Dune bashing, belly dancing
Morning came really early in Dubai. Bright sunlight peeped through my curtains at 5.00 this morning. I had wanted to sleep some more but I couldn’t knowing it was already broad day light outside. So I was wide awake at 5:30 a.m. despite having a late night out having fun - dinner, sheesha, live music and cocktails and getting almost intoxicated.
I got a text message from Aiman Tak Kisah that he couldn’t join me in Dubai because his big boss is coming on Monday, so they have to finish putting up guard rails on some good kilometers of our highway construction project in Qatar. I know Aiman Tak Kisah bukan tak kisah because it's not his fault when duty calls, but I was disappointed nevertheless that Aiman Tak Kisah couldn’t come. Oh well! But I wouldn't want to let that spoil my holiday. So I persuaded Cutie Pie to go for an adventure in the desert. She is such a sport!
We checked around - desert safari costs Dh220 per person including dinner and entertainment. From the information that we got, we decided to try out the sport with Knight Tours, Dubai's most experienced adventure tour operator. Knight Tours drivers are all locals from Dubai and are highly experienced in driving on sand – or "dune bashing" as they call it here. They have desert safaris daily so you just need to confirm your reservation before noon and they will pick you up from your hotel. Our desert safari guide for the day, Dare Devil as I would like to call him, fetched us from our hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road at 4:00 p.m. in a Land Cruiser.
From the hotel we headed out of Dubai on the Al Ain Road, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. We got off the main road and passed signs warning of the dangers of camels wandering onto the road before heading off-road. Dare devil partially deflated their tires to allow better traction in soft sand before we set out into the desert. It was not long before we were spontaneously and instinctively gripping the hand rails inside the car as Dare Devil thundered up steep dunes in low gear with high revs, before flying down the other side.
I was glad I had only had a light brunch. This “dune bashing” was almost like riding a roller coaster, and as much fun for the passengers as the driver. Dare Devil was clearly enjoying himself - lucky bastard. He said smilingly “I love my job,” as we hurtled across the front of one steep sand dune. Hehehe I was contemplating to pray that the car wouldn’t roll over so we would be safe, or to roll over just for the heck of it. I was in a mood for an adventure…
We stopped for a minute. “Is everyone alright?” Dare Devil looked back and asked us. With a firm “yes” from the back Dare Devil sped up another dune.
Despite this being a tummy turning experience, Cutie Pie and I can see that Dare Devil clearly knew what he was doing. So we started to feel more confident and relaxed as we sped along before eventually stopping for a brief rest for some magnificent landscape of the unique sands of Arabia and for some drinking water! Ah the sweet taste of water in the middle of a desert…
Another hour of tummy turning dune bashing and we reached the Al Shamsi Bedouin Village. After relieving myself at the hut washrooms, we boarded the "ship of the desert" or better known as camels. My first camel ride :) The camel right behind us was somehow getting “affectionate” towards my bum it was worrying me. In case, it's on heat. Jeez, I must be too sexy even for the camels. Hahaha! Thank God its mouth was covered, at least I know today I won’t get a camel bite. Ahakz!
Other than being harrassed by the camel, the experience was such a bliss. From the top of the camel humps we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the endless rolling desert. I feel blessed with this rare opportunity to watch the sun-set over this tranquil scenery. I only wish Aiman was here with me too, it would have been so romantic.
Anyways…
I was hoping to see a real Bedouin Village so I can get a unique insight into the traditional life of the Bedouins but the village was more like a tourist showcase.
After getting our table - where we sat cross legged on hard pillows - the guides passed around Arabic coffee, tea and sweets as we relaxed smoking sheesha pipes while the barbeque dinner was prepared. Some of the other jakun tourists dressed themselves up in the traditional Arabic dress. Cutie Pie and I chose henna paintingby this Iranian woman and then we just lazed around on the carpeted ground or wander around the camp and enjoy the silence of the desert. Such bliss!
Dinner took longer than I thot to be prepared but the smell of the delicious BBQ dinner with grilled Arabic specialities cooked on site complemented by a variety of appetisers, salads and sweets calmed my impatience. After dinner, I had more sheesha. Hehehe for someone who doesn’t smoke I’m beginning to get a hang of it. It’s very soothing and nerve calming.
Right after dessert in the desert (it ryhmes :) a beautiful belly dancer in glittering green performed on a round centre stage to entertain us. She invited some of us to come up stage and try to shake our bodies to the rhythm of the Arabic drums. She is so sensual and sexy – mesmerising.
If I were a man I would be lusting after her I think. Nah, I would rather be the woman men are lusting over. Hahaha! Naaah maybe all I want is just one man to love me and lust me too - and I would feel the same for him - till death do us part.
After a while almost everybody joined in the fun on the dance floor before winding up this full day adventure. I think this day is perfect. Almost perfect...
I got a text message from Aiman Tak Kisah that he couldn’t join me in Dubai because his big boss is coming on Monday, so they have to finish putting up guard rails on some good kilometers of our highway construction project in Qatar. I know Aiman Tak Kisah bukan tak kisah because it's not his fault when duty calls, but I was disappointed nevertheless that Aiman Tak Kisah couldn’t come. Oh well! But I wouldn't want to let that spoil my holiday. So I persuaded Cutie Pie to go for an adventure in the desert. She is such a sport!
We checked around - desert safari costs Dh220 per person including dinner and entertainment. From the information that we got, we decided to try out the sport with Knight Tours, Dubai's most experienced adventure tour operator. Knight Tours drivers are all locals from Dubai and are highly experienced in driving on sand – or "dune bashing" as they call it here. They have desert safaris daily so you just need to confirm your reservation before noon and they will pick you up from your hotel. Our desert safari guide for the day, Dare Devil as I would like to call him, fetched us from our hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road at 4:00 p.m. in a Land Cruiser.
From the hotel we headed out of Dubai on the Al Ain Road, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. We got off the main road and passed signs warning of the dangers of camels wandering onto the road before heading off-road. Dare devil partially deflated their tires to allow better traction in soft sand before we set out into the desert. It was not long before we were spontaneously and instinctively gripping the hand rails inside the car as Dare Devil thundered up steep dunes in low gear with high revs, before flying down the other side.
I was glad I had only had a light brunch. This “dune bashing” was almost like riding a roller coaster, and as much fun for the passengers as the driver. Dare Devil was clearly enjoying himself - lucky bastard. He said smilingly “I love my job,” as we hurtled across the front of one steep sand dune. Hehehe I was contemplating to pray that the car wouldn’t roll over so we would be safe, or to roll over just for the heck of it. I was in a mood for an adventure…
We stopped for a minute. “Is everyone alright?” Dare Devil looked back and asked us. With a firm “yes” from the back Dare Devil sped up another dune.
Despite this being a tummy turning experience, Cutie Pie and I can see that Dare Devil clearly knew what he was doing. So we started to feel more confident and relaxed as we sped along before eventually stopping for a brief rest for some magnificent landscape of the unique sands of Arabia and for some drinking water! Ah the sweet taste of water in the middle of a desert…
Another hour of tummy turning dune bashing and we reached the Al Shamsi Bedouin Village. After relieving myself at the hut washrooms, we boarded the "ship of the desert" or better known as camels. My first camel ride :) The camel right behind us was somehow getting “affectionate” towards my bum it was worrying me. In case, it's on heat. Jeez, I must be too sexy even for the camels. Hahaha! Thank God its mouth was covered, at least I know today I won’t get a camel bite. Ahakz!
Other than being harrassed by the camel, the experience was such a bliss. From the top of the camel humps we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the endless rolling desert. I feel blessed with this rare opportunity to watch the sun-set over this tranquil scenery. I only wish Aiman was here with me too, it would have been so romantic.
Anyways…
I was hoping to see a real Bedouin Village so I can get a unique insight into the traditional life of the Bedouins but the village was more like a tourist showcase.
After getting our table - where we sat cross legged on hard pillows - the guides passed around Arabic coffee, tea and sweets as we relaxed smoking sheesha pipes while the barbeque dinner was prepared. Some of the other jakun tourists dressed themselves up in the traditional Arabic dress. Cutie Pie and I chose henna paintingby this Iranian woman and then we just lazed around on the carpeted ground or wander around the camp and enjoy the silence of the desert. Such bliss!
Dinner took longer than I thot to be prepared but the smell of the delicious BBQ dinner with grilled Arabic specialities cooked on site complemented by a variety of appetisers, salads and sweets calmed my impatience. After dinner, I had more sheesha. Hehehe for someone who doesn’t smoke I’m beginning to get a hang of it. It’s very soothing and nerve calming.
Right after dessert in the desert (it ryhmes :) a beautiful belly dancer in glittering green performed on a round centre stage to entertain us. She invited some of us to come up stage and try to shake our bodies to the rhythm of the Arabic drums. She is so sensual and sexy – mesmerising.
If I were a man I would be lusting after her I think. Nah, I would rather be the woman men are lusting over. Hahaha! Naaah maybe all I want is just one man to love me and lust me too - and I would feel the same for him - till death do us part.
After a while almost everybody joined in the fun on the dance floor before winding up this full day adventure. I think this day is perfect. Almost perfect...
posted by Penglipur Lara at
11:50 PM
1 Comments:
I thoroughly enjoyed perusing your blog. I understand that its out of concern, but why do ppl go to the lengths of asking to watch out for danger in a foreign land and from sin & all that? Do they caution a driver who commences on a road journey that he or she might face impending automobile accidents or for that matter remind of aviation crashes in the case of an airline passenger?
I was thrilled at your having fun. What your idea of fun is personal to you. No one else has the right to judge no matter how concerned they are for you. You are experiencing everything first hand.
By
Anonymous, at November 14, 2006 1:31 AM
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