Big K’s Once In A Lifetime 2.0 Trip To Israel

by The Big K on September 7, 2011

I’ve been blogging for the mankind since 2005; but never thought that this SuperBlog would reward me with something totally exciting! About two months ago I received an email from the organizers of the ‘Once In A Lifetime 2.0′ project, informing me about their initiative and an invitation to visit one of the most intriguing places in the world – Israel! I’m one of the 5 international bloggers who will visit Israel on 11 September 2011 for an 11-day trip. The trip has been organized by Students Of Top Universities in Israel : Technion & Haifa who are on “Stand With Us” fellowship; in association with The Ministry Of Tourism (Israel) .

Once In A Lifetime 2.0 Israel

Once In A Lifetime 2.0 Israel

The Once In A Lifetime 2.0 Trip

The trip will take us to different parts of the country and give us a chance to explore the real Israel, its culture, people, technology, unity in diversity and experience what Israel has to offer to the world. If you don’t mind being a little jealous of us, the trip includes -

  • Visiting awesomest tourist places in Israel.
  • Meeting with the ministers, members of Parliament of Israel.
  • Visiting the Dead Sea (I admit, I never thought in my life, I’d actually visit the Dead Sea!)
  • Driving the electric car – woa! Thank You, Better Place!
  • Special meeting with leading singers in Israel. (Guess what? I’m jealous!)
  • Visiting leading Universities.
  • Sea Of Galilee
  • Diving in Eilat – (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara!)
  • …and many surprises!

All of us will tweet, blog and update Facebook (I’m not on Facebook, meh!) to keep all of you updated. We’ll be your eyes and ears throughout this trip and all that means is that you are coming with us! You can ask questions, comment and tell us what you think about our daily posts through comments. There are links at the bottom of this page which you can follow to prepare yourself for the trip.

Who’s With Me On This Trip? Meet The Bloggers!

I’ll be joined by Eunice Khong of Traverlfolio from Singapore, Marcello Arrambide of WanderingTrader from Venezuela, Feng Yimeng of SINA from China and Chris Richardson of TheAussieNomad from Australia. Check out The Bloggers Page for videos featuring all of us.

The trip will be covered through social media and Israeli TV and newspapers as well. I’ll post regular updates and try to give you hourly updates through this blog, CE Forum or through twitter. Check out following links -

Once In A lifetime Official Website | Facebook Official Page | Official Twitter Account

Follow The Big K On Twitter: @thebigk

Before we get ready for this exciting trip, I must thank and congratulate the entire organizing team for their hardwork. Keren from the organizing team has been instrumental in keeping us updated and I thank her for all her efforts in solving my Visa related issues. I look forward to meeting all the organizers and bloggers and having an exciting time!

Israel, I’m coming! September 11 – the trip starts. Are you with me?

Email

Tagged as: israel once in a lifetime, israel tourism, onceinalifetime, onceinalifetime israel, onceinalifetime.co.il

  • Admirer

    This is freaking cool! :D It would be every blogger’s dream.
    I hope you guys share the videos with us through YouTube. It is going to be amazingly, flabbergastingly wonderful trip! :) :)
    P.S.: OK, There.. I admit it.. I am jealous:’-(

  • Kaustubh Joshi

    Would you like to meet some Indians there? Then I can give you contact of one in Technion

    Kaustubh Joshi

    • The Big K

      That would be great! We’ll be visiting Technion.

      • Kaustubh Joshi

        Have sent contact details at  crazy (dot) engineers (@) yahoo (dot) com
        Guess that is enough to get in touch with him

  • Amitabh Khare

    Wow… I AM jealous! Make the most of it, and …. get on FB! ;)

  • Mayur Pathak

    This is great… congrats!

  • Amy

    wow that sounds so exciting! Waiting for all updates and videos…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Guralnik/792829652 Dan Guralnik

    I wonder whether they are going to schedule meetings with Arab MK’s as well: I strongly doubt it. The same goes for meetings with other representatives of non-touristy dissatisfied minorities. Will they give you a tour of the Rotschild Tent-city in Tel Aviv (450,000 demonstrators last week demanding a change in ALL government structure)? Will they show you the Sheikh-Jerakh demonstrations? Bil’in? Nordau street in Haifa after 8pm? Shootouts between gangsters in Tel-Aviv? Will they tell you that the Dead Sea is dying because an Israeli billionaire is evaporating it at an eye-popping rate? Will they tell you that the Golan heights have been practically turned into a desert because of over-plowing, like the dust-bowl in US? That we have almost completely drunk the sea of Galilee?… this is what much of Israel’s life is about — not the fancy labs at the Technion. BTW, I love the Technion, studied there for 11 years, taught there for 11 years… and now the Technion cannot afford, in many cases, even half the support for grad students as it did in my time. 
    I know, 11 days of a trip isn’t much, and one should see all they can. Just bear in mind: the people showing you around have an agenda. Their “unity in diversity” is a lie. The country is torn apart by many old and petty hatreds. It is bleeding at the seams. This is what they are determined NOT to show you, so you become convinced of it not being true and become the voice of their lies in the world outside. Keep a watchful eye for nagging details…
    I am writing this to you because I love my country, but like so many other good people I know, I love it for its potential — not for what it is right now. Please don’t confuse pretty scenery for a happy life.

    • The Big K

      Dan: I believe every country has positives and negatives. I live in India and we’ve a terrifying bomb blasts in important cities or shootouts every alternate day. At the same time, there are so many nice things too. The purpose of the trip is not to tell the world that Israel is perfect, but focus on the positives as well.

      Even in the US, my friends have experienced racism, gun-point robbery and sarcasm targeted at Indians. But Indians continue to stick to it; and love it more than their own country.

      Would love to meet you at the Technion. Will you be there during 11-22 September?

    • Keren M

      Dear
      Dan… As one of the organizers I would like to quiet you concerns.

      Our Bloggers would visit East Jerusalem to hear about the complexity of the situation. They would also hear and learn about the protest against the government, something that in our neighboring countries people are killed for! They
      would speak with an Arab Technion Student and see with their own eyes the difficult situation of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea..!

      The purpose of this trip is to educate without prejudice about Israel, and yes, despite every thing you mentioned we are an extraordinary country, full of History, Innovation and incredible people that instead of focusing on the bad, try to create a better future for all of us! 

      It is very easy to be a critic, what is difficult is to fight to make things better..! 

      Like every other place on earth we have our faults, but there is no other country like this in the world, that despite all odds, built a strong, beautiful and high-tech state in only 63 years!

      I really wish you all the best, and I thank God for people like you…

      You make this volunteer project for me that much more Impotent!!!

    • http://travelsofadam.com Adam

      Dan, thank you for so eloquently questioning this blog trip. I’ve read about the organizations sponsoring the bloggers and the trip itself and I have to say I’m not convinced that it will accurately represent the country/region as a whole. I’ve read the comment below from Keren M and that’s not convincing either.

      I spent 5 months living in Israel last year (4 in Tel Aviv, 1 in Jerusalem), working for a political non-profit, and I can guarantee that the bloggers on this trip will not be exposed to some of the things I saw while there. I’d be surprised if they’re even aware of the racist laws in your country or get the chance to experience the legitimate and rightful protests against discrimination & racism that happen every day in Israel. I hope the bloggers on this trip take the time to stop and think, and not blindly listen to their eager sponsors.

      I’m not trying to sound negative or overtly critical, but I just don’t think these bloggers are aware of the underlying principles that guide the organization and the sponsors behind this blog trip.

  • http://kidakaka.com/blog Prasad

    Awesome!! Do try kouskous :-D

  • nikhi menon

    wow..thats super coooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllll…….big k s super blog really roxxxxxxxx……….!!!!!!

  • Madhav

    Congratulations Biggie

  • Wadhwani Jaya

    Woohoo .. Wonderful trip it is going to be !!

    But, 9/11 , deadsea – brings questions in my mind .. Be safe !! Have a safe trip!!

  • http://www.final-yearproject.com final-yearproject.com

    Really awesome. Jealous too :)

  • Omerio911

    Where are you going to be and where?

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