Holy Land: The Ultimate Pilgrimage – Traveling with Super Seniors

Our first glimpse of the Mediterranean from Jaffa, Tel Aviv

With the world opening once again, it’s time to thank the Lord for tiding us over this pandemic as we shake the dust off our travel bucket list. As for us at We Fly, we’re gearing up for our first post-lockdown Holy Land pilgrimage.

It must be every Christian’s dream to visit the Holy Land. For me, a trip to this sacred place where Jesus and other biblical heroes walked is the “ultimate pilgrimage”. I don’t use the term loosely. Holy Land is after all, the best imaginable connection to the history of our faith.

I, for one, had this at the top of my bucket list. My Papa, from whom I inherited my itchy travel feet, shared this dream. In 2017, my then 87-year-old father and I were blessed to join the Holy Land Pilgrimage headed by our Feast Builder Bro Arun Gogna. 

Chapel of the Ascension

Being there in the cradle of our faith made my spirit soar. To see the rock from which Jesus ascended,

The Ascension Rock, a slab of stone believed to be the one Jesus stepped on
before ascending into heaven. It is said the impression on it is His right footprint.

the rock where He cooked fish for His disciples,

Mensa Christi or the "Table of Christ" at the altar of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter.
It is the rock believed to be where Jesus cooked breakfast for His disciples
on His 3rd appearance after the Resurrection. 

the rock before which He knelt and sweat blood knowing the suffering that awaits Him

The Rock of Agony at the Church of All Nations

are more precious to behold than the most expensive rocks – diamonds – in the world.

Israel is known for its high quality diamonds but they pale in comparison
to the rocks that played significant roles in the life of Jesus. 

“Ultimate pilgrimage” because it was also Papa’s last trip abroad. In 2020, he suffered a stroke and would now at 91 find it more difficult to join a pilgrimage dragging his walker around. One thing I realized in this pilgrimage with him is that we should prioritize the Holy Land in our travel list. Papa traveled all over the globe in his day and yet put this off until he was quite old. He almost missed the most meaningful trip of his life.

In this first of a series of blogs on the Holy Land, I’d like to share what it’s like traveling with Super Seniors. No, not “Super” as in having superpowers and who wear their undies over their pants but those who would soon get a 100k cash gift from the government, the 20% discounters in the upper age bracket. Let’s call them the SuperS.

If you can manage it, I highly recommend not to wait until you or your parents are super seniors to go on this trip. But if you really can’t go earlier, here are traveling with SuperS tips gleaned from our misadventures to help you not just survive but enjoy the trip. 

Misadventure #1 – The MIA (Missing In the Airport) SuperS

When we landed in Istanbul to change planes, the flight attendant asked if the SuperS (there were 5 in our group) needed wheelchairs. My aunt, not feeling up to the long walk to the gate of our connecting flight, asked for one. Seeing the motorized wheelchair, we were confident she’d get to the gate way ahead of us. We thought she was the lucky one because the other members of the Wheelchair Gang who opted to walk made slow, tiring progress. Imagine our distress when my aunt was nowhere to be found when we got to the plane. Apparently, the wheelchair attendant dropped her off in the wrong place. Thankfully the airline crew was very helpful. They had my aunt’s whereabouts traced and sent a motorized airport employee to fetch her. She came onboard just a few minutes before takeoff!

Tip: Use the wheelchair, it’s very helpful in big airports but give clear instructions to your SuperS and the wheelchair attendant where to go and remind them about the flight details. Do not assume the attendant would know where to bring them.

Misadventure #2 – The MIA Combination

Related to the above wheelchair incident, here’s my own misadventure. Thinking I was being the thoughtful niece, I offered to bring my aunt’s carry-on luggage. I didn’t know how long the walk was since it was my first time in the Istanbul airport, so I struggled with 2 carry-ons the whole trek. Then, I had a face palm moment when we got to the boarding gate because there was a luggage check. At that time, they were strict with flights going to Israel. And silly me, I didn’t have the combination to my aunt’s bag. Good thing God didn’t allow additional harassments. It turned out my aunt didn’t lock her bag. Whew!

Tip: Put the SuperS’ carry-on in the wheelchair with them. It will save you both the trouble.

Misadventure #3 – MIAA (Missing In Another Airport)

Our second scare was after we got our luggage in Tel Aviv. The group was getting ready to go with the tour operator when, upon head count, we noticed Papa’s childhood friend was nowhere to be found! Someone noticed him leaving the baggage area. But again, God found His lost sheep. It was no coincidence he was noticed by our tour guide (whom the group hadn’t met yet at that time) looking lost, which he literally was, and had put him on the bus. So, there he was sitting pretty when we all boarded.

Tip: Strap an anti-lost leash on your SuperS while in the airports. Just kidding 😊 But do make it very clear to them not to wander away from the group. Ask a travel buddy to keep an eye on them if you have to go somewhere.

There was a last MIA episode on the first day of our pilgrimage but of a very light degree. Our tour guide took us, minus the SuperS, on a very, very (did I say very?) long walk - about 5 kilometers - through downtown Tel Aviv to the marketplace, Shuk HaCarmel. We survived the trek, but no one wanted to walk back anymore so the tour guide arranged for 3 taxis to the hotel. The first group went in a big taxi which looks like the Israeli version of our jeep. It had other passengers and the driver assured our tour guide the route passes the hotel. When the 2nd & 3rd group arrived, group 1 wasn’t in the hotel yet. It took quite a while till they got back. Their story: the driver dropped them off about a hundred meters away and just pointed them in the direction of the hotel.

It was a minor misadventure, but it inspired this reflection from Desi, one of our pilgrim-mates: The Lord will not allow any of His sheep to be lost. He is there to guide our lost brethren back, be it literally or spiritually.

Our first day in Israel was not only about getting lost but also of making our way after a loss. It's significant that our first stop was St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa.

St. Peter's Church in Jaffa which commemorates the raising of  Tabitha from the dead
and marks the traditional site of Peter's vision of the Great Sheet
(depicted on the painting in the altar) from Acts 10

Before we entered, our tour guide explained it was from Peter’s vision after losing Jesus that the universal church started. Bro Arun said this is meaningful to us as Feasters because it is our mission to bring home the unchurched. Cornelius in that reading was an unchurched who became a devout follower. Truly, God finds His lost sheep.

Other Traveling with SuperS Tips:

• ·        Safely secure the SuperS’ carry-on bags on top of a luggage with wheels. One of our SuperS tripped on a carry-on dangling from her luggage and almost fell headlong.
• ·        Liniment is life. Bring them! We were always last on the bus because of Papa’s aching knees. It would have relieved him a lot if I had some with me.
• ·       Make sure the SuperS’ shoes are very comfortable, preferably those with additional cushioning and arch support. Towards the middle of our pilgrimage, Papa gave up on his shoes and was a funny sight walking around in his friend’s aqua shoes with toes.

Papa in his borrowed aqua shoes

• ·        If you’re escorting your parent or another SuperS, I suggest you prepare for it physically. Do some workouts before the trip so you’re strong enough to assist them and be fit for long walks and climbs you may want to take on your own. In some places, Belle, my cousin and our tour operator, kept all the SuperS with her, treated them to ice cream while entertaining them with stories about the places they can’t climb so I was able to go uphill with the rest of the group.

And finally, savor the time you’ll get to spend with your SuperS. The Holy Land will make both of you realize what a great gift God has given us in His son.

Bucket List Blessings: Osaka and Kyoto

From top left clockwise: Hogwarts Castle, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka; Kyoto Golden Pavilion - Kinkakuji Temple; Osaka Castle; Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Do you have a bucket list? I do because it’s been said you can’t be truly
happy unless you know what it is that your heart desires. Not only did I
specify the details, I would pray over it regularly. And God has been ticking off some items from my wish list during my travels. In the last leg of our Japan trip, I had several bucket list blessings:

1.   Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake? On my bucket list? You read that right. It’s not even the gourmet kind. It’s the P250 (at the time I wrote it down) kind in Bread Talk. Now why would that be on my bucket list you may wonder?

You see, like many women who were suddenly thrown into solo parenthood, I went through dark financial times. I wrote about this Palpitation to Donation Journey in my book, The Happy Solo Kit: Tools and Supplies You Need to Survive Solo Parenting Without Losing Your Marbles. Those were the times I would get palpitations every time I made my monthly budget because my funds just wouldn’t reach till the next month. It was also during that time I was taking my Masters in Entrepreneurship in AIM when a classmate gushed about this cheesecake. It would have been a luxury to buy that so I promised myself I will buy it someday. I probably could’ve sacrificed funds for something else just to taste it. My mother even offered to buy one because she felt such pity for me. But I refused. I made it a motivation to reach that financial level where I can easily afford it. Eventually, I did get to taste that Japanese cheesecake.

But that’s not the big event. I don’t even remember the time it happened. What I do remember was God’s better version of ticking off the Japanese cheesecake from my bucket list. In later years, I heard about Pablo Cheesecake which again stirred my cravings. When we got to Osaka, I asked our guide to take us to Pablo. And I got my Japanese cheesecake right from Japan. Bucket list checked with God’s bright pink ballpen!

Pablo Cheesecake shop in Osaka

2.   Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Butterbeer

Ever since I first heard they were recreating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios, I included that in my Novena to God’s Love as part of my family travel goals. Like Star Wars, Harry Potter movies were a must-watch for my children and I. Naturally, Universal Studios Japan was highlighted in our Osaka itinerary. Lucky for us, our guide Toyoko suggested we purchase the Express Pass. It was Halloween Week when we were in USJ so there was a massive crowd. 

Entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We made it to the Forbidden Journey ride just in time because of our Express Pass. Now that was a ride I would not normally take because I’m prone to motion sickness. But hey, it was a ride right inside Hogswart and you get to walk through the castle before the ride. I just had to do it afraid. Good thing I did, it was quite an experience and I didn’t get queasy at all.

Door to Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts

Walking around Hogsmeade Village... 

Owl Clock Tower in Hogsmeade

Boxes and boxes of magic wands at Ollivanders

...and tasting ambrosia a.k.a. butterbeer WITH MY CHILDREN was indeed an answered prayer.

3.   Ninja Village

Would you believe that one of my favorite tv series when I was young was The Samurai? It’s a Japanese historical fiction dubbed in English. It was about the adventures of Shintaro and his side kick, an Iga Ninja master. So imagine my excitement when our guide asked if we wanted to visit the Iga Ueno Ninja Village. It was just an hour away from Osaka, so it was perfect for a half day tour.

For me, it was one of the best places I visited in Japan because of the peek into that part of Japanese history. We were given a tour of the ninja house and told about the secret hiding places and passages. I was totally fascinated as I felt I was hiding right there with Shintaro. I’m sure my boys enjoyed it too as they listened with rapt attention to the guide. 

The Ninja House with its many secret passages and hiding places for weapons

Twinning hairstyle with the Ninja guide

There was also a museum that exhibited ninja weapons, tools, and garb. 

Lastly, there was a very entertaining and hilarious show that displayed the skills of ninjas. I felt bad we weren’t allowed to take photos of the show and all I captured was the show’s poster.

4.   Kyoto

After visiting the Ninja Village, we were off to Kyoto to see some temples and the Bamboo Grove. 

The early nightfall added to the air of serenity in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  

While preparing for our trip, I updated my bucket list to include the shopping street in Arashiyama. One of my yoga friends described her family’s visit there and their discovery of this almost magical chocolate shop just off that street. I wanted to look for it but sadly we got there late and had little time to explore. But I still enjoyed the leisurely stroll down the whole length of the shopping street in the early dusk and checking out its quaint shops. I felt we should have spent at least 2 days in Kyoto to fully appreciate the place.

Shopping Street of Arashiyama

           On our last day, our guide took us to the famous spots in Osaka.

Osaka Castle

Tenjinbashi - Japan's longest shopping street

Namba Parks Shopping Complex

            After our Japan trip, I added 2 more items to my bucket list:

•       See more of Japan like Sapporo during their Snow Festival, experience staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and de-stressing in an onsen (hot spring).
•     Visit Harry Potter Theme Park England. Although we enjoyed the one in Osaka, it just wasn’t the same in Japanese. And I want to drink more butterbeer.

By God’s grace, we will survive this pandemic and we #WillSeeTheWorldAgain as #WeFlyToDreamDestinations .

Travel tip:

·        Get an Express Pass if you are going to theme parks during peak seasons. You will get to see and do more with the time you save. 

         

Travel in the Time of Pandemic: Throwback Japan Road Trip

I just have to repeat this: God pre-arranges our trips. He knew the travel arrangements we would need.

When my niece Angeli was preparing our travel package, she suggested we take the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka. It was the fastest way to go and would have been a novel experience for us. But her mom, my cousin Belle, who knew my packing habits very well, cautioned me, “You will have to pack light. Bring only a small luggage with you because it will be inconvenient with a large one or several bags.” Those were the days when I had not traveled in a long time and had no clue about packing for travel correctly. So, I said, “Are you kidney? Me? Travel light?” So, we settled for the chauffeured van, which turned out to be a blessing considering the sprained ankle I was going to be afflicted with. The boys really preferred the bullet train so I promised that the next time we are blessed to visit Japan, we will take that.

Japan road trip via a comfortable van

What should have been a 2-hour and 30-minute train ride from Tokyo to Osaka on the shinkansen became a 2-day leisurely road trip with an overnight stop at a hotel in Shizuoka. Which was perfectly fine by me because we got to see more of the countryside.

Our first stop was at a roadside market complex where Buddy got cold Japanese coffee and Toyoko, our guide, bought grapes for us (I told you she’s such a sweetie).

We saw Mt. Fuji peep a little from behind the clouds. It was autumn when we were there, and it was not the ideal time to see Mt. Fuji in all its splendor so I was grateful for that small blessing.

We took a breather by Yamanaka Lake where I was delighted by swans: real ones and swan boats, a swan cruise ship even.

We also did a bit of shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlet.

What was most interesting for me was a peek at Japanese life that normal tourists don’t get to see. Toyoko brought us to the scuba diving shop of her friend. We had a snack with her former diving instructor and his dog and experienced using a traditional Japanese toilet with the seat right smack on the floor.

The next day, we made a pit stop by another scenic spot, Hamana Lake. By early afternoon, we were in Osaka to tick off a longed-for destination in our bucket list. (Watch out for that in my next post.)

Even if we missed the bullet train, I must say it was a treat to experience the excellent roadways of Japan.

Travel tips:

1.   Invest in good quality luggage for international travel. Jaffy had a small luggage that was a gift to all the teachers in their school which was fine if it was not going to be roughly handled as I guess they do with checked-in luggage. When we got to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, one of the wheels had broken off and there was a hole where it was supposed to be. It was a good thing we did not take the shinkansen to Osaka, so he managed until the end of our trip. We had to tape it up well (and pray intensely for the safety of the contents) for our flight back home.

2.   When and if you can, spend even just a little time with the locals. It will deepen your travel experience and broaden your understanding of their culture.

Travel in the Time of Pandemic: Throwback Tokyo

As promised in my last blog post, I will transport you through time and space to Tokyo. No need for a time machine or a magic carpet. In this pandemic, the #NewNormal way to travel is via your imagination.

But before I take you to Tokyo, I’d like to share the Didache reflection I wrote for June 2, 2018 first. It will give you the background why our Japan trip is a true-blue Travel Blessing.

UNFRACTURED FAITH 

“To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory…” – Jude 17: 24 

Crack! My ankle turning the wrong way brought not just pain but dread. I instantly remembered my friend whose fractured foot is now in a cast. I CANNOT be in a cast! My children and I were leaving for Japan in a few days. Everything had been arranged and paid for. And I needed to be on my feet to do a million things before we leave like giving a talk for our Solo Parents Outreach.

I could barely walk so my son told me to get an x-ray, but I refused. He asked, “What are you going to do if it’s fractured?” I replied with conviction, “I will claim, in Jesus’ name, that it’s not. Just request prayers for me.”

I’m a classic Doubting Thomas when it comes to my faith. Fears my prayers will not be answered the way I want usually prevail. But that was one rare moment I refused to take “no” for an answer. I was adamant God would hear me. And it seemed all God wanted to see was an unfractured faith before manifesting His glory. I enjoyed the tours like I didn’t have a sprained ankle.

In one of the recent QuaRetreat reflections, Bro Arun said that wherever God sends us, He goes before us to prepare the way. Our Japan trip was surely pre-arranged by God. The free and easy travel package with our own driver/guide and van was a blessing to my sprained ankle.

So now, come away with me to Tokyo.

Our first stop was the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo’s most prominent Shinto shrine. For me, it was the perfect place to start the city tour because it exuded the Japanese characteristics of tranquility and reverence.

The Torii gate at the entrance towers at 40 feet 
and is made of 1,500 year old cypress

Kazaridaru, decoration barrels, give honor to the gods

Sake barrels offered every year by sake manufacturers 
for the shrine to use in ceremonies and festivals

The chrysanthemum and bonsai exhibit which I thoroughly 
enjoyed because I love flowers and miniatures

  

Before entering the shrine, we first had to pass by the Cleansing Station, a communal water tank used to purify hands and supposedly the mouth before offering up a prayer. (I didn't notice people washing their mouths though.)

These votive tablets are for making wishes or for special prayers and expressions
of gratitude towards deities. The prayer is written on the reverse side and
the tablet hung around the divine tree.

Next, our guide brought us to Harajuku. It’s main street Omotesando is lined with high fashion shops. It’s a major luxury shopping destination.

Omotesando Avenue

Of course, we didn’t miss the famous Shibuya Crossing. The mad scramble at the intersection and the tall buildings flashing their neon signs is iconic of metropolitan Tokyo.

And at the Shibuya Station, we took time to visit Hachiko, the faithful dog immortalized with a statue. That day we were there, he sported a crown and a sash (I forgot to ask our guide what it said). He also had a visitor nestled between his legs – a cat with a scarf. People were jostling to snap a photo of that, and I was lucky to get in a quick shot.

Hachiko at the Shibuya Station

The Imperial Palace was next in our itinerary. I already told you in my previous post about that unplanned stop there for a photo op.

These were the other sights we saw:

Tokyo Central Station

Tokyo Skytree

The Senso-ji Buddhist Temple in Asakusa was a far cry from the serene Meiji Shrine. It was touristy with many shops lining the path which I would have enjoyed immensely if we had more time to shop. They had very tempting wares just begging me to buy them.

Another must-see was Akihabara with its electronics retail shops. I remember when I was young, my Papa brought home a small portable tv for me which I found so cool. Nobody, among the people I knew, had that. He bought it in Akihabara.

Then we crossed the Rainbow Bridge, a suspension bridge, going to Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. 

Rainbow Bridge

There were 3 remarkably interesting things we saw in Odaiba:

The mini Statue of Liberty overlooking the bay.

The Aqua City robot receptionist. Until we took a closer look, we thought she was a real person.

The giant Gundam (RX-78-2) statue. 

My friends from our Editorial Board Light Group (our small prayer circle) told me to make sure we visit the Diver City Tokyo Plaza because of this huge statue. I wondered why a hit song, Korean at that, would have a giant statue in Japan. Imagine my surprise when I saw the robot. We had a laughing fit when I told them about this when I got home. Gundam, Gangnam…starts with a G ends with an M…how would I know, I’m not into robots.  😊 (I read the RX-78-2 which we saw was removed in 2017 and replaced by the Unicorn which is taller)

The next day, our guide drove us through the ritzy Ginza district for more window shopping – we literally just saw the display windows. (Oh how well she knew me by then – cheap is life!)

When we were deciding on the day’s itinerary, it was a toss-up between Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea since we only had time for one place. Star Tours sealed the deal for Disneyland since we’re all Star Wars fans. I was in college the first time it was shown, and I made sure to watch every episode. When the first movie was released again, I brought my boys to watch and they got hooked too. (Notice Jaffy’s Stormtrooper bag tag in all pictures with his back view). The last time we went to Disney World in Florida there was no Star Wars feature yet. Thus, the Force of Disneyland was stronger. It was a Star-y end to the Tokyo leg of our trip.