Hi folks, well here I go again spouting out another blog after taking off to abstract reaches of the globe and while culture shock mingles with jetlag, I'd say this one may be the most interesting yet.

I've gotten familiar with developing countries, tribal customs and eating my way across the worlds flora and fauna. Sure there will be more chances to experience such things exploring rural Israel and other areas of the Middle East but as for my home for the next nine months, Jerusalem, it is first class and complex in a whole different way. Culture, history and religion meet here in a way that is going to take some time to understand and perhaps I never will.

I should put a quick background spiel in here to set the scene. I am here as a scholar studying at the Jerusalem Botanic Gardens along with a Melbourne based aborist who has turned out to be a good bloke which is great because we are in the same apartment for nine months. I can't tell you much more yet, as orientation isn't for a few days and after a quick seven and a half hour flight to Hong Kong and another twelve to Israel we have just been catching up on sleep.

I have, however, had a chance to do some shopping which was a unique experience that highlighted the emphasis security of the nation. The prevalence of machine guns is interesting as are the metal detectors and security guards at shopping mall entrances (the visa interview and bag search at the airport were a precurser to this in hindsite) but despite this I have again already come across some beautiful people, even being invited to passover by a family realising I was new to the country at the airport. The invitation came with the offer of Hebrew lessons which I may just take up after realising I can't read anything in the grocery stores. Prices, fruit and vegetables I recognise but the selection of meat in the freezer and which price tag relates to the product are a mystery. Horrible for budgetting but kind of fun I guess.... Though after finding a partial testicle in my albiet finished meal in Vietnam after pointing to a random vietnamese menu item, I've become less inclined to gamble.

Well that will do for now, the photo here is the view from my apartment, more as the story unfolds......