Yes I did say holiday and just a little bit of teaching,
to one of my friends I met 30 years ago, whilst teaching in Jerusalem.
Actually, there were two of them, their names were Eitan Farchi and Miko
Peled (Now IOGKF Chief of USA), and they were very enthusiastic about
training in Karate-Do.
I made arrangements to meet with them somewhere in Jerusalem,
but somehow we got our wires crossed, so I only met with one, sad really,
because it would have been nice to meet and talk about old times together.
However, I'm sure the opportunity will come again.
I was sitting in the garden of my friends Batia and Yosi one morning,
on their marble patio surrounded by sweet smelling flowers, lovely green
grass and the song of doves. Next to their house, is a monastery that
is home to Nuns and the sound of bells. As I look up at the deep blue
sky, the swallows are trying to catch their next meal, at the same time
descending from the sky keeping themselves cool on the vapours of air.
As I look down towards the East of Jerusalem, I hear the call to all Muslims
to come to pray, then I close my eyes and pray that one day there will
be peace, so all people will be able to come and pray, in this holiest
of places.
I try at every opportunity, to visit places where I
may pay my respects to those who have been warriors and have their place
in history, so as to absorb their energy.
One such place was the tomb of Shimshon (Samson). I
placed my hands on the tomb and closed my eyes; I could feel the energies
of thousands of people that have visited this wonderful place, over hundreds
of years.
After a couple of days in Jerusalem, I travelled with
my family to Padis Hana in a hired car. One and a half hours later, we
arrive at my friends home. After all the hello's, we sat down to a nice
ice-cold drink, which was welcome by all as it was noticeably more humid
here, than in Jerusalem.
That evening we sat on the patio in front of his house,
exchanging stories about what as been happening and what we've been up
to. Then it was time for a bit of training, so I check my friends kata
and methodology. He gets stronger every time I see him, he also runs his
own Dojo and trains every Wednesday with Sensei Leon Pantanowiz.
Next, it was time to visit the beautiful Sea of Galilee,
which is sweet water, and is many shades of blues and greens, our friends
Avishi and Divora, have an Orchard where they grow grapefruit and limes,
which sits on the sea of Galilee and as a private beach, so one can swim,
train and meditate in the sun, and be one with 'The Almighty'.
I'm very fortunate to have friends like these people,
and thank you all for allowing my family and I to be with you in such
a wonderful place.