Lazing on the beach and desert safari
Trip Start
Feb 21, 2009
1
4
6
Trip End
Feb 26, 2009
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
We went to Jumeirah park (a 30 min taxi journey), which cost 5dhs to enter but inside was lovely peaceful park, childrens play area, cafes, toilets and changing room with showers. The sand was beautful golden sand with bright blue clear sea that was completely calm. Nearly all the people on the beach were "white" although some were very tanned! I enjoyed having a little snooze and going swimming. Karl on the other hand people watched in his jeans!
We then went back to the hotel to get washed and changed. We went to India House - which is a cafe style restaurant , where we had a masala dosa - southern indian favourite which i have missed since our trip to India - it was lovely and 8dhs - £1.50!
At 3pm we went back to our hotel for a desert safari - which cost 180 dhs/£30. It was great. We were collected in a 4wd, 2 other couples (both Indian tourists) and we drove 45 mins south east to the desert. There the tyres were let down and we started our desert safari. There were about 40 4wd in the area and was fascinating watching them race up and down dunes before we ourselves perched on the top of a dune before hurtling down it. IT was great - as long as remember to wear your seat belt and hold on!!! It was like a rollercoaster on sand. Great fun. We stopped a few times to take pictures and run down the sanddunes as the sun was getting closer to setting.
After a while we headed over to a camp - where you could go camel riding, i had a henna tattoo, you could smoke hubbly bubbly/sheesha, buy coloured sand in bottles and belly dancing outfits, go on quad bikes or go sand skiiing. THere was a stage in the centre with tables and pillow to sit on and a western toilet block. We thought that lots of people would turn up as the place could hold about 500 people but there were only about 30 of us! All food and non alcoholic drink was included - we drank chai, coke and there was a huge selection of salads, breads, rice, bbq meat etc with a sweet custard desert. The food was really nice but before we finished they turned the music up really load so we couldnt speak which wasnt good. then after about 30 mins a belly dancer came and danced 3 songs and dragged nearly everyone up ( i stayed firmly in my seat) to do some "dancing". then before we knew it she left the stage without even a bow and we were thrown back into the 4wd and headed back to our hotel by 10pm. Was a great evening but would have been better if the place was full.. the others were Arabic and Indian mostly with only one other white family. Would definately say it was worth doing and great for the price....
We decided to go to a pub to have a beer and thought about going in a couple before Karl realised the prostitutes were waiting to be allowed in, so we headed back to the Arabian Courtyard hotel by the Dubai museum - to go to the Sherlock Holmes English style bar so i could have a Singha beer and Karl could have a Stella while we listened to a really good singer... it was about this time i realised that i was bright pink from the sun and had to apply the moisturizer - i will never learn!
