Joden en Arabieren Weigeren om Vijanden te Zijn

Wat mij het meeste pijn doet, nog meer dan #Gazaunderattack of #Israelunderfire is alle haat die over beide volkeren verspreid wordt. Vele mensen kiezen op het web een zijde, terwijl ze niets weten over Gaza of Israel. Ik reageerde al op een commentaar van iemand die wou dat Hitler in de Holocaust geslaagd was, want ook al kies ik geen zijde, ik kan niet tegen generalisatie en verspreiding van meer haat, en zeker als die twee vervat zijn. Israel is niet hetzelfde als elke mens in Israel. Israel in de media betekent de overheid van Israel, en vooral de mensen die de touwtjes in handen hebben, zelfs buiten de regering van Israel. Niet alle Joden zijn hetzelfde. Generalisatie en dualiteit zijn twee van de grootste vergiffen in een maatschappij waarvan mensen bang zijn voor het onbekende.  Een vriendin uit Israel liet me weten dat ze ook niets weet over de Gaza en ook hoopt dat het conflict snel gebeurt. 

Gisteren las ik in de krant dat op de sociale media een spontane actie is losgebarsten waarbij Arabieren en Joden op een foto poseren met de hashtag #JewsandArabsRefuseToBeEnemies. 

Ik heb onmiddellijk een foto en de hashtag op mijn Facebook en twitter gedeeld,
want in tegenstelling tot alle propaganda die over de hele wereld wordt gestuurd, kan dit wel iets veranderen, want liefde, vriendschap, loskoppeling van wraak, angst en materialisme en empathie zijn in mijn ogen de enige manieren om aan conflicten een einde te maken. 

Travumentary: to inspire, not to educate

A friend and I left Belgium for 2 weeks to explore Israel, a place which inspires many people, looking for answers, and also ended up in Jordan, totally not planned.

I documented this travel, not to tell a story, or to give the answers I found, just to let people feel my experience, because visuals can say more than billion words. It is also an invitation to find your own story or answers.

Documentaries record events, facts... with the purpose to educate people. Travel promo films have the  purpose to make from people tourists, while I don't want people to be tourists, and look at cultures and countries as a far-from-their-bed-show. I also don't want to force a belief, or some facts... on people, because I think every person can educate himself. There is some freedom in real education.
So... I made the concept of Travumentary.

I wouldn't call this a documentary, or a promo film about Israel (and Jordan), but rather a TRAVUmentary: documenting a travel experience, to inspire people to travel more
... because traveling is exposure, and exposure is education, and education creates chances.

Here is a first version of my travumentary about Israel (and a bit about Jordan):

Watch here "Sunset in the Middle East"

The Religion of Traveling, pt5: I am on a boat

When my friend and I were in Ein Gedi, an old travel buddy stopped  on his way to a music festival for a halfhour to meet and greet me. He introduced us to his friend, who invited us to stay at his boat in Jaffa, in the end of our trip. When they were gone, my friend and I were jumping and dancing as little children, so enthusiastic about the end of our trip. And even start singing this:

So, one week later, with salty lips from the Dead Sea region, and full of sand of the Jordan desert, we arrived in Jaffa, which is part of Tel-Aviv-Jaffa, and exists already for thousands of years. Tel Aviv is more designed for the newest generation of Jews, who came already back in the 19th century, after they have been expelled from their Holy Land for more than thousand of years. I don't say I support this migration; it is difficult to choose a side if both groups -muslims and Jews- have been living here, and have the roots of their history and culture here. Time and growing population merged the two cities together.  In the first day we explored Jaffa, and that evening my friend left Israel and me for her boyfriend's birthday party in Belgium, while I visited an old Israeli friend, who gave me a very interesting socio-geography excursion in Tel Aviv, and let me discover the different historic layers.

In the last evening I returned back to the boat, and was introduced to an old guy who proposed to do some night sailing. Unfortunately, the engine didn't work very well, so we had to return before sunrise. When that old man and I were sitting in the port, looking to the morning air, he told me he loved the ocean. "Every emotion leads me to the sea," he said. "When I am happy, or sad... I always feel running here." This old man lives and works on sea for many years, but he seemed a bit lonely.

I don't know if I would like living on a boat. At night, when everything is dark, the ocean seems dangerous. There is some power to steer a boat, like I did under the guidance of the old sailor, in the total darkness, and face all the emotions the ocean evoke, but there is not a total control. In the end emotions and other powers of Mother Ocean are more powerful than control and attempts for navigation.

When I left Israel after 2 weeks, I felt different. Not really sad. Not really happy. I faced many different beliefs, religions, and power of nature, like the earth and the water, but i the end I believe in the religion of traveling, where you meet people, get confronted with ideas, see the world, not via media, but with your on eyes, see stereotypes confirmed and also new stories... and that makes people grow. Religion is going back to the roots, going back naked, to be able to face the world and to grow... so for me meeting, traveling, exploring, being social... is the way of living.

The Religion of Traveling, pt 3: Beauty & the Dead Sea Beast

For 3 full days and 4 nights, my friend and I were couchsurfing in Ein Gedi Kibbutz, which is one botanical garden. The atmosphere is totally different than in busy Jerusalem. While the latter is more a heavy Bach symfony, this place is more a Manu Chao song.

People share, know each other (in this small community), walk sometimes barefoot, all look free men, and not bound by religion. It is like living in the free paradise described in the famous book « the beach ». There are giant baobabs everywhere, and there is also some plant. Our host, a very easy-going guy, known by everyone, took us on the first evening already to a small look out point which is built out of respect for a dead friend, and under the stars he let us make music by drumming on some wind catchers. He also taught my friend about aloevera, which is everywhere. « It is almost like garbage in the botanical garden, » our host told her. My friend already took almost a whole plant, and put it in the fridge, because the sap of the plant can cure mosquito bites (which started to occur, when we went more southwards).

One day we visited the Dead Sea. Floating in the lowest place on Earth, is apparently very healthy. We got for free in the spa. No way how we did it. Or maybe a bit. We just ended up on the beach, in fact, not in the real spa, were floating there, and covered ourselves in mud. Everything for eternal youth, I guess?

The day after our host took us to Masada Fort. Very early in the morning my friend and I hiked up via Snake Path (name is because of the shape, not because it is full of snakes ; otherwise I would never take it), when the sun came up, and for many hours we enjoyed the history and archeology. While my friend dived in all the information, I dreamt how I would make an amazing romantic historical epos about the siege by the Romans, which ended when all the Jewish rebels killed themselves and their families, because they rather wanted to be free than slaves. I already decided to take a lot of epic helicopter shots, because the landscape is stunning : The salt, tectonics and the dry climate shaped some amazing features in the rock. Of course I also would work a lot with shadows, being lines of prison, to emphase the Jewish rebells were stuck. Yes, I can see this movie. I only need a good story, about love (maybe forbidden), and oh yes... money.

In the evenings and some mornings we share really interesting conversations with our host. He talks about his experience with the real religious people in Israel. We didn't know the religious people don't pay any taxes, and only pray. They got a lot of money from the government. In Antwerp, we've got also religious Jewish people, and they are quite isolated from the rest of our population. To be honest, I don't know anybody who has friends from that small island in my city. The religious people also don't go to the army, and our host claimed they were maybe the biggest enemy of the state, because they have their own court and rules. Sometimes, I wonder, what is Israel ? Also, in Jerusalem, we, or in fact my friend who read a lot about the coloniation of Israeli's in Palestine territory, had some discussions with our host, and although my friend likes to find strong arguments to make an opinion, I am still confused what to call Israeli, or what not. Jerusalem is totally different than Ein Gedi. In Jerusalem I couldn't relax, in Ein Gedi immediately, to give an example. In Jerusalem you've to dress like a penguin, here in Ein Gedi you can wear just your bikini... still... it is the same state, nation ? It is very interesting to hear stories, opinions... but at the same time so confusing.

On our third day, we went to the nature reserve. We hiked up via water fall to a look-out where we could admire the Dead Sea. My friend and I split up ; she wanted to refresh herself, and wanted to hike faster, while I wanted to take many pictures and footage. In the end, I hitchhiked with a guy, with his jeep full of yellow spots, with his hyperkinetic dog, the Dead Sea Beast I call it, who tried to push me out of the car. Or it seems. The dog was jumping to everything and everyone. When my friend and I were waiting for sunrise above the Dead Sea, and our bus to Eilat in the south, we met him back ; two times. He invited us to spend time on a local beach, but we had to move on. Our time in the Middle East is limited. The dog almost attacked my friend. He is quite a figure. Like our host. Ein Gedi is full of interesting relaxed people, all a bit quirky, but I love it.

I think these 3 days were full of nature, hiking, relaxing and beauty products. My friend and I bought enough mud to become real princesses with shining hair, but maybe it is not a good idea, because in the next days we go to a more « conservative » country. I don't know Jordan is very strict, and we'll have 'female traveler's problems ', but still... we don't know anything about the country, apart from the fact you can find Petra, one of the new World Wonders, there, and the idea it's the heart of the Middle East (neighbours are Syria, Iraq, Saoud Arabia...). We've got an Couchsurfing invitation from someone from Petra. I wonder which song will remind me to these country. 

Religion of Traveling, pt 2: What is Jerusalem?

My friend and I stayed for 3 days in Jerusalem, one of the most famous cities in the world. In ten minutes, we'll travel to the Dead Sea region for some hiking and exploring the healing powers of the lowest place on Earth, but first I want to write quickly about this city, which is one of the most intense places I have been. 

stilt from footage from the Western Wall, Jerusalem

So... Jerusalem... how to describe it? It is difficult. The best solution is just to ask you to meet my friend Google. He can give you 1001 different ways to experience Jerusalem. I am very sure. I love a challenge, so I thought about what is Jerusalem for me.

For some people, it is belief, for others it is history and archaeology, for more political involved people Jerusalem will be associated with the Palestinian conflict... 
I see Jerusalem as music for listeners who use more than only their ears. 

One of the most magical moment is when an amazing local young woman was our guide for some hours in the late afternoon, early evening. It was golden hour. We went walking down from Mt. Zion in the direction of the golden mosque. We saw a young man playing guitar for a young girl, on a wall, with Eastern Jerusalem (Arabic part), as a big grey background. We stopped. I made some footage (of course). And then all the lights went on, one for one, in this district, and then the big call for prayer filled the air. It all became one big music piece... all the religions, the beliefs, the colors, the symbols... 

Jerusalem is like a drum circle. You have different people, all with a drum, a message, and they all start to drum with different frequency, and maybe it does not sound right, but then the heart starts to give the rhythm... and then the heart of the circle, not from the individual, makes from all the sounds one melody, all the drums become in harmony, until it like one heart beat. It is amazing to believe that so different people, with different frequencies, habitants, pilgrims our tourists, all make one city. You cannot say you are from Jerusalem. You become part of Jerusalem's heart beat, and when my two friends and I were sitting there, listening to the call of the prayers, I felt I belonged there, in the heart of all these religions.

For me... belief is one of the most powerful tools. It does not have to be belief in a religion, but can also be hope for a better world, or belief in good things. Without belief things become very dark... 

Also, II'll edit all the footage I made, and make a small 4-5minute video, trying to explain how I see Jerusalem, in another way. I decided to choose for handheld, because the impressions are so intense, I feel fluid, shaky and short shots, or following people in alleys... are best representing my feelings of feeling a drop in a wild ocean. 

stilt from footage when walking in the Old Center of Jerusalem

The Religion of Traveling, pt 1 : Opinions and Stories

My first kiss happened to me when I was 17 . My first car accident, when I was almost 20. My first encounter with Israeli happened when I was 22. One of my friends, her brother and I were on an Caribbean island, owned by Honduras, for some diving courses. My instructor, who convinced me to go over my fear for drowning by diving beneath the surface of the big ocean, was from this nation. He had big grey eyes, I kept on focusing, when I took my first steps (sorry for the word) in Waterworld. On this pirate island we met also other Israeli, and spent some time with them. They were cool young people, with a weird accent, not the military people you see on the television around 7pm, or the dark people with curly hair, big black hats and coats, and all looking pale and selling diamonds in some neighbourhood in Antwerp. They looked like us. In many different meanings. One of the best quotes, an Israeli told me, is that when you sit with 7 israeli's on one table, you will have 70 different opinions.

I'll come later back on this quote. First...

Opinions.

The evening before I sit here, in the Starbucks of the Brussels Airport, enjoying my hot chocolate (I love my Belgian sweets), I was interviewed by a Master student, doing a research about female solo travelers. One of the questions she asked, was how traveling had changed me. After talking a lot, and thinking -also, yes- I realized I got less strong opinions. When I was 18 year old, just in university, I told everyone I was left-winged, loved Che Guevara, believed in communism... while I didn't know so much about it. You got confronted, during your life, with opinions, and the arguments behind it, with stories and life experiences... and then what I learnt, after hearing stories, reading, getting in discussions... is that I rather don't want to have an opinion. People say you're not strong if you don't have an opinion, but sometimes, in a world, where everybody is so free to share it everywhere on the social media what he thinks... I prefer not to have an opinion in everything, and just listen, and learn. I told the researcher I started to see the world from black-white to a more grey spectrum.

Even several weeks ago, in the mountains of Bulgaria, one of my close friends and I had a discussion about Israel and Palestina. She had an opinion. I didn't. I didn't know enough to have an opinion, certainly not about a place where I only heard and read stories, and even if I would go there, live there... I don't think I will ever know enough to have an opinion. I just am against the fact that innocents die on both sides, so I am rather against war than against a policy or a country. If you choose a side, you bond, yes, with all the others, on this side, against the other side, but if you're in the middle, maybe you're the biggest fool, yes, or maybe the bravest soul. I don't know. I don't want to call myself brave. What do you think ? I feel it is better if people rather don't have an opinion and spread it through the whole world, and give us more silence... but... not having an opinion doesn't have you don't know your values. Not to have an opinion opens space to listen, find more knowledge and stories... be as openminded as possible, and there where there are open minded people, you'll find tolerance. Or that is what I feel.

So, now, this close friend and I will embark on a journey, where we want to learn (more) about the conflict between Palestina and Israel, explore why Jerusalem is so important for three world religions, the culture of both entities, the food !, the nature, the geography, the water management of Israel, which is apparently the best in the world, and take my lessons back to Belgium, not necessarily to have strong arguments to build an opinion, but to bring back stories, pictures, film footage... to open dialogue for everyone interested.

And yes... religion will be a big topic in the blogs of next two weeks.

Did I already tell you that I hate flying ? It is ironic. I fly so much (I know this doesn't help nature and the climate so much), and still I cross my fingers, like I am going to pray, every moment the plane leaves the ground. I don't call myself religious. I am baptised as Christian, and did some Christian ceremonies, even today, on All Saint's I went to the graveyard, to put flowers on the grave of my grandfather. Still... I believe in something, and know the power of believing very well, but I don't believe in one Almighty person, I believe in the world, human and nature, and a future where they will find harmony. This belief keeps me going. Still... I am interested to learn more about other beliefs. There is some power in it, and if you want to understand power, you've to understand the roots. I like to be think in metaphors of trees, yes.

Whatever...

... first I need to enjoy this little piece of Belgium in my cup, and continue listening The Crystal Fighters. I love the song « Follow ». It suits the theme of choosing a side, yes, so worth to mention it. Besides this, this is just a great song of an amazing group. And yes... wait for my travel buddy. She seems to be a bit too late... hmm...