TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 11-2015 | Page 121

How to get there? ü From HCMC, book a flight with Thai Airways to Tel Aviv with a transit in Bangkok. Return ticket costs about USD1,500. From Ben Gurion airport, it takes about an hour to travel to Caesarea by rented car or bus. Nearby stands an ancient Roman theater designed in the typical architectural style. Located in the same area, all these works have been preserved and restored to be a resort and an interesting site for visitors. Creative and talented architects have skillfully added new features to the unique theater by building bars and souvenir shops on the seaside to attract more tourists. Let’s imagine that you were sitting on the beach, viewing ancient works in the beautiful sunset. Bright yellow light makes these works more spectacular. Many tourists are attracted by the modern restaurants built near unique architectural structures. While the restaurants have ancient yellow stones outside their fronts, their modern interiors surprise all guests when stepping inside. Other restaurants and souvenir shops are tastefully designed in keeping with the style and feel of the city. In a bar built in the ancient seaside fortress, I enjoy a glass of beer and some tabouleh, a local dish. Not far away are the Roman aqueducts that reflect the ability of the ancient constructors. To bring water from distant sources to the city, they constructed numerous aqueducts beneath the ground or on bridgework. Sea water runs through pipes beneath the ground. This system makes it possible to transport water from 10 miles away to Caesarea. As the last sunlight disappears over the sea, the colors transform from yellow to red and purple and you can immerse yourself in a passionate sunset. Weather: ü Like other areas in Israel, the winter is cold whereas the summer is hot and dry. Therefore, the best time to go there is the spring (late March to early June) or autumn (late September to early November) Outfits: ü During the spring and autumn, there is a difference between the temperatures of the day and night. You’d better bring a thick coat to keep warm when enjoying memorable moments with a campfire and seeing stars shining in the sky. ü You’re also advised to bring some comfortable clothes and sunscreen to protect your skin from being damaged by the harsh weather of the desert. Tips: ü You should exchange money to buy goods. Monetary unit of Israel is Shekel. ü Visa: you should ask the Embassy to provide you with a separate visa instead of just sticking it in your passport. This will help you to visit other Islamic countries more easily. Souvenirs: ü Books written about Caesarea in the past and present to discover more about this city ü Black and white sketches ü Judaica ceramic crafts Watching the sunset makes me feel peaceful as if all the worries of a busy day were fading away. I walk along the beach, lean on the dome of an aqueduct system and see a yellow rock surface as if someone was burning fire. That’s my i mpressive Caesarea. TRAVELLIVE 121