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Within its small perimeter Israel packs in abundant riches, from cherished religious sites and well-preserved archaeological treasures to spectacular natural wonders. Holy land to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, this is where biblical place-names like Jerusalem and the Galilee come vibrantly alive. Here, too, you can party by the Mediterranean in Tel Aviv, float in the super-salty Dead Sea, and explore cool mountain waterfalls or sweeping desert landscapes. Whether you’re in a shrine or on a hiking trail, Israel is a place to renew the spirit.
For adventure lovers, there’s horse riding, 4×4 safaris, rock climbing and hiking. For taking it easy, nothing on earth compares to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, with their many spa facilities.
Modern Jordan was founded by King Abdullah I after World War I. It was ruled by his grandson, the late King Hussein, for 46 years until his death in 1999, when his son, King Abdullah II, assumed the throne. Jordan has grown into a modern nation that has enjoyed a remarkable measure of peace, stability and economic growth in recent decades.
Capital : Jerusalem
Country Code : 972
Credit Cards : Major credit cards are accepted throughout Israel.
Currency : New shekel (NIS)
Departure Tax: There is no departure tax at the airport but crossing over into Jordan is a cost of 101 NIS ($30 USD)
Drives on the : Right
Electricity :220 V (European Two Prong configuration)
Ethnic Groups: 75% Jewish,21% Arab,4% other
Location: Israel is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea with Lebanon to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south and west.
Official Language(s): Hebrew, Arabic
Religion: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Baha'i
Time Zone: IST (UTC+2)
Tipping: Tipping is customary in Israel but in select spots. In restauarants, 10 - 12% is average and most staff request tips in cash, not added to credit card bills. Locals rarely tip taxi drivers.
The winter months of November to March are the coldest in Israel with snow in the northern reaches of the Golan Heights, and occasional snow fall in Jerusalem. The coast experiences the heaviest rainfall at this time though temperatures in places like Eilat are reasonably pleasant still.
Jerusalem and other highland areas are splendid in the summer (June - August) when temperatures are high with balmy evenings, and little chance of rain. Tel Aviv and the far south of the country are usually several degrees warmer, making it the perfect place to soak up the sun beach side. If you plan on visiting the Dead Sea or Negev Desert be sure to pack a hat to protect you from the sun.
The seasons of spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the best time to visit Israel when temperatures are pleasantly mild throughout the country. During these spring and autumn months pack clothes that you can wear in layers, so that whether sunny skies or cool weather you will always be prepared.
Jordan’s prime attraction is Petra, an unforgettably dramatic 2000-year-old city carved from sandstone cliffs in the south of the country. Its extraordinary architecture and powerful atmosphere imprint themselves indelibly on most visitors’ imaginations.
There is a wealth of other historical sites, outstanding among them the well-preserved Roman city of Jerash, but also including Umm Qais, set on a dramatic promontory overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and Madaba, which has the oldest known map of the Middle East, in the form of a Byzantine mosaic laid on the floor of a church. After the Muslim conquest, the Umayyad dynasty built a series of retreats in the Jordanian desert, now dubbed the “Desert Castles”, including the bath-house of Qusayr Amra, adorned with naturalistic and erotic frescoes. Centuries later, the Crusaders established a heavy presence in southern Jordan, most impressively with the huge castles at Karak and Shobak. The Arab resistance to the Crusader invasion left behind another fortress at Ajloun in the north.
Jordan is part of the “Holy Land”: its religious sites include the Baptism Site of Jesus on the banks of the River Jordan, and Mount Nebo, from where Moses looked over the Promised Land. John the Baptist met his death at Herod’s hilltop palace at Mukawir after Salome danced her seductive dance. Nearby is Lot’s Cave, where Abraham’s nephew sought refuge from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Your most abiding memories of a visit are likely to be of Jordan’s varied and beautiful natural environment. With its sheer cliffs and red sands, austere Wadi Rum – where David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia – presents the classic desert picture of Jordan. Less well-known are the gentle northern hills around the Ajloun forests, hosting walks through flower-strewn meadows and cool, shady woodland. In the south, tranquil Dana overlooks a swathe of territory from verdant highland orchards down to the sandy desert floor, offering a memorable hideaway at the Feynan Ecolodge. The protected Wadi Mujib is a giant canyon, 4km wide at the top, that narrows to a high, rocky gorge carrying a fast-flowing river down to the salty Dead Sea, an inland lake too buoyant for swimming but perfect for floating, your body supported by the density of the salty water. Last but not least, Jordan has some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling in the coral-fringed Red Sea off Aqaba.
Steeped in religious significance, Israel is home to numerous sites of historical and cultural significance to Jews and members of other religions. Yet Israel is far more than just an open-air history museum, as can be seen by vibrant cities like Tel Aviv that have their finger on the pulse and are embracing modernity at a spectacular rate. Israel is the perfect blend of the old and the new and its festivals fully reflect this attitude.
Israel Festival
Originally established as a music festival, the Israel Festival has now become the leading Israeli event of the year and is the country’s chance to showcase the hottest, freshest talent in a multitude of different disciplines. Dancers, musicians, actors and artists all take to the streets and stage to display their phenomenal skills, each contributing to the prestige of the festival and the excitement of the program.
White Night Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv has so much to offer and is such a lively and bustling city that someone decided, why not keep the city open all night so people can enjoy it for even longer? Thus, the creation of White Night Tel Aviv came about. Shops, restaurants and historical points of interest stay open all night long with parties on every street corner across the city. Pulsing music will flow through the airwaves all night long as the city of Tel Aviv forgoes sleep for this exciting festival.
Karmiel Dance Festival
Once a year, Karmiel hosts one of Israel’s biggest dance festivals as 250,000 people from all over flock to witness the non-stop performances that take place over the course of three days. Showcases, workshops and competitions all make up the agenda for this lively festival with every genre imaginable finding its place somewhere in the program. Make your way to one of the venues for a visual treat, suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Klezmer Music Festival
Held in the Old Jewish Quarter and the Artist Quarter of Tzfat, the Klezmer Music Festival lasts for three days with a program consisting of free performances that take place between 9pm and midnight. There are also workshops and jam sessions for those looking to learn a bit more about traditional forms of Jewish music. Bringing children along? Not to worry, the festival caters well to young ones with various activities on offer such as magic and storytelling shows and demonstrations of some of the unusual Klezmer instruments.
Practically all of Hong Kong is a shopper's paradise. Year-round, you'll find many sales in and around Central on Hong Kong Island and limitless bargains to be had in Mongkok, on the Kowloon side. Plus, from July to the end of August is the time of Hong Kong's summer sales, which include as much as 70% off previous season’s collections, and other discounts even on some current season's fashion items. Designer shops and exclusive labels are a dime a dozen here, and lots of foreign tourists usually come here to restock and update their wardrobe. Several markets offer silk products, Chinese artwork, collectibles and curios at affordable prices and just across the border, Macau and Shenzhen are within range for even more retail therapy.
Mong Kok
If you are looking for an all in one shopping experience in Hong Kong, Mong Kok is the place to head to. You can revel in the novel experience of walking down the winding paths while browsing cheap fashion accessories, sneakers, flowers and even goldfish. The Ladies Market, which stretches a kilometre along Tung Choi Street, stocks up souvenirs, traditional Chinese handicrafts and stylish clothing. The bustling streets are best explored at night when the atmosphere is rousing.
The Langham Place Shopping Mall, which houses over 300 shops consisting of international and independent labels, is spacious and trendy. Located along Argyle Street, it is conveniently linked to the Mong Kok Metro Station, making shopping a breeze.
The Flower Market Road and Sneaker Street are interesting places to check out with their reasonably priced stalks and chic sneakers. The Goldfish Market, on the other hand, is a spectacle on its own, brimming with not just goldfish but also turtles, snakes, spiders, frogs and reptiles. Fifteen minutes away from the Mong Kok Metro Station is the Temple Street Night Market, where you can experience the local culture and traditional craftsmanship with a host of street performers lighting up the crowded streets.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Huge shopping malls and high-end shopping are what you can expect at Tsim Sha Tsui.
Spanning over 340,000 square feet, K11 is the world’s first art mall, where elements of nature and art are integrated into the architecture of the building. Besides fashion, beauty and lifestyle shopping, you can also view artworks, featuring 19 exhibition panels of local artists.
In the area, you can also find Hong Kong’s largest mall, Harbour City Mall, which is a combination of three separate malls together with 400 other shops. It houses Chanel’s flagship store in Asia and Louis Vuitton’s largest outlet in Asia.
1881 Heritage is a new cultural and shopping landmark that used to be the marine police headquarters. With a luxury shop and a heritage hotel, the 120-year-old building houses brands such as Tiffany & Co, Tudor and Piaget.
If you’re looking for a nice place to rest after shopping in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, head to the Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard. At the end of the lane is the entrance to Kowloon Park.
Central
For luxury shopping, Central Hong Kong is the place to go. The Galleria, positioned between the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and office towers is a five storey mall that houses the Louis Vuitton flagship outlet. Prices at this LV store are significantly lower than other outlets in Hong Kong. Other brands include Stella McCartney, Helmut Lang, Coach and Manolo Blahnik. L’Atellier, a Michelin-starred establishment and ZUMA are fine dining options available at the mall. Besides shopping, you can also head to the ZUMA lounge, one of Hong Kong’s hottest night spots where international DJs play and a variety of cocktails are served.
Queen’s Road is also a popular shopping street in the area that has international retailers such as Longchamp, Topshop, Zara and Calvin Klein. Queen’s Road East which stretches from Wan Chai to Happy Valley has a heritage trail that you can explore. The Hopewell Centre that stands in Wan Chai is an iconic skyscraper that’s great for photo taking. You can take the lift to the top floor for a scenic view or dine at the revolving restaurant.
Causeway Bay
With a bunch of shopping malls, markets and cafes around, Causeway Bay is perhaps the most convenient area to explore for those with a tight schedule. Times Square is a great place to visit at night with its glass walls that look splendid when lit up. You can also drop by SOGO, Hong Kong’s largest Japanese-style department store that consists of several levels of fashion, electronics and household items.
Also in the area is Jardine’s Crescent, a shopping market that is worth a visit. It is a narrow street with stalls lined up selling bargain clothing, accessories and domestic goods. There is also a small wet market at the end of the street and flower stalls selling fresh blooms at very low prices. Hop over to Jardine’s Bazaar that is parallel to Jardine’s Crescent for more bargain items. After a day of shopping, take a rest at The Coffee Academics where you can enjoy a cuppa while people-watching.
Sham Shui Po
Electronics enthusiasts will be delighted to know that Sham Shui Po is literally the mecca of all types of gadgets, parts and DIY materials. Dragon Centre has nine levels of electronics, with an ice skating rink on the eighth floor and 90s-style games arcade on the top floor. On the fifth and sixth floors, there is a Japanese and Korean style mall. This is the second largest shopping centre in West Kowloon. Down below, Yu Chau Street is filled with DIY materials and other items such as toys, wholesale stationery and souvenirs.
Down below, Yu Chau Street is filled with DIY materials and other items such as toys, wholesale stationery and souvenirs.
If you’re into second-hand electronic components, Apliu Street sells bargain items as well as jade and jewellery. You can also head to Cheung Sha Wan Road, where 250 fashion shops await you.
Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Road
These two streets are known for antiques, wooden handicraft items and jade.
Hollywood Road is the centre of the art and antique trade in Hong Kong. Begin your journey at Possession Street, where the British Royal Navy landed in 1841, and explore the street to your heart’s content. There are some interesting shops such as Okura, a Japanese concept store selling leather goods and Grana, a Hong Kong based fashion label selling Chinese silk and Irish linen. The Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters, also known as PMQ, was initially built as a dormitory for police officers and has since been converted into a creative hub. Check out some of the indie enterprises, gift shops and pop-up stores such as Goods of Desire and Kapok.
Cat Street Bazaar on Upper Lascar Road is an ideal place for souvenirs and antiques. The 100-metre-long street includes bargains in jade, silk, embroideries and wooden handicraft items. You can also check out art galleries along the way.
Food
The cuisine of Hong Kong has been greatly influenced not only by its location but by the fact that it is a centre of international business and therefore offers a wide variety of cuisines like Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singapore/Malaysian and Thai. There are many different types of restaurants available including ones that offer Western styled food. Since Hong Kong is Cantonese in origin, it is not surprising that the food found in Hong Kong is heavily influenced by Cantonese-style cooking.
Popular dishes include:
Seafood Birdsnest: the “nest” is made entirely out of fried taro or noodles and is usually tough and crispy. The filling usually consists of scallops, pea pods, boneless fish fillets, celery, straw mushrooms, calamari and shrimp.
Cha siu bao: barbecued pork buns.
Har gau: steamed shrimp dumplings.
Drink
Just as in China, tea is very popular in Hong Kong. The typical Hong Kong style of tea is black tea with evaporated or condensed milk. Interestingly, it is estimated that the people of Hong Kong drink a total of 900 million glasses/cups of tea a year! Red ice bean is also a popular drink. It is a mixture of azuki beans, light rock sugar syrup and evaporated milk. It is sometimes topped with ice cream to make it a dessert.
Things to Know:
Tipping is common in Hong Kong but the amount is usually dependent on the style of restaurant. For example, at a basic restaurant, a few dollars is acceptable while higher-end restaurants tend to add service charges.
