Now, this is usually where I’d give you details of ticket prices and when and where to get them. But Rihanna has done something a little different: instead of charging the usual 300-800 shekels for a slice of the action, she has teamed up with local mobile company Orange, who in turn have teamed up with Rock Corps, and, lo and behold, something good is happening…

Oh yes, the only way you can get your hands on a ticket to the Rihanna concert in Tel Aviv is to volunteer four hours of your time to the community (cleaning beaches and parks, helping restore public buildings etc). Once you’ve volunteered, the ticket is yours! And yes, even Rihanna is donating four hours of her time to a project in Israel (not yet announced).

Oh, and one other condition: you’ve got to be a teenybopper (between 16-26 – they WILL be verifying)!

Ooops, almost missed it, one last condition: you’ve got to be a customer of Orange.

Not sure about those last two conditions, but the volunteering idea is a winner. Just imagine – 14,000 Rihanna fans volunteering their little hearts out over the coming few weeks.

And in case you’d forgotten, here’s her monster hit Umbrella…

The Shvil HaTapuzim is a very special place, guaranteed to keep you and your kids (especially the under 12s) busy for a few hours. There are a ton of outdoor activities, including bumper cars, mini-golf, trampolines of various sizes (my kids couldn’t stay away from the trampolines!), kiddie pools and playgrounds, water slides, and arts and crafts. For those of you intent on having a lazy day, there’s also a big grassy area where you can have a picnic (but no BBQing allowed, thankfully!).

And what would an Orange Path be without any oranges? Well, of course, you also get to pick oranges from the trees, with the additional option of hiring a huge bag for a small fee and picking as many oranges (and clementines) as you can. The oranges usually hit the trees between late October and January-February.

How to get to the Shvil HaTapuzim:

From the Coastal road (Road 2), turn off at the Caesarea junction and head east to Afula. Drive for a few kms (past the exits to Hadera), until you come to a petrol station on your right. Just before the petrol station take a right – you will only then see the sign for Shvil HaTapuzim (yes, be careful, it’s easy to miss). The dirt road then heads back in the direction you just came from before going under the main road and over to the other side. You should be able to spot the Shvil HaTapuzim and its oranges on your left.

Price: Kids up to 15 = 55 shekels. Adults = 35 shekels.

Telephone: 04-6288806

They also have a nicely designed website. If only you could navigate it…www.shvil-hatapuzim.com

But Bethlehem is not just about that Christmas card manger in a stable where a certain baby boy was born unto the world on the 25th December; it’s actually an important site for all three faiths, with Jews also holding Bethlehem dear because it was King David’s place of birth and childhood home, while Muslims (and Christians) also revere the Jewish site at Rachel’s Tomb (at the entrance to Bethlehem).

Over the years Bethlehem has seen a number of custodians come and go, including the Romans, Crusaders and Ottomans. Today Bethlehem is under the Palestinian Authority’s control, as it has been since 1995. While still home to a big Arab Christian population, numbers have been dwindling over the years and there is now a Muslim majority in the town (approximately 60%).

Tourism is the major industry in the town, with some 20% of Bethlehem’s working population involved in tourism in some way. Tourists visit all year round (some two million tourists last year), though Christmas is obviously peak season.

Times have been a little harder recently for traders, as it seems the tourists coming to Bethlehem are largely whisked in and out of the Church of the Nativity by Israeli tour operators, without stopping at local shops and the market (there is also a special Christmas market). So if you’re coming to Bethlehem independently and have a spare couple of hours, spare a thought (and a dollar) for the desperate shopkeepers, who are probably much less “in your face” than the market traders in the Old City of Jerusalem.

How to get to Bethlehem

Thanks to its close proximity to Jerusalem, Bethlehem is fairly easy to get to. In fact, it’s even walkable from Jerusalem (but allow a good couple of hours!). The best options are the shared taxis (called sherut in Hebrew), which depart from Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, or bus 124, which also departs from Damascus Gate and will take you to the Gilo checkpoint (where you can often get delays and get asked a lot of questions – have your passport ready! By the way, Israelis aren’t allowed into Bethlehem). From there, walk by foot into Bethlehem. Bus 124 should cost around 4 shekels.

Things to see and do in Bethlehem

Unquestionably the biggest attraction in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity.

In addition, there is Rachel’s Tomb, the burial place of the matriarch Rachel (for Jews it is one of the holiest sites after the Temple Mount and Tomb of the Patriarchs though access is a little more limited, apparently only to those traveling from Jerusalem on Egged buses). The Shepherds’ Fields (where the angel came to visit the shepherds) are also interesting, though be prepared for some rivalry shepherding, as there are two official sites: the Orthodox Shepherds’ Fields and the Catholic (Latin) Shepherds’ Fields.

Time permitting, you could also check out the Old Town for some real, live Arab city life, or check out the Milk Grotto Chapel, where Mary is believed to have spilled some milk while feeding baby Jesus, hence the milky white cavern. Or if you’re after something a little more artistic, heck, even political, check out the graffiti on the infamous wall separating Bethlehem from Israel (probably best done via taxi).

Bethlehem bits and bobs

The Bethlehem municipality has a website, but somebody really should tell them to sort out the color scheme. Very seasonal, but a bit of an eye-sore.

Here’s another great source of info on Bethlehem.

And here’s a nice little clip of Bethlehem, complete with a visit to a local cab driver’s home. This is what visiting the Holy Land is all about, if you ask me.

And if we’ve missed any gems off this list, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

1. Stand at the gates of the Old City in Jerusalem and smell the history.
2. Eat a falafel in a pita, dripping with tehina sauce.
3. Post your prayer to the Big Man at the Western Wall.
4. Snorkel in the Red Sea.
5. Float in the Dead Sea.
6. Visit Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem.
7. Visit Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.
8. Eat a plate of hummus.
9. Visit a kibbutz (we recommend Ein Gedi).
10. Take a diving course in Eilat.
11. Follow Jesus’ footsteps along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem’s Old City.
12. Have dip in the Med at Tel Aviv beach.
13. …or check out Israel’s best beach.
14. Play matkot at the beach.
15. Eat a shwarma in a pita or lafa.
16. Visit the Baha’i Temple in Haifa.
17. Visit Masada at sunrise.
18. Visit Yad Vashem.
19. Watch a sunset while sinking your toes in the sand.
20. Drink some Israeli wine.
21. Drink some Goldstar.
22. Drink some Arak.
23. Cake yourself in Dead Sea mud.
24. Drive in Israel (hold on to your hat!).
25. Check out the huge crater at Mitzpeh Ramon.
26. Have a dip in the Sea of Galilee.
27. Check out a moshav (farming community).
28. Hire a kayak/canoe and paddle down the Jordan River.
29. Stay for Yom Kippur and walk down the middle of the street!
30. Have a beer at Molly Bloom’s.
31. Haggle in Jaffa Flea Market.
32. Sit on the beach in December.
33. Pop over the border to Petra, Jordan.
34. Take a tour to the Sinai desert and stop over at Dahab.
35. See the spot where Jesus was baptized.
36. (Winter) Count the coats as the temperature “plummets” to 25 C.
37. (Summer) Swoon as Tel Aviv hits 80% humidity.
38. Grab a performance by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.
39. Catch a live band at Zappa or Barby Club.
40. Walk around the Neve Tzedek neighborhood in Tel Aviv.
41. Sleep out under the stars in the desert.
42. Book a night at the David InterContinental in Tel Aviv.
43. …or King David Hotel (Jerusalem).
44. Visit the Shouting Hill.
45. Take a ride on the Anaconda at the Luna Park.
46. Goggle at those petite army girls with huge guns.
47. Have a breakfast at Benedict in Tel Aviv.
48. Get some Mexican nosh in Zichron Yaakov.
49. Devour a packet of Halva.
50. Go shopping down Sheinkin Street on a Friday.
51. Have a Shabbat meal with a Jewish family.
52. Have a ride on a camel in the desert.
53. Shoot some pool at Cafe Noga in Tel Aviv.
54. Go on an Israeli safari (in Ramat Gan!).
55. Take a jeep trip through the Negev desert.
56. Visit Mini Israel and see how small Israel really is.
57. Stroll down Rothschild Street in Tel Aviv on Shabbat.
58. Row with an Israeli taxi driver about his high fare.
59. Eat Jachnun on a Saturday morning.
60. Visit Gaza. Well, almost.
61. Surf the Web while sipping a latte at a cafe in Ibn Gvirol street.
62. Do the Yehudas in Jerusalem: Machane Yehuda and Ben Yehuda promenade.
63. Try some shashuka at Dr Shakshuka!
64. Visit the old town of Akko and its market (buy some Knafe!).
65. Buy an outdated tourist t-shirt on Ben Yehuda street, Tel Aviv.
66. Drive/cycle the coastal road around the Sea of Galilee.
67. Touch the spot where Jesus was crucified.
68. Have a Christmas drink (or at anytime!) at the MASH bar.
69. Sing Christmas carols in Manger Square, Bethlehem.
70. Shop, eat and drink at Tel Aviv Port.
71. Visit the holy site of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee.
72. Go shopping at the rejuvenated Gan HaHashmal in Tel Aviv.
73. Learn some Hebrew.
74. Learn some naughty Hebrew.
75. Splash out on a meal at Mul Yam in Tel Aviv.
76. People watch at the Nahalat Binyamin market in Tel Aviv on Fridays.
77. Go for a fly in a powered paraglider up above the Holy Land.
78. Eat matza bread during Passover.
79. Visit the Farmer’s Market in Tel Aviv.
80. Listen to (and buy) Asaf Avidan’s latest CD.
81. Go to the 2C restaurant and check out the view of Tel Aviv.
82. Visit the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem.
83. Have some fine Asian cuisine at Zepra, Tel Aviv.
84. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
85. Take a picture of the Dome of the Rock.
86. Go on a free walking tour round Tel Aviv.
87. Take a free Sandemans walking tour of the Old City, Jerusalem.
88. See the 2000 year old olive trees in the Garden of Gethsamane.
89. Climb Mount Tabor to visit the monastery at the top.
90. Have a family day out at Orange Lane (Shvil HaTapuzim).
91. Buy and wear your Crocs proudly.
92. Fight for your spot in a line or queue.
93. Take a wine tour of the Golan Heights.
94. Visit the Israeli parliament – The Knesset.
95. See the Roman antiquities at Caesarea.
96. Swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Reef, Eilat.
97. Count the yachts (and fantasize) at Herzliya Marina.
98. Walk the narrow, cobbled streets of Old Jaffa.
99. Take in the tranquility of Ein Kerem (birthplace of John the Baptist).
100. Eat and shop at the Druze town of Daliat HaCarmel.
101. Spend a few hours at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The Middle East’s own special precursor to Facebook and Twitter, the Shouting Hill is located on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, next to the village of Majdal Shams, at the bottom of Mount Hermon, but separated from Majdal Shams by a valley. On one side of the valley sits the Israel security zone, while on the other side of the valley it’s Syria, monitored by a UN observation post.

This situation arose because of the Six Day War in 1967, in which Israel gained control of the south-western part of the Golan Heights. The partition of the Golan Heights however meant many Druze families were separated by the new border. With Syria and Israel still officially at war, communications between the two countries have been non-existent ever since ’67. As a result, some people started to visit the hill to talk (or rather shout via a megaphone) to their family members on the other side of the border. OK, not quite Facebook or Twitter, but perhaps the roots of status updates to your friends and family…?

The Shouting Hill is actually 1100 meters high, while the exact place people come to shout is 3km from Majdal Shams and 2.5km away from the border.

With the advent of mobile phones and the Internet (and, of course, Facebook (pretty much banned in Syria) and Twitter), the Shouting Hill has become less popular, though is still used for important occasions, such as weddings or births. Even deaths can become part of the shouts on Shouting Hill, though I really don’t know how you’d confront the news that a beloved family member has died via a megaphone shout…

Dearie me, the heartbreak and pain of the Middle East.

How to get to the Shouting Hill: Basically you’re aiming for the top north-eastern corner of Israel, which can be reached by bus or car. Not sure if the bus stops at Majdal Shams but you can drive straight to Majdal Shams, while the Shouting Hill is located on the eastern side of town. If you’re looking for a hotel there is the recently opened Narkis Boutique Hotel, with what looks like 21 very nice rooms.

Of course, you could also become a fan of Majdal Shams on Facebook…

Tel Aviv’s beaches are surely worth spending some time on. And don’t forget to check out the funkiest beach in Tel Aviv: just remember to bring your dancing shoes (make that flip-flops) and a darbuka (drum).

BUT… if you’re interested in finding the very best beach in Israel, even better than that sandy strip of paradise in Tel Aviv, get in your rental car or friend’s car and head up to a little known beach called Dor HaBonim. Oh yes, Hof Dor’s little sister gets our vote for the finest beach in Israel!

It might not be the easiest beach to get to, and it might not have the facilities and eye candy that you’ll get aplenty in Tel Aviv or Eilat, but this place is paradise for those of you who class yourselves as beach connoisseurs.

Chill out, sink your feet into that sand and watch the Med glisten just feet away…and be safe in the knowledge that this beach is protected property from Israel’s masses. Not many know how to get here (it is tricky and transport is a must) and the lack of facilities will probably leave many disappointed…but again, that’s all part of the charm. Just remember to bring plenty of water. Pitching a tent is probably not allowed, but I know people who’ve done it, so if you’re feeling adventurous and in need of the perfect spot to wake up in…

How to get there: Basically you’re on the same road to Hof Dor (just off Road 4, just after the turn off for Zichron Yaakov, if heading north – about 1 hour from Tel Aviv and 20 minutes south of Haifa). However, once you get to the entrance to Hof Dor, you should take a right to Nachsholim. Then follow the road round to a car park where there’s a huge old water tower, which then turns into a narrow one lane dirt road running between fish ponds. Once you reach a junction with a smallish old-style water tower in front of you (with a number 9 on it, if I recall correctly), turn left and park your car. From there it’s a quick 5 minute walk to the beach.

And there I go, off into the sunset to find myself a new beach…