*THE SURPRISE I GOT AT EILAT, ISRAEL

Before starting this story, I think it will be better to tell readers about Eilat, as I am sure that most of you in India might not be knowing about this town of Israel which was founded only 70 years back in 1951. This place is located at the southernmost end of Israel at the tip of Red Sea. It is a resort town and popular tourist destination because of its beaches known for its calm waters. Jordon is on the other side. They call it Gulf of Eilat on Israel side and Gulf of Aqaba on Jordon side.

A view of Eilat 

I was in Israel for a week in 2007.  From Israel I also had a plan to visit Cairo, Egypt. So, I had bought a Delhi – Tel Aviv and Cairo – Delhi ticket of the Turkish Airlines. My plan was to reach Cairo by road via the Desert of Sinai. This way I could also get an opportunity to cross Suez Canal.

My Israeli host, Weiss Moshe, had shown me whole of Israel right from the Golan Heights in North to Eilat in South. From Eilat one could cross the border on foot and enter Taba in Egypt. Taba is a small town also being promoted by Egyptians as resort like Eilat.

My host in Israel, Mr. Weiss Moshe, a retired colonel from the army of Israel

Eilat is a beautiful and very clean town on sea shore. I was there in the month of December and it had pleasant sunny weather there on that day. We had arrived there from Zikhron Ya'akov, a small Israeli town where my Weiss Moshe lived with his wife, daughter and old parents. Moshe was an ex-army officer. Growing rare fruits was his hobby.

A beach of Eilat

Moshe had driven me to Eilat in his car. We had reached there at about 1.00 PM. It was a very pleasant sunny afternoon. He took me round the town. I took a lot of pictures too. Eilat is a very clean and scenic town looking like small European towns. From one point he showed me Jordon side. I noted that this place was a bit expensive too, may be because of being a tourist place.

One more street scene of Eilat

As we were walking round, one gentleman came to us and started talking about my purpose of visit, profession etc.  He also wanted to know how was finding Eilat. We were together for about ten minutes. Then he told Moshe that he was from the Ministry of Tourism working at the local tourism office which was located across the street. It was visible from there. Then he told Moshe to bring me to his office after ten minutes as there was a surprise for me at the office.

Another view of Eilat town. The tourist office was located in this block.

We went to the office. They treated us in a very friendly manner, offered cold drink too. Then this person brought a frame wrapped in attractive gift paper and said, “Sir, this is for you from the people of Israel”.  It was a moment of great pleasure mixed with surprise and excitement for me. We unwrapped it and found that it a framed certificate declaring me a “A Tourism Goodwill Ambassador for Israel”. What a thrilling gesture.

The surprise gift I got at Eilat

I left Eliat after some time for Egypt. To do it, one could just walk upto the border which was close. There your passport is stamped first by Israel Immigration and after that you cross the border where officials from Egyptian Immigration check your passport and visa. Then I was asked to pay a sum of 15 US dollars for entering into Egypt and that was all. Then I walked further.

The town across the border is Taba. It is  also a seaside resort. Surprisingly, I found this place dirt cheap compared to Israel. I stayed in Hotel Hilton, a luxury five-star hotel by paying only 55 US dollars. I had booked it online from Israel. The hotel car had come to border for picking me up. It was one of the best hotels I had ever stayed overseas. They had 3-4 nice restaurants with Egyptians belle dancers entertaining the guests at night. Everything was very cheap even by Indian standards.

A view from the balcony of my hotel room at Taba, Egypt.

Next day the hotel car dropped me at the bus stand where I could get a bus for Cairo. It was a comfortable five-and-a-half-hour ride from Taba to Cairo across the famous Desert of Sinai. It is a real desert where you rarely see a plant or human being.

I had a dream of crossing the Suez Canal. We did cross it but without having a glimpse of the canal. Now they have dug an underground tunnel for vehicles. So, you do not see the canal. When the bus enters this tunnel then you see small signboards containing instructions from “Suez Canal Company”. Only then you realize that you were crossing the Canal. So, I missed seeing it.

Bus stand of Taba and the bus in which I travelled from Taba to Cairo

I was at Cairo for five days and had many unexpected surprises there.  Among all the places in world, I noticed that the maximum cheating of tourists takes place in Egypt.