Kazakhstan to Israel relocation.
I considered traveling by land, but I decided against it for the following reasons:
- Some countries require visas, but I'm not particularly interested in them, such as Uzbekistan.
- There are surprisingly many countries to cross.
- The Islamic State poses a danger, and it's unclear how far their influence extends.
- In any case, I'm avoiding Iran due to safety concerns.
Therefore, I flew from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Tel Aviv, Israel, using Ukraine International Airlines. The flight had a layover in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Reflecting the country's economic situation, the price for this long-haul flight (6.5 hours + 3.5 hours) with a surcharge was an incredibly low 189 USD (23,425 yen).
At 2:00 AM, I arranged a taxi from the hotel to Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. The taxi fare was 1200 tenge (approximately 790 yen).
It's amazing that they offer such a low price. On the first day, I paid 2000 tenge (1315 yen) for a much shorter distance from the bus stop to the hotel, and even with a discount, that was still a good price.
Upon arriving at the airport, I immediately saw a corner where they would wrap you in Saran Wrap for 1500 tenge (approximately 985 yen). A staff member helped me, but afterwards, they charged me an additional 2000 tenge (approximately 1315 yen). This is a common trick. Charging 2000 tenge just for a little help is outrageous, especially since I had already paid the regular price. I gave them some coins as a tip, but they seemed dissatisfied and left when I closed my wallet.
This airport has customs before check-in.
That's quite innovative.
Is this common in the Russian sphere?
You can't go through customs until 2 hours before departure, and after clearing customs, you proceed to the check-in counter.
Then, you proceed to the departure gate.
The airport is very small, and the waiting room is also small.
I boarded the plane, but the reclining function on my seat was broken, so I couldn't recline it. Sigh.
We arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine.
This airport is of a decent size.
Ukraine is currently experiencing conflict in the eastern part of the country, and Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in that area. I'm glad the plane I was on wasn't involved.
I entered the lounge and ate as much prosciutto as I could.
Then, I boarded another plane to Tel Aviv.
During immigration, I wasn't sent to a separate room, but I answered a few questions and was allowed to enter the country.
- Purpose? Tourism
- Duration? About 10 days
- Is this your first time in Israel? Yes.
- Where are you staying? A hostel called "Nanchara."
Instead of a stamp, I received a blue card with a barcode or QR code.
I collected my luggage and headed to the lobby.
I tried to take a shared taxi to Tel Aviv, but there was a counter that looked like a regular taxi counter, but no counter for shared taxis, so I was confused.
In the end, I walked around for a while and then took a train to the city.
The distance from the train station to the hotel was surprisingly far, and it took about an hour to walk, but it was a good way to get acquainted with the area.
My hotel is called "Milk & Honey Hostel."
I'm staying for 9 nights.
The price is 189 USD (23,481 yen), which is about 2600 yen per night. The cost of living in Israel seems to be a bit high.
The prices at the nearby supermarket are also high.
Since the hostel has a kitchen, I plan to cook most of my meals.
- Some countries require visas, but I'm not particularly interested in them, such as Uzbekistan.
- There are surprisingly many countries to cross.
- The Islamic State poses a danger, and it's unclear how far their influence extends.
- In any case, I'm avoiding Iran due to safety concerns.
Therefore, I flew from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Tel Aviv, Israel, using Ukraine International Airlines. The flight had a layover in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Reflecting the country's economic situation, the price for this long-haul flight (6.5 hours + 3.5 hours) with a surcharge was an incredibly low 189 USD (23,425 yen).
At 2:00 AM, I arranged a taxi from the hotel to Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. The taxi fare was 1200 tenge (approximately 790 yen).
It's amazing that they offer such a low price. On the first day, I paid 2000 tenge (1315 yen) for a much shorter distance from the bus stop to the hotel, and even with a discount, that was still a good price.
Upon arriving at the airport, I immediately saw a corner where they would wrap you in Saran Wrap for 1500 tenge (approximately 985 yen). A staff member helped me, but afterwards, they charged me an additional 2000 tenge (approximately 1315 yen). This is a common trick. Charging 2000 tenge just for a little help is outrageous, especially since I had already paid the regular price. I gave them some coins as a tip, but they seemed dissatisfied and left when I closed my wallet.
This airport has customs before check-in.
That's quite innovative.
Is this common in the Russian sphere?
You can't go through customs until 2 hours before departure, and after clearing customs, you proceed to the check-in counter.
Then, you proceed to the departure gate.
The airport is very small, and the waiting room is also small.
I boarded the plane, but the reclining function on my seat was broken, so I couldn't recline it. Sigh.
We arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine.
This airport is of a decent size.
Ukraine is currently experiencing conflict in the eastern part of the country, and Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in that area. I'm glad the plane I was on wasn't involved.
I entered the lounge and ate as much prosciutto as I could.
Then, I boarded another plane to Tel Aviv.
During immigration, I wasn't sent to a separate room, but I answered a few questions and was allowed to enter the country.
- Purpose? Tourism
- Duration? About 10 days
- Is this your first time in Israel? Yes.
- Where are you staying? A hostel called "Nanchara."
Instead of a stamp, I received a blue card with a barcode or QR code.
I collected my luggage and headed to the lobby.
I tried to take a shared taxi to Tel Aviv, but there was a counter that looked like a regular taxi counter, but no counter for shared taxis, so I was confused.
In the end, I walked around for a while and then took a train to the city.
The distance from the train station to the hotel was surprisingly far, and it took about an hour to walk, but it was a good way to get acquainted with the area.
My hotel is called "Milk & Honey Hostel."
I'm staying for 9 nights.
The price is 189 USD (23,481 yen), which is about 2600 yen per night. The cost of living in Israel seems to be a bit high.
The prices at the nearby supermarket are also high.
Since the hostel has a kitchen, I plan to cook most of my meals.
(Later, after sightseeing in Jerusalem, etc.)
Eretz Israel Museum.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Today, I am going to the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
I searched for the bus route on Google Maps and got on the number 25 bus.
The information was correct, and I was able to get off right in front of the museum.
The entrance fee is 52 shekels (approximately 1680 yen).
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is now 10:03, so I entered right at the opening time.
Since today is Friday, it closes at 2:00, so it's better to act quickly.
By the way, in Israel, Fridays close early, and Saturdays are the Sabbath (Shabbat), which is a day of rest and quiet.
The inside is reasonably well-equipped, but
if you have seen the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you may not need to visit this one.
Port town of Jaffa.
Today is Saturday, and buses are not running frequently, so I went to the nearby port on foot.
It was so close that I arrived in no time.
I've been living so close to this place, but I've been going to Jerusalem for a week without coming here.
The beach is very crowded.
There were some small stalls set up.
Today is Saturday, and many shops are usually closed, but surprisingly, many shops were open.
Israel is almost finished.
I will move to Istanbul tomorrow by plane.
It was so close that I arrived in no time.
I've been living so close to this place, but I've been going to Jerusalem for a week without coming here.
The beach is very crowded.
There were some small stalls set up.
Today is Saturday, and many shops are usually closed, but surprisingly, many shops were open.
Israel is almost finished.
I will move to Istanbul tomorrow by plane.