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After a year of exchanging emails, I finally met Koji, my ‘cyber-friend’ and reader of The Conversationalist, in Tel Aviv. He’s been living and working in the Palestinian town of Tubas. But I’ll let him tell you all about that, as well as some of his travel tips and dreams.

Here are the highlights from my last few days in Israel, lunch in Jordan and my arrival to India!

A selection of imagines from my month helping at an organic goat farm in Galilee, and then exploring other corners of Israel.

For my final full week in Israel, I headed over to Nazareth, partially because I wanted to walk the same ancient corridors of Jesus, but also because I had heard fab reviews of a 200 year-old old Arab mansion turned guesthouse called The Fauzi Azar Inn. And despite being called a loser by a giant billboard, I [...]

Dear Family and Friends, They say that life is all about balance. This trip, in particular, is a constant struggle for equilibrium.

It’s 9:55 PM on Sunday night and I’m standing outside of one of Tel Aviv’s classiest restaurants, Brasserie. The people here are beautiful; they’re sippin’ on bubbly and livin’ their fabulous lives. I’m five minutes early, and I feel a bit like a fish out of water.

I said ‘au revoir’ to the goat farm this week so that I could meet with friends. I learned how to say “cheers” in Hebrew, the realities of working for an NGO in Palestine and where Israeli pop stars like to hang out in Tel Aviv. I also was blessed with a new family member. [...]

Dear Family and Friends, I write you this morning from a bohemian-esque café on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. There is a vibe of contemporary, cosmopolitan living, with people lounging and chatting casually over lattes and pastries. Some folks are clicking away on laptops, while others roll past on modern, collapsible bicycles. Make no mistake, [...]

Here are twelve examples of some fascinating urban art found on shops, homes, tents and other structures in Tel Aviv, Israel.

When I look back over the videos of the past week on a goat farm in Galilee, I see… well… a lot of goats. But fear not, there are also puppies. And frogs. And books. What more could a person ask for?

Dear Family and Friends, I’ve been on this goat farm for ten days now. Despite some cultural/communication differences and the occasional intense craving for French fries and/or chocolate cake, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting various Israelis who pass by the farm, soaking up the hot Middle Eastern sun and eating bucket loads of goat cheese. The [...]

My first full week in Israel brought a quick stop over (and a stunning sunset) in Tel Aviv, and then out to the goat farm. It was here I learned all about the mating habits of male goats. Very insightful.