Touching the Promised Land 01 | TRIP INTRO

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Prologue: A Long-Held Hope

For many years, I had longed to trace the remnants of Mesopotamian civilisation, but I kept postponing the trip for one "important reason" or another… Then, the outbreak of an unexpected and protracted wars forever confined that wish to the atlases and history books on my shelf.

A turning point came in 2017. After finally completing a cover-to-cover reading of the Bible (though much of it still perplexed me), my focus shifted to the "Promised Land" at the western end of the Fertile Crescent. So, a year later, when a window of about ten days opened up, I informed my friends and colleagues, and turned this long-held hope into a reality, and hoping to make the most of this brief pilgrimage.

Upon my return, I took time to reflect. Starting in early 2019, I began organising my notes and photographs, posting them in segments on my WeChat Moments. My aim was twofold: to create a personal record of the journey for myself (and maybe my grandchildren, you never know, lol……) and a foundation for planning future longer trips in the area; as well as to offer a practical, first-hand reference for friends considering a similar pilgrimage.

This summer (2025), an old colleague I hadn't seen for years visited me in Shanghai. Over conversation, we spoke of retirement plans, the joys and sorrows of mutual acquaintances, and the headlines dominating the news… Though she doesn't speak Chinese, our shared faith meant we talked at length about my 2018 trip to the Holy Land. After lamenting the current state of the Holy Land, she suggested I rewrite my travelogue in English for my blog. She hoped to share it with her neighbours and friends, as a source of inspiration for her local church's outreach.

And so, you now read these words & pictures…

Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, and Al-Aqsa Mosque (from left to right, viewed from the terrace of Aish HaTorah Center)

Itinerary Planning: Purpose Before Action

Before travelling, I immersed myself in geographical and historical materials, approaching the itinerary much like a business plan: I first defined my primary objectives (my key interests) and my limited resources (time and budget), then charted a course accordingly. Of course, knowing that 'the best-laid plans often go awry,' I kept an open mind and was prepared to adjust my route at a moment's notice.

With limited time, choices were essential. Though I had visited the Middle East on business before, this journey to Israel and Jordan was new, and my arrangements were therefore made with caution…My pre-departure site selection was guided by the following criteria:

1. Scriptural Significance: To follow the biblical stories off the page and onto the very ground where they happened. I wanted to stand in places like the City of David, where King David's Jerusalem began; wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel, the engineering marvel that sustained the city from Assyrian siege; explore the archaeological site of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered; and see the hills of Galilee, where Jesus and his apostles walked and preached.

2. Historical Impact: To understand the forces that shaped the modern Holy Land by engaging with its layered past—from the crusader walls of Acre, which repelled Napoleon, to the desert landscapes where figures like Lawrence of Arabia reshaped the Ottoman Empire's borders.

3. Cultural Recognition: To experience sites of outstanding universal value as designated by UNESCO. While the 19 sites spanning both sides of the Jordan River are too many to see in one trip, this criterion prioritized visiting as many as was practical.

4. Personal Interest: To appreciate the region's unique geographical wonders, from the famed buoyancy of the Dead Sea to the dramatic canyons of Wadi Mujib and the majestic, otherworldly scenery of Wadi Rum.

Main stops planned on the initial itinerary (P-I left & P-II right) before setting out on Day 1

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Touching the Promised Land 02 | DAY 1 – CAESAREA MARITIMA

A CITY OF ROMAN EMPERORS

If Jerusalem is God's chosen holy city, Caesarea is then a monument to human ambition. Its "master builder" was Herod the Great - a formidable figure in the Gospels. Paying homage to Augustus Caesar, he laboured to raise this magnificent Roman-style port city from the Mediterranean sands.

Hippodrome on the Sea

For Christians, Caesarea is where Apostle Paul was held prior sailing to Rome, as well as the city that hallowed by a pivotal event: the baptism of the first Gentile. While the Apostle Peter received his world-altering vision in Joppa, it was here in Caesarea that the Roman centurion Cornelius received his own divine instruction. Their subsequent meeting in this city, orchestrated by God, demonstrated God's will to open the way of salvation to the Gentiles - the entire world.

(to be continued)