Lyon & Tignes Ski Resort

Monster has been the buzz word of the trip. It is what motivates us to drive every morning to the mountains. The pic on the right shows a bit of what a snowboarders room should look like.

On our day off yesterday we took a day trip to Lyon, the second largest city in France and supposedly the culinary capital of the country.We hopped on a bus from Annecy to Lyon which took us about 2 hours. The bus driver wouldn't let me on with my cappucino so we started to chat as he watched me pour my coffee down my throat.

When we got into the train

station, we couldn't even find a travel book/lonely planet in English which is ridiculous. After giving a homeless Arab boy 1 Euro, we headed for the center of town.

Right: Paul on the subway in Lyon

Deficiencies that we've experienced until now in the French culture:

- There is no love for the Anglo speakers

- Everything takes so long to get done and the extreme level of incompetence is very much prevalent in French society (excluding my Jewish people).

Efficiencies in french culture:

- An abundance of good looking brunettes

- Great pastries

Ironically enough I grabbed a Subway Tuna sandwhich and Paul had some sushi in the cuisine capital of France.

Below: In this city begins the story of Paul and his love for French Starbucks. Lyon didn't have much to offer and Starbucks was our highlight.

Paul goes crazy when he sees a Starbucks. We've been drinking these little French Cappucinos and the first time he saw that logo, he just went nuts. He drinks about 5 of these a day. He usually wakes me up only after running around town and hunting down a Starbucks grande Latte. Israel really makes nice hafuch.

In France France, the Arab population dress like gangsters where as the black people dress like trendy Europeans. Things are all distorted out here.

Honestly, we didnt think Lyon had much to offer for travelers.

The next day we headed for Tignes, another well known resort around the area. On our first chairlift up, this really nice french man liivng in the UK thought we were crazy dor diivng every day(2 hours) from Annecy to Tignes and the other ski resorts. Tignes had tons of snow but unfortunately as the day went on, rainy snow started to fall and the powder started to become harder. One thing that was cool in this resort was the fast speed train which went up the mountain. For us North Americans, this was for sure something different.

Below: Speed train in Tignes

Paul and I then decided to grab a beer at this bougie little bar on the slopes. Imagine the clara on a ski resorthalfway down the trail, this was basically what it was. Paul and I grabbed a gansgter little spot n the corner and gulped down two beers. All of a sudden we see this DJ looking guy and a tall black guy in a pimp blue trench coat that looked like Mr. T. A ton of people ended up partying in their ski gear. The staff consisted of a gay man singing crazy songs on top of a bar, one guy playing the trumpet, a DJ on top and a really french gangster looking guy who was the MC.

As we are about to leave, this family receives a warm welcome to the party. They had a table reserved for their family and were drinking these huge champagne bottles. What an "1,850" family! They were sippin 400 Euro champagne at three in the afternoon with their entire family on a ski resort.

Paul and I then headed back to the slopes for our last run. We headed down the trail which was overwhelmed with people and attempted to snowboard down the mountain. We could barely get ourselves down in one piece. All of a sudden this lady screams at the top of her lungs and falls. We thought the chick broke her leg or something but she just ended up taking a light fall.

One thing that that makes me crazy is when people over react their ski falls.

Paul and I coined a phrase to try to describe the extreme "bouginess" that we have experienced here in the bougie alps. When you want to describe something baller-esque or pimp, you say,

"Wow that is so 1850(pronounced eighteen fifty)".

Paul just told me today that in my sleep I have been sleep talking the following words, "Mom, it's so far". I guess these long drives are really getting to me.

Courchevel: Day 3

I was pushing 130 km on the way to Courchevel this morning yet Paul somehow wasn't saying "watch that car bro!" anymore. I guess he just realized that I knew what I was doing and started to trust me more as the driver. Both on the highways and on the slopes, he is the ultimate navigator. The only difference is that on the highways I am in control and he would suffer from any consequences where as on the slopes he is in control(because he heads down the off piste first) and I don't suffer any consequences because I get to choose the best line after watching him fall into the snow.

Driving every morning to ski mountains around the area has really let us travel the Alps in an unforgettable way. We have learnt the roads out here really well and its a great way to experience the alps.

The theme of the trip has been "Stellar", "It's like butter" & Monster energy drink.

Every time we finish a run and I think that it passed my expectations, I say, "Wow, that was a stellar run".

Every time we head into powder, I scream to Paul "it's like butter". This usually means that I am enjoying the powder and am describing to Paul how I think the snow feels like butter under my board.

Every skiier/snowboarder knows that any ski trip is usually a tough one. You usually need a vacation from the vacation. Monster energy drink is what we drink in the morning on the way to the mountains and on the way back to keep us up. At 9 o'clock in the morning today, people thought I was crazy sipping a Monster.

We had a great crepe with chocolate and Grand Mariner Cognac (The Courchevel crowd is so damn "bougie") for 4 Euro.

Paul and I are convinced that because everyone on the mountain has money, they must be Jewish or at least they work for Jews.

Paul is obsessed about not getting a raccoon ski tan. I personally think its attractive.

Paul and I come back to Annecy to check ski reports. We think which mountain looks the best and head for that one in the early hours of the morning.

The photographers waiting to take pictures of investment bankers kids never give us the time of day. They must think that Paul and I are broke mother fuckers.

My entire experience in glitzy Courchevel has brought me to an interesting conclusion.

Sadly enough, "Memories cost money"

If you have no money, you cant take your kids on vacation and show them a nice time. If you cant show them a nice time, they wont have memories (or at least positive ones).

Observing billionaire children ride ponies back to their hotel rooms, see bored mothers read books in front of the 4th best ski resort in the world and not ski and see luxury car after one after another has convinced me of this theory.

Oh yeah, I find it so offensive how these bougie European women come to the mountain and dont even ski. They just shop all day and somehow keep themselves busy while I drive my ass 2 hours every morning to get a full day in.

Courchevel: A place for the Rich and Famous

Courchevel was our first stop on our ski expedition. Courchevel is rated 4th best ski resort in the world. Paul and I had 2 days of great snow which was thanks to the big snow storm that went down right before arriving. The resort is super minted and very expensive. Hummer and Escalades come to pick you up to take you to your hotel. There is even a small airport which people fly into with their private jets. You can practically smell the cash coming out of peoples asses. It is for the rich and famous of Europe. Doing Courchevel on a budget is tough. People put here wear like saks fith avenue type ski ski gear.

We left to Courchevel at 5:15 AM from Annese. I feel like I work my ass off for every minute of ski time. We've been on the go a lot an traveling/logistics haven't been easy.

Driving to Courchevel, Paul was basically driving the car with me. He was more alert than I was and he was braking with me.

Paul makes the lines in the powder and if I see him fall, I change my line. Snow has been kind to us and we have had chances to do some off piste stuff.

Courchevel is a must to visit and the town is one of a kind. Beyond the touristy pony rides for Billionaire children, photographers waiting for you at the base and designer clothing shops, the resort is awesome.

We have been "roughing" it in European ski resort terms but it is still pricy.

Oh yeah and this country has sick baguettes and no one speaks English.

Highlights:

- We checked into a dump for one night and the english waitress offered a sexual favor to Paul in exchange for a snowboard lesson

-Paul acting as my mother on the highway. The kid was simulating the same break and acceleration motions that I was

-The patisserie chick teaching me how to pronounce water(Eau) in French

-Almost not making it up the hill to Courchevel with our Renault Clio. I used my need for speed skills to get that piece of crap French car up the hill.

"It was just one of those days"

As we landed in Geneva Airport, everything seemed pretty smooth until now. We saw our friends in the airport and headed on a bus for our base city, Annecy (France). From where the bus let us off, the walk to our hotel was short. The hotel seemed comfortable and we ended up getting a better rate on it than we actually thought. We head into town to grab something to eat. We walk into this tiny little pizzeria where 4 different tables of people were actually eating on top of each other. Paul and I walk in and everyone stares us down. There is so much noise and I can barely hear Paul speak to me. At the table across from us were sitting 2 attractive daughters and their parents. The waiter approaches us to take our order but speaks no English. He ends up bringing a coke that we didn't even order and "jokes" to call the cops on us because he thought we were messing with him. The family of four across from us couldn't stop laughing at us. The meal was great and we cracked jokes with the waiter via body language. We told the waiter to rap up the pies for take away. Those bastards charged us 2 Euro for "pizza cartons"!

This was the good part of our day.

To make a long story short, we thought that the ski mountains we wanted to reach were close and accessible by train or bus but they weren't. We ended up renting a car and hoped for the best. Instead of ski in ski out, we get to drive an hour every morning to a mountain.

Paul and I tonight were the only jews walking in the town tonight because it was Christmas Eve. We couldn't even find a place to grab a beer.

Our first choice Chamonix is closed due to avalanche warnings so we head tomorrow to Courchevel.

Why I love suburbia & Raanana/My pitch for Aliyah

Are we North American Olim simply Hedonists(beach, beautiful women, great hummus) or do we define ourselves as Idealists leaving the good life and heading to the Jewish State?

Who really cares.... At least we are here

What sparked my mind to write the following story was because of something I experienced yesterday:

My friend Mo Septimus who was on his way home from a conference in Copenhagen saw some grapefruits that fell off of my tree in my backyard. He picks up one grapefruit, eats it and says that he just experienced something "spiritual". For city kids, the smallest things for us can be such big deals for others.

Being brought up in Westchester County in New York State, a wonderful suburban area, has shaped my outlook on future decision making for living in an Urban/Suburban area. Playing tackle football on half an acre property in the winer, swinging around in tire swings hanging from 50 foot trees and playing pick up roller hockey was basically my childhood. Life in the suburbs until the age of 16 was probably better to any other type of lifestyle. You got the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the suburban life but still be close to NYC. From birth till the age of 16, you thought from your head and were somewhat rational. You didn't think about girls, drugs or rock N' roll. You just enjoyed life. As you approach the age of 18, you begin to make simply retarded decisions. You get caught bringing girls(even worse non-jewish girls) back to your house, smoking pot in the backyard or maybe even stealing the nice Suburban for a spin.

As you finish college/army, you begin to become more rational. You begin to understand the value of money, value of family and concepts like "bro's before hoe's". You opt to date the good jewish girl down the street(who wont sleep with you but you see it as an investment for the long term) as opposed to fooling around with the loose catholic girls. You begin to see yourself bring home nice girls who you introduce to your folks as opposed to sneaking the one night stands down the stairs and into the guest room. Your former "Id" begins to mature into a "Super-Ego". Similarly, you understand to formulate your idea of a future family. As a result of this, you begin to appreciate the Suburban life.

But don't us Jews like to live with people of our kind? Where is the Zionism?

Raanana is the perfect bridge between the comfortable suburban life + Zionism + a friendly "Oleh" culture. This morning I ran out of milk for my coffee so I took my crusier bike to the makolet(bodega) down the street where I have an account and a personal relationship with the shop owner. I threw my carton of milk and Shoko bi Sakit(chocolate milk in a bag) on my bike rack and headed home. My neighbors are friendly and I know just about everybody in my area.

I think most people enjoy living around people of their similar socio-econimcal level. I like living around people who are similar to me. Instead of waking up and seeing Hasidim protest against new parking lots or Intel or seeing riots in Eastern Jerusalem, I wake up to pure capitalists who drive Cayenne's and enjoy life.

Is Raanana living in a bubble?

Yeah but who cares. It's the good life......

China Summer 09'

So my father has been workin in China since the mid 90's and my older siblings have all visited. China was always something "familiar" to me simply because I have always heard about the culture but have never personally experienced it first hand. My past month experience in China was one that I will surely not forget. My family moved to Beijing for the year and I hope that the following photographs tell a bit of what an amazing country it truly is and how kind the people can be.

Places visited: Beijing, Lijiang, Shangri La, Baija, Tiger Leeping Gorge

One of my first days in Beijing, my mother took me to the Lama Temple.

I thought the contrast of the holiness of the Lama Temple and this chick's t-shirt was hilarious. This reminds me of the Israelis who buy those extremely vulgar t-shirts from companies like TNT and have no idea what they even mean!

A little taste of the value 1.4 Billion. Beijing traffic makes L.A. look like an open freeway
Some baller locals in the area of the Lama Temple that let me put my 10 mm lens in their faces. Sorry guys!

Good night

A day of shooting in Herzelia

Some friends and I decided to go take some shots in Herzelia. We got hungry and ended up going to Agvaniyah Pizza shop right by Sokolov Street. The Rasta lookin Pizza guy noticed a longboard beside me as I was snapping shots of him tossing pizza pies in the air. In his break, the dude came over and decided to put down some moves for us. We ended meeting a really chill pizza guy and got some great shots of him tearing up these cows. All around it was another one of my random Israeli experiences.