Age Doesn’t Matter in the Desert!

If you think driving at high speeds in the red desert sands while being slung around sharp curves and sliding down dunes sounds like fun, you are absolutely correct!  Robyn and I spent an afternoon and evening on a desert safari which is one of the “don’t miss” activities in Dubai.

Our guide and driver, Jackson, was from India.  Yes, his real name...we asked so, of course, I shared pictures of my new grandson with the same name!  I didn’t know what to expect, and I think Robyn was more interested in riding along seeing the sights rather than “dune bashing” but extreme bashing on 30 meter high dunes we did!

We also tried sand surfing...I was a miserable failure twice...but Robyn made it to the bottom of the dune before doing a face plant!  We then headed to an area made to resemble a Bedouin camp...henna tattoos on our hands, hookah smoking, roast corn on the cob, falcon display, and....camel riding!  That camel had a hard back...I didn’t feel a saddle at all!...and it lasted probably 3-4 minutes...most of which involved me trying to get on!  When the camel is ready to kneel for you to dismount, you better lean back and hold on since it folds itself none too gently into multiple pieces-or so it seems-from a height that would cause serious hurt if you happen to fall off.

Jackson must have felt sorry for flinging us around the dunes since he up-graded us to a VIP table.  Actually I think there were empty spots so Robyn and I lucked out again!  We were served  an assortment of appetizers - I thought that was dinner - and then the real food started....meat, veggies, rice, condiments, with Mahommed insisting it was his job to keep piling the plate full.

Don’t forget the most delectable fried Arabian donuts; I guess fried dough is good in any culture!

The evening continued with belly dancing and a twirling dervish of a performer.  Robyn and I were over-stuffed and very glad the dune bashing was before dinner and not after!

Our guides with OceanAir Travel have been wonderful.  They have been sharing a wealth of information and statistics.  I don’t remember if I’ve said this, but they could be having a good time with an ignorant tourist so cut me some slack.  More later.....