Upon Landing
Here I am on the tarmac of נְמַל הַתְּעוּפָה בֵּן גּוּרְיוֹן (neh-mahl ha-teh-‘oo-fah Ben Gurion – Ben Gurion International Airport), taxiing to the מָסוֹף (mah-sof – terminal). Not a bad טִיסָה (tee-sah – flight). Had a bit of מְהוּמָה (me-hoo-mah – turbulance) over הַיָּם הַתִּיכוֹן (ha-yahm ha-tee-khon – the Mediterranean Sea). This נְמַל תְּעוּפָה (neh-mahl ha-teh-‘oo-fah – airport) is very secure with a security force that includes Israel Police officers, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (ts-vah ha-hah-gah-nah leh-yees-rah-‘el – Israel Defense Force) and מִשְׁמַר הַגְּבוּל (meesh-mahr ha-g’vool – Israel Border Police). Airport security guards operate both in uniform and undercover to maintain a high level of vigilance and detect any possible threats. Now it’s time to deplane.
When I got off the plane, I walked through the jetway, to the lobby on the first floor. Here’s where you may get confused, so bear with me – click on the images of the maps above to get an idea of getting through the airport. I need to get up to the lobby on the second floor. So, walking through the שְׁלוּחָה (shloo-khah – concourse), to the כִּיכָּר (kee-kahr – rotunda). I went round the rotunda to the שְׂדֵרָה (s’deh-rah – connector), and from there, since I am an נוֹסֵעַ בֵּינְלְאֻמִּי ( – International passenger), I go to בִּקֹּרֶת גְּבוּלוֹת (bee-koh-reht ge-voo-loat – border control) on floor G.
What you’ll see next are manned control counters, and biometric control counters. Israeli דַּרְכּוֹן (dar-kohn – passport) holders will approach the manned counters or make use of the biometric system. I’m not sure what it’s about, but again, I’m a foreign דַּרְכּוֹן (dar-kohn – passport) holder, so I go to the manned counter where I hand over my דַּרְכּוֹן (dar-kohn – passport) and form L17 (Arriving tourists are required, prior to landing, to fill out form L17 for the registration of personal details. Trust me, this will prevent delays when going through נהלי פספורט (bee-ko-ret ha-dar-ko-neem – passport procedures). Make sure to write down all your דַּרְכּוֹן (dar-kohn – passport) and flight details and keep a copy for yourself, as it will be needed when leaving Israel).
Once you get through בִּקֹּרֶת גְּבוּלוֹת (bee-koh-reht ge-voo-loat – border control) and נהלי פספורט (bee-ko-ret ha-dar-ko-neem – passport procedures), Level G also has אִסּוּף כְּבוּדָה (ee-soof keh-voo-dah – baggage claim) and הַמֶכֶס (ha-meh-khes – customs inspection). Watch the signs that indicate where your כְּבוּדָה (keh-voo-dah – luggage) is due to arrive. Once you collect your כְּבוּדָה (keh-voo-dah – luggage), you go on to the הַמֶכֶס (ha-meh-khes – customs inspection). Oh, once you have your bags, make sure you do not leave your כְּבוּדָה (keh-voo-dah – luggage) unattended at any time.
At הַמֶכֶס (ha-meh-khes – customs inspection) there are three paths to choose from to go through:
Green Path: על מה להִצְהִיר (lee mah l’heets-heer – nothing to declare).
Red Path: Passengers bringing with them any electrical appliance worth more than $200.
Blue Path: Groups and air crew who have על מה להִצְהִיר (lee mah l’heets-heer – nothing to declare).
When it comes to bringing כֶּסֶף (keh-sehf – money) into or taking כֶּסֶף (keh-sehf – money) out of Israel, you must להִצְהִיר (l’-hahts-heer – to declare) any amount over NIS 80,000 שֶׁקֶל חָדָשׁ (sheh-kehl khah-dahsh – Israeli new Shekel). I’m not carrying that much, but I do need to exchange some dollars to שֶׁקֶל חָדָשׁ (sheh-kehl khah-dahsh – Israeli new Shekel) (as of August 23rd, 2012 the exchange rate was $1 = NIS 4.01107). Good thing is there’s a couple of counters by Bank Hapoalim and Changeplace close by. Tip: It is recommended to keep any foreign currency receipts, you will need them to repurchase מַטְבֵּעַ זָר (maht-beh-‘a zahr – foreign currency) upon departure.
After that is a Hall where you can meet your family and friends who have been waiting for your הַגָּעָה (ha-gah-‘ah – arrival). I’m not meeting anyone there, so I’ll just take a breather and admire the view outside the windows for a few minutes. Oh wait, there’s a coffee shop. I’ll go in there and have a cup of coffee. There are other shops and services around – florists, souvenir shops, a post office, foreign currency exchange, counters to return cel phones and banks. I’ll probably go and rent a car so I can drive when and where I want while in תֵּל־אָבִיב (tel ah-veev – Tel Aviv).
Okay, had my coffee, got a car and now I’m off to the מָלוֹן (mah-loan – hotel) in רָמַת גַּן (rah-maht gahn).
What’s next?
Next, I’ll give you some lessons on נְהִיגָה (neh-hee-gah – driving) in Israel. It’s a 20-30 minute drive to the מָלוֹן (mah-loan – hotel) from the נְמַל תְּעוּפָה (neh-mahl ha-teh-‘oo-fah – airport), so it’s not a long drive. but I’ll give you some tips and vocabulary on נְהִיגָה (neh-hee-gah – driving), okay?
Images of Ben Gurion Airport Terminal Three is used by permission of Israel Airports Authority under the terms of “Fair Use” copyright laws
