Ja, en nee

(English below)

Naand!

Ja, ek is in Israel, nee, die KLR staan nog toegesluit, ek kon die motorfiets nog nie uitkry nie.

My skippie kon seker nie op ‘n slegter tyd in Haifa, Israel, aangekom het nie. Vroegoggend was die Israeliese aanval op die vloot skepe wat voorraad Gaza toe gebring het. Ons is met verhoogde sekuriteit begroet, en in elke kantoor het alle televisies beelde gebring van wat op die skepe gebeur het. Almal het gedink dit was wonderlik en heldhaftig van hul weermag.

Die ondervraging het lank geduur. In een kantoor is vrae gestel (o.a. hoeveel keer en wanneer ek al in Israel was), in die volgende kantoor gekontrolleer (daar het ‘n dame my vertel wanneer ek al in Israel was! – en gevra waar my tweede paspoort was want sy het die inligting in haar rekenaar kon sien!!) Ek moes maar my reserwe paspoort gaan haal wat ek vir Soedan gereed wou hou.

Sal ek ooit weer dink die beplanning vir ‘n Botswanareis is moeilik?

Hou duim vas dat ek more die KLR uit die doeanegebied kan kry!

Nou begin dit interessant word!

English

Yes, I arrived in Israel, no, the KLR is still at customs, not released.

Our cargo ship couldn’t arrive at a worse time in Israel than today. Early morning was the attack on the ships in international waters on their way to Gaza. We were met by increased security. In all offices all televisions brought images of what had happened early morning. Everyone applauded the actions of the army.

Before we could come to immigration there were a few hurdles to overcome. I was questioned and questioned and cross-checked. In one office I was asked how often, and when, I  had visited Israel before. In the next office a lady told me when and how often I had been here. And then the hammer: “Mr de Jager, where is your passport, with which you have visited Israel the previous time?” I had to go and fetch my passport, which I saved for Sudan.

Would I ever again think that planning a Botswana trip is complicated?

I hope that I will get my bike from customs tomorrow.

It is becoming more interesting!