Generally such topics are focused on modesty and respect for long-standing social traditions. For example, alcoholic beverages are not commonly served, and are in fact “taboo” for many practitioners of Islam.

Additionally, a good Egypt travel guide must address subjects such as transportation, “baksheesh” which is the customary tipping of all service providers, and even safety.

Egypt is a fascinating, diverse and remarkable land, and a high quality Egypt travel guide is a great tool in planning an enjoyable visit to this popular country.

Israel Travel: The most intresting cities

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:12:54 +0000

If you are going to visit in Israel you should know how to plan your tour in Israel, you need to learn some information about Israel before your visit there in order to make a plan for your travel, here is a few tips that can help you with this.

About Israel travel
Israel is small country and a lot of tourists come to Israel in every day, but mostly in the summer days, the summer is the best season to visit in the middle east and to enjoy the hot sun in the beach of Tel-aviv or to see the amazing places in the old city of Jerusalem, the dead sea is also a very good place to visit in and also the city in the end of Israel, Eilat, the most southern city of Israel.

The Cities:
Jerusalem and Tel-aviv are the most visited cities for tourists who travel to Israel, israel has a few big cities like Beer-Sheba, Haifa and Rishon Le-Zion, Tel-Aviv is the central city of the central area of israel, Jerusalem is the Capital city, Tel Aviv located in the cost of the Mediterranean Sea and so it is a good place for tourist to visit and enjoy the sun and the water on the beaches in Tel-Aviv, Tel-Aviv has a few beaches and one of the most visited is the “Jerusalem Beach”, also a good nightlife places can be found in Tel-Aviv, Tel-Aviv is a city where you can find places open all night long and people enjoy to visit pubs and night clubs in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem the capital is also a good tourist city to visit in and has a big population of tourists, the night life is good and you can find a lot of pubs and dance bars in Jerusalem central area, but the most interesting part of the city is the old city where you can find places like the western wall and the Church of the Resurrection, Tiberias is a good city to visit is you are visiting the northern area of Israel, Eilat is the best tourist attraction in the southern district of israel, the central city in the southern district is Beersheba and the capital of the northern district is Haifa, those are basically the main cities in Israel.

Moving from city to another:
Traveling to Israel is easy because of the country size, it is easy to get from one place to another in a short period of time, for example, a bus ride from Jerusalem to Tel-aviv will be around the 45 minutes, and it is also cheap if you use the bus transportation, there are a few ways to travel in Israel with public transportation, the Israel bus transport is the most easy one, but Israel transport is easy with train or taxi.

Advice on Israel Travel Deals

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:12:55 +0000

All about Israel travel deals

Airport selection will influence your decision on which airline carrier to use. Airlines will often change their flight itineraries and departure airports based on current economics and passenger headcounts. It is advisable to check with the airline or your travel agent about availability if you need to book your travel through a specific airport.

For any non-stop flight from the UK to Israel, the duration of a flight is approximately 5-6 hours. For such a long flight, you may want to consider upgrading from Coach to Business Class or even First Class to increase your level of comfort. The upgraded classes offer more leg and seat room plus other additional amenities.

If your travel dates are somewhat flexible, many of the airlines and travel websites offer an option for you to have notices emailed to you when a special Israel travel deal is being offered. The peak travel season for Israel is from May to September, so you can expect to see the highest ticket prices during these months. And therefore, flight prices are typically reduced during the off-season.

When on a business trip to Israel, you may not have the luxury of altering your travel dates to get the best ticket price. However, consider changing your departure airport instead. Sometimes, airlines will offer discounts that are based on the departing airport to increase passenger headcount from that facility.

If you are a passport holder from a country that does not require an entry visa for Israel, you may be able to take advantage of last-minute deals. Airlines prefer to have the flights take off with a person in every seat, so if the flight isn’t full within 24 hours of departure, they will offer irresistible deals in order to sell those extra seats. This is a great strategy for those who can travel on a moment’s notice.

If you have dietary restrictions requiring kosher meals, then one of the Israeli-based airlines may be your best choice. It is important to note that most major airline carriers can provide kosher alternatives with advance notice, but with an Israeli airline, no advanced requests are necessary.

Some experiences travellers recommend that you wait to book your flights until the last minute. Others will advise you to book as early as possible to get the seat you want. Many recommend searching online at any travel site, such as Travelocity, Expedia or Priceline. And others look to the traditional travel agent or the airlines themselves. Each method has its pros and its cons. The best option is typically comparing the prices from several different sources and choosing the best one.

For more information, visit El Al Israel Airlines.