Traveling to Palestine, whether with someone or alone, is an interesting and once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Safety is always a concern, but with common sense and planning, travel can be enjoyable, fun, and worry-free, as well as save money.
The Media Coverage of Palestine
The media is instrumental in portraying Palestine as a destination that is violent and dangerous, and, therefore, it is not a tourist destination. These media portrayals are usually “sound-bites” and carefully selected reports that intentionally give the impression of overall danger; however, tourists and international volunteers who do come to Palestine find that, although the situation in Palestine may at times be tense, they are largely able to live their daily lives without any particular safety concerns above and beyond that one might find typical of living in big cities. Using common-sense is not something you leave behind regardless of where you travel.
Palestinians are Friendly
People in Palestine are very friendly, and enthusiastic, and eager in helping and talking to people from different cultures and countries. The opportunities to interact with internationals will make a Palestinian’s day, and, in turn, this will make your trip more enjoyable and interesting. If you are traveling alone, your solitariness will make you more approachable than if you are traveling as a group member. You may well be invited for coffee, tea, or even a meal in someone’s home. During Ramadan, it will not be unusual for you to be invited to an iftar meal (the meal that breaks the daily Ramadan fast).
Your traveling alone will allow you to be immersed easily into the culture and its customs. Culturally, Palestinians are very sensitive to someone who is by him/herself; the culture abhors someone being left alone. This, coupled with the Palestinian culture’s tradition of hospitality, will make immersion into Palestinian culture all the more easy, interesting, and enjoyable for you.
Traveling around Palestine
Traveling around Palestine is very affordable and easy to implement. There is a wealth of taxis, buses, and services (shared taxis with low fares due to the sharing) to use in order to travel about. All of these modes of transportation, besides allowing you easy travel means, will immerse you into the general population. Palestinians will eagerly help you, direct you, offer assistance, and even offer cell phones for your use (or even make your call for you!). They will relish their new friendship with you no matter how brief!
Do not let your fears and apprehensions paralyze you and rob you of the adventure of a lifetime. Come to Palestine as a solitary traveler and experience its fascinations and beauties. It has been said that “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”. Allow yourself to read the whole book – a book you will never forget!
