Hello to you, and welcome to the blog festivities: The Canaanite – Lior Knaani’s travel blog. That’s me: a member of Kibbutz Hulata, where I live today. Married, with two children, son and daughter. 43 years old, and a member of the kibbutz (as they say in Kibbutz Ha-Meuchad) in economic independence. A tour guide for Israelis and tourists from abroad, and experiences the country from diverse angles. so what is it about this country that makes everyone “go crazy about it.” Are these figs in the summer? are these the hidden springs of the Galilee? or is it the bible and our ancestors, who have brought us so far.
In the coming post, I will try to formulate my opinions on the matter, of course, by looking at it from a traveler’s perspective, which will hopefully allow you to travel to the “green meadows” of the land.
So here it is, the Canaanite is on its way, post number one: the Ten Commandments for the traveler. So as not to DIE while doing stupid things that a real traveler would not do.
The Thai boys from the “wild boars” team stuck in a cave in the north of Tailand led me to think of how banal you can get yourself into a situation where the greatest minds, rescuers, and field people will need hours and days of thought and assessment to get you out of there. As a stone thrown by a fool into a well, a hundred wise men will not succeed in removing it. as it turned out for the boys and their mothers – it’s worth being stupid, because not only the whole world looked up at them, they also got the invitation to the finals of the World Cup in Moscow – out of it. So maybe it is worth being irresponsible? probably not.
In any case, in order for this not to happen to you , the Ten Commandments were formulated here for a traveler who goes for a walk in the paths of the country. And some even say that these commandments will also be suitable for traveling all around the globe. So here it is, and if I saved even one soul of Israel, it is well sufficient.
1. Last made, but first planned – every trip, starts on your mind. And then it’s the map or your computer at home. where are you going? What do you want to do? When, and in what season? From here the other components of the trip will be derived: appropriate clothing, hours of operation, food, help, escort of professionals and so on. For the extreme example: We will not go on a trip to Mount Hermon (Highest in Israel – 2224m) in January, dressed in a swimsuit and crocs that suits the Sea of Galilee in July. So plan and understand what is the nature of the activity, and to prepare for it.
2. Risk Management – every exit from home and from the familiar environment is an entrance to the unknown. For the purpose of the matter, even if you left your house and went to Kiryat Shmona (because that is what we do in our area-it’s the nearest town), I will make sure not to drive in the opposite lane, or alternatively to refuel diesel fuel in a gasoline-powered vehicle. I will not go for a rappelling trip without a rope, or with a rope that I found in the cowshed, after milking, or go up to Mount Hermon to snow slide with the cardboard I found in a department store or supermarket. Risk management aims to understand what are problematic or challenging points in the task ahead, and to prepare for them in advance. For example: to know if there are difficult passages in the route, and prepare the hikers for it. Ladders or cliffs that require special equipment or strong stream flow that requires life jackets. Assessing all of these and preparing them in advance will lead to a good and trouble-free flow of the activity.
3. Know the equipment you need – every activity needs other gear. A day bag, shoes and in Israel, a hat and water, are the basis. Good equipment that will not fail when necessary is very important. We live in the era of consumerism, and everything is available to us at the touch of a button or swipe of a card – so equipment is never a problem. But what to choose? And what to bring for a walk? that’s already a skill. A big knapsack will be filled – this is the rule of the bag, and in a small backpack, there may not be enough space. In another example: in many trips I can see travelers with old shoes, those which were sitting in the closet, and happily they were taken for a walk. That’s why, a few hours later, the shoe and the sole decide on separation and divorce and for good. then the traveler had to improvise a new shoe. Which usually involves Adhesive tape, zip ties, and some macrame cords left in someone’s backpack. So make sure you have the right equipment, and make sure it’s in good shape, because that’s the way to travel.
4. Water and (some more) Water – as we all know, Israel is a drought filled, hot, and sunny country. Walking without water, or without enough water, is equivalent to entering a cave without a flashlight or maybe with a candle that will eventually turn off, and then you are stuck. Stuck for 16 days, and even the CEO of FIFA will not bring you out. In the worst case, you just die a few hours later, and the story ends. Long walks will require at least 3 liters per person. In a case of a longer hike even more. For a short walk near the house a little less, but always more than what seems to you as satisfactory. In Hebrew we have a saying: Is there a risk? There is no risk – that is, we took into account the extreme case and we are prepared for it.
5. Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints – how simple and how smart . Many of our natural treasures as travelers are disappearing as a result of their migration to the homes of hikers. In addition there are plenty of “modern art” objects, such as disposable plates, cigarette butts, used bottles and the like. So here it is – in one sentence, one can summarize the entire Torah on one foot.
6. Organic waist is a painful point. Even though in Israel we do some efforts about recycling – With regard to the trip and nature – there is no such thing as organic waste. organic waste should be treated as other garbage, and there is no separation between the two. The peels of oranges return to the rucksack, the remains of the uneaten bread, too. After all, you went out on a trip to see nature, animals and plants, and there is no need for them, and it usually hurts them to eat the remnants of human food. The remains of the coffee from coffee jug (Israelis like to cook their coffee on a stove- outside) will also be collected back into a bag, or at the very least – thrown out in a pit and covered according to the phrase “and it is not known that it has come into its midst.” It’s so disappointing to get to the place, sit down, breathe deeply and look around, and then discover that around you are scattered tuna oil stains, cucumber peels and tomato remains and a half-eaten bamba.
An interesting anecdote at this context – in the Judean Desert wadis, which are often being visited by hikers. There is a clear increase in the number of Tristram Sterlings and short-tailed crows at the expense of other birds, and why? Because the first two love our food, and learn to live with it, they develop and multiply and push the other bird species from their nesting grounds. So please – be considerate!
7. An ancient Bedouin phrase say: “Ihsan Del min-Hajer, min Del min Sajer”. Which means: The shadow of the rock is better than the shadow of the tree. Although the Bedouin comes from the desert-and that’s where it’s mostly relevant, this phrase also applies to the Galilee and the Golan Heights. On warm, sunny days, I would always prefer to sit in the shade of a rock wall, which preserves coolness for many hours, than in the shadow a tree – around which the air is always warmer. All the more so, in the desert, where the Acacia trees provide little shade and usually a “warm” one.
Sometimes there is no choice, and you will have to rest in the shadow of a willow. So at least choose a great one.
8. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! – but you should at least inform someone about your goings. Even if you are the world champion on trips, you should inform someone else that you have left. A date of departure, a planned return date, and when should he or she begin to worry. From a short walk, to a few days’ trek that includes a long stay in wild nature. Of course, communication with you-the traveler is also important. Although we tend to think that Israeli nature is tame, and there is nothing to fear much about, there will always come a blow that will remind us that a nature like sports has its own set of rules. For example, see the flood events of the beginning of last summer (June 2018), or neighborhoods that fill up after a few days of heavy rain. So, make contact in advance, so that someone can come and rescue when you need to.
9. Preserve nature and protect yourself – any walk along a cliff edge, a rock beneath which a snake snoozes, or poisonous plants, can pose a potential danger. You would not want to come home with a swollen finger, red eyes from an allergy, or, heaven forbid, go home through some emergency room where a night shift of Doctors is just changed. So, get to know the environment and respect it. If you have to be careful, do not shake your head. Make sure when sitting down for a break, that there are no dangers around form either a wasp, snake or pine procession moth surrounding you. Or as it is written in the Book of Books: “He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock” Deuteronomy 18, 15
with its venomous snakes and scorpions – rock carving on Mt Karkom – one of 23 candidates for the real Mt Sinai
10. Most important thing is that you’ll come back home safely – because every trip /going out into the unknown, is made just to come back home to your sofa, your balcony, your wife or husband and children. So take care of yourself, walk with pleasure and with the necessary caution, or as one would say: The difference between a clever and wise, is that a wise man does not enter into a situation where the clever person knows how to get out of .
Wishing happy days, multiple trips experiences and most memorable landscape photography. Let us all be healthy.
You read, you loved to share. may all beings be happy.
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