A coworker suggested I look into a desert adventure while I’m here in Dubai. I looked online. They seemed kind of cheesy. So I promptly booked one. I mean, what’s NOT to love about four wheeling in the desert, riding a camel, eating outside and watching fire throwers and belly dancers?
I’d forgotten what happens when you book a trip or anything for “1.” You typically get lumped in with an existing crowd. In this case, there were 15 extended family members. The driver picked me up first and at their hotel the father (I think) said, “No English? Noooo problem!”
I rode with an excitable family. They made the four wheeling entertaining with their sound effects. I think they also fueled the driver's attempts to scare them.
The driver, Sam (pronounced sOm) stopped to release some of the air pressure and opened the Landcruiser doors and said, “Take Pictures” before we ventured out into our corner of the 3,630,000 sq miles that make up the Sahara Desert.
- Cracked up (and joined in) as everyone scrambled to take as many pictures as possible.
I snapped a few shots for one of the couples and she obliged when I asked her to do the same for me. In fact, she choreographed the shots.
I stood there and smiled while trying to keep my scarf under control. She said, "You stand boring. Move arms like this."
And so I did.
And, funny enough, I like this shot better!
We spent about 45 minutes with Sam trying to kill us (or at least trying to scare the wits out of the teenagers in the back.)
This was the first hill we climbed. And then slid down sideways at a less than comfortable yet somehow exhilarating rate of descent.
This next shot is pretty… unsettling. This is a close up of the sand. I had the chance to snap this shot because we came so close to rolling. On my side. Ahem. Not nearly as fun as it was when I was 21.
Just a bit too close for comfort.
He was actually a skilled driver and I enjoyed it.
That is right until we caught air going over this ridge line and then scraped the undercarriage on the next one.
We stopped again for more photos.
I crawled around on my stomach for these next few shots. Totally worth it.
Hard to capture it in a photo but it was simply beautiful.
We made our way over to the ‘camp’ (along with the other 1,000 people who’d apparently signed up for the tour) and, in the true spirit of tourism, I waited in line to ride a camel. (I’ve ridden one once before; Gram and I did. At the Albuquerque Zoo. This wasn’t much different. Except it was in the Sahara Desert.
He stood up before I was fully in the saddle. Thanks, Romeo. What? Oh, I named him.
Doesn’t he LOOK like a sweetheart?
Like the muzzle? It's to prevent them from spitting. Gram, if you're bored, I can get the measurements and you can start a side business. Ellie's Camel Muzzles...
We rode in a circle. Like complete tourists. Here’s proof.
I handed my camera to someone from my group and she was like a personal paparazzi!
Can’t post without a shot of a ‘local’ so here’s one more of Romeo and his handler.
I'm not trying to sit on him. Dang camel threw his shoulder into my, um, behind as I stood there for a photo.
Next it was a trip into the village with souvenirs (no thanks) henna body painting (huh uh) a few dance routines and then dinner.
It was curious (to me, anyhow) the dancer was a man and he was wearing a skirt. Several layers of skirts, actually. They were part of the routine. Eh...
And there was a falcon.
Remember, I'm a T-O-U-R-I-S-T. So I paid 10 Dhs to hold the falcon. Don't his feathers compliment my scarf, um, I mean, isn't it a beautiful bird?
Dinner was… good. It was an outdoor buffet but I enjoyed the hummus and rice… because they were soft and I was hungry. I’m in no danger of starving but it still hurts to chew.
Added this mostly because I want credit one day when the whole "you never eat at buffets" argument comes up. See? I did? And it's OUTSIDE. <gulp>
And so, there you have it. Today I rode a camel, held a falcon and ate at an outdoor buffet. (with absolutely no hand washing facilities in sight and I was in line behind 30 people who also rode a camel…) Oh. And I’ve been wearing my Vibrams Five Fingers everywhere. Most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned.
Had to do it. These shoes are amazing.
There you have it, friends.
I hope you’re well and warm wherever you’re reading this.
Be careful; camels spit.
~jh~
I gotta say that some of your posts are just laugh out loud funny. There’d better be a book in the works.