Dubai: Desert Safari 26.05.2010

The desert safari we took was very similar to the one that Bob and I did last year from Abu Dhabi, but Pat hadn’t been to the desert, so off we went.  Our 4WD was an hour late picking us up from our hotel, but it was nice to just sit for a while, and we also got the chance to watch the staff having a fire drill.  Very entertaining, and reminded me of what I was missing at home!
We shared our 4WD (when it came) with a middle aged Chinese couple and the elderly parents of one of them, and drove for about an hour from Dubai into the desert.
  Letting down the tyres, ready for dune bashing.


Dune bashing is an activity which a person (certainly me) should only ever have to undertake once in their lives.  I was filled with a raging frustration as we lurched sickeningly through magnificent dunes I longed to photograph (when my eyes weren’t squeezed tightly shut in terror), annoyance with all the tyre marks these irritating vehicles were carving through the exquisite patterns on the sand, and of course pure fear.  The younger Chinese gentlemen kept crying out “Yes!” when we performed some particularly unpleasant manoeuvre, which I thought was very inconsiderate of him.  At last we stopped, and staggered out.



Looking cheerful, now that dune bashing is over.




Exquisite patterns in the desert sand.




Beautiful sand dunes being carved up by 4WDs.




When we arrived at the desert camp there was camel riding, falcon holding, henna painting, Arabian coffee drinking and a superb buffet under the stars.  Part of the entertainment included this world class whirling dancer.




Whirling dancer balancing five tambours.




Whirling dancer with extra skirts and umbrellas.




And of course the obligatory belly dancer.
I would have liked to have stayed for the shisha smoking, but the Chinese people wanted to go home, so I reluctantly agreed.  Perhaps that’s something you should only do once in your life as well…..