We will not be defeated

Im sad to report that the aid convoy literally filled with huge amounts of medical aid from everywhere around the world with generous donations, driven all the way from the UK more then a month ago through 12 countries has been denied entry into Gaza. This proves that land convoys must continue and activists must keep pushing to make sure that the siege will be broken! The battle is not over and even though we leave heartbroken, our spirits remain stronger then ever and we will keep on.

To those who have supported me personally, thank you for everything! The aid and vehicles will be distributed to Palestinian refugees in the region and are in good hands. I am now in Cairo trying to personally meet the NGO I was going to meet in Gaza so hopefully we can meet somewhere in the middle.

To the organizers of VP6, thank you for allowing me to join your convoy, taking good care of us and for doing everything in your power to help us on this mission. I can't wait for the news of the next land convoy to Gaza. We will never give up and we will break this siege!

To my fellow convoyers who are now like my new family, I miss you greatly and I am sure our paths will cross again. It was a privilege traveling with all of you. Will be waiting for you all to come to Malaysia :D

Sorry

sorry all for my lack of updating. Been very unwell for far too long and to top it up food poisoning today but nothing too serious as was able to go to the hospital here so just need time to heal and resting as much as I can. Keep us in ur prayers!

Occupied Palestine in the distance

Jem

One can understand how anger can grow

I know I'm jumping a few days right now but I just had to write this. Its now day I think 6 or 7 (that's how sick I've been) that we are in Aqaba. I'm not going to into the details of the delay and all just yet as it will just take the focus off on what I'm feeling right now.

So its been a few days of us having to stare at the Israeli town of Eilat. For me, I didn't know it was Eilat (which is really occupied Palestine) until the 2nd night I was here. I thought all the bright lights that were soothing for me during being so ill suddenly made me sick to my stomach and I just became more upset and angry the longer I stared at it.

So right now I'm on the roof of the hotel we are staying at having some time to myself and all I see in front of me beyond the sea is Eilat, with it high rising tall buildings and planes flying in and out. I literally just want to cry and its not even land I'm from. Can you imagine being a Palestinian that was driven from your home 64 years ago and you're sitting where I'm sitting. How much sadness would you feel? How much anger would you feel? Your home is just beyond the horizon and you can't go near it. You can't go back. If you were a Palestinian how would you feel? What a developed looking town and you're living as a refugee. Now I can understand how anger can grow. Just a few days and I'm now angry. How does 64 years feel like?

I thief who steals something can never feel secure. So I wonder what the residents in Eilat think when they look over into Aqaba. I wonder if their conscience ever says how wrong it is. I wonder.

One thing is for sure, staring at it makes me want to never give up being an activist. No matter what. You know its wrong what's been happening to the Palestinians for far too long. So Israel if you think you're in the right, go on, keep stealing land and building skyscrapers on it. If it makes a simple activist feel more driven to never give up I know the Palestinians will feel it too until justice has been met.

We will never remain silent.

Jem

The Syria leg - day 1

Again sorry this has taken me so long to update. I'm still unwell but not as bad as before but I know how important it is to keep people up-to-date on what's going on so I know I have a lot to catch up on so trying my best.

Going through customs in Turkey was a challenge in itself and due to lots of paperwork we ended up having lil picnics outside (or inside for us) in the vans although it was scorching hot. Thank goodness for shade in the building (trying to pinch the wifi) or a lil picnic table under the trees. I honestly can't remember how long we were there for but it was pretty long. It was interesting though to watch normal cars with families going through the border both coming into Turkey and into Syria. Seemed like a normal border crossing to me.

When we finally got given the go ahead to continue our journey we were all ecstatic and going into Syria with Kevin greeting us with some members of the Palestinian National Council was a fab feeling. Because of the delay we had to quickly go to Latakia to meet the crowds waiting for us there but we couldn't stay which was a shame as previous convoyers would have loved to go back to the camp where they stayed at in 2010.

So off we quickly went to Latakia as daylight was slowly fading. By the time we got there though, since we are at the back and had catch up to do, our end of the convoy wasn't there for long which was such a shame as the crowd was huge! Sucks how none of the cams we have are good for night time pictures. We did have a few teenagers come by the van to say hi and welcome and take pictures. Plus we had this lovely chicken shop which I'm so upset I didn't get the name of but they gave us these huge portions of chicken (think it could have been half a chicken) with chips (oh so nice) and bread and yoghurt. One portion could feed both of us! Was funny though as due to time, we were always in our van and I had to literally pass food to Faisal as we hardly had the time to eat so it was eat and drive after waving goodbye to the crowds. Such a shame I couldn't even get out of the van to really talk to them like the group ahead. Nvm.

So off we went trying to drive to Damascus as soon as we could in the dark. By then I really didn't feel well but was trying my best to stay awake. However, due to it being I think almost midnight and being a very long day the decision was made to stay in Tartus for the night. Good decision as we just passed out as soon as we hit the pillow. Plus 6am wake up call yikes! Tartus looked wonderful though! Shops and restaurants were bustling with people even though it was late at night. Reminded me a bit of the south of Lebanon when I went to see my friend. Real seaside place. Shame we were too tired to take a stroll. Never mind

Jem

Isn't it funny...

...That some people just don't read properly yet can have so much to say.

Due to limited wifi access, I will answer questions when I'm home as if real documentation is wanted then googling is required as I'm just a simple activist doing what I've promised to my donors and the people in Gaza. But for some, as said in a previous post, are just not going to be entertained. Simple as that.

Jem

Syria - the one that caused a big hoohaa

This photo was actually taken at the Turkey-Syria border crossing but it was so nice to see the Palestinian flag with it hence why I've used this pic to talk about our trip through Syria.

Now its been known for many months that in order to get to Gaza, Syria would be one of the countries we'd have to cross through. But of course with everything that's been going on with Syria that you've been reading on the news it seemed risky to be going through there. Well I'm just gonna talk about a few facts.

One is that if you're going on a convoy to Gaza, there's already a huge risk there. In previous convoys they had some police in one country beat people in a confined space and arrested them, Israel was bombing close to where they were staying at, and let's not forget you're driving how many thousands of miles into different countries and I'm telling you now from crazy truckers I've seen, something could even happen on the road in Europe.

Two there were other routes to consider but let's look at these ones. One is going through North Africa meaning you have to go through Libya and really? The organisers were advised to NOT go through there. Another is taking a ferry from Turkey to Egypt but you know the cost of this? Aaahhh more then thousands of dollars, which none of us can pay for.

So VPA have worked really hard over the past few months speaking to ALL parties and the Palestinian National Council to make sure that the convoy had safe passing for the 3 days it was there. It was so nice to meet the Palestinians there and they took such good care of us. Plus it meant that some Syrians could join the convoy as well as getting more medical aid for the convoy. Well wasn't just more, it was an Artic truck carrying 43 tonnes of medical aid. Wow!

I've read all the negative reports from the convoy saying it supports the regime and what not but really, all this does is not only divide the Palestinian activists up but it also makes people forget about Palestine. As an activist on the convoy, I'm on the convoy for Gaza, not supporting any regime or any government. Writing this now, I've heard that in some countries the convoy route has been planned out for, between 9 to 20 people were killed.

The Middle East in general is one very unstable region with many problems ahead even though the Arab Spring happened. But it shouldn't stop Palestinian activists in wanting to carry out a convoy (which by definition is a group of land vehicles travelling together) and I guess the more countries you pass through the more people see the convoy and the more can join. Travelling from the UK all the way to Gaza is one long and can be taxing journey but every person I've met who's still with us just have one focus on their mind, Gaza.

Will blog about the actually journey through Syria in a bit but just my thoughts of everything that has been going on. If you don't want to support us that's fine but don't go attacking these people I have been travelling with for 3 weeks just because of a route. Are you with us and knowing what we are going through? No? Then keep the negativity to yourself and let us just accomplish what we have been doing and campaigning for, for some of us, for months.
Jem

Leaving Syria

Just want to say thank you to the Syrian people and the Palestinian people and committee for taking good care of us in Syria and I hope we will meet again!

Jem

All fine in Syria. Stayed the night at Tartus after a reception in Latakia & moving onto the next destination.

Goodbye Turkey!!

We've been here for one week now and at the border saying goodbye to Turkey. Its been one interesting week and I thank the Turkish people for their hospitality and generosity. To those I have met I will send my salams to Gaza.

What a journey and what a week its been!

2 and a half weeks have gone starting at UK-France-Belgium-Luxembourg-Germany-Austria-Hungary-Ukranie (since we broke down)-Turkey. Only less then a week to Gaza :D

Next up, Syria.

PS. Whilst waiting at the border to do the checks, stamp the passport etc, I saw a lot of cars (stopped counting after an hour) going out of Turkey into Syria. Interesting
Jem

Chillin while going going through customs

Jem

Faz chillin

Jem

Near the Syrian border

Jem

Approaching the Turkish border

Jem

A6 has arrived!!

Had 2 new people join us today (dunno how they did it) but doesn't it look cool. We were always wondering why isn't there an A6 and now there is :D

Last day in Turkey. Gonna get some rest so hopefully ill start to feel better.

Ttyl!
Jem

Half of the convoy

Picture of the front half of the convoy

Jem

Such a change

Driving this morning was literally flat lands and it was like driving through no mans land. So dry and dusty. We stop for lunch with a beautiful spread (felt like a buffet) and they gave free tea (which was really strong!) Then straight after we come onto a highway (finally) and its just been this kind of scenery. Beautiful! Think we've gone through 8 tunnels so far.

Jem

Snow covered mountains in Turkey

Yes again geography is really bad. Can anyone tell me the name of this mountain?

Thanks!!

Jem

Dramatic weather for dramatic Turkey :)

Just look at this picture!! At one point it reminded me of a hurricane area. Then I said as long as there are no hail stones we will be fine. 20mins later, not really hail stones but big blocks of water def came tumbling down. And we are in Turkey!! The weather has been so strange. Sun stroke in Germany and Hungary then wearing a jumper in Turkey! Just so odd.

So right now we are in Konya in Turkey and making our way down until our next destination. Should be in Turkey for the next few days. Yesterday we stayed in Ankara after being in Istanbul for 4 days at another petrol station like last nights one. Its nice how you don't have to pay for toilet use but there's been no hot water or showers for that matter so been wet wipe showers the past two days :) smell like Jasmine :p

The day we left Istanbul, which was Saturday, was a day of mixed emotions. Due to visa problems for our next country destination, we had to leave behind some of the guys that were with us. This left 4 vans with no drivers. Luckily 3 new guys, including one from South Africa had joined us plus us with no van so we each are now driving one. Just hope everything gets sorted so they can join us at the border. Meanwhile, we are still awaiting news on our vehicle but since we are driving B6 now, it will be hard to spread the drivers out when we get our van. So we shall see how it goes. After so many days of not being on the road, was so nice to be back with the convoy. Although I haven't been very well so just trying to cope with that. Will be alright.

On the 4th was 6 years since my mum had passed. I didn't even realise the date until I was reminded. No wonder I went window shopping that day! Although I did treat myself and got a lovely handbag which was bargained even further once the guy knew we were going to Gaza. His business partner then gave me a free purse :D I don't like to remember the day to be honest because it makes me feel very sad and that's what I don't want to feel right now cause there's just so many things going on that I need to deal with but I did have a lil cry and had to remind myself that she's with me on this journey helping me. Just one day at a time I guess.

Whoops gotta run! We are now off to our next destination.

Jem

Things happen for a reason

I'm really sorry for the lack of updates but it's been such an experience since my last post that I couldn't write about the chapter until it was closed. Okay this chapter of the journey is not really over but it's more clearer. So let's tell this story :)

Since my last post, we were off to go to the border between Hungary and Romania and all was going well down the highway like we normally do and then suddenly a loud metal grinding noise occurred and I asked Faisal 'is that the tyre?' whilst he calmly put the hazard light on, slowed down and pulled over to the hard shoulder. A5 pulled over as well as one of the main convoy leaders in Z2 to check what was going on. They all got out to check the engine while I was told to stay put. It did not look good as the engine mount had bent and so the engine had shifted and was almost touching the ground. Not good. The rest of the convoy stopped at the next stop area while another vehicle came and towed us slowly back to the rest of the convoy and once we were there, nearly everyone came around and started to see if anything could be done. Ropes were being tied up and they were trying to figure out how to tow the vehicle to the next destination. It just seemed like a very hard thing to do plus it would have slowed down the rest of the convoy so luckily I took the advice of the organisers and was able to get European breakdown coverage from the RAC. So the rest of the convoy went on whilst some of the convoy leaders stayed with us. There was some problems occurring but we finally got towed and you wouldn't believe where too. The Peugeot service station was literally situated behind us where we were staying the night before. So we literally went backwards. Oh well, got to see how they tow your car and got to ride in the huge truck (I felt so tall). The RAC sorted out a hotel which was 4mins away. By this time it was really late so the only thing we could do was go to bed, though I'll be honest, I was anxious as hell and was just praying all would be okay.

So the next morning we have breakfast and I get a phone call. Bad news. Hungary was literally shut down because they were having a holiday for the next two days and no one could look at the van until Wednesday (this was Monday). So we told them what was going on and how we were on a deadline as we needed to catch up with the rest of the convoy so the RAC then started trying to sort out hire cars for us but the problem was each country didn't want their car going into another country so they literally had to sort out a hire car in each country all the way to Turkey. So whilst they were sorting it out all of us went into town to try and see if we were lucky enough to find a mechanic who could take a look at our van. Unfortunately Hungary was literally closed. I even saw a McDs closed as well as the tourist centre. Really just dumb luck. So since there was nothing else to do, we finally went to go have lunch, which was in the city centre itself as everything else was closed, and went to this Syrian restaurant. Wonderful food and very fancy toilets.

We then get the phone call from the RAC. Everything was sorted with all the hire cars BUT since Hungary was closed, no one was picking up the phone so there was no hire cars available for us to leave that day (Monday) and we would have to wait the next morning. Meanwhile, the rest of the convoy was getting further away from us and the convoy leaders that stayed with us had to get going otherwise it would be so hard to catch up. So we decided that the two of us would fly to Turkey to meet the others and Z2 would take all the aid that was in our van and go and catch up with the others. What was so great was that RAC would cover the cost of the flights plus continue to put us up in the hotel with 2 rooms. It was the easiest option for everyone. Thing was, it meant the van had to be left and writing this now I'm still gutted. It's like you try to do everything you are supposed to do to make sure the vehicle is fine but sometimes things are just out of your control. I just need to remember that. At least the insurance has been the best thing done and they have been so good to us.

So once that was decided, we all went back to Peugeot to get all the aid and squeeze in into Z2's vehicle, which is smaller then our vehicle. Dumb luck still followed us. First off it took us almost an hour to even try and get into Peugeot even though I had the documemtations as the guy had to call this person and that person and then we had to wait for his colleague to come (remember it is a holiday) and then at first they only allowed one person to go into the area because apparently the lasers (really?) were on and couldn't be turned off because again, it's a holiday, and then when they saw how much stuff it was they allowed 2 of us in. They then told the van to drive behind the vehicle which was separated by a high wired fence and then a big ditch! We then had to transfer 8 boxes plus 4 huge and heavy bags over the fence whilst Z2 leaders were packing as much as they could in their van and it was so packed you could barely see Carole at the back in the passenger seat. I really wish I took a picture of this because it just looked like we were robbing the place. What a sight!

Then we said our goodbyes and that was sad and I will admit it did get to me but work needed to be done so we went online to find the best and cheapest flight to make sure we were in Turkey by Wednesday. So we finally found the cheapest one via Kiev but it would mean we left on Wednesday itself so we had another day in closed Hungary. Stranded in Hungary. So I've learnt that since some things are beyond your control and everything happens for a reason and that you can plan as much as you want, there really isn't anything one could do. So it just made sense to walk around the city more to really see Budapest. Still a lot of places were shut but the city still looked beautiful. We were also able to go back to the same place we went with the others that was owned by the Egyptian and we told him what happened and he gave free tea again :) then it was back to the hotel to try and pack as best as we could with all the stuff we had and some food had to be sacrificed and left :( then bed as we had to be up early to make sure all was done before our cab picked us up at 12:30 (organised by RAC too) and off to the airport. I had a lil cry as we passed the Peugeot service centre and I actually couldn't look because I would have prob burst into tears. It just feels like I've let people down because the van had to be left. Was beginning to feel like a home too and it can really get one to feel lost leaving it. I just hope something can be done with it but I'll get to that bridge later.

So off to Turkey we went via a stop at Kiev. At the airport in Hungary wow security was pretty tight as I had never been that frisked before! Then at Kiev we had our bag checked again (I think the round power extension cord looked dodgy) and there was army everywhere! Waited there for a few hours with a lovely cup of coffee and finally boarded the flight to go to Istanbul. The flight was very nice (Turkish airlines) and got to calm my nerves after the few days we've had by watching FRIENDS and having a good giggle.

Got to Istanbul (yey!) and finally met up with the rest of the convoy! Was so nice to see everyone and be reunited.

So after being stuck in Hungary for an extra 2 days without a van and dealing with that, we will be in Turkey for a few days which will be great for us to get a new vehicle and get that sorted. We have a number of choices so will access the best one because at the end of the day, I made a promise to deliver a van with the aid. We still have the aid and we will get a van, that is for sure. Again, everything happens for a reason right. The big picture is delivering the promise I made to Gaza and to the people who have kindly supported us.

So, wow, long post. So I shall leave this for now and see what happens tomorrow :)