Sde Boker - One of the most remarkable places I've ever been

[SarahKa]

Last year I was traveling around Europe and Israel and I spent a Shabat in this beutiful place: Sde Boker.

We were hosted in a Kibbutz ( was me plus 40 brazilians - yeah, we were a large group haha). This one is in the middle of all this mountains, called Desert Reserch Institutes Guest House and the view is amazing.

I was very touched there: the silence, the immensity, the age of that land. Everything made me cry a little bit, because the place’s energy is insane. The pictures can’t actually describe how huge is this feeling, but I’m trying with words say more how I felt.

We slept two nights there. We were sharing room, three people per room. We arrived there, did the Shabat and then, some activities at night. We spent the night talking and seeing the sky with a lot of stars.

First image: The Shabat Dinner

Middle image: Breakfast

Last image: Lunch

In the other day we walked to Ein Avdat National Park and then we went to Ben Gurion grave (I’ll talk these particular places in other posts).

At night, we had dinner at a mall “close” to there (Is not too close, but is the closer mall from there).

I ate a vegeterian burrito, because I was done of falafel that night. I ate a lot of falafel during this trip and I didn’t want to eat Mcdonalds. A lot of stores was closed.

And I made a very special friend in the Sde Boker mountains. It stay with me all the morning looking the view.

I felt myself part of history when I looked this place. How is so quite and so full of life, even if it doesn’t look like it at first moment. How wonderful is our planet!

This is one of the oldest places that we heard about it and how magnificent and simple is it.

I was wondering, how many people was walking there? How many particular stories happend there?

I was staring at this place and thanking me for being there, thaking all people who shared some moment with me. Thanking for beeing alive and for having the opportunity to be there.

Thanks for read it!

And if you would like to read other posts from this journey, can check it here.

Take care,

Sarah.

[Navid_Ebdaei]

@SarahKa
Woooooooooooooooow…what an amazing sunset good job , perfect
Thank you for sharing

[SarahKa]

Thanks @Navid_Ebdaei I happy that you like it.

[Navid_Ebdaei]

@SarahKa

I am more happy because you shared it

[JacobLED]

Amazing journey @SarahKa .

Israel is one of the destinations I really want to do this year. We can just hope this pandemic is over soon.

I love this picture with the sunset and the silhouette of that person. It is amazing and can stay on it’s own.

You know there are places on earth which fill you up with so many feelings so the tears just roll down yor eyes. I totally feel what you want to say.

How long did you stay in the Kibbutz? Did you do some volunteer work there? I think what is an Israel travel without being in a Kibbutz and spending time there at least for 2 weeks. Learn some Hebrew phrases and about the life there.

[SarahKa]

Hey @JacobLED I glad that you liked it and understood what I would like to say.

I spent only one or two night in each Kibbutz. Some of them (actually the biggest part) is a type of hotel. I’ve been there to live an experience called Taglit. Was 10 days to go in a lot of places, most of them are the famous part. After that I’ve in Jerusalem and Telaviv by my own with 2 friends. And then 5 days walking and sleeping in the Negev desert.

Someday I wish go back there and spend more time in one Kibbutz, to have this experience.

I hope you can go there soon. It’s a fantastic place. If you go with time, can go to Jordan and/or Egypt as well. Or even to Cyprus; from there is very cheap. I almost went there, but I needed to decide if I visited my friends in Europe or explore new places. I chose the first option.

If you need some tips or help I hope could be helpful for you.

Take care and regards from Brazil,

Sarah.

[JacobLED]

I accept your offer with thanks @SarahKa and I bookmarked your story already, right after reading it. Insider knowledge is unreplaceable and essentially important. I heard about Egypt and Jordan before. These are also two destinations I’ve never been and would love to visit.

You know I believe to let the spirit live, to socialize and help in a Kibbuz is an experience you’ll have nowhere else.

How were your impressions there, what could you take out of it the one or two days you were staying there?

Some say it is comparable with the monastery culture in Europe? Have you had the same impression?

I can imagine the life there is more lovely. I went to a couple of monasteries in Germany.

You know there is this website Secret Tel Aviv. It is very interesting to look in from time to time, just to know what’s happening in the city or generally in Israel. There are amazing events in the desert, such as full moon meditations, tantric rituals with music and festivals for a couple of days. It must be amazing to be there on such an occasion.

Do you already have plans when you want to travel there again?

[SarahKa]

Hey @JacobLED I don’t have any plans to go back there yet, because is too far from Brazil and I want to go to other places before I back.

I don’t know about monastery culture in Europe, but I read here a little bit and I felt diffent. The most Kibbutz there now are a kind of hotel. Kibbutz how was soe years ago are just a few - but you can go there and spend some time working/living. This type of Kibbutz are like: you work there, cleaning, planting, with animals or other functions. Always alternating what you’re doing/working. You also work to people who spend some days there in a hotele (like when I’ve been there and some people was cooking, selling in the market, etc).

About the website Secret Telaviv, it is really good. I checked there some infos when I’ve been there. It’s a very functional page (I used on facebook). I also asked about places and things to do in the reception of the hostels where I stayed.

About Jordan, I think @OSAMA can help you more that me. I didn’t went there (one of the reasons that I need to go back).

Take care,

Sarah.

[MoniV]

Hi @SarahKa ,

Thank you for sharing about your wonderful trip to Israel.

The photos are amazing, I almost felt like I was with you there :). When I was in high school I also visited Sde Boker and I truly agree with you that this place is magical and you can really enjoy the peace and quiet. There are many stories in the Torah about the dessert in Israel, I recommend that you read them, because they are very interesting.

Thank you once again for bringing back my memories from the time I was living in Israel.

[SarahKa]

I’m very happy to read this @MoniV , thank you!

Sometimes is difficult to express exactly what we feel, especially if it is more about energy than other thing or sensation. I’m glad that you remebered when you was there!

Soon I’ll post more about Israel

Take care,

Sarah.