Off to Israel

 

   Last minute word, My company needs me to head to the Intel fab 28 in Israel tomorrow for 4 weeks.
Wife wasn't too happy to hear the news, after being home from Oregon only a month.  Oh well.  Hopefully I won't run into anybody  !  Will be staying in Tel Aviv, and the fab is about 30 miles south. 
  Gaza (Gaza strip) is only 20 miles south from the fab, Beruit, is a little to close for my comfort at 165 miles north from Tel Aviv.  I'm trying to keep a open, positive mind about the trip.  I do know that I'll be very close to the religious capitol of the world while there, Jerusalem, although I'm not a religous guy I know there will be a "presence" there if I go.

later....

safe travels, cameron

Bummer about being away from the family...but that's totally cool about traveling for work, even if your not a religious guy, think of the historical value of the area.  That's pretty deep. Have fun and take tons of pics!

Well, the upside is you get the hazard pay, which last I was told puts you at a 25% premium above stateside!  Silver lining   

Watch your a$$ if you take in any of the many sights...

Israel is a cool place to visit.  A lot of complexities to the religion and political issues but has a lot to offer.  Great historical significants (you can see where Jesus was born as well as where the last supper was.)  Check out the wall and do a trip through security passing from Palestine to Israel.  You can see really quickly why people are pissed off.  I preferred Palestinian people myself as they are more hospitable.  Nothing negative about the Israeli's, it's just that they are the same as if you go to any big city in the US.  They have better things to do than deal with a bunch of tourists.  I always kept it in the front of my mind that pretty much every person you meet either Israeli or Palestinian has had a relative or friend killed over the conflicts there.  Even the most rational solutions are clouded if your father/mother, friend, etc. was killed by the other.   

Traveled all over Lebanon as well.  Upper class stuff around there.  Hit the beach towns and it is really Meditteranean style.  Beirut has the best clubs and hottest Middle Eastern women (they love the high heeled boots outside of the Russian Israeli's).  Lebanon has the best vegetables and supposedly the best drugs (the Israeli partyers have a tolerance for the Lebanese because of that.)  Beirut still has a lot of battle scarred buildings from years past with a strong military presence, but they also have a lot of brand spanking new areas that would make the US look like 2nd world.  Some large rebel refugee encampments you can visit.  Same thing as the tent camps in the US during our war of the economy.

In fact all the Middle Eastern countries are a kick ass place to go.  There is an inherent mentality of help whoever you meet.  It evolved somewhat like the eskimoes because of the environment.  You don't share your water out in the desert, you have a corpse in your front yard.  You will drown in tea as a tourist who is willing get out of the tourist zones.

Great place.  Great people.  Bad rap in the news.

I am not sure what your companies mission is, but remember OPSEC. I can tell you from experience that OPSEC is a huge concern for the Army (and all military branches), and they are charging people with things they post on the internet. In Iraq I have felt the repercussions of someone posting stuff on MySpace.

Other then that be safe. 

(That is I am assuming you are a military contractor or service member)

(That is I am assuming you are a military contractor or service member)

When CGN talks about Intel, sure he's referring to the Santa Clara based semiconductor company, rather than SIGINT or HUMINT.     Not active duty or military contractor - He's from Felton, man!  The most chill town on earth

I think there was a post recently of yakanglers from Israel. If u can steal away for a day, maybe some yakfishing is on your itinerary! Best wishes.

when you land at ben gurion airport you can say to yourself, wow, my old friend jeff designed this whole thing!. Yes its true, I did. im taking a stick of salami for protection when I got to France. stay safe troy! lol intel..

Have a safe and nice trip Troy 

(That is I am assuming you are a military contractor or service member)

When CGN talks about Intel, sure he's referring to the Santa Clara based semiconductor company, rather than SIGINT or HUMINT.     Not active duty or military contractor - He's from Felton, man!  The most chill town on earth

  Silly names.

Safe travels bro, man, you're starting to do more travels than your handle..  keep your head on a swivel out there.

Pern

 
  Yes Intel chip maker!  Well the first of 3 legs of this journey is done, I'm in Chicago's O'Hair airport now, doing my 3 hr layover befor I depart for Madrid Spain.  There, another 3-4 hr layover, then off to Tel Aviv.  Arriving Saturday about 15;40 hr local.

Thanks fpor all the good JuJu!

and dont forget to return home safely my friend.