The Not-So-Little Merman a.k.a Random Stories from the Field

Its Beach time!
Another story from the sands of time. All the Jellyfish died and went to Jellyfish heaven. But the beach was not lacking in strange creatures. Spotted on the rocks was a curiously pigmented, de-finned Merman ("They call him Super Merman"), dressed in the fashion of the beach Bum, luring unsuspecting Mermaids on to the rocks.


Foam Debris has nothing on this Rock

The Mermaids (truly wonderous creatures of the Ocean, but camera shy) were smart enough to see through his disguise and soon the lonely Merman was seen swimming out to Sea, watched by his canine companion, who later howled a haunting melody in his passing.


Canine Ahoy!


Ah! "The Tel Aviv Minute"
My lovely roommates (M & R) treated me to a concert by Israeli rocker Corinne Allal. Even though she is toying with a half century's worth of life experiences, she can still rock and roll with the best of them.


Corinne Allal

Held at the Tel Aviv club Tmoona, this musical treat started at 11.00 PM! We were right up there next to the stage. Maintaining a surprisingly dignified demeanour, I didnt headbang, stand on the table and jump into the audience, or some of the other things that I am wont to do when in a crazy mode. The show went on till the wee hours of the night and Tel Aviv was still awake when we left!

To paraphrase Ol' Blue Eyes:


"Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it - Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it - Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv
I actually walked and strayed through the heart of Tel Aviv but that is another story


Corinne "encored" three times and still the crowd kept asking for more! Awesome...


Corinne and Friends



More on Shefayim
This is a quick shot of the lunch snack that is served to the pre-schoolers at Kibbutz Shefayim. There is also bread and meat, but isnt this a fine example of healthy eating?



Kindergarten Snack Food

R has a new Dog friend and his name is Pepper, Beatles inspired. Playful and friendly, he is also possessed of the world's cutest Will-you-pet-me-and-play-with-me look, which is not the look he is giving me... that falls into the category of what-is-the-gizmo-the-big-man-is-pointing-at-me?-Curiouser-and-curiouser look



Say Hello to Pepper


Laqiya, An Oasis in the Desert
My cultural treat never ends in this lovely place. I spent a day in the Bedouin town of Laqiya with my friends K&I and their lovely children, B&Y; Laqiya is one of the towns where the Bedouins , traditionally semi-nomadic tribes of the Negev desert, are settling down. Bedouins are lovely hospitable people and my time there was a papmered one!! Among other experiences, this baby camel tried to eat my camera, thinking I was bringing him milk. I have this cute guy on a movie clip but I dont know how to insert that into my Blog, so I guess I'll podcast it sometime. The sad part of this tale is that the baby is an orphan and dosent mix well with the other camels.


Baby Camel


A Quick Query: Where do the Necks end and the bodies begin?



The Camel Family

I also ate the "lovely" looking Cactus Fruit. To draw analogy to life in the Negev, to all appearances, the fruit is dangerous, loaded with thorns, and it takes a lot of hard work to peel it. But once the tough shell is gone, the pulp is sweet and juicy, and as welcome to the weary plodder as bread to the hungry


Cactus Fruit


One more week and I head back to Boston

*sigh*