On the coast of Dead Sea....

The Land - as barren as the desert!
The Water - saline!
The Terrain - sandy and difficult!
The Weather - cold and windy in winters and very hot in summers ..
This is how one would describe Israel geographically!

I visited Israel recently and this is how I perceive it. Unknowingly I compared it with my country, India.
Israel is a country that is built from ground zero. All difficulties overcame, all trials faced with courage and the fruit of this ordeal is a country with a strong character... Its people are united and each one is proud of being an Israeli.

If at all we need to learn something from them...undoubtedly, its Patriotism... Love for your country. There are a few shortcomings, the country feels insecure largely due to its neighbours. Israelis have always been fighting for survival and united they have survived all the threats.

At every place I visited, there was this feeling which I cant accurately describe in words. The body language of these people suggested that they are a part of a united nation and not just a country!
The most important difference I found in Israel, as opposed to my country India, is that people are interested in the nation's development. They dont have this "dont care" indifferent attitude about nation's progress.
And large part of the credit of instilling patriotism deep into the heart of every individual goes to the military! It has changed the way of life here.

Right from the taxi driver to the corporate level,everyone has an opinion on every small matter concerning their nation. This feeling of "My Country" is what separates Israel from other nations, and places it in a class of its own.

There are a few more aspects deserving a mention..

I visited many cities and tourist places in Israel. There are some unique places in Israel which are not found anywhere else in the world eg. Dead Sea.
A place worth visiting is Jerusalem,for the historic importance or for experiencing the aura of the place itself.
But I feel that tourism is glorified beyond proportions.
Also some "not so great" tourist spots attract tourists by providing good infrastructure. This is something our tourism department should learn from.We have some beautiful spots in India that need good infrastructure.

Israel is very clean. That is the first thing that an Indian would sadly notice. A country will be clean if it is kept clean! And all of its citizens, are more responsible for this than the local municipality.

Overall it was an experience of a lifetime and definitely a place worth visiting.