Creative PennyG: December 2017

Thursday 7 December 2017

Daring in Dubai...

We visited Dubai twice and our first experience was a not-to-be-forgotten afternoon shore excursion from the cruise ship. We were picked up in a Landcruiser along with our friends Irene and Andrew, and a couple from Perth and driven, in convoy, to the desert. First we visited a camel farm and then our driver (from Pakistan) let down the tyres of our 4WD, a top-of-the-range Landcruiser equipped with roll bars. He proceeded to drive us up and over the sand dunes at a fast pace with one hand on the steering wheel while the other changed gears.

Along the way we spotted local wildlife including the oryx and the gazelle, and the odd camel or two. Finally we came to a stop to view an amazing sunset and then drove on to a Bedouin camp for dinner. Like an oasis, this wonderful enormous soft-walled structure was literally in the middle of nowhere. It comprised a series of tents, red carpeted floors and low trestle tables with cushions, all under soft lighting. What a sight! There were approximately 90 Landscruisers parked outside from four different companies so we estimated there were at least 500 people inside!

Before dinner camel rides were offered, so Penny joined Irene and Andrew whilst Jim took photos. The food was delicious - entree of goats cheese and spinach wraps, chicken kebabs and lamb balls; main course was roast beef, chicken and lamb with salads, hummus (the best we've tasted), tabbouleh, rice and olives. And even though alcohol is not available for sale in the UAE, we were granted a glass each of beer and wine which was local and of good quality.

After dinner Penny had her hand henna tattooed by a local woman and watched a man making bottles of coloured sands. Then a belly dancer entertained us before we departed back to the ship.

Gazelle

Jim, Penny, Andrew and Irene at our Landcruiser

Oryx

A common sight in the desert

Camels waiting to be ridden

What a ride!

Henna tattooing

Coloured sand bottling

Belly dancing

Seated at the table on cushions on the floor for dinner

The following day we docked in Abu Dhabi and this time left early on a shore excursion entitled 'A Day in the Desert'. Again we joined Irene and Andrew in the Landcruiser, this time with a couple from Japan. Our first stop was another camel farm where Penny got to know a baby camel. Then it was on to the racetrack to watch camels racing and training, just like racehorses.

This time our driver (also from Pakistan) was considerably more adventurous than our previous driver. So in the desert he drove super fast up incredibly high sand dunes and often sideways on the way down with sand flying in all directions. We raced around corners and swerved on the flatter ground. All we could see was sand in any direction; no trees and no buildings. We were truly in the desert.

The ride was both terrifying and exhilarating, and there was much screaming and laughter, particularly from the Japanese. The worst part was seeing the vehicle in front careering around a dune, and knowing we were next!

Finally we pulled into another Bedouin camp for a salad lunch - supplied, no less, by DOME coffee shop.

On the racetrack

At the camel farm

Relief at the end of our 4WD adventure

At Abu Dhabi we took a shuttle back to Dubai and spent three days in this wonderful city. The first day we walked the old town and visited the fantastic Dubai Museum which is situated inside a fort built in the late 1700s, the oldest building in the city. It is packed full of wonderful life-size dioramas detailing the history and culture of the city as well as tools, weapons and even boats. We then walked down to the river through the old souk and lunched at a local restaurant where we took in the cool breeze off the water.

Ancient Arab weapons

Some of the life-size dioramas

Water taxi in old Dubai

Lunch at Bayt al Wakeel restaurant

The following day we took the metro to the biggest shopping centre in world - Dubai Mall - and toured the amazing aquarium and underground zoo which sits right in the middle of the centre. From the railway station, we walked 1km in air-conditioned comfort along travelators to the Mall, viewing the very modern Dubai along the way.