2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Palestine – Through a Clearer Glassby Iluminada Armas, Spain During July 2012, my friend Fatima and I visited Palestine for five days to meet some locals and gain perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. My personal story had got tangled with the Arab countries long time ago but I always avoided Palestine […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Thoughts of a German Traveler in Israel/Palestine by Marianna Hillmer, Germany I‘m German, well half, but born, raised and educated in Germany. I mention that, because our handling with Israel is different, is sensitive. Israel and Israeli politics are kind of untouchable. If you dare to criticise them you either […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry 1st Place – $250 prize + one copy each of the Bradt Travel Guide to Israel and Palestine From the judge, Sarah Irving.I loved the way Alexandra raised such a wide range of aspects of Palestine in a short piece of writing, whilst linking them into the wider international context with the […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry My Visit to Israelby Dexter Matilla, Philippines It has long been my belief that if I want something so bad, I’d just wish for it and it would come true. It’s as if I had my own imaginary wishing well that listened to my innermost needs, well, desires actually. Growing up […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Somewhere in Hebronby Benjamin Donato-Woodger, USA Since this summer, it has become clear to me that where we live becomes a part of who we are. I saw this when I visited Hebron this summer and saw the Ibrahimi Mosque, ate lunch with a Muslim family, and toured Israel’s infamous settlements […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry The Great Divideby Melliyal Annamalai, USA In the United States, where I live, there is great pride that President Ronald Reagan brought down the Berlin Wall. It is seen as the moment where a people were united and countries moved toward democracy. It is seen as a hugely significant moment in […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry May We Live in Uninteresting Times by Laura Chiesa, Israel There is an old Chinese curse which says: “May you live in interesting times“. The curse – which is sometimes mistaken as a blessing – is puzzling. Why would anyone believe that interesting times are bad times? Uninteresting times is […]
OVERVIEW – HOW TO ENTER – PRIZES – TERMS AND CONDITIONS ENTRY FORM – VIEW ENTRIES 2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Many Questions, One Answer – My Day in Hebron by Leena Malik, Canada Who are you? Christian, Muslim or Jew? Consider your answer carefully, because what happens to you at the next checkpoint might be determined by your response. This is how […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Baking for Peaceby Shelly Lac, UK The old sea port of Jaffa, a short walk from the bustle of downtown Tel Aviv is a beautiful, peaceful escape from the urban jungle. Its maze of narrow streets is full of artists’ studios, shops and restaurants tucked in stone passageways that are cool […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry 3rd Place – $25 prizeFrom the judge, Sarah Irving.Alice’s powerful portrayal of the weekly protests against the Separation Wall at Bil’in gave a vivid sense of the violence to which Palestinian and international demonstrators are regularly subjected, but also the inspiring co-operation and solidarity which has made these protests famous around the world. Teargassed in […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Making the Desert Bloomby Lisa Blake, USA Upon first encounter, the Arava Desert, located between the Dead and Red Sea and on the border of Jordan and Israel, appears to offer little other than sand. So it’s surprising that this arid desert, which receives summertime temperatures in excess of 120° […]
2012 Travel Writing Competition Entry Green Olive Treesby Fumi Kobayashi, Japan Coercive and selfish country who is indifferent to people’s sufferings unless they are Jews. This was my view on Israel before the trip. Having closely researched decades of peace process between Israel and Palestine at college, I realized that the Israeli government had little intention […]
