Forum Game: Where have you been that none of the rest of us have?

[m65]

- Shalom Al Yisroel Synagogue

been there

spent shabbat with Yigal Amir)

wish i could say that

[ExGingi]

Only for someone living in the past.

Tell that to my younger kids that never saw me with an orange beard when they see old pictures of me.

[moish]

- Gush Katif (I'm sure someone else here was there, and likely spent more time there than I did)

Been

[CRACKERJACK]

- Gush Katif

Been

My wife and her family would go there at least once a year they had the nicest beaches in isreal

[tmendy226]

Schaan, Liechtenstein

Been there

[Zalc]

The Big Island Lava Flow of 2016.

The overlook I was standing on had been created shortly before I arrived, and fell into the sea soon after my trip.

If anyone going needs convincing to make it out to the lava fields, this was last night (Press to see full size):
Ocean entry viewpoint by Zalc DDF, on Flickr
lava export8 by Zalc DDF, on Flickr
lava export7 by Zalc DDF, on Flickr
one of many cracks in the lava field by Zalc DDF, on Flickr
lava export3 by Zalc DDF, on Flickr
lava export1 by Zalc DDF, on Flickr

The bike ride was about 30 minutes there and 40 back, on a very rough gravel road. You are able to take the bike right up to where the lava covered the road, and walk directly from there on to the field. (tie the bike to itself, no one is carrying it 4 miles to steal it...)

It is a surreal experience, walking on the active lava field at night, with glowing cracks everywhere under your feet and the sound of the tinkling lava. Bring a strong flashlight, and nerves of steel.

[ExGingi]

The Big Island Lava Flow of 2016.

The overlook I was standing on had been created shortly before I arrived, and fell into the sea soon after my trip.

These are the types of places that really qualify for this thread IMHO. Places that were there and are no longer there (another example would be Yamit).

[Zalc]

These are the types of places that really qualify for this thread IMHO. Places that were there and are no longer there (another example would be Yamit).

I guess the edge of the lava crater on the big island would also qualify as it collapsed this past year, though many DDF members have been there before then.

[Euclid]

These are the types of places that really qualify for this thread IMHO. Places that were there and are no longer there (another example would be Yamit).

Doubt most members here would be of age to recall a visit to Yamit

[Yonah]

Been to the Shalom Al Yisroel Synagogue - can't say I did the other. Did you speak to him - were you shocked after Rabin got assassinated, did you think he would do such a thing?

[Just coming back to this thread now...]
@Happyguy - To make a long story short. This was about 2 weeks before Oslo handed over Jericho and Gaza to the PA. I had a friend from HS who after his first year in Israel decided to make aliyah and I was wrapping up my 1 semester of Shana Bet. Since we knew we wouldn't see each other for a while, we decided to get together for shabbos. He told me that he was going to this shabbaton in Yericho with some friends from Bar Ilan. I just assumed we were going to Mitzpe Yericho or Vered Yericho. Of course, I found out we were going to this shul, probably as the one last chance we had while it was under Israeli control. The guy in charge was named Avishai, and he seemed a little aloof. I just chalked it up to him being nervous that something would happen. Most of the people were friendly and easy going. Then there was this guy named Yigal, who just had a little more edge to him. I didn't speak to him much, but from what I overheard at the table, he was probably the most right-wing politically there (considering the context of the story, that's saying quite a bit).

On shabbos we took a walk to the Monastery of the last temptation. I went up to the steps and enjoyed the view, and then walked down. Most of us walked there and back with our armed escorts, he decided that he was going to walk back through a refugee camp. As he split off from us and entered the camp, he passed an older muslim man with prayer beads sitting outside his house. He just spit on him! It's not as if they exchanged words - just completely unprovoked.

While I might be more liberal than most, I certainly wasn't then, and I was clearly bothered by it - it was just so "bush" for no other explanation.

I walked away from that shabbos thinking that he was a jerk, and a little mentally unstable. 20 months later, he kills rabin. I didn't put two and two together at first (he didn't have a beard when I met him). But then it hit me, and I e-mailed my friend who confirmed it.

In case you haven't figured it out by now, Avishai is Avishai Raviv - also heavily involved at the whole parsha.

[Yonah]

Doubt most members here would be of age to recall a visit to Yamit

I visited Yamit Yeshiva in Gush Katif, does that count?

[SuperFlyer]

Not sure what qualifies as a place.
Who else has been to the Drowned Land of Saeftinghe ?

Maybe it's a good idea generally to add a picture.

[m65]

These are the types of places that really qualify for this thread IMHO. Places that were there and are no longer there (another example would be Yamit).

yamit is still there, i believe the egyptians try keeping israelis out of there, for fear of extremists

[Zalc]

Not sure what qualifies as a place.
Who else has been to the Drowned Land of Saeftinghe ?

Maybe it's a good idea generally to add a picture.

Pictures, or at least a good story.

[SuperFlyer]

Pictures, or at least a good story.

So its a nature reserve.
The thing is, it's close to the sea and at sub sea level.
That means that every few hours it's completely submerged, besides for a few points.

I figured I have a few hours till the tide comes up.
Little did I know that the ground is so muddy that I sunk almost till my waist in it.

I barely moved forward and was stressed that I won't get out in time...

[gubevo18]

Didn't wade through 31 pages of posts, but figured I'd take shot:

- Shalom Al Yisroel Synagogue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalom_Al_Yisrael_Synagogue ( on the same trip I walked up to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_the_Temptation and spent shabbat with Yigal Amir)

- Gush Katif (I'm sure someone else here was there, and likely spent more time there than I did)

- Not sure if this counts, but I've been in Bloomingdales on 59th street on Thanksgiving day, when there were literally only 4 other people there with me.
- In the dugouts at Shea Stadium

Shalom al Yisroel synagogue is still accessible. There is a a bus that goes every week or month I believe from the local settlement which I was on about 6 years ago. It was definitely an experience having an IDF armored vehicle in front and behind us and a PA armored vehicle in front and behind them. None of the locals seemed at all disturbed by our presence- then again it happens every week so...

[m65]

Shalom al Yisroel synagogue is still accessible. There is a a bus that goes every week or month I believe from the local settlement which I was on about 6 years ago. It was definitely an experience having an IDF armored vehicle in front and behind us and a PA armored vehicle in front and behind them. None of the locals seemed at all disturbed by our presence- then again it happens every week so...

it is accessible w/o all that as well. 99% of the time the "checkpoint" next to mevo'ot yericho is unmanned. from there, a couple of minutes and you are at shalom al yisrael

[Yonah]

it is accessible w/o all that as well. 99% of the time the "checkpoint" next to mevo'ot yericho is unmanned. from there, a couple of minutes and you are at shalom al yisrael

Shalom al Yisroel synagogue is still accessible. There is a a bus that goes every week or month I believe from the local settlement which I was on about 6 years ago. It was definitely an experience having an IDF armored vehicle in front and behind us and a PA armored vehicle in front and behind them. None of the locals seemed at all disturbed by our presence- then again it happens every week so...

Glad that it is still accessible. When I went in December of 93' I thought it would be one of the last times Jews would be able to visit (and I went unintentionally)

[m65]

Glad that it is still accessible. When I went in December of 93' I thought it would be one of the last times Jews would be able to visit (and I went unintentionally)

never say "the last time" about the jewish people

[Zalc]

So its a nature reserve.
The thing is, it's close to the sea and at sub sea level.
That means that every few hours it's completely submerged, besides for a few points.

I figured I have a few hours till the tide comes up.
Little did I know that the ground is so muddy that I sunk almost till my waist in it.

I barely moved forward and was stressed that I won't get out in time...

Sounds similar to this, while being very different:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170110-why-the-broomway-is-the-most-dangerous-path-in-britain